Yardbarker: Mike Dunham

Will Team USA's goalie depth lead to 2010 medal?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:41:28 -0500

Taking a gander at the three U.S. Men's Olympic hockey team rosters since 1998 there's one prominent trait that's lacking: goaltending depth. The keepers in question:1998: Mike Richter, Guy Hebert, John Vanbiesbrouck2002: Mike Richter, Tom Barrasso, Mike Dunham(notes)2006: Rick DiPietro(notes), Robert Esche(notes), John Grahame(notes)Team USA's No. 1 netminder was an obvious choice all three years, and known in advance. Richter was still the man after his performance in the 19...

The 10 Most Undeserving NHL Starting Lineup Figures

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:46:03 -0500

Growing up as a child of the 1980's, three things were my world: Hockey cards, G.I. Joe cartoons and Kenner Starting Lineup figures. Beginning in 1988, Kenner starting producing figures of Major League Baseball players, but didn't make the hockey jump until 1993. For eight years, puckheads kept busy collecting the annual series of figures and making the painstaking decision of whether or not to leave the Starting Lineup in the box or rip it out. It wasn't until 2001 when Todd McFa...

Ceremonies...

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 18:06:55 -0500

March 9, 1977 - Rod Gilbert Night - Rangers 6, Minnesota North Stars 4

"You have given me a home, friendship, respect, and love, and that's more important than fame. For these things, I will always be grateful."
Gilbert had a goal and an assist during his own jersey retirement.
March 15, 1989 - Eddie Giacomin Night - Winnipeg Jets 6, Rangers 3
"You have been my motivation, my inspiration. It's the most thrilling moment of my life."
The bottom-feeding Jets scored 4 power play goals and 1 short-handed goal to beat the Rangers. The Blueshirts lost their 6th game in 7 tries yet were still in 2nd place in the Patrick Division, trailing Washington by 2 points.
Brian Leetch got hurt after scoring his 22nd goal of the season.
Giacomin became the 2nd Ranger to have their jersey retired and the 4th in NHL history (first 3 were Bernie Parent, Rogatien Vachon, and Tony Esposito).
February 4, 2004 - Mike Richter Night - Minnesota Wild 4, Rangers 3
"I'm wondering whose idea it was to get a guy who retired because of head injuries to memorize a speech to give to 18,000 people."
Adam Graves got the loudest cheers of the night.
Rangers were leading 3-2 on two Jaromir Jagr goals (and an assist), then Mike Dunham gave up two goals and the crowd chanted "We want Richter!"
January 12, 2006 - Mark Messier Night - Rangers 5, Edmonton Oilers 4 (OT)
"I was ready for the challenge of winning the Stanley Cup. I was ready for this city. I wasn't intimidated about coming to New York."
Leetch wasn't in attendance because Boston was playing (and losing 6-0 to Los Angeles) that night, but his video tribute gathered the loudest applause.
Rangers leading 1-0, Oilers go up 3-1, Rangers go up 4-3, Mike Peca scores in the 3rd to tie it at 4. Jagr scores a beautiful goal 14 seconds into overtime to end the game. A great game capped off an emotional and incredible night.
January 24, 2008 - Brian Leetch Night - Rangers 2, Atlanta Thrashers 1 (SO)
"I've always been privileged to play for the Rangers. We'll always share that championship banner that hangs from the rafters."
Thrashers had a 1-0 from early in the second period. The crowd was getting restless until Michal Rozsival finally tied it up midway through the third. Brendan Shanahan scored the only goal in the shootout to end a night that will be remembered more for the ceremony than for the boring game.
February 3, 2009 - Adam Graves Night - Rangers vs. Thrashers
As I sit here watching a replay of Game 7 of the Rangers/Canucks series in 1994, I'm reminded of how great a player Adam Graves really was. This team is missing someone like him, although Brandon Dubinsky reminds me of him in spurts. Graves went to the net, got smacked around, hit by sticks, cross-checked from behind, and still stood and scored. The 2 points tonight are needed, but tonight won't be remembered for the game, that's for sure.

The Difference...

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:46:27 -0500

I've probably spoken about this before, but there is a stark difference in this year's Rangers team as opposed to years past.A
Before the lockout, the Rangers were notorious for leaving points on the table. It was a few years ago, so my memory of those lean years is (thankfully) fading, but in 2002-03 and 03-04, I used to try to keep track of how many games the Rangers blew when leading 2-0 or 3-1, only to lose in regulation or overtime or tie. Points lost to weak links like Atlanta, Columbus, and Chicago would have led the team into the playoffs.
Back when Chris Simon, Matt Barnaby, Petr Nedved, Eric Lindros, and Mike Dunham wore Ranger blue, no one played as a team, and they had no chemistry. Nobody besides Leetch, Messier, and Richter cared if the team won or loss. They were there for their paychecks, and that was that. Free agency hit at 31, so they collected big money from the big bosses in NY, then rested on their laurels (does that phrase apply?).
The years after the lockout were different. The Czech Contingent played as a team, and everyone adapted to it. The 2005-06 season was a dream season. Jaromir Jagr playing like a beast, Marty Straka and Rucinsky playing great, rookies like Hollweg, Ortmeyer, and Moore playing with heart.A
In the past 2 years, the team was good, but it lost some identity. There were a lot of points left on the table as well, however, no one complained because the team reached the playoffs.A
Do you remember in 2007 when the Rangers would consistently blow 2-goal leads? As a fan, I would cringe when they would go up 2 goals. They were up 3-1 to Detroit at MSG, and the whole building was waiting for them to blow it. And they did, in regulation.
I remember one game against the Penguins, March 2007. The Rangers were up 2-0, gave up two shorthanded goals to tie the game, went up 3-2, then gave up a powerplay goal. They lost 4-3 in a shootout. At that point, the season seemed lost. However, the next game, the Rangers beat St. Louis in a shootout after being down 2-0, came back and made the playoffs.
This year, they are playing much like the did down the stretches in 2007 and 2008, like they did that night against the Blues at MSG. Yes, they have flaws. They had shaky-at-best offense against Dallas and Buffalo, including some shaky-at-best defense against Dallas.A
But they fight back. They were behind against Detroit on the second game of a back-to-back (after a flight to Michigan) and scored 2 third period goals. They were down 2-0 to Pittsburgh even though they played well for most of the game, and they didn't give up.
The difference in this team from the teams in previous seasons is that they don't let their flaws bring them down. They still find ways to win. They haven't played like Stanley Cup champions every game this season, but an 8-2-1 record after a shortened training camp and 8 preseason games is nothing to complain about.
Plus, I'm smiling like a 7-year-old on Christmas morning from watching that Nik Zherdev goal over and over again.

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:29:00 -0500

This blog is mostly used for whining about the Mets. And it's July, and there's plenty to whine about. But allow me to say goodbye to Jaromir Jagr, easily one of the most important players in the history of the New York Rangers, an Original Six team lacking a recent dynasty or long list of elite players.More importantly for me, too young to be aware of the 1994 Cup, I rooted for the Rangers despite the fact that they were nearly the Yankees of hockey, minus the postseason success. Beg...