Monthly Archives: January 2009
Newsday: Penguins‘ five goals in third period down Rangers
After the Rangers unleashed 18 second-period shots on Marc-Andre Fleury, who stopped them all to preserve a 1-1 tie, that one play sent the Rangers reeling.
Jordan Staal, with Michal Rozsival draped on him behind the goal line, slid a harmless backhander toward the net that banked in off Lundqvist’s left skate at 1:11 for a 2-1 lead. The fans at Mellon Arena weren’t waving the “terrible towels” of the last matchup, but certainly raised the volume. When Kris Letang wristed Sidney Crosby‘s slot pass by Lundqvist’s short side at 6:18, the die was cast.
New York Daily News:Henrik Lundqvist shelled as Rangers get blown out by Penguins, 6-2
The puck had barely touched the ice for the opening faceoff Wednesday night before the Rangers’ Colton Orr and the Penguins’ Eric Godard had their gloves off and their fists flying in each other’s faces. The two had a longstanding appointment to fight, one dating back to the teams’ last meeting 10 days before, and this scrap was over once Godard landed a straight right hand that buckled Orr’s knees and dropped him to the ice.
And that’s how it went all night long for the Rangers. Looking to settle a 10-day-old score against a division rival, the Rangers answered the bell from the start, but when they took one on the chin later on, they had no more fight left in them.
The Record: Rangers collapse in the third
Most Rangers left Mellon Arena on Wednesday night both curious as to why they abandoned their system and collapsed in the third period and frustrated that it happened.
Not Henrik Lundqvist. There was no ambiguity to the All-Star goalie’s emotions.
“I didn’t stop the puck in the third, I’m upset with myself right now,” Lundqvist said. “Right now, I could destroy this locker room.”
Click play below to watch highlights of the Rangers 6-to-2 loss to the Penguins last night:
The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Rangers 6-2 tonight in Pittsburgh.
For a recap and stats visit SNY.tv
- Well that was an ugly third period was it not?
- The D continued to get beat and too many penalties tonight.
- Nik Zherdev scored on a great play ending his 14 game scoring drought.
- Marc Staal scored from Scott Gomez and Markus Naslund, a goal I didn’t see because I put the Knicks on instead.
- Henrik Lundqvist let in a few softies tonight.
- Make up your mind Sid, injured or healthy? Can’t have it both ways.
The Rangers next game is Saturday afternoon against Boston
The Game:
The Rangers face-off against the Penguins tonight in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, starting at 7:30 pm.
Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist starts in goal for the Rangers.
Marc-Andre Fleury gets the start for the Hurricanes.
Monzo’s Keys To The Game:
- Sid will play tonight, he is somewhat damaged goods with his knees, Marc Staal needs to hit him hard.
- Nik Zherdev has not scored in 13 games — but has been playing well — look for him to get on score sheet tonight.
- Henrik Lundqvist is on as good of a streak as he has been on all year. Now, after a few days since the all-star break, look for Hank to pick up right where he left off.
How To Catch It:
Tonight’s game can be seen locally on MSG2, and heard on 1050 AM.
Steve Zipay at his blog for Newsday reports that Ryan Callahan will miss tonights game in Pittsburgh because of the Flu.
Petr Prucha, who has been scratched the last two games, will replace Callahan on a line with Scott Gomez and Markus Naslund.
With Dan Fritsche clearing waivers Prucha is the team’s only extra skater.
Rumors continue to swirl that Mike Richter will run for the congressional seat that was vacated by Kirsten Gillibrand.
Puck Daddy, the incredible Yahoo! hockey blog, asks the question of whether or not Richter would get your vote.
So I ask the question that if you lived in the district that Richter could represent, would you vote for him?
Rotter: I would, I mean I love Mike Richter and ever since I was young dreamed of a Richter Leetch Presidential Ticket. Maybe this could springboard Richter’s political career. I would love to hear over the PA system, “Please welcome back, Senator Mike Richter”.
[poll id="13"]
Mike from Planet of the Geeks has created several Lego verisions of athletes from various sports, including Rangers C Brandon Dubinsky.
The Associated Press reports the Red Wings and Henrik Zetterberg have agreed on a 12-year, $72 million contract extension.
Over at The Prospect Park, Jess Rubenstein, profiles the Rangers ‘Rodney Dangerfield’ of prospects, Michael Del Zotto.
Each Wednesday, the SNYRangersBlog.com team will debate a current Rangers topic.
In 11 games this season, Stephen Valiquette is 5-3-1 with a 2.17 GAA and .929 save percentage. He has allowed two goals or less in each of his last six starts.
This brings us to this week’s debate. With 34 games remaining and the Rangers in the hunt for the Atlantic Division crown, how many games should Valiquette play so that Henrik Lundqvist wont get burned out?
Adam Rotter: I believe Valley should get 8 to 10 more starts this season. This may seem like a lot but with four sets of back-to-back games, he should get at least one during each set, and then Lundqvist will need a few more games off, while letting Tom Renney pick and choose when that happens.
With lots of division games left, Lundqvist should get most of those starts, though the question of Valley versus the Flyers is an interesting one, since those games will heavily impact playoff seeding.
Mike Nichols: I agree with Adam. The Rangers defense is stingy enough and Vally has performed well enough for the Rangers to have the luxury of sitting Lundqvist roughly 1/3 of the games remaining. I think it’s important Lundqvist start the majority of the division games against the Devils and Penguins, while sharing starts against the Islanders and Flyers.
I say Flyers, because Adam is right, Vally seems to have their number, with a career record of 5-1-0 with a 1.63 GAA.
Brian Monzo: I disagree. Lundqvist should start at least 33 of 38 games. This has nothing to do with Valiquette, and while he has the number of the Flyers, Lundqvist should see some time against them in case they meet in the playoffs.
With the exception of 2006 Olympics, Lundqvist has not burned about and can withstand playing day in and day out.
Valiquette should in fact get roughly five more starts, then get a contract extension, as he is a great backup and if Lundqvist, god forbid, got hurt, Ranger fans would be confident they would get solid play from him.
Lundqvist gets better as the season goes normally, so, no matter who they are playing – unless its a tight race for a playoff spot late, and let’s hope it doesn’t come to that – I am starting Vally every seven games, giving him about five-to-six starts the rest of the way.
Nichols: Brian has a good point about Lundqvist facing the Flyers in case of a playoff matchup and he does seem to get better as the season progresses. However, I think it’s important that Valiquette make enough starts to stay sharp in case, as Brian mentioned, an injury occurs to Lundqvist. And, I don’t think five starts would be adequate.
Rotter: Even though Lundqvist facing the Flyers would be a good idea, because of a possible playoff matchup, what is the difference between him playing one or two of the games and having Valley play the rest?
What exactly are the Flyers going to show that he wont see in those games? Valley is a very important part of the stretch run because Lundqvist will need rest to keep focus and not put too much stress on his body going into the playoffs.
I stand pat with my thought of Valley going in for eight-to-ten games the rest of the way.
Monzo: I see your point, but Lundqvist prides himself on being an every-game goalie. If it were his call, he’d play 82 games. I’m sure he’d also love to take a stab at Mike Richters 42 win plateau.
Let’s face it, he is their best player – similar to Roberto Luongo in Vancouver – and for the Rangers to have any shot at number one in conference or more realistic, winning the division, Lundqvist needs to play 33 to 35 of the remaining 38 games.
Click play below to watch Markus Naslund, Scott Gomez and others comment following the Rangers 3-to-2 victory over the Hurricanes last night:
New York Daily News: Rangers start off strong with a 3-2 win over Carolina Hurricanes
“In the end, though, the night belonged to Gomez and Naslund, who finally appear to be clicking after a season of false starts. The duo, which entered the All-Star break a combined minus-20, had a hand in both of the Rangers’ first-period goals and created at least five other chances to score.
“I feel that we’re starting to know each other’s tendencies more – I know what he wants to do and how I can get him the puck, and vice versa,” said Naslund, who had two assists. “I think that’s what we have to start building.”
New York Post: GOMEZ MAKES IT WORK
” It’s one thing for a team not to be able to identify its first line when, say, one unit is centered by Sergei Fedorov and another by Steve Yzerman. It’s quite another thing, however, when a team can’t identify its first line because no unit proves worthy of that designation.
The Rangers have been a party of the second part through most of this season during which Scott Gomez, the putative first-line center, has struggled to find his game and to create some sort of symbiotic relationship with his wingers.
It’s not about Gomez playing up to his contract. Money is immaterial on the 200-by-85-foot sheet of ice. It’s about Gomez creating offense commensurate with his talent the way he did in New Jersey when he was flanked by Patrik Elias and Brian Gionta, the way he did the second half of last season when he was the Rangers’ best forward. “
Newsday: Rangers top Hurricanes with Valiquette in net
Did the All-Star hiatus wreck the Rangers’ momentum?
Not quite.
In their first game back at the Garden since a 4-1-1 run leading up to the break, the Rangers jumped to a two-goal first-period lead over the Carolina Hurricanes last night and then seemed to secure a win when Brandon Dubinsky‘s score gave them another two-goal cushion at 12:10 of the third.
Newsday: Fritsche waived; Renney wants defenseman
By placing Fritsche on waivers, the Rangers will move about $362,800 from the salary cap, whether he is claimed by noon or assigned to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack. “The bottom line is it gives us a little bit of flexibility,” Renney said, adding that he anticipated that Fritsche (1-3-4), who played just once in the last 21 games, would skate with the team today in Pittsburgh.
Journal News: Gomez’s hard work pays off for Rangers
“As his teammates boarded planes last week for the All-Star weekend in Montreal or the white sand beaches of the Caribbean, Scott Gomez opted for his New York City apartment and a daily session at the Rangers’ practice facility in Greenburgh.
No player has been more direct about his need to improve his play this season. And no player took a more proactive role this past week in trying to do so.”
The Record:Rangers remain hot, top Hurricanes
“Those extra sessions during the Rangers’ six-day break paid immediate dividends as he and his linemate, Markus Naslund, combined for a goal and three assists in a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes on tonight at Madison Square Garden.”
“The last thing I want to do is get on a plane and do all that,” said Gomez, who gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead at 10:03 of the first period with a one-timer from the right off of Naslund’s pass. “I’ve always kind of stayed back.”
New York Times: Rangers Pick Up Where They Left Off, With a Victory
← Older postsNewer posts →In a season that has turned into a maddening search for consistency, sometimes taking on the desperation of panning for gold, the Rangers have begun to celebrate when they find even tiny flecks.
Combined with several heartening games before the All-Star break, the Rangers’ 3-2 victory over Carolina on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden told them they were getting somewhere.
