The New York Rangers (10-7-1) lost to the Calgary Flames (10-4-1) by the score of 3-1, tonight. For recap and box score go to Yahoo! Sports and newyorkrangers.com.
...tough way to end the trip as Calgary physically dominated and the Rangers end the game with two more injuries. Kiprusoff was the difference.
...way to stick up for your Captain fellas. Where's Brashear when you need him?
...another sub-par game from Valiquette. Not sure the Rangers can count on him to win them a big game.
...Higgins continues to display a renewed sense of confidence. Did you see the between the legs pass to Kotalik on the power play in the second period?
...nothing doing with the 'sloppy seconds' showdown. Phaneuf did have a nice open ice hit on Avery but other than that not much.
...three assists for Dawes? He didn't have three assists during his entire time with the Rangers.
...four days for the Rangers to get healthy, then Atlanta's in town on Thursday.
5 comments:
Brashear didn't dress, so it was obviously impossible for him to do anything. But you are right, besides for a little slash for Girardi following the next face off, the Rangers didn't do a thing. That is one thing that I really dislike about the Rangers the last few years. If someone did that to a Flyer, the other 4 players on the ice, and maybe even the goalie, would be going after the culprit, making him pay. The Rangers? They don't do a thing. Ever notice that when another team's goalie covers the puck, his teammates are always at the net pushing players away from their goalie? You never see that from the Rangers, even if there are 2-3 opponents crowding Lundqvist. I thought that this might have just been a Tom Renney passive type thing, but Tortorella obviously hasn't challenged these guys to defend the crease area.
Of course you can't count on Valiquette to win a big game, that's why he is the backup making $700k a year. If he could win a big game, he would be a starter somewhere.
Also, that 4-minute high sticking call on Kotalik was a crime. How do you let the Rangers control the puck for close to 20 seconds then call a penalty on them? I watch a ton of hockey and have been for along time, and I have never seen that kind of call. That was the difference in the game, as Iginla scored on the powerplay. I would have liked to have seen Tortorella display his inner Lou Piniella and cause a scene. Maybe it would have lit a fire under them.
Lastly, Ryan Callahan has got to step up the offense. 3 goals and 4 assists in 18 games? I think that many Ranger fans expected him to improve on last seasons solid 40 point season. Same with Drury (2 goals, 4 assists), although he might be out now. Bottomline is that they are relying too much on Gaborik, Prospal and, surprisingly, Ales Kotalik.
Nice analysis Brian. I totally forgot about the Kotalik highstick. As you said, criminal.
Giannone said the rulebook allows the linesman to call a penalty after the play is whistled down. I've never heard of that but at least they made an effort to explain why because I was fuming when that was called.
Valiquette is just...ugh
Briefly I though we should've kept Dawes *def Prucha* after tonights game but when you really think about it he DID get a pretty fair shot in NY. He would only score in small bunches. He simply must have gotten better in Calgary
Honestly I don't thin Valiquette played that poorly. If the Rangers could have snagged two or three goals they could have won this. The goals weren't that soft, it's just that the Rangers couldn't score.
I hope the douchebag that hit Drury gets suspended. That was awful.
Valiquette was not bad. No soft goals. Can't complain about your backup in that situation.
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