Steve Zipay at Newsday reports on how the big money deals for Scott Gomez and Chris Drury are paying off..."Eight months ago, the Rangers spent $87 million to sign free agents Chris Drury and Scott Gomez.
The wallet-busting, long-term deals weren't for their play in the middle of the regular season; the investment was for the battle-tested centers to deliver in crunch time.
Last night was just part of the payoff. Gomez, the former Devil who has points in 10 of his last 11 games, planted himself in front of goaltender Wade Dubielewicz and managed to redirect Marc Staal's shot into the net at 1:12 of the third period to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead in their 4-1 win over the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. It vaulted the Rangers past the Bruins into sixth place in the conference with 14 games to play.
Although former Sabre Drury is tied with Brendan Shanahan for the team lead in goals with 22, his contributions are more far-reaching.The Rangers led 2-0 early in the second period when Drury almost singlehandedly killed off a 51-second Islanders five-on-three power play. He won a faceoff, broke up a centering pass, blocked a shot and then slipped while contesting a play at the blue line, or he might have been sprung for a shorthanded breakaway courtesy of Shanahan's up-ice pass."
Although former Sabre Drury is tied with Brendan Shanahan for the team lead in goals with 22, his contributions are more far-reaching.The Rangers led 2-0 early in the second period when Drury almost singlehandedly killed off a 51-second Islanders five-on-three power play. He won a faceoff, broke up a centering pass, blocked a shot and then slipped while contesting a play at the blue line, or he might have been sprung for a shorthanded breakaway courtesy of Shanahan's up-ice pass."
...if you didn't think Gomez and Drury were worth the money before last night's game, you do now.
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