Highlights of the Rangers 3-1 win over the Devils.
Feb
03
2010
Kings 2 Rangers 1
Highlights of the Rangers 2-1 loss to the Kings.
John Tortorella speaks to reporters after his team’s defeat.
Feb
01
2010
Done Deal
After a long night and day of intense speculation all over the web, the news finally became official just after midnight as the Blueshirts completed their rumored trade with Calgary sending forwards Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins to the Flames in exchange for Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust.
Both players are expected to join the Rangers in Los Angeles tomorrow but there is no word yet whether they will be in the lineup versus the Kings.
Here is the official news via TSN.
The official release from the Rangers is here.
Jan
31
2010
Rangers 3 Avalanche 1
The Blueshirts snapped their losing streak and rookie Chad Johnson got his first career victory as the Rangers defeated the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 earlier tonight on the strength of Marian Gaborik’s first hat trick as a Ranger.
John Tortorella speaks to the media following the win.
Jan
31
2010
This Is NOT a Jokinen
Jokinen licking his lips at the prospect of centering Gaborik?
TSN Canada is reporting that the Rangers are close to announcing a deal that would send forwards Ales Kotalik and Christopher Higgins to the Calgary Flames for C Olli Jokinen and F Brandon Prust.
Jokinen, 31, has 11 goals and 24 assists in 55 games with the Flames this season. He is in the final year of his contract and will be an unrestricted free agent following the season.
Prust, 25, is a rugged forward who has 1 goal and 4 assists in 24 games this season. He will also be a UFA at season’s end.
Higgins was acquired by the Blueshirts this past offseason in the Scott Gomez trade with Montreal and the Long Island native has never really looked comfortable playing with his hometown club. Kotalik, who was another offseason acquisition of GM Glen Sather, never found his place on the ice and after a hot start has spent most of his time in the rafters over the last month instead of on the ice during games. Higgins is a UFA at season’s end and Kotalik still has two years remaining on the 3 year, 9 million dollar pact he signed over the summer.
Analysis: While it’s easy to call for Glen Sather’s head based on this team’s uneven and uninspired play this season and an obviously mismatched roster he put together, Rangers fans must admit that the man knows how to pull off a trade. If this deal goes through, The Rangers will acquire a proven scorer in Jokinen and a physical presence (who can fill the void that Donald Brashear hasn’t been able to) in Brandon Prust while subtracting a player in Higgins, who obviously had trouble with playing on this stage and also removing six million dollars off the books over the next two seasons by shedding the enigmatic Kotalik. This is a great move for the Rangers from every angle and if Jokinen prospers while he’s on Broadway, the Blueshirts will have the first crack at him in free agency once the season ends. I have to think, while the fans won’t be happy until the “W”’s come more frequently for this club, that this move will make more than a few of them smile and that the attendance at the upcoming “Fire Sather” rally may have just been thinned out a little by the wily old general manager.
Jan
30
2010
Coyotes 3 Rangers 2
Highlights of the Rangers’ fifth straight loss, a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Phoenix Coyotes Saturday night in Glendale.
Jan
28
2010
Hurricanes 5 Rangers 1
The Rangers lose their 4th straight game tonight to the Carolina Hurricanes at MSG. There is nothing left to say about how terrible this team is playing right now. It’s obvious no one in that locker room from the head coach on down has a clue how to get this team going offensively and after watching Wade Redden suit up night after night, there is obviously no accountability on this club either.
A delusional John Tortorella thinks all his team needs is a good road trip to get back on track. The problems are much deeper than that coach and if you can’t see that then you have worse eyesight than “Blind Man” Sather.
Jan
26
2010
Practice Notes: Kotalik Back, Power Play Struggles Continue
After the Rangers failed to score once again during 4 opportunities last night in a 4-2 loss to the Penguins, John Tortorella spent most of practice today working on his beleaguered unit’s need for more motion and creativity while getting bodies to the front of the net. To bolster the attack, Ales Kotalik, who had been a healthy scratch for the last six games, returned to practicing with the first unit and is expected to return to the lineup tomorrow night when the Carolina Hurricanes visit the Garden.
In other news, Chad Johnson was back at practice today for the Rangers after starting two games and making three appearances for Hartford (AHL) this weekend. Tortorella said he was unsure when Johnson would get another chance to start.
Erik Christensen and Donald Brashear are expected to be healthy scratches tomorrow night.
Jan
26
2010
Penguins 4 Rangers 2
Highlights of the Rangers 4-2 loss to the Penguins at MSG.
John Tortorella speaks to reporters following the Rangers third straight loss.