Friday, February 12, 2010

Gaborik Update for Tonight (Updated with info on Brashear)

Update, 1:33 p.m.:
Steve Zipay and Andrew Gross are now reporting Gaborik seems doubtful for tonight after this comment...

"It's going to be more like a game-time decision," Gaborik said after skating for the first time since the incident. "I thought I was going to feel better...I felt a little bit better once I got going out there, but I don't have a lot of power in the leg or strength...when I try to push off, I feel a lot of pain there, no power, no strength, we'll just have to see."

...not as encouraging.

They both also report that Donald Brashear has cleared waivers. However no decision has been made on whether he'll stay with the team, go to Hartford or be released.

Original Post:
Steve Zipay is tweeting that Marian Gaborik was on the ice for this morning's optional practice and will make a decision after warm-ups whether he will play tonight against Pittsburgh.

...very encouraging.

Zipay also reports that Brent Johnson, not Marc-Andre Fleury, will be in goal for the Pens.

...Gaborik possibly back and facing a back-up goaltender!!! The Rangers might actually score more than two goals tonight.

5 comments:

-DO said...

We have a knack for making ordinary goalies look like Pat Roy. I remember hearing "both goaltenders are really on top of their games tonight; Brodeur has been simply amazing" which wouldn't be so strange, except we were shut out by Ottawa in that game, and he was talking about MIKE Brodeur who has all of ONE NHL game under his belt at the time. Also, i don't want to be too pessimistic, but Johnson has a career 1.74 GAA against NYR in 4 games. That means the Rangers will likely have to score at least 2. If they show up at all tonight (not s foregone conclusion - see Nashville) they might be able to pull it off.

NYCat69 said...

-DO - your comments are correct, but I've noticed that normally mediocre goalies tend to play like Hall of Famers in the Garden more than in away games.

Unknown said...

Gaborik should rest. What's he playing for?

He should sit out just to try and wake this team up and show them that THEY need to show up every night, just not him and Hank.

-DO said...

JoeR. True enough. MSG seems to bring out the best in otherwise ordinary goalies. I wonder how much of that is the MSG crowd booing their own team in close games and causing the Rangers to grip their sticks a bit tighter - leading to less pressure on goalies.

-DO said...

Jack - let's cross our fingers and hope they show up, whether or not he plays. You're right. He and Hank must be pretty sick of carrying this team. Only other person who shows up nightly is Callahan, but he still needs a year or two to ripen (and another 10-15 lbs wouldn't hurt, either). He kinda reminds me of Shanahan in his first couple of years with the Devils, before he really broke out with his scoring.