msweet Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 http://www.nypost.com/sports/rangers/26691.htm By JAY GREENBERG Sabres 4 - Rangers 1 December 7, 2002 -- As if to confirm the Rangers' 8-4-2-1 surge seemed too good to be true, a Garden filled with jaundiced eyes watched Pavel Bure limp to the locker room last night with a left knee that could no longer support him or, likely, his team's hopes for a first playoff appearance in six years. LMFAO A Ranger source said Bure was out for the year, and if it's slightly possible that was an immediate overreaction, it is also surely an indication that Bure and the medical staff will be surprised to read any good news in today's MRI. Asked how bad it looked, Eric Lindros shook his head. "We've got an uphill battle now," he said, and one that with 52 contests to play dwarfs a bad 4-1 loss to the 6-14-1 Sabres, a game that turned quickly after the Sabres' Curtis Brown turned trying to put a legal hip into The Russian Rocket and struck knee-on-knee instead. The hit drew no retaliation from the Rangers, who largely didn't see it, but the video indicated there was nothing dirty about it, other than it being a dirty shame for a team as thin on the wing as the tissues with which they will now have to dry their tears. There obviously is no replacement for a player who has had five 50-goal plus seasons; never mind he has played this season in sporadic fits, sort of like the Rangers did last night after jumping up 1-0 on a late first-period power-play goal by Lindros. Within two minutes, Holik took a tripping penalty, Ronald Petrovicky a silly cross-check and Tom Poti a brainless retaliation for what should have been a pressure-relieving slash by the Sabres' J.P. Dumont, thirty-four seconds before Holik was due to come off. Miroslav Satan's point drive, off a clean faceoff win by Stu Barnes over Mark Messier, beat a screened Dan Blackburn to tie the game only 22 seconds before the end of the period. "The penalties took a lot of energy out of us," said Blackburn. Presumably, fatigue causes brainlock. Mikael Samuelsson, skating through center, was marginally taken down by Jay McKee, who relayed to Satan in a one-on-one mismatch with Dave Karpa. The Sabres' sniper went around the defenseman and roofed an impressive backhander under the crossbar to put Buffalo ahead. Less than a minute later, Radek Dvorak lost the puck on a double-team along the left-wing boards to a dogged Jochen Hecht, enabling Dmitri Kalinin to drop the puck to Vaclav Varada, spin off Vladimir Malakhov, and go to the net on a pretty give-and-go. Suddenly down 3-1, with only the newly-minted pairing of Holik and Lindros effective for any sustained stretches, the Rangers wandered aimlessly in Buffalo's trap before Satan hit a net that was as empty as some of his opponents' heads most of the night. Certainly, there was little left in the tank of Messier, who, playing back-to-back games at age 41, had more ice time than Lindros, and managed a minus-three. LMFAO Coach Bryan Trottier, who made that call, talked too much about the officials' calls without a word about the coverage and puck-handling mistakes that cost his team the game. "The guys are giving everything they've got," he said. "We're not making excuses." It's going to take an extraordinary effort, now that they have the saddest and greatest alibi a team can offer. The Rangers just lost an indispensable player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilMinder Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 I hope that isn't the beat writer for the Rangers. Damn that was a depressing read, but I liked it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJayDevil Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 If Bure is instead out for the whole year, then the Rangers are out of the playoffs. That simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJDevs4978 Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 Ouch; maybe the Ranger$ really are cursed this year (not that I'm crying or anything). Every time I think they're about to become a threat, they lose to Atlanta, lose to Buffalo, lose to Columbus, lose to the Isles, etc. And now just after they get Sir Bob back they lose Bure maybe for good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HellOnICE Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 Hold on, hold on. It's coming......Nope, I don't care :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 even with Pavel they weren't going to make the playoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBT Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 It's a shame about Bure, but losing the cherry-picker will IMPROVE the Ranger D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimmy Leeds Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 As Devils fans we should not stoop so low as to cheer opponents, even the hated Rag$, injuries. That is not right. I hope he returns healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek21 Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 Nice post Jimmy. SBT... maybe you haven't been following the Rangers' too much this year. Bure has played the system and was doing well at both ends of the ice. It was Bure who was leading the team with a +7 rating. If he's out, the Rangers are in deep trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LetsGoDevils Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 Rangers have been in trouble since Richter went down. Bure's injury if serious is just another hole punched into the side of the sinking ship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBT Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 Very true, Kovy. The Rangers rank very low on SBT's list of interests. Let's just say: Once a cherry-picker, always a cherry-picker. Seriously though, the SBT is flat-out shocked that someone like Bure would "play the system" and actually lead his team in +/-. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueNJ97 Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 I don't root for players to get injured (welllll...ok, maybe Tucker) but I can't get worked up over it now that it's happened. If he's really out for the year, bring up Lundmark & move on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevilMinder Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 ESPN updated their article, apparently it is pretty bad Rangers have ordered an MRI on the knee. They state its probably season ending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SBT Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 Alas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westcoastdevfan Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 I have always liked watching the Russian Rocket. He is one of the greastest offensive shows on earth. Too bad he will be the one doing the watching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 now it's official, the MRI revealed a torn ACL. Bure will be out for the season and undergo his 3rd reconstructive surgery. http://espn.go.com/nhl/news/2002/1207/1473188.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJayDevil Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 Damn, sucks for him and the Rag$. Good for the Devs, POINTS and STANDINGS wise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
insanity_gallops Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 Yikes. Wonder if Bure will ever be the same.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarDew Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 How many knee surgeries can one joint endure???? I know msweet, Rock and me never want to find out Maybe ligaments and tendons are more forgiving than bones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueNJ97 Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 How many knee surgeries can one joint endure???? I know msweet, Rock and me never want to find out Maybe ligaments and tendons are more forgiving than bones 1) It's not the same joint, it's the left knee and he blew out the right knee before 2) Update from the Ranger broadcast today: They still don't know that he actually tore the ACL. There's too much swelling to see. They know he DID do some damage to the cartilege and they will go in to clean it up. During that operation they will look at the ACL and tell. If the ACL is OK he should be out 4-5 weeks. If it's done, he's done for the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devildoggie Posted December 9, 2002 Share Posted December 9, 2002 wish I could say I was upset. the fact of the matter is that the Rags weren't making the playoffs with him, so not having him won't change much of anything. Couldn't have happened to a nicer team. too bad he didn't play for the Flyers instead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redruM Posted December 9, 2002 Share Posted December 9, 2002 I feel terrible for Bure, a player w/ that talent is always good for the nHl... Buyt if it had to happen I'm glad it happen to the rangers!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weekes Head Posted December 9, 2002 Share Posted December 9, 2002 It's really too bad. As much as I hate the Rangers, I never want to see a guy lost for an entire season, especially when he's had a lengthy history of knee troubles. I never got it when people cheered on injuries - that's just not cool. I'm not talking about this board, but I've noticed some people (other places) rejoicing as they hear the news that he could be lost for the season. I like watching Bure, he can be a fun player at times (damn cherry-picker though, blech...). Hope he has a speedy recovery, and I hope this doesn't put a damper on his career. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LetsGoDevils Posted December 9, 2002 Share Posted December 9, 2002 I'm sure Holik will pick up the slack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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