Nearly everyone is reacting to what seems to be the final nail in the coffin. Some react differently than others. One constant theme I see is that some seem to hold this team responsible for each of the last six seasons. In other words, instead of talking about the loss in the swamps yesterday, we're getting the pent up frustration of all the losses from each of the last six seasons. I understand it.....but it's not fair.

As I see it (here comes the same bullshit you get at the end of any Rangers season) this team has done a few things right. We have kept our youth while seriously upgrading the talent. I'm sure Slats will try and improve even more before the season begins next October. Yeah, we might be done for this season, but we will be back as a strong contender for next year.

Some of you may be asking....."But Bird, aren't you pissed about missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, a team record ?" Well, no. I knew that a while ago. And sometime last year I lost my anger when it comes to Ranger failure. This is hockey, not war with Iraq......get a little perspective here. I'll be rooting for the Rangers for the rest of my life. I have already waited over thirty years for one cup.....I can wait more. I have too.....I'm a Rangers fan.

So, calm down everyone. Stop freaking out about this. You love this team and you know it. You will be here reading Hockeybird next October with high hopes for a big season and you know it. It's OK....everything is gonna be alright. Oh, a good supply of high quality weed helps to ease the pain.

Newsday - "I think you'll have to ask them those questions," Sather said of his no-show stars, "because I'm definitely going to ask them tomorrow ... [Lindros] is not doing a lot of things. He's not playing the body, not shooting the puck like he can. He's got to put out more of a concentrated effort."

Daily News - "They're the guys that have to lead the team and we're not getting it right now," said Rangers GM/coach Glen Sather.

Post - These are six years that have soured New York's taste for hockey. Equal parts farce, drama and calamity, these last six Ranger seasons have all but eliminated hockey from the consciousness of the continent's most influential marketplace. Whether the rest of the league understood it or not, it was critically important for the Blueshirts to make the playoffs this time. Unfortunately, it does not appear that it was so critically important to the Rangers, themselves, to make the playoffs this time.

OK Larry....fuck you ! Where do you come off saying that this wasn't important to the Rangers....what lousy writing. If they win they're great, lose and they suck. Well, you suck Larry !

Times - Saturday's sellout was the Devils' second of the season. Both have come against the Rangers.

Like him or not, Bret Hull keeps piling up the numbers.

Last night, the new guys on the Oilers did a good job.

My 'Nucks lost a 1-0 game to the Leafs.

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