RANGERS LEAVE ST. LOUIS WITH THE BLUES

     VERSUS    

NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES
December 15, 2011 (Game 29, Away Game 16)
Scottrade Center – St. Louis, MO

Team Notes:

-        The Rangers were defeated by the St. Louis Blues, 4-1, tonight at Scottrade Center, and are now 14-5-2 in their last 21 games.

-        New York has now posted a record of 17-8-4 (38 pts) on the season, including a 9-5-2 record on the road.

NEW YORK RANGERS TO TAKE ON THE BLUES

NEW YORK RANGERS at ST. LOUIS BLUES
Thursday, Dec. 15, 8:00 p.m.
Scottrade Center – St. Louis, Missouri
Rangers: 17-7-4 (38 pts)
Blues: 17-9-3 (37 pts)
* All information through NHL games on Dec. 13

TODAY’S GAME:

The Rangers will face-off against the St. Louis Blues tomorrow at Scottrade Center (8:00 p.m.), to begin a three-game road trip. The Blueshirts currently rank second in the Atlantic Division standings, and fourth in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 17-7-4 (38 pts). The Rangers enter the contest having been defeated by the Dallas Stars, 1-0, on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden, to end their winning streak at two games. New York has recorded at least one point in 16 of their last 20 contests (14-4-2). The Blues enter the contest with a 17-9-3 (37 pts) record to rank sixth in the Western Conference, and have won their last three games. Following tomorrow’s contest, the Rangers will face-off against the Phoenix Coyotes on Saturday, Dec. 17, at Jobing.com Arena (8:00 p.m.), in their third consecutive game against a Western Conference opponent.

RANGERS – WHALE MOVES STILL BEING MADE

RANGERS CLAIM DEFENSEMAN JEFF WOYWITKA
Defenseman Stu Bickel Assigned to Connecticut

New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the team has claimed defenseman Jeff Woywitka off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens.  In addition, defenseman Stu Bickel has been assigned to Connecticut of the American Hockey League (AHL).

BABY RANGERS COME UP SHORT IN TRAVERSE FINAL

BY: Bruce Berlet

The New York Rangers prospects team felt it had a lot more to do and give Wednesday night after a lackluster effort during most of an overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes in their robin-round finale Tuesday afternoon.

The Rangers didn’t consistently have the speed, grit and play making that they had shown in convincing wins over the St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars, and there would be no better time to atone for the unimpressive performance than against the Buffalo Sabres in the championship game of the prospects tournament in Traverse City, Michigan.

FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET

BY: Bruce Berlet

And on the third day, they rested – deservedly so.

Yes, Monday was an off day for the New York Rangers’ prospects team that moved to 2-0 in a tournament in Traverse City, Mich., with a 6-2 romp over the Dallas Stars on Sunday night. Left wing Ryan Bourque, son of NHL Hall of Famer Ray Bourque, had two goals to increase his total to a team-high three in two games and a team record eight in three tournament appearances. The Rangers broke open the game with third-period goals by Jason Wilson, Andrew Yogan and Bourque.

J.T. Miller, the Rangers’ first-round pick (15^th overall) in June, Shane McColgan and Bourque scored in the first period, when Scott Stajcer enabled the Blueshirts to enjoy a 3-1 lead by making 14 of his 26 saves. The Rangers allowed a power-play goal with only 17 seconds left in the second period that got the Stars to 3-2 and gave them a 25-20 shot advantage. But after a plea from coach Ken Gernander for better skating and pressure on Stars goalie Jack Campbell, the Rangers got the first 14 shots of the third period in amassing a 19-3 advantage in the final 20 minutes.

2011 TRAVERSE TEAM ANNOUNCED

RANGERS ANNOUNCE ROSTER FOR 2011 TRAVERSE CITY TOURNAMENT

The annual prospect tournament set to begin on September 10, 2011

New York, August 15, 2011 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today the roster for the 2011 Traverse City Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan.  The annual prospect tournament is scheduled to begin on September 10 when the Rangers’ prospects face-off against the St. Louis Blues’ prospects.  This marks the sixth consecutive year that a team of Rangers prospects will be competing in the eight-team tournament.

FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET

BY: Bruce Berlet

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers will have a familiar look to Connecticut hockey fans behind the bench this season.

West Haven native Eric Boguniecki was named a Sound Tigers assistant coach on Tuesday under former Hartford Wolf Pack defenseman Brent Thompson.

Boguniecki, 36, begins his coaching career after completing his playing career following the 2009-10 season with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL, where Thompson was coach. The two also played together in the Florida Panthers’ organization for two seasons (1999-2001), and in 2005, Boguniecki had a two-game conditioning assignment in the AHL with Peoria, where Thompson was in his first season as an assistant.

FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET

BY: Bruce Berlet

While the Rangers tried to peddle Evgeny Grachev for a year before trading the forward to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, they have no interest in dealing fellow Russian and former Hartford Wolf Pack center Artem Anisimov.

That’s hardly surprising after how much Anisimov improved last season, especially when skating between former Wolf Pack players Brandon Dubinsky and alternate captain Ryan Callahan, the team’s top two scorers.

FROM THE CREASE with BRUCE BERLET

BY: Bruce Berlet

With goaltending and defense in lots of good hands, it wasn’t surprising the New York Rangers’ first four picks in the NHL draft Friday night and Saturday were forwards.

With the 15^th pick, the Rangers chose center/left wing Jonathan T. Miller, who led Team USA in scoring with four goals and nine assists in six games en route to winning the gold medal in the Under-18 World Junior Championship in Germany. He tied for third among all skaters in points and was selected by tournament coaches as Team USA’s top player in the elite event.

Miller’s selection at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., came with some emotion, as it was announced by Aaron Boogaard, the younger brother of Derek Boogaard, the Rangers’ left wing who died at 28 at his apartment in Minneapolis on May 13. Boogaard, whose late brother was a seventh-round pick of the host Minnesota Wild in 2001, was introduced by Rangers director of player personnel Gordie Clark.

GRACHEV SENT PACKING

We hate to say we told you so, but we told you so.

For all they press attention that surrounded Evgeny Grachev, repeatedly Howlings readers were told that it was just that – Hype.

While we’re completely sure that he won’t ever say so publicly or otherwise, we’d be willing to bet that the happiest man in the New York Rangers organization today is Connecticut Whale head coach Ken Gernander.

Why?