155 posts tagged Stan Fischler

Hi all, if yer still reading. Good move (financially) to bring Coach Lavvy back. GMJR finally puts to rest speculation (he created) about Coach's status, and lets us know it's part of the usual end-of-season (failed season) process: "I can understand why there was speculation," Rutherford said, "but I wasn’t trying to insinuate anything.

The scoring problems, power play and otherwise, cannot be ignored. Scott Gomez's absence didn't stop New Jersey from finishing ahead of New York over 82 regular season games, but the absence of Gomer's playmaking ability hurt the Devs in the playoffs. Finding a creative center is imperative.

Analyzing the Devils' 2007-08 season, and looking ahead to the next campaign, is like wearing a pair of glasses with two separate lenses; one is rose-colored and the other plain. The rosy one is reserved for the past season -- EXCLUDING the playoffs -- in which New Jersey's sextet gave new meaning

The line is forming at the left for the Panthers' head coaching job. Already Pat Quinn and Perry Pearn have made it clear that they're interested in working with their pal Jacques Martin. Kudos to Florida's top hockey writer, Brian Biggane of the Palm Beach Post, for reaching both Quinn and Pearn, currently the Rangers' assistant coach.

As one of The Maven's favorite tunes goes, "This Is No Laughing Matter." I'm talking about decisions regarding the Rangers future of such venerable skaters as Martin Straka, Ryan Hollweg, Paul Mara, et al. Their respective careers -- many very honorable -- are on the line and that's precisely why this is NOT the time to be glib or insensitive about the lads in question.

Discussing Michal Rozsival's future as a Ranger reminds me of a terrific, old Jimmy Rushing tune, "What's Become Of The You And Me That Used To Be?" Or to put it in Seventh Avenue terms, "What's Become of the Mike Rozsival That Used To Be?" We're talking about a defenseman who, immediately following the work stoppage, finished with a PLUS-35 in the plus-minus category.

There will be no bragging from this corner just because The Maven picked Philly to beat the Canadiens. Too many other mistakes erase that neat call. Nevertheless, the Flyers continue to impress me with their grit, goaltending and overall ability to -- if you'll excuse the expression -- find a way to win.

As William Shakespeare once said, "There's much virtue in IF." And the Rangers can IF 'til the cows come home about why their season is officially over, FINIS! You know all the IFs: What IF the refs whistled four minutes on Pittsburgh when Chris Drury was bloodied and the score was 0-0 in the second period of Game 5?

The Rangers dropped Game 5 and the series to the Penguins Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh. Stan Fischler, Ron Duguay and I look at what went right, what went wrong, and what can be corrected in time for next season.

While hoping, it wouldn't hurt to dig into hockey history, specifically April 22, 1975. On that day, the Islanders -- having lost three straight games to Pitt and then winning Game 4 -- skated into The Igloo and defeated the Penguins 4-2, including an empty-netter from Jude Drouin.