Pen-manship: Rangers Search For Answers After 2 Losses

With 8-3 and 5-2 losses to hang their heads on, the Rangers forge on. With back-to-back losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins in ugly fashion, the New York Rangers find themselves in a tumultuous situation.

Their record over the past 19 games is something to feel rather disgusted at (6-12-1), considering the team started out 7-1. Yet, despite the effort being adequate, the team has gaping holes in every part of the lineup.

For starters, the goaltending has not been up to par. Backup Steven Valiquette, whose been a journeyman throughout his career and found a home with the New York Rangers, started the 1^st game of a back-to-back with Pittsburgh and gave up 8 goals with the team around him playing very loose defensively. Henrik Lundqvist must share the blame as well. Although solid for the majority of the year and constantly making brilliant saves to keep the Rangers close, too many times Lundqvist has let a soft goal go in or not made the big save when needed.

The defense is becoming more and more exposed each game. Rookies Michael Del Zotto and Matt Gilroy have provided much needed offensive flair yet they’re young and inexperienced. Veterans like Michal Rosival and Wade Redden are supposed to provide veteran leadership.

While Redden has been steady so far this season, Rosival has been mediocre at best and him, combined with Redden, take up nearly $12 million in salary cap space. Marc Staal and Dan Girardi, the team’s number 1 D-pair, have been inconsistent at best, blowing a good number of defensive coverage’s each game.

Aside from Marian Gaborik, who has been an absolute savior, and Vinny Prospal, arguably the best off-season acquisition in Glen Sather’s tenure, secondary scoring has been non-existent. Christopher Higgins, part of the trade that sent Scott Gomez to Montreal, only has 2 goals. Captain Chris Drury, back in the lineup after suffering a concussion, has not provided enough offense for the amount of money he makes. Ales Kotalik, who started off hot and brought a revival to the Rangers’ power play, has fizzled lately and found himself in John Tortorella’s doghouse along with winger Enver Lisin, Tortorella’s apparent whipping boy.

The back-to-back series with the Penguins exposed the glaring weaknesses with the Rangers team this season. Management must have shared the same sentiment, executing some personnel moves this week with the team being off until Saturday’s match-up against Buffalo. The Rangers waived goalie Steve Valiquette and recalled net minder Chad “not Ocho Cinco” Johnson and claimed center Erik Christensen off waivers.

With Dubinsky still out with a broken bone in his hand, the Rangers are hoping Christensen, 25, can provide some offensive ability in his absence. The Rangers are hoping for an abundance of things at this point, some consistent hockey would be a starting point.

Tortorella’s Team Terrible in Coach’s Return to Tampa

Post-Game Thoughts:

• This is one of those games you want to forget as quickly as possible. Burn the tapes and pretend it never happened. Good thing the Rangers play tomorrow night.
• With Wade Redden out, rookie D Bobby Sanguinetti made his NHL debut. Trenton’s own has a good amount of work still left to do to be a mainstay in the NHL.
• Marian Gaborik and Vinny Prospal were held scoreless.
• Maybe Marty St. Louis is the answer the Rangers’ offensive woes? I’m sure John Tortorella would make the case as the star LW had a 3 assist night and looked phenomenal.
• Speaking of phenomenal, Steven Stamkos is the real deal and a future star in the NHL.
• Henrik Lundqvist was pulled in this game after the 4th Tampa Bay goal. No need to subject him to further humiliation and potential runs from the opposition.
• The only positive to take from this game is that Ryan Callahan scored his 1st goal in 8 games on a pretty feed from Artem Anisimov. Hopefully, this can kick start his offensive game.

Next Game: Right back at it Saturday 7:30pm in Pittsburgh to start a home-and-home.

Turkey Day

...Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Enjoy the company of your families and celebrate the best, and certainly most delicious, holiday there is!

Rangers Come Hungry, Leave Happy

Post-Game Thoughts:

• These are the types of wins that get teams to become a little bit more united for the cause. The Rangers lost D Wade Redden for most of the game with an injury and D Matt Gilroy for 17 mins in penalties. Playing with only 4 D is a tough task and the Rangers performed brilliantly.
• Marc Staal, taken aside by Tortorella in the last practice to discuss his inconsistent play, played 30:24 of ice-time. Think he had something to prove?
• Speaking of Gilroy, I’m thoroughly impressed SOMEONE had the fortitude on this team to step up for their teammates in this game and fight someone who was taking runs at people. Now he just needs some fighting lessons (x-mas gift maybe?)
• Donald Brashear may not win a fight till St. Patrick’s Day.
• I felt the Rangers played a really sound defensive game tonight. Aside from finishing checks, they had their sticks in the passing and shooting lanes all night, thwarting any kind of offensive attack by Florida.
• The Captain Chris Drury returned and had a decent return, showing no ill effects from the concussion he suffered. He looked good in Kotalik’s spot on the point on the 1st PP unit.
• Does it honestly surprise you to see that Marian Gaborik had the goal that put the Rangers on the board in this game? A brilliant deflection off a Chris Drury pass I might add.
• Does it honestly surprise you that Christopher Higgins hit 2 more posts?
• P.A. Parenteau is quickly becoming a shootout specialist. I think his overall game is coming around as he gets more and more comfortable and the points should follow.
• I’m sure Henrik Lundqvist wanted the shutout, yet he shut the door big time in the shootout, denying all 3 Panthers’ skaters.

Next Game: Friday 11/27 7:30pm @ Tampa Bay against John Tortorella’s former team the Lightning.

Jacket-less: Rangers Explode in 7-4 Drubbing of Columbus

Post-Game Thoughts:

• Who are you and what did you do with the real Rangers? A 7 goal outburst? It may seem like impostors since Rangers’ fans are not used to so much offense in one night.
• The same question can be asked for the Blue Jackets who, after getting a 2-0 lead, gave up 7 unanswered. Although, this is the same team last lost to Detroit 9-1 a couple weeks back.
• Say what you want but John Tortorella called the timeout at the perfect time in this game. Had he not, the Rangers could have sunken even further. The :30 second break plus Gaborik’s goal ignited the team.
• Nice to see Sean Avery pot 2 goals. Hopefully it’ll inspire the “Grate One’ to return to full form.
• With Brian Leetch in attendance, both Matt Gilroy and Michael Del Zotto scored Leetch-like goals, putting a smile on the Hall of Famer’s face. The future back line of the Rangers looks very bright.
• Lost in the shuffle; Artem Anisimov 1g 2a and P.A. Parenteau 2a (including a nifty backhand soft pass to open ice, springing Gilroy for his breakway goal). But, Parenteau’s has to bury his breakaway chance and not whiff on the shot.
• Rangers’ defensive zone breakdowns in coverage are still a cause for concern.
• Christopher Higgins might have found a home on the 1st line with Gaborik and Prospal.

Next Game: Beginning of a 3-game road trip Wednesday night in Florida against the Panthers 7:30pm start.

Panthers Speed Past Rangers 3-2

** Sorry again for another extended absence, between not having Versus and work I haven’t been able to watch many games.

Post-Game Thoughts:

• This is not your father’s Panthers team. They’re young, quick, aggressive, and a well rounded team throughout the roster. They may not have the star power, but they will outwork you for 60 minutes.
• You would think the Rangers, having 3 days off in between games, would’ve been the more energetic team. Not the team playing its 3rd game in 4 nights, that’s impossible…
• This loss means the Blueshirts are 4-9-1 in their last 14 after starting out 7-1. Thank god it’s only November, right?
• Also of note, the Rangers are 1-4 since losing both Chris Drury and Brandon Dubinsky to injury.
• The experiment to see who can play with Prospal and Gaborik’s line continues. Ales Kotalik got the call in this game and was absolutely dreadful. So much so that Tortorella publicly said after the game that he was taking him off there. Not good.
• Donald Brashear has no business being in the NHL anymore, let alone anywhere near the Rangers. His paychecks should go to charity.
• A backhand flip from the point that somehow made its way through Henrik Lundqvist’s legs was the difference in this game. Really Hank? Really?
• Marian Gaborik continues to show a “touch of clutch” if you will, scoring a 3rd period goal to make it a 3-2 game. It was his 1st shot of the game. However, his turnover at the blueline lead to Florida’s goal by Nathan Horton to make it 3-1.

Next Game: Tonight 7:00pm @ MSG against the Columbus Blue Jackets

Shanny Says Goodbye

Via TSN.ca, 8-time All Star Brendan Shanahan has announced his retirement today from the NHL. He played 21 seasons and will finish his career 11th all-time in Goals.

Thoughts:

• Shanny will go down as one of the greats. I really enjoyed his brief time on the Rangers (his fight with Brashear is a classic). If not for that concussion with Mike Knuble back in 2007, we could have seen great things from Shanahan. Congratulations on a stellar career.