Rangers Get Shut Out By Vokoun and the Penguins

Coming home winning 3 out of their last 4 games, the New York Rangers were looking to get some revenge on the Pittsburgh Penguins, whom they lost to in their home opener by a score of 6 - 3. Instead, they showed how much they're really going to miss their captain, Ryan Callahan.

In the first period, they did not get the start they wanted by giving up a goal to Evengy Malkin in the first 2 minutes of the game. Even though they kept pushing after that they never managed to shake Tomas Vokoun, who played exceptionally well and faced shots with barely any bodies in front of him.

In the 3rd period, the Penguins potted 2 goals that solidified their lead. They killed off the last 12 minutes or so of the game and cruised to their second win of the season against the Rangers.

Follow me after the jump for some notes on the game.

Ryan Callahan Injured

Last night, the New York Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Flyers 2 - 1 in a classic Atlantic Division matchup.

Ryan Callahan, captain of the New York Rangers, scored the eventual game winner on a nice POWERPLAY! goal. On the goal, he also earned his 200th NHL point.

However, midway through the third period, a scrum broke out to the side of the Rangers net and Max Talbot dropped the gloves with Ryan Callahan. At first, it seemed idiotic for the Rangers - especially a key player - to drop the gloves and possibly give the away team some momentum. The fight lasted only a few seconds as both players fell to the ice and immediately something was wrong. The aftermath of the fight proved that it was idiotic and consequential.

To his credit, Talbot did not throw any punches when he saw that Callahan was defenseless on the ice and clearly in pain - but no point of glorifying the man since he is the one that actually started the melee. If you look at replays, you can see him throw his gloves off first and start throwing his signature punch.

From the looks of it, it seems like the injury is shoulder related. Based on my initial observations and no doctor expertise whatsoever, I will take a guess and assume that his shoulder popped out. By doing some simple research on Google, I learned that these kinds of injuries take anywhere from 2 - 6 weeks to heal. And by heal I mean that he'll be able to use his arm and function like a regular person.

The problem is Callahan is not a regular person. He is the heart and soul of the New York Rangers, he hits anything and anyone that he can, and he blocks every single shot that he is in front of. Callahan is the type of player every team would love to have. And now the only team he plays for might be missing him for a while.

Bad, bad news - even more so in a shortened season.

Lets hope for a quick recovery.

One Week Into the Season

After having the NHL season delayed for a little over four months, it is refreshing to be in this position right now where we realize that we are already one week into the season. There have been some surprises so far, some disapointments, and a few shockers here and there.

Just how different is this first week of the shortened season compared to a regular 82-game schedule?

Follow me after the jump for some bulletpoints

New York Rangers Powerplay Disappoints

What has been a major problem for the last few seasons, seems to still be an issue now.

The Rangers powerplay, one that was put into the arguably "best in the league" discussion before this 48-game-season started, has so far failed them.

In their first game of the season, they failed to convert against the Bruins. Against Pittsburgh the next night, they failed again. And then against Boston, same story.

In Philly on Thursday night, the Rangers found themselves down by one goal with a little over 10 minutes remaining. First they get a 4 minute Powerplay due to a high stick on Michael Del Zotto, and seconds later Gaborik gets hooked and they are gifted a 5-on-3. They managed what looked like one shot - a shot taken by Nash that was gloved by Bryzgalov. A whole 4-minutes later they had nothing to show for.

Even though I failed to mention that they had scored their first goal on the Powerplay, I believe a good Powerplay unit is one that can take advantage of the other team. In the Rangers case, they failed to take advantage of the Flyers two penalties that could, and should, have cost them the game - or at least the lead.

My solution? How about this, Coach Tortorella....

Nash-Richards-Pyatt
Staal-Stepan

AND

Gaborik-Stepan-Boyle
Del Zotto-McDonaugh

Just a suggestion....

Day 2 of Opening Weekend: Predictions

And just like that the first day of the season is already in the back of everyone's minds. Today, we get to watch 6 more games, in which some teams find themselves opening up, while others find themselves playing the 2nd of back to backs.

Here is your Sunday schedule:

- Philadelphia v Buffalo
- San Jose v Calgary
- Pittsburgh v NY Rangers
- Dallas v Minnesota
- Edmonton v Vancouver
- Chicago v Phoenix

Follow me after the jump for my predictions

How Did Early Stanley Cup Favorites, the NY Rangers, Play in their First Game?

How did the NY Rangers look in their first game of the season - a season that was so hyped ever since they acquired Rick Nash?

Horrible. Terrible. Disgusting. Unorganized. Effortless. Lazy. Embarrassing.

...are all fair adjectives to describe the performance of the Blueshirts. After so much anticipation and excitement that has surrounded this team and its fans, this first game was not what was expected, not even close.

From lazy penalties, to being out of position, to plain old looking like they were lost out there. Every player - except for the King - looked out of place and every player lacked the energy and touch needed to get some kind of consistency.

Well, let me correct myself there. The Rangers did show some consistency - in giving up the puck, taking stupid offensive zone penalties, showing no chemistry at all, and like I already said, looking plain lost.

If this team wants to make this season special, it will have to find a way to make it work, and quick. When the 48 games of this shortened season are up, this needs to be regarded as the worst performance of the season, because theres not much else that can go wrong - except for Hank not being Hank.

To summarize this game in one sentence, all that needs to be understood is that it looked like the first game of training camp...

Tomorrow, they play their home opener against the other division heavyweights. If they bring the same effort as they displayed today, the MSG boo birds will have to clear their throats for some late early season singing.

Period by Period Analysis: NY Rangers v Boston Bruins

vs

This will be a regular feature and it will include me analyzing the particular game period by period, while updating it, period by period. I will comment on the overall gameplay, the refs, obviously the score, and anything else that might be of particular importance. 

Both, the Rangers and Bruins, play their first game of the season tonight. Opening up at home, the Bruins look to get a win against they only team they finished behind last season. As for the Rangers, they play their first game with Rick Nash and without Dubinsky and Anisimov. These two teams are considered heavyweights in the Eastern Conference so it will be important for both to get off to a good start and steal some points for one another. 

Prediction: Rangers ( 3 - 2 )

Join me after the jump for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd period analysis of this game.

EPL: Liverpool Thrash Norwich City; Man City Wins;

See that Liverpool game? Woah...

Im all about Man United but I appreciate a good game when I see one. Thats exactly what was on display today at Anfield. Liverpool destroyed Norwich City and looked like the team from just a few years ago where these type of wins were routine. Everything clicked, including Suarez and that boy Gerrard.

I'd discuss and analyze every goal but they were all peaches (even the own goal)...why waste you time. Have a look at the highlights...

Follow me after the jump for more scores

Free Agents: Alexei Kovalev Signs in Florida

He's back...for better or worse. According to ESPN, Alexei Kovalev inked a one-year deal, $1,000,000, deal with the Florida Panthers.

This comes as a big shock to me because I did not believe the old man could come back to the NHL...especially after after the less than average season he had last year two years ago. Still it is nice to see the Russian and his always fresh skates back on North American ice.

He was once my favorite player and is one of the first Russians to raise the cup (did I mention he did it with the NY Rangers?). Hopefully, he has a decent season and makes a name for himself down in Florida.

My guess: He is no Jagr and this is unfortunately his last stint in the NHL.

Still, I will always remember this...

Do Yourself a Favor and Don't Let the Legend of Lance Armstrong Die

He was regarded as the best best cyclist ever.

He was anointed as one of the best athletes the world has ever seen.

He was Lance Armstrong, a man who started up the Livestrong Foundation for cancer awareness and who was an inspiration to people all over the world.

Now, he is known as Lance Armstrong, the fraud.

Right?

The other day, Lance Armstrong confessed to Oprah Winfrey (nice marketing stunt guys) that he had used performance-enhancing drugs throughout his career. He admitted that he had started in the mid 1990's, even before he was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer. This confession comes after years of him vehemently denying what we know now to be the cold truth.

Over the years, he was called out on it by former teammates and by the U.S. Anti Doping Agency. Even before his official confession, he was already banned from all competition. Thats how sure everyone was that Armstrong was not honest and that in reality, he had used drugs to help him win his seven historic Tour de France titles. However, he fought hard to the very last minute in denying to have cheated and even had his kids believing it.

Apparently the peak point of his lying was reached when he realized what his lies were doing to his family. In his interview with Oprah, he states that there were two low-points in this whole ordeal that really made him want to come clean. The first one was when he had decided to leave the Livestrong Foundation because of the negative attention his situation was bringing to it and the second one was when he realized how hard his 13-year-old son was defending his father - a father who even has his own son convinced that he had achieved everything without any extra illegal supplements.

Now, just a few days after finally learning what was already suspected by so many people, Lance Armstrong has become the new Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, etc. of his sport. Except, Armstrong was even bigger than those guys. He competed internationally and individually (yes, biking is regarded as a "team sport", but really when you look at it, its just you, the bike, and the mountain, nothing else) and became a household name for not only sports fanatics, but for people struggling with sicknesses and disease, not just cancer.

So, does this mean that Armstrong should be banned for life from ever competing again and be demonized for the rest of his life by fans and newscasters around the world? I, for one, think he deserves another chance.

Follow me after the jump for my reasoning.

Predicting the 2012-2013 Playoffs a.k.a the Stanley Cup Champions

Based on my previous predictions regarding the 2012-2013 regular season, I was able to arrange the match ups for the playoffs as well.

Because I am an absolute hockey genius and I know everything, these match ups must be the real deal, along with the standings and so on.

So, spoiler alert, if you want to know who wins each round and eventually the big silver cup that has been around for 100 years or so, follow me after the jump.

If you don't want me to spoil it for you, than I encourage you to move on...because I am 100% accurate in my predictions.

Predicting the 2012-2013 NHL Season

Does it seem odd that I decided to predict the winners on opening day yet I never predicted who finishes where in the conference?

No?

Well, it seemed weird to me. So I will give it my best shot and include a few bold (or just obvious) statements about certain teams.

Follow me after the jump.

Free Agents: Wade Redden Signed; Scott Gomez Next?

It has been reported that Wade Redden inked a 1 year, $800,000, contract with the St. Louis Blues. Seeing how his career spiraled out of control when the New York Rangers offered him that ridiculously long and expensive contract in 2010, it's nice to see him get another shot. The Blues look like they're contending this year (they already played the part last year) and adding a veteran D who was once considered one of the best at his position and whose spent the last two seasons riding buses to games is a nice addition to an already balanced team. Good for him.

As for Scott Gomez, Pierre LeBrun reports that Scott Gomez will probably be signed in the next few days...if not hours. Since he is not being paid like a superstar anymore (one that he never really was), and since he realizes this will probably be his last shot at proving he's still too good for the KHL AHL, teams will be willing to take a risk on him. Really though, what is the risk? $500,000? $1,000,000?! But just who will that be?

Follow me after the jump to get my input.

Full NHL Schedule for 2012-2013 Season

Hockey starting in January instead of October. Not quite my cup of tea - but at least it's starting

I have linked the full NHL schedule here so check it. In addition to my excitement for opening day, I will attempt to do my best to predict who wins opening day.

Join me after the jump for my predictions for the first day of the season.

What and Whom I Will Write About

Since I described myself as such a huge sports fanatic in my first post, I guess it is time to tell you which teams I root for, which teams I follow, and which teams you will probably be seeing me discuss the most.

Join me after the jump for my list.

Welcome To Buncol's Sports Banter

Welcome to my new blog!

This is my first shot at blogging about sports and I am excited to see how it goes. My blogging experience is sometimes even difficult for me to describe because I do not want to give myself too much credit, but at the same time I do not want to look like a rookie.

Over the past year, I have kept my own blog called The One With the ACL Surgery where I wrote about my recovery from ACL surgery. Almost one year later, I had proved to myself that I can update a blog frequently and not lose interest in it. If I was able to consistently write about my knee pains and progression, I believe I will be able to stay on track in writing about sports, specifically, but not limited to, hockey and soccer. Additionally, I find myself following other bloggers (especially on SBNation) more than mainstream websites (ESPN, I am talking to you).

Having said that, I guess it's a good time to give you a quick, brief, and "in-as-few-sentences-as-possible" introduction. Without trying to get too personal, my father introduced me to both hockey and soccer at a very young age. My passion grew for both sports and even more so after he passed away to cancer before I was even a teenager. Everything I have in life so far has been mostly based around sports. 

I think it is fair to say that 90% of the friends I have made has been through sports in one way or another, whether it has been through club teams we played on or just a similar interest in athletics and different teams. And even though I did not meet my wonderful girlfriend through sports, I still tell her (or have tried to) to this day that if she wasn't a NY Rangers fan, then I am not so sure we would be an item (hopefully that doesn't get me in trouble). But sports has become such a big part of me that at this moment I am preparing for my spring semester of my senior year at Rutgers University and am majoring in Exercise Science and Sports Studies. 

Whether this ends up being my last semester is yet to be determined, but I know that sports has always been my passion and regardless of where my career may take me, it's obvious that sports will always be there for me to participate in, to celebrate in, and to use as an escape from any negative personal matters such as the death of a close one, or just a bad grade on an exam.

Having said that ("in-as-few-sentences-as-possible"), I am looking forward to writing about the thing I am most passionate about and giving my view on different matters. Thanks for reading!

- Buncol