Check out this video of Colton Orr destroying Matt Carkner of the Senators...
...would have been nice to see this a couple of times this season after Hank was run by the opposition.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Saturday Headlines
Daily News - Drury moves closer to return to lineupNew York Post - Rangers looking to bust out
The Bergen Record - Rangers' pressure, wins have waned
The Bergen Record - Up next: Panthers at Rangers
Friday, November 20, 2009
Drury Cleared for Next Phase of Comeback
Andrew Gross at Ranger Rants reports that Chris Drury was cleared medically yesterday after his afternoon doctor’s visit to begin the next phase of his comeback from a concussion.Gross adds that Drury came to the Madison Square Garden Training Center for a 20-minute off-ice workout today for the first time since Nov. 11, when he was sent home.
There’s still no timetable for his on-ice return.
...the Rangers and Drury are doing the smart thing taking it as slow as they have.
Lisin Back to 4th Line, Replaced by Brashear
Steve Zipay at Blue Notes reports that Enver Lisin has been demoted to the fourth line, replaced by Donald Brashear who will skate with Chris Higgins and Ryan Callahan.
...looks like Torts wants to add a little more toughness to the top of the line-up. Brashear is going to have to step-up his game if he wants to last one period with his new linemates.
...looks like Torts wants to add a little more toughness to the top of the line-up. Brashear is going to have to step-up his game if he wants to last one period with his new linemates.
Parenteau, Rookie D-men and Tough to Read
Brian Duff at NHL.com looks at late round draft picks recently making a difference including P.A. Parenteau...
* Rangers call-up P.A. Parenteau, No. 264 by Anaheim in the 2001 Entry Draft, provided the shootout winner against Ottawa.
Duff also mentions both Michael Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy as Calder Candidates.
Finally, Duff looks at the five toughest teams to read...
Rangers -- Can you imagine where this team would be without Marian Gaborik? I'm still not sure they're going to be much -- if at all -- better than a year ago.
...the way they're playing now, looks like they'll be worse.
* Rangers call-up P.A. Parenteau, No. 264 by Anaheim in the 2001 Entry Draft, provided the shootout winner against Ottawa.
Duff also mentions both Michael Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy as Calder Candidates.
Finally, Duff looks at the five toughest teams to read...
Rangers -- Can you imagine where this team would be without Marian Gaborik? I'm still not sure they're going to be much -- if at all -- better than a year ago.
...the way they're playing now, looks like they'll be worse.
Friday Headlines
Newsday - Rangers' Drury making progress toward returnDaily News - Rangers power down with man advantage
The Bergen Record - Things may be looking up for Drury
New York Post - Rangers adapt to key injuries
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Del Zotto Needs to Shoot More
Andrew Gross at Ranger Rants reports from today's practice where John Tortorella put the Rangers through a spirited, hard-skating, point-making 50-minute practice today and then kicked everybody off the ice, something that’s rarely seen at an NHL practice as groups of players usually linger after practice. Torts reasoning was to give all his players a break from the ice.
On the power play struggles Torts feels Michael Del Zotto needs to shoot more...
“It’s a 19-year-old guy, you’ve got Gabby (Marian Gaborik) over here with his stick on the ice and you’ve got Kots (Ales Kotalik) over here with his stick on the ice. And you’ve got a 19-year-old who respects the hierarchy of the locker room. That’s where it comes to the coaches telling him to do it and telling the players flanking him he’s going to do it and take him off the hook a little bit.”
...tough situation for a youngster. Never want to piss off the vets.
Torts also talks Kotalik, Lisin and Callahan.
On the power play struggles Torts feels Michael Del Zotto needs to shoot more...
“It’s a 19-year-old guy, you’ve got Gabby (Marian Gaborik) over here with his stick on the ice and you’ve got Kots (Ales Kotalik) over here with his stick on the ice. And you’ve got a 19-year-old who respects the hierarchy of the locker room. That’s where it comes to the coaches telling him to do it and telling the players flanking him he’s going to do it and take him off the hook a little bit.”
...tough situation for a youngster. Never want to piss off the vets.
Torts also talks Kotalik, Lisin and Callahan.
Trade Lundqvist?
That's what the Masked Man over at WFAN.com is proposing..."Find a team that needs a goalie as their last piece to winning the Cup. Is it Chicago, is it Detroit, is it Washington? Think about what you can get back from those teams in a trade if you moved Lundqvist now while he has good trade value. You’d need a goalie back; Steve Valiquette isn’t the guy to play 60 games for you. Let’s say hypothetically the Wings gave you Jimmy Howard back in the deal. Good goalie, can play in the NHL, has yet to prove himself as a #1 but certainly could be one (and he is an upstate NY kid). That gives you a season to see if he is your guy of the future or if you need to find a #1 but you certainly have the time to do it. Remember, this Ranger team is a good team but not a Cup contender so you are taking one step back to take three forward."
...you might have thought that I would start my comments by saying how ridiculous this is. But I ask you, is it? While Lundqvist is the main reason the Rangers have made the playoffs the last four years, what has he done when they got there? Not much. While I strongly disagree with the Masked Man that Howard would be the answer in goal, would you be interested in Keith, Kane or Toews (not sure how they're going to sign all three) and Huet from the Blackhawks for Lundqvist and maybe Staal? I thought so.
...having said all that, there is no way Sather is making that move. If you thought the Giacomin trade was unpopular, just wait to see the reaction of the Graden Faithful after a Lundqvist trade.
...h/t to reader David for the link.
New Lines; Still No Drury
Andrew Gross at Ranger Rants, via Twitter, reports these new line combinations...
Kotalik-Prospal-Gaborik
Parenteau-Higgins-Lisin
Avery-Anisimov-Callahan
Brashear-Boyle-Voros
...i like this move. Kotalik is more of an offensive threat than Lisin. Being on a line with Gaborik should generate more scoring.
Gross also reports that Chris Drury has still not returned to practice.
Kotalik-Prospal-Gaborik
Parenteau-Higgins-Lisin
Avery-Anisimov-Callahan
Brashear-Boyle-Voros
...i like this move. Kotalik is more of an offensive threat than Lisin. Being on a line with Gaborik should generate more scoring.
Gross also reports that Chris Drury has still not returned to practice.
Grading the Rangers
Rick Carpinello at the Rangers Report grades the Rangers at the quarter pole. Here's a snippet...
Wade Redden: B … Fits much better in this system, is playing with some passion; but will never earn that type of salary.
Marian Gaborik: A … Absolutely as advertised, and remained upright for most of the first quarter. Where would they be without him?
Ales Kotalik: B … Probably could do a little more, but that shot has given the Rangers a legit PP pointman they didn’t have at all last year.
Sean Avery: C … Don’t know if the benching in last year’s playoffs put too much of a leash on him, or what. I do know that the Avery Rules, as called by almost all officials, are ridiculous.
Wade Redden: B … Fits much better in this system, is playing with some passion; but will never earn that type of salary.
Marian Gaborik: A … Absolutely as advertised, and remained upright for most of the first quarter. Where would they be without him?
Ales Kotalik: B … Probably could do a little more, but that shot has given the Rangers a legit PP pointman they didn’t have at all last year.
Sean Avery: C … Don’t know if the benching in last year’s playoffs put too much of a leash on him, or what. I do know that the Avery Rules, as called by almost all officials, are ridiculous.
Fixing the Rangers
Larry Brooks at the New York Post says the Rangers are a much too easy team to play against...
"Tortorella is the personification of passion behind the bench, but that isn't transferring onto the ice. This is not about the Rangers' lack of prime-time parts, but instead about a tough-talking coach who doesn't seem to demand that his players stand up for one another. It's bizarre."
...there's been two main complaints from Ranger fans over the years. Not developing talent and not having a bruising blueliner. They've taken care of developing youth this year, but the toughness is just not there. As Brooks points out, if the Ranger brought Brashear in here for that role, why is he only getting four minutes a game. Oh yeah, because he sux. Two years ago they had the chance to bring in a Brooks Orpik. They would have had to overpay to get him to sign, but instead they held out to grossly overpay Redden and Rozsival.
Speaking of Rozsival, here's Brooks take on what the Rangers should do with him...
"Rozsival is chewing up nearly $26,000 a day on his annual $5M cap hit. Deleting him by the end of the month via trade or demotion would clear an additional $3.4M of space that increases proportionately with the season.
Moving Rozsival this month would allow the Rangers to be in the market for pretty much anyone who becomes available. Including, perhaps, a player who will look out for his teammates."
...i'm in.
"Tortorella is the personification of passion behind the bench, but that isn't transferring onto the ice. This is not about the Rangers' lack of prime-time parts, but instead about a tough-talking coach who doesn't seem to demand that his players stand up for one another. It's bizarre."
...there's been two main complaints from Ranger fans over the years. Not developing talent and not having a bruising blueliner. They've taken care of developing youth this year, but the toughness is just not there. As Brooks points out, if the Ranger brought Brashear in here for that role, why is he only getting four minutes a game. Oh yeah, because he sux. Two years ago they had the chance to bring in a Brooks Orpik. They would have had to overpay to get him to sign, but instead they held out to grossly overpay Redden and Rozsival.
Speaking of Rozsival, here's Brooks take on what the Rangers should do with him...
"Rozsival is chewing up nearly $26,000 a day on his annual $5M cap hit. Deleting him by the end of the month via trade or demotion would clear an additional $3.4M of space that increases proportionately with the season.
Moving Rozsival this month would allow the Rangers to be in the market for pretty much anyone who becomes available. Including, perhaps, a player who will look out for his teammates."
...i'm in.
Malik Could Be Back in NHL
In other former Ranger news, Craig Custance of the Sporting News reports that Marek Malik is weighing a couple of offers from Europe and has been recently contacted by an NHL team about playing this season...“I feel great, I feel perfect,” Malik told Sporting News by cell from the Czech Republic. “I’m looking at myself and I’ve got a good two more years in me.”
Malik adds that he'll jump on the next plane if a job offer comes from the NHL.
...you think the NHL team is the Rangers looking for a seventh defenseman?
Hossa Leads KHL in Goals
John Grigg at The Hockey News takes look at the KHL's leading point getters... 8. Marcel Hossa, Dynamo Riga, 17-8-25
After playing parts of six NHL seasons, Hossa, the brother of Chicago’s Marian, moved to the KHL last year to play for its Latvian entry. His 17 goals lead the league as of Wednesday; his two shorthanded snipes were also tied for the league lead.
...man that league must be terrible if Marcel Hossa is leading goal scorer.
Brashear, Voros Are Tough Guys
Both Donald Brashear and Aaron Voros landed on Fox Sports' "Tough Guy Tracker" after their bouts this week...10. Aaron Voros, NY Rangers
Tuesday, bloody Tuesday. New York's Aaron Voros beat Washington's Matt Bradley to a pulp on Nov. 17 at Madison Square Garden. But Bradley scored the biggest blow of the night as the Caps stitched-up forward returned to the ice to bury the game-winner late in the third period.
Tuesday, bloody Tuesday. New York's Aaron Voros beat Washington's Matt Bradley to a pulp on Nov. 17 at Madison Square Garden. But Bradley scored the biggest blow of the night as the Caps stitched-up forward returned to the ice to bury the game-winner late in the third period.
2. Donald Brashear, NY Rangers
Rangers tough guy Donald Brashear celebrated his 1000th NHL game by dropping the gloves with Atlanta's Eric Boulton on Nov. 12th. Like so many who came before him, Boulton was no match for the veteran pugilist that night.
Rangers tough guy Donald Brashear celebrated his 1000th NHL game by dropping the gloves with Atlanta's Eric Boulton on Nov. 12th. Like so many who came before him, Boulton was no match for the veteran pugilist that night.
...look at Voros getting some props other than for being a human punching bag.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Where's the Secondary Scoring?
Dan Rosen at NHL.com asks just that...
"That was the Rangers' biggest problem last season and it was supposed to go away with Tortorella and his aggressive forechecking system now in play. But lack of secondary scoring appears to be haunting this team once again."
John Tortorella said the forechecking, which is supposed to be a key component of his aggressive system, has been inconsistent...
"The one thing we are trying to work on is to develop more of a forechecking attitude," the coach said. "We had it at times (Tuesday) and others we didn't."
...Torts has definitely been taking hits today as his aggressive system, which worked so well earlier in the season, has seemed to fizzle.
...you have to start to wonder if this system is suited for a Rangers team filled with grinders, not snipers.
...he better figure this out fast or the fan base will turn on him in a New York minute.
"That was the Rangers' biggest problem last season and it was supposed to go away with Tortorella and his aggressive forechecking system now in play. But lack of secondary scoring appears to be haunting this team once again."
John Tortorella said the forechecking, which is supposed to be a key component of his aggressive system, has been inconsistent...
"The one thing we are trying to work on is to develop more of a forechecking attitude," the coach said. "We had it at times (Tuesday) and others we didn't."
...Torts has definitely been taking hits today as his aggressive system, which worked so well earlier in the season, has seemed to fizzle.
...you have to start to wonder if this system is suited for a Rangers team filled with grinders, not snipers.
...he better figure this out fast or the fan base will turn on him in a New York minute.
Zipay Live Chat @ 1pm
Steve Zipay at Blue Notes will host his weekly live web chat at 1 p.m. today. To participate click here.
Rangers Continue to Plummet in Power Rankings
SI.com drops the Rangers three spots to #16 in their recent power rankings...
16. Rangers - They'd dropped five of six on the road before heading to Ottawa and were playing without Chris Drury and Brandon Dubinsky, so even a shootout win had to feel like a series clincher. They are just 4-7-1 since that blazing 7-1 start, and their flaws were apparent even in victory. For a team that's supposed to be playing a puck possession game, they don't actually possess the puck often enough. Last week: 1-1.
While Fox Sports drops the Blueshirts from #14 to #18...
18. Rangers - A minor-league call-up came to the Rangers rescue in Week 7. P.A. Parenteau's shootout goal against Ottawa in the seventh round of the extra session gave New York its only victory of the week. The Rangers� ninth-ranked power play only connected once in eight tries last week.
Finally, CBS Sports actually keeps the Rangers at #17 this week...
17. Rangers - Defenseman Marc Staal leads the Rangers in ice-time with 22:29 per game, but he's minus-6 in the past 11 games and pointless on the power play this season.
16. Rangers - They'd dropped five of six on the road before heading to Ottawa and were playing without Chris Drury and Brandon Dubinsky, so even a shootout win had to feel like a series clincher. They are just 4-7-1 since that blazing 7-1 start, and their flaws were apparent even in victory. For a team that's supposed to be playing a puck possession game, they don't actually possess the puck often enough. Last week: 1-1.
While Fox Sports drops the Blueshirts from #14 to #18...
18. Rangers - A minor-league call-up came to the Rangers rescue in Week 7. P.A. Parenteau's shootout goal against Ottawa in the seventh round of the extra session gave New York its only victory of the week. The Rangers� ninth-ranked power play only connected once in eight tries last week.
Finally, CBS Sports actually keeps the Rangers at #17 this week...
17. Rangers - Defenseman Marc Staal leads the Rangers in ice-time with 22:29 per game, but he's minus-6 in the past 11 games and pointless on the power play this season.
Gaborik Hart Trophy Candidate; Del Zotto for Calder
Pierre LeBrun at ESPN.com gives out his quarter pole awards and names Marian Gaborik as a Hart Trophy Finalist saying..."...Gaborik and Kopitar have carried their teams offensively, and you wonder where those clubs would be without them..."
LeBrun's Hart quarter pole winner is Rick Nash.
For Calder, Lebrun nominates Michael Del Zotto noting...
"...Del Zotto has been a power-play and puck-moving sensation..."
Calder quarter pole winner is James van Riemsdyk.
...no Jack Adams nod for Torts? Just kidding.
Video: Highlights & Torts on Loss to Caps
Wednesday Headlines
The Journal News - Take my word, Rangers playing better Newsday - Staple: Rangers too dependent on star
...ya think?
New York Times - In Ovechkin’s Return, a Teammate Is Key
New York Times - Shanahan Retires After 21-Year Career
New York Post - Ovechkin tops Gaborik and Rangers in return
New York Post - Avery grinds with old gusto
New York Post - Fleury sorry Rangers saw him at his worst
New York Post - Rangers roughed up as offense fizzles
Daily News - Rangers can't outgun Caps at Garden
Daily News - Shanny hangs 'em up
The Bergen Record - Caps, Ovechkin too much for Rangers
The Bergen Record - Rangers notes
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Rangers Talk Loss to Capitals
Rick Carpiniello at the Rangers Report had these post game quotes...
Tortorella said that Gilroy was at fault for the third goal...
“It’s a little bit of inexperience on Gilly,” Tortorella said. “With Reds (Redden) there, Gilly’s got to pull out. He does a good enough job getting back because he’s such a good skater, but he, in that situation—and it’s inexperience—even if he takes a penalty he can’t allow that shot to be taken. I thought he had an opportunity to stop it. But we’ve got a kid there that is still understanding some of those things. You can tell he doesn’t want to take a penalty, but at that point in time I’d soon kill a penalty because we can’t have that type of shot. The first part of it is he needs to realize that he needs to pull out with Reds stuck on the boards there a little bit. It’s inexperience. It’s a bump, and he’ll learn from it.”
Redden took some responsibility, too...
“There’s a battle along the board and they just try to flip it up and I had it. I kind of missed whacking it down with my hand. I knew there was a guy coming, and I kind of turned around and it took a bounce … and they end up getting a break off it. That time of the game, no matter what, you’ve got to be extra sure and not have those things happen, be caught on the wrong side of a guy. They made us pay.”
Lundqvist, who swung his stick downward like an ax and broke it on the ice after the buzzer sounded, said..
“We did enough good things tonight to win this game,” Lundqvist said. “They scored a late goal there and it’s tough for us. We worked really well, I think, and made some great plays. … We don’t have to adjust a lot. We’re right there.”
“I think I could be more aggressive. I saw him going for the shot and I was a little bit more on my heels than on my toes there. As a goalie you want to come up with a big save there at a crucial time of the game. I didn’t.”
Here are quotes released by the Rangers after the game...
John Tortorella on tonight’s game…
“I thought, for most of the game there, we played. Obviously our biggest weakness is that we are not getting any secondary scoring. We played in surges at times. We held them to 11, 12 scoring chances. We just aren’t creating enough with our secondary scoring.”
Henrik Lundqvist on tonight’s game…
“You have to be positive and you have to think you’ll turn this around. We had a big win the other night and we just need to have a couple in a row and get going. Now we’re back to square one again. We have a couple of days off between games and we have to make sure we’re ready for the next one.”
Marian Gaborik on tonight’s game…
“We’ve got to capitalize and try and score on those hardworking, grinding plays. We just have to cut down on taking penalties and go from there. We didn’t generate a lot of shots, that was a problem there. We came back in the third, we had some good chances down low and we need to keep the puck down low more often.”
Wade Redden on creating offensive chances…
“I think a lot of things stem from getting the puck in their zone. It starts from our end, where we get good passes, chip it in and forecheck. It is not just shots, it is creating momentum. I think we just have to rely on the simple little plays to create chances for ourselves.”
Tortorella said that Gilroy was at fault for the third goal...
“It’s a little bit of inexperience on Gilly,” Tortorella said. “With Reds (Redden) there, Gilly’s got to pull out. He does a good enough job getting back because he’s such a good skater, but he, in that situation—and it’s inexperience—even if he takes a penalty he can’t allow that shot to be taken. I thought he had an opportunity to stop it. But we’ve got a kid there that is still understanding some of those things. You can tell he doesn’t want to take a penalty, but at that point in time I’d soon kill a penalty because we can’t have that type of shot. The first part of it is he needs to realize that he needs to pull out with Reds stuck on the boards there a little bit. It’s inexperience. It’s a bump, and he’ll learn from it.”
Redden took some responsibility, too...
“There’s a battle along the board and they just try to flip it up and I had it. I kind of missed whacking it down with my hand. I knew there was a guy coming, and I kind of turned around and it took a bounce … and they end up getting a break off it. That time of the game, no matter what, you’ve got to be extra sure and not have those things happen, be caught on the wrong side of a guy. They made us pay.”
Lundqvist, who swung his stick downward like an ax and broke it on the ice after the buzzer sounded, said..
“We did enough good things tonight to win this game,” Lundqvist said. “They scored a late goal there and it’s tough for us. We worked really well, I think, and made some great plays. … We don’t have to adjust a lot. We’re right there.”
“I think I could be more aggressive. I saw him going for the shot and I was a little bit more on my heels than on my toes there. As a goalie you want to come up with a big save there at a crucial time of the game. I didn’t.”
Here are quotes released by the Rangers after the game...
John Tortorella on tonight’s game…
“I thought, for most of the game there, we played. Obviously our biggest weakness is that we are not getting any secondary scoring. We played in surges at times. We held them to 11, 12 scoring chances. We just aren’t creating enough with our secondary scoring.”
Henrik Lundqvist on tonight’s game…
“You have to be positive and you have to think you’ll turn this around. We had a big win the other night and we just need to have a couple in a row and get going. Now we’re back to square one again. We have a couple of days off between games and we have to make sure we’re ready for the next one.”
Marian Gaborik on tonight’s game…
“We’ve got to capitalize and try and score on those hardworking, grinding plays. We just have to cut down on taking penalties and go from there. We didn’t generate a lot of shots, that was a problem there. We came back in the third, we had some good chances down low and we need to keep the puck down low more often.”
Wade Redden on creating offensive chances…
“I think a lot of things stem from getting the puck in their zone. It starts from our end, where we get good passes, chip it in and forecheck. It is not just shots, it is creating momentum. I think we just have to rely on the simple little plays to create chances for ourselves.”
Capitals 4, Rangers 2
The New York Rangers (11-9-1) lost to the Washington Capitals (13-4-4) by the score of 4-2, tonight. For a recap and box score go to Yahoo! Sports and newyorkrangers.com.
...is this team ever going to learn to stay out of the box? The sad thing is that Callahan even said before the game that cutting down on penalties was going to be key. You just can't give a team like the Capitals power play opportunities.
...so is anyone besides Gaborik going to score?
...i was all ready to write about what a great game Redden had and then he had to go and do this:
...is this team ever going to learn to stay out of the box? The sad thing is that Callahan even said before the game that cutting down on penalties was going to be key. You just can't give a team like the Capitals power play opportunities.
...so is anyone besides Gaborik going to score?
...i was all ready to write about what a great game Redden had and then he had to go and do this:
...however, Gilroy has to do better job stopping Bradley from getting a shot off. Heck tackle the guy if you have to.
...back-to-back games for the real Sean Avery. Loved the punch to Varlamov's head.
...Voros must not be allowed to win a fight as the linesmen jumped in as soon as he was ready to pound on Bradley. He did draw blood so I think that technically means he won.
...two words for Tortorella: faceoff practice.
...two words for Glen Sather: Evgeni Grachev. Why not, the offense can't get any worse.
...who knew Drury had so much impact on the offense.
...three days off for the Rangers to figure this out before Florida comes to town.
Rangers vs. Capitals (Game 21)
The New York Rangers (11-8-1) host the Washington Capitals (12-4-4) tonight at MSG starting at 7:00 p.m. For a preview go to Yahoo! Sports.
TV: Versus; Radio: ESPNRadio (1050AM)
Probable Lines:
Lisin-Prospal-Gaborik
Parenteau-Higgins-Kotalik
Avery-Anisimov-Callahan
Voros-Boyle-Brashear
Staal-Girardi
Del Zotto-Rozsival
Redden-Gilroy
Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist - 9-6-1, 2.51 gaa, .920 sv%, 1 so.
Semyon Varlamov - 7-1-0, 2.67 gaa, .910 sv%, 0 so.
Opponent Notes:
- Alex Ovechkin returns to the Capitals lineup tonight after missing six games with an upper-body injury.
- Ovechkin has 10 goals and eight assists in 17 games against the Rangers.
- The Capitals were 4-2-0 with Ovechkin out of the lineup.
Opponent Blog:
Japers' Rink
TV: Versus; Radio: ESPNRadio (1050AM)
Probable Lines:
Lisin-Prospal-Gaborik
Parenteau-Higgins-Kotalik
Avery-Anisimov-Callahan
Voros-Boyle-Brashear
Staal-Girardi
Del Zotto-Rozsival
Redden-Gilroy
Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist - 9-6-1, 2.51 gaa, .920 sv%, 1 so.
Semyon Varlamov - 7-1-0, 2.67 gaa, .910 sv%, 0 so.
Opponent Notes:
- Alex Ovechkin returns to the Capitals lineup tonight after missing six games with an upper-body injury.
- Ovechkin has 10 goals and eight assists in 17 games against the Rangers.
- The Capitals were 4-2-0 with Ovechkin out of the lineup.
Opponent Blog:
Japers' Rink
Shanahan Retires
NHL.com reports that after 21 seasons, Brendan Shanahan announced his retirement from the NHL today.Statement from Shanahan...
"I would like to thank my family and all of the friends who have helped me achieve and maintain my childhood dream of playing in the National Hockey League," Shanahan said. "I am enormously grateful to all of my coaches and teammates I've had the privilege of learning from and playing along side of, throughout my career. While I always dreamed of playing in the NHL, I can't honestly say that I would have ever imagined that I'd be this fortunate and blessed. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has helped me fulfill this dream."
...it's always tough having a star on the backside of his career on your team. On one end you're excited to have a player of his talent on your team. On the other, the talent isn't quite what it used to be. Which is why I always felt guilty criticizing the elder Shanahan and begging that the Rangers organization not re-sign him. Still the right decision as far as I'm concerned.
...what's not tough is praising Shanahan for an amazing career and knowing how lucky I was to see him in the uniform of the team I root for. His leadership is second to only one and his name is Mark Messier.
...Shanahan will always have a place in Rangers fans' hearts for this...
Callahan: We Have to Stay Out of the Box
Steve Zipay at Blue Notes spoke to Ryan Callahan about the key to tonight's game against the Capitals..."We definitely have to stay out of the penalty box against the Caps. There's no problem killing the occasional boarding or whatever in the defensive zone, it's the interference, holding, hooking in the offensive zone that we have to avoid."
...that's been a problem all year. If they can't cut down on the penalties tonight they have no chance of winning.
Zipay also has this quote from John Tortorella on what the Rangers need to do better that they didn't in the first 20 games of the season.
"One of the key things we need to improve on is having the puck more, that's our main concentration, especially tonight. They've got a number of good offensive people; I think of late, when we're not winning as games as we were early, it's not having the puck enough. Faceoffs, yeah, and we've had chances to have it, we've been there first and we haven't kept it. Prior to Lee's goal the other night against Ottawa, we have a good forecheck with Parenteau, it goes to Kotalik's stick and he slaps it away somewhere instead of turning his back and holding it. Those types of plays, when you have a chance to keep the puck, it's keeping it so you can create some offense."
Ovechkin, Varlamov in for Caps
Andrew Gross at Ranger Rants confirms that Alex Ovechkin will be in the line-up for the Capitals tonight.
...awesome (insert sarcasm here).
Gross also reports that Semyon Varlamov will start in goal for Washington.
...hopefully the Rangers figured out how to solve Varlamov over the summer.
...awesome (insert sarcasm here).
Gross also reports that Semyon Varlamov will start in goal for Washington.
...hopefully the Rangers figured out how to solve Varlamov over the summer.
Rangers Up and Down in Power Rankings
The Rangers dropped from #14 to #20 in the recent The Hockey News power rankings...
20. Rangers - It wasn't quite Marek Malik from a few years back, but Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau's shootout-winner in the seventh round against Ottawa certainly registers as a surprise.
...it's P.A. to you mister.
However, TSN has moved the Rangers up three spots to #10...
10. Rangers - Though he only has four points, Hobey Baker winner Matt Gilroy is tied (with Brandon Dubinsky) for the Blueshirts' team lead at plus-7.
...wow, that's a big discrepancy in rankings.
20. Rangers - It wasn't quite Marek Malik from a few years back, but Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau's shootout-winner in the seventh round against Ottawa certainly registers as a surprise.
...it's P.A. to you mister.
However, TSN has moved the Rangers up three spots to #10...
10. Rangers - Though he only has four points, Hobey Baker winner Matt Gilroy is tied (with Brandon Dubinsky) for the Blueshirts' team lead at plus-7.
...wow, that's a big discrepancy in rankings.
Tuesday Headlines
Newsday - Rangers putting Redden back on power playNewsday - Former Ranger Fleury writes about life
New York Times - Sharks’ Ortmeyer Keeps Playing Despite Risk of Blood Clots
New York Post - Rangers to face matchup issues
Daily News - Redden slowly regaining form
The Bergen Record - Injured Ovechkin may make return at Garden
The Bergen Record - Rangers' up next
Monday, November 16, 2009
Not Again!!!
TSN is reporting that Alex Ovechkin appears set to return from his injury layoff tomorrow against the Rangers.Asked after Monday morning's practice whether Ovechkin would be back in the lineup, coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters: "As of today, he is."
Ovechkin sustained an upper-body injury against Columbus on Nov. 1.
...you've got to be kidding me. First Kovalchuk now Ovechkin. Where's the luck?
Still No Drury; Parenteau Goes Down During Practice
Andrew Gross at Ranger Rants says Chris Drury was not at practice today and that there is still no timetable for his return.
In a scary moment at practice, P.A. Parenteau was injured when a shot by Christopher Higgins deflected and hit him in the right ear. Parenteau had to be helped off the ice and was shaken for but returned within a few minutes. “I’m fine now,” Parenteau said in the dressing room afterwards, with blood pooling in his right ear.
...Higgins now has a better percentage hitting teammates with the puck than the back of the net.
The lines remained the same from Saturday's game vs. the Senators.
Gross also has a post on Tortorella looking to increase Wade Redden's power play time, while pulling back time from Marc Staal...
“He’s met us halfway, I think he’s played decently for us,” Tortorella said of Redden. “I look at Reds, we’re trying to rehabilitate him. He very well recognizes it. I think he assessed his play last year, where he wants to play better. I think he has. I think he’s been steady. I don’t think he’s been great. I don’t think he’s been bad. He’s been steady and that’s what we need out of him, especially with four young guys back there. He has steadied himself and it’s a road he continues to build on and that’s what we’re cognizant of. If he steadies himself and we think he can handle more, we’ll give him more.”
While, Steve Zipay at Blue Notes has this quote from Torts...
"We’re looking to maybe expand his (Redden’s) role a little bit, and we’re also a little concerned with Marc (Staal), that he gets the most important part of his game down, and that’s the 5 on 5," coach John Tortorella said today."
...while Redden will never be worth his contract he has definitely put together a solid season.
...will be nice to see Staal focus on what he's best at which is shutting down the opponent's best players.
In a scary moment at practice, P.A. Parenteau was injured when a shot by Christopher Higgins deflected and hit him in the right ear. Parenteau had to be helped off the ice and was shaken for but returned within a few minutes. “I’m fine now,” Parenteau said in the dressing room afterwards, with blood pooling in his right ear.
...Higgins now has a better percentage hitting teammates with the puck than the back of the net.
The lines remained the same from Saturday's game vs. the Senators.
Gross also has a post on Tortorella looking to increase Wade Redden's power play time, while pulling back time from Marc Staal...
“He’s met us halfway, I think he’s played decently for us,” Tortorella said of Redden. “I look at Reds, we’re trying to rehabilitate him. He very well recognizes it. I think he assessed his play last year, where he wants to play better. I think he has. I think he’s been steady. I don’t think he’s been great. I don’t think he’s been bad. He’s been steady and that’s what we need out of him, especially with four young guys back there. He has steadied himself and it’s a road he continues to build on and that’s what we’re cognizant of. If he steadies himself and we think he can handle more, we’ll give him more.”
While, Steve Zipay at Blue Notes has this quote from Torts...
"We’re looking to maybe expand his (Redden’s) role a little bit, and we’re also a little concerned with Marc (Staal), that he gets the most important part of his game down, and that’s the 5 on 5," coach John Tortorella said today."
...while Redden will never be worth his contract he has definitely put together a solid season.
...will be nice to see Staal focus on what he's best at which is shutting down the opponent's best players.
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