Russell McKenzie | Last Word On Sports

Where There’s a Will: Rangers and Bruins Ready for a Second Round Bloodbath

What’s the old adage? Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right? The Bruins exerted their will in the third period of game 7 in the first round series against a...
Fleury on Trial: The Penguins Have Been Exposed

First, let me give you a musical interlude. On the Pink Floyd magnum opus “Pink Floyd: The Wall,” the lead character in the story is put on trial by his subconscious...
No Fire in the Belly: The Rangers’ Scoring Woes Continue

It should be a simple thing. Score goals. It’s the whole point of a hockey game. The Rangers found themselves with an unlikely lead in Game 1 of their best of...
Deja Vu All Over Again for the Rangers and Capitals

Let’s not beat around the bush here. This Rangers-Caps series of hockey-poker has a lot at stake for both teams. Tomorrow night will mark the beginning of the fourth playoff series...
David and Goliath: Isles and Pens Prepare for a Showdown

If you ask most hockey fans what the outcome will be of the Pens-Isles playoff series, you’ll get a variety of responses, and most end with the predictions of a very...
School’s Out in the Blues-Kings rematch

Last season, the St. Louis Blues were just another speed bump on the road to a Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup. The young, gritty Blues had home ice advantage, and dropped...
NHL Trophy Watch: Why John Tavares Should Win the Hart over Crosby

With the season coming to a close, it’s time to turn brief attention to the Hart Trophy race. Everything that I’ve seen has Sidney Crosby winning the Hart Trophy. If this...
The Redemption of Brad Richards

Before the trade deadline, Brad Richards looked like he was playing the final days of his tenure with the Rangers in slow motion. His gigantic contract often came up in discussions...
Worlds Apart: Changes Since the Leafs Last Made the Playoffs

Rejoice, Leafs Nation, your Toronto Maple Leafs have earned their ticket to Lord Stanley’s Spring Fling. It has been a long wait for Leafs fans, who have waited patiently through over-hyped...
The Plan Comes Together for the New York Rangers

On Wednesday, this writer was a skeptic. Rangers GM Glen Sather traded away what amounts to the team’s draft picks for the next two years for Ryane Clowe, a guy who...
Who Needs Rick Nash? Not the Blue Jackets!

First, let’s review. When this shortened season began, I (and many other hockey pundits) figured that the Columbus Blue Jackets didn’t stand a chance. Here are a couple of my own quotes: “If...
Why Moving Schneider is the Canucks Best Move

As the trade deadline approaches, so does the ever present debate on which teams might pull the trigger on a big trade. Although the roar of the rumors sending Roberto Luongo...
Don’t Give Up on the St. Louis Blues

In the Western Conference, there is a grid lock of teams currently sitting between 5th place through 11th place. All the teams between 5th and 8th are in a tie for...
Blackhawks Down! A Look Back at the Streak

Earlier tonight, the Chicago Blackhawks’ record setting streak was halted at 24 straight games without a regulation loss, and 11 straight victories. What team finally stopped the seemingly unstoppable Hawks? The...
Identity Crisis: 2013 New York Red Bulls Season Preview

Rookie coach Mike Petke has his hands full. The newly minted general takes over a team that has undergone some major changes. Rafa, and the question as to whether he will...
Bring Me the Head of John Tortorella!

The New York Rangers are in serious trouble. This squad has lost five out of the last six, being outscored 16 to 11. Two of those losses came at the hands...
Getting it Right: Why the NHL Needs a Coach’s Challenge

Let’s first set the scene. The Colorado Avalanche were up 2-1 on the Nashville Predators. The Preds had scored a power play goal right before the end of the first period,...
Calling Foul on the Tim Thomas Trade and Floor Circumvention

Under normal circumstances, the announcement of a trade like this would have whipped throngs of Islanders fans into a joyous frothy frenzy. But, the Islanders acquisition of Stanley Cup goaltender Tim...
Dead on Arrival: The Big Mick on the Rangers Power Play Woes

First, some sound bites: Tortorella at today’s optional skate, regarding the team’s malfunctioning power play: “We’re in a jam and we don’t have a lot of time to work ourselves out...
Depth Charge: The Big Mick Analyzes Rangers Moves

The Rangers capped off a series of moves to bolster their forward depth by trading veteran tough guy Mike Rupp to the Minnesota Wild for penalty killing specialist Darroll Powe and...