Rangers Better Than Sabres This Year

The Rangers have relished the role of underdog since the lockout, seeming to always do better when expectations are lower. But going into their second round series as the only low seed to advance past the first round, and having to face the top seed in the league, the Rangers have served notice that they want to be viewed as a legitimate contender. And why not? The difference between the two teams all came in calendar year 2006 -- since the first of this year, the Sabres remained one of the best teams in the league with a 25-15-4 record (54 points), but the Rangers were right there with them, going 24-13-7 (55 points) over their last 44 games

That covers more than half the regular season, not just some late season hot streak. But over the last 17 games, the Rangers were 12-3-5 to the Sabres' 9-6-2. The interesting point of comparison over that stretch is Buffalo's goals vs. the Rangers' goals against -- while the Rangers scored just about as many goals (49) as the Sabres allowed (52), Buffalo scored 62 (3.65 per game), exactly twice the number the Rangers allowed. At one end of the ice, this series looks to be a match-up between an irresistable force (the Sabres' O) and an immovable object (Henrik Lundqvist). If Lundqvist does no worse than split the difference, the series may be decided at the other end of the ice, where a potentially explosive Ranger attack will be targeting a net that will bend, perhaps to the point of breaking.

Sean Avery leads the Ranger news today, as he is the only New Yorker to break the bulletin board code and give the Sabres some fodder. Then again, that's exactly what he wants, to distract the Sabres, which is why he said what he said -- "I've already decided I hate all of those guys. I'm going to hurt them, I'm going to hit them, I'm going to be in their face as much as I can." And more -- see the Daily News, Journal News, Newsday, Times, Post, Star-Ledger, and AP. Buffalo reaction from their News ("It’s pointless to get caught up in his little soap operas," said Ryan Miller, already caught up in it if that's what he's calling it). Also from the Buffalo News, good news for Jaromir Jagr -- Lindy Ruff rolls four lines, like the Rangers do, which means he will not face relentless match-ups against the Sabres' best defensive players. The guys at MSG.com weigh in -- Sam, Dave, and Joe. News and notes on each team from USA Today here and here. Series previews from ESPN.com and NHL.com. More from NHL.com on Michael Nylander. Mayor Bloomberg eschewed placing the traditional bet with the rival mayor. In the Courant, a look at Bryce Lampman. And Jess has this report on last night's CHL playoffs:

We have a double header for you, starting with Marc Staal and Sudbury as they try to tie up their OHL Eastern Conference final series with Belleville. As has been the pattern in this series, it was a scoreless first period before Belleville jumped off to a 1-0 lead in the second. Sudbury, as has been their pattern, tied the game six minutes later. Sudbury took the lead in the third, but Belleville answered with an unassisted shorthanded goal. Staal tried on several occasions to score, but goalie Kevin LaLande stopped him on each occasion, and for the third time in four games, the teams wound up going into overtime to decide a winner. This time, Sudbury was the one to knot the series at 2-2, Justin Donati scoring his second goal of the game at 6:17. The series goes back to Belleville for Game 5 Wednesday. Game reports in the Sudbury Star and Belleville Intelligencer.

In the battle of Ranger prospects, Brodie Dupont hoped home ice would change the luck of his Calgary Hitmen as they took on Michael Sauer and his Medicine Hat Tigers, the Hitmen trailing 2-0 in the series. Calgary jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a first period power play goal. In the second, the Hitmen did all the scoring with two goals for themselves and one for the Tigers -- goalie Dan Spence kicked the puck into his own net with just four seconds left in the period to give the Tigers some life going into the third with Calgary up 3-1. But Calgary was able to extend their lead to 4-1. However, Sauer’s Tigers did not quit, cutting the lead to 4-2 and then turning up the pressure big time. If not for Spence, the Tigers might have been able to come back, but he kept it to a 4-2 final that cut MH’s lead in the series to 2-1. Game 4 is in Calgary on Wednesday, and it should be a dandy. Game reports in the Calgary Sun and MH News.

Comments

[Lars]

Wow, great article. I'm convinced! The Rangers will be victorious!

[Michael Benjamin]

I have not posted on here since bashing the Avery trade and the man himself months ago. I was wrong to judge and Avery, as we all know, has brought new life to his own game and the entire team. Since his arrival and the team's turnaround I had placed my self in a self-imposed exile in the far reaches of India to think about my comments and decision making ability.

I have returned and decided that I was and am in no position to judge others. That means no more judging players on the team or voting on American Idol. I am sorry about my comments about Avery being a bum and for voting for Sanjana against the other contestants (Hey I told you I was in India, exiled adopted hometown pride OK?!)It was wrong to mistakenly judge them both as the former inferior and later superior against their peers and it won't happen again.

As my final act of judgement, I will say that Blueshirt Bulletin blows away all the other reporters in terms of team coverage. The last issue rocks and I encourage everyone to subscribe today or renew. Who else is going to give you better coverage of the team's Cup Parade this summer???

[Jess]

I just finished being a part of a conference call with Tom Renney and Brendan Shanahan and yikes are the Sabres a bunch of babies.

I turned in a transcript for Dubi but if he does not post it I will break down how Ranger fans might need to bring Pampers and Baby Bottles to games 3 and 4 for the Sabres to use.

[Rob]

They're bandwagon fans Jess, Anything of great significance on the conference call?

RANGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dank]

yeah, whats the deal with the conf. call?

[Andrea]

The professor—I mean coach—clarifies, amplifies, then stands by his word. My guess is this fresh article was gleaned from aforementioned conference call. Sorry, many of you differ, but I LOVE this guy!!!!

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=300438&page=NewsPage&service=page

[Ted]

yo i'm honestly terrified of the sabres not only because if we lose to them our season is over but because all of my friends are die-hard sabres fans so they are just gangin up on me and lettin me have it. I honestly do not want Game 1 to start, i am so nervous. Please NYR just beat the crap out of them so i can hold this against them for years to come.

Right now all i have is that they've never won a cup and i'm afraid that might change this year

[Jess]

Well Tune in later as Dubi is going to let me post on the conference call press conference as folks let me put it this way:

Ted when the smoke clears you will have friends who are crying about how come their sorry a** sabres lost to OUR RANGERS because folks we are about to go on a crusade, that is right a crusade for a Ranger parade down the Avennue of Champions.

So call all your friends, call your families as it is Time for all Ranger fans to put aside their differences as we now all have a common enemy it is those diaper wearing, whiny bunch of snivelers called the Buffalo Sabres.

I am sick and tired about how those poor poor Sabres are being disrepected. You want some respect then earn it on the ice.

[angry]

Is there any way we can dump Trautwig for the remainder of the playoffs? I always forget how much that guy annoys me.

[Rob]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO JESSS!!!!!!!!!!

ON THESE SHIELDS BOYS!!!!!!

AH-OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! (from the movie 300)

LETS GO RANGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ant]

Jess u right till the nd of our season we got to be 1 big blue family.Fights and arguemnts are not needed becuase we all want to do the same thing and the thing is all of us being in the middle of Manhatten at the rangers parade

[ant]

OOOOOPS i forgot

LETS GO RANGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Matty]

Now I now why there is something about Ryan Miller that seemed to rub me the wrong way .... he's a freaking whiner.

Complaining that the Rangers "Better give us respect or it'll be a short series for them" wtfever!

Daniel Briere is another whiner ... saying that they won't pay attention to Sean Avery because he's "just another player on their team. Nothing more"

I can't wait for tonight ....

Go Rangers!

[Phill]

sigh, why is tonight Versus exclusive? Do they really want everyone in NY state to care less?