Highlights of the Rangers 2-1 overtime loss to the Sabres on Sunday night. Henrik Lundqvist was sensational all game but Ryan Miller was just a little better, enough to give his team the edge in a hard fought contest.
John Tortorella speaks to the media following the loss.
There weren’t many highlights during the Capitals 2-0 defeat of the Blueshirts but here’s the video.
John Tortorella addresses the media following his team’s loss.
Ryan Callahan scored twice to lead the Rangers to a 4-1 win.
The Rangers began their post Olympic push for the playoffs, minus injured stars Marian Gaborik and Michael Del Zotto, by disposing of the Ottawa Senators 4-1 at Scotia Bank Place tonight. After falling behind 1-0, the Blueshirts roared back with a 4 goal second period keyed by Ryan Callahan, who scored twice. Henrik Lundqvist was nearly flawless in goal making 24 saves to record his 25th win of the season.
Thumbs Up- Enver Lisin, who was put on waivers earlier in the day, had his best game in over a month and obviously used the situation as a motivational tool. Erik Christensen continued his strong play assisting on 2 goals and playing an impressive two way game. Brandon Dubinsky was a factor all over the ice, playing a physical contest and also scoring the go ahead goal during the second period offensive outburst. Chris Drury kept his recent string of inspiring play alive with another huge performance on the penalty kill. Corey Potter impressed with his steady play.
Thumbs Down- Jody Shelley was about as effective as Donald Brashear has been so far this season as he looked lost during a matchup that didn’t call for much physical play. Olli Jokinen had a pedestrian effort coming off a very strong showing in Vancouver. Dan Girardi, who has been the subject of numerous trade rumors, did nothing to make Glen Sather think twice about including him should the right deal come along before 3 PM tomorrow.
Three Stars
3- Sean Avery- “The Grate One” looked rested and ready following the break and was able to find his edge without going overboard. His hard work on the forecheck and his willingness to crash the net paid off early in the second period when he scored off a beautiful feed from Enver Lisin to give the Blueshirts a 3 goal cushion. A late scrum with Matt Cullen, which followed Cullen’s mistimed attempt at a body check and possible elbow to Avery’s head, finished Avery’s night a few minutes early but served notice that he is ready for what promises to be a rough and tumble run for the postseason.
2- Henrik Lundqvist- Lundvist led all Olympic netminders in Goals Against Average (1.34) and shutouts (2) and looked very solid between the pipes in his return to the Blueshirts. While the Senators did not mount the kind of offensive attack you would expect from a squad featuring Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Alex Kovalev, Lundqvist made the few tough chances he had look effortless and was the biggest reason that the Rangers picked up two important points on the road.
1- Ryan Callahan- Callahan was all over the ice tonight and took over the game during a raucous second period in which he not only got the Rangers even with a beautiful rush and top shelf goal to start the onslaught at :22 of the frame but also giving the team a 2 goal lead by slipping a backhanded rebound past sprawling Senators backstop Brian Elliot at the 17 minute mark. Without Gaborik in the lineup, the Rangers needed someone to step up and lead the offensive and tonight Ryan Callahan made himself that person, showing once again why he wears the “A” and why he is one of the few “untouchables” on the squad as the trade deadline nears.
The Rangers made a move today before the league’s mandated Olympic trade feeze and acquired veteran tough guy Jody Shelley from the San Jose Sharks for a conditional draft pick.
Shelley, 34, is in the last year of his contract which pays him $725,000. In 517 career games, Shelley has 14 goals and 29 assists with 1310 penalty minutes. The 6-3, 225 lb. bruiser is expected to fill the role that the club had hoped Donald Brashear would fill when he was signed over the summer.
The pick that was sent to San Jose is a sixth rounder in 2011, if Shelley re-signs with the Rangers it will become a fifth round pick.
With the acquisitions of Brandon Prust from Calgary two weeks ago and Shelley today, it looks like the Rangers careers’ of Donald Brashear and Aaron Voros both may be coming to an end in the very near future.
The official release can be found here.
Highlights of the Rangers 2-1 loss to the Kings.
John Tortorella speaks to reporters after his team’s defeat.
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.
Highlights of the Rangers’ fifth straight loss, a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Phoenix Coyotes Saturday night in Glendale.
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.