Guess What? Rangers Win In Shoot-out
Sunday, December 14, 2008
After being totally beaten down by the Devils on Friday by a score of 8-5, The Blueshirts escaped again with a shoot-out win over the Carolina Hurricanes. There's no need for me to discuss the Devil game in detail. We all saw what happened (Devils basically kicked sand in the Rangers faces). I'd rather talk about the victory over the Hurricanes - as well as the positives.
Henrik Lundqvist, who's been left out to dry quite a bit lately, was back to his regular MVP-like self. Carolina outshot the Rangers 31-29. Again, I can't stress enough, this team goes as the King goes. Plain and simple. I just wish more players would step up and be as professional as Henrik is.
The game itself was rather uninspiring as both team played it close to the vest, almost hoping for OT or a shoot-out. The Rangers opened up the scoring on a nice passing play by Zherdev to Gomez, finished off by Naslund on... hold it now, a PP goal?! Woo-hoo! Carolina then tied it up on a Tuomo Ruutu goal just 22 seconds later (nothing like taking the air out of a balloon). Then, Blair Betts took a nice pass from Freddie Sjostrom, on a shorthanded chance, and buried a snap shot for a 2-1 lead. In the 2nd, Ray Whitney blasted a wristshot past a screened Lundqvist to make it a 2-2 game.
In OT, Lundqvist as usual had to make the harder saves to get the Blueshirts to a shootout. In the shootout, Naslund, Zherdev, Sjostrom, and Gomez all missed their shots. As a result, this allowed Drury to play the hero with a nice fake and backhand past Cam Ward. Lundqvist then stymied Justin Williams on the final shot, for the win. It's nice to get the 2 points, but the leaders and top lines need to pick it up. When the 3rd and 4th lines show more passion and better overall play - something is wrong.
As for this road trip to California... boy, they had better be rested and ready to play at the puck's dropping. The Ducks and the improving Kings will be tough. Let alone going into San Jose (Boy, are they good)! The Rangers are going to have to play smart, intelligent, and physical hockey on the road trip. Over and out!
Oh... and by the way. Sean Avery's available now? Hmm.
18 comments:
Hello Chris..another not so impressive win however a win....Avery was cut loose by the Stars...he may be had at a low cost yet still...trade Roszi for him...waive Kalinin and sign McLaren and bring up Potter...trade Dawes and Prucha and sign Shanny...that's a nice dream..eh
leatherneck:Leatherneck,looks like you might have future as GM. Sounds good to me.
It will be interesting to see how Dallas explains their problems now that they got rid of the convenient excuse.(Think Turco will stop a puck or two now?)
As for last nights game , I'll take the points even with the problems the Rangers have.
i would do that just to sign Shanny.
Do Work: DO WORK, with Shanny you would gain some respect from the opponents.
He also might add a little "O" as well. (Especially on the PP)
Of course! When Jags and Shanny were on the team, teams were afraid to play the rangers. Now no one is afraid at all. The team needs him, no matter if he is slow, which is a load of bull. Its not like the team is that fast anywayz.
Besides..Sundin isnt a teenager either,,,haha...nor does he bring to the Rangers what they need..no one calls Chelios slow in detroit like they do Shanny..yeah..i would make a great GM...Chris...one thing i do have is patience and foresight...as Redden would not have been signed by me...i would have awaited next years crop of free agents,,,,mainly Kommisarek
do work: DO WORK , I get in a lot of debates about who puts fear in the opposing "D". Jagr caused many "D" men sleepless nights knowing they had to face him one on one. Outside of Zherdev no one has that capability.
Shanny keeps you honest as an opponent. He could score, fight, and is a leader by example. Slow maybe at his age, but no slower than a few guys on the current roster.
leatherneck: I still don't understand all the fuss about Sundin. He scored 32 goals last year, a slight increase from who lead the Rangers in scoring. I believe Jagr and Drury tied with 25.
Oh and I called Chelios slow in a playoff game against Dallas last yr. Someone proceeded shred me apart on a personnel basis on my blog. (I know who it was) It was early when I first started my blog.
The story goes like this I pointed out that he looked slow, off balance and clumsy and Chelios never played aother game for the rest of the run to the cup. The truth hurts some times. Oh well.
Kommisarek....... that someone we could dream about.
shanny is an upgrade over, Dawes, and Fritsche. This team is like borderline dumb. Sign Shanny and get it over with.
do work: DO WORK, I think we will have to wait out this upcoming road trip for any changes to be made.
Shanny is definitely upgrade over Dawes and Fritsche (and maybe a few more).
bad vibes that the team is gonna get the crap beaten out of them this incoming week. San Jose and Anahiem sheesh they're lucky if they score a goal.
do work:DO WORK, The Rangers must show heart and toughness on this trip or it won't be pretty when they get back to NY.
I too am concerned, especially with San Jose. They are a dominating Hockey Team. Time to put up or ......
you get what I mean.
Kots---The King was like a Fathead once again in the shootout--Never gave in--never moved--Just waited---The guy is really amazing!!!--It would be an amazing feat if we could manage to win a game that din't have Henrik as one of the three stars!!!---I"m glad Zherdev played a smarter game last night ,because he sure looked bored and disinterested against the Devils--Lets not forget that game because if they don't get some grit in their game,we're going to see more and more teams come in and play us the way Sutter had the Devils play us---I mean come on after Orr and Voros what are we???As Ole Joe McGrath once said" a bunch of pussies"--We aint that big, but jeez come on use the size we have and push back!!!---Shanny may be slow, but he is quick enough to get into the high slot and do what he always did best--put those one-timers where nobody else seems to--in the net---hell I'd even settle for ON NET !!!---Slats probably would never consider Avery now, but you know what he was and still is just what the Rangers lack(besides PP scoring)--And I'm sure whoever looks in on him can put a gun to Dallas' head for at least half of the fishnagles!!!He sure would be a bigger pain in the ass to put up with than most of the Ranger fowards---I'd doubt if Parise or Gionta would have gotten away with their play against us if we had an Avery to do the same to them--Let the coaches deal with locker room conduct not the fans --As Avery said in the past--"I'm not here to make friends,I'm here to win hockey games"
mr.hockey: Mr.Hockey, You and all the Ranger fans know Lundqvist is our savior. There is no doubt about that.
Nice game plan by Sutter and the Devils, play tough physical hockey, take Orr and Voros off the ice and basically own the real estate.
Again, I believe results of this road trip will say a lot towards the destiny of this team.
I'd like to see the Rangers show some heart, toughness as a team (2 wins would help)and better support for Lundqvist.
Avery, Shanahan.... Who knows?
The Rangers finally ran into a team that was playing worse than them Saturday night. It was a better night in some ways when it came to defense. Some Rangers actually showed a level of emotional involvement when it came to making sure a Thrasher would not get a scoring chance.
The power play is still working on the premise that you shoot the puck in and chase it. If you catch up to the dumped in puck, then you send it further around the dashers. This is not how to set up a power play. Gomez seems to have one move and one play making scheme on every power play shift. He looks a lot like Jagr sorry to say. The bad Jagr is who I am referring to. On Dubinsky. Can someone tell the kid that after he gains the zone, which he does the best of any Ranger center, and dishes the puck that he should plant himself in the slot? Duby would get many more rebounds that way. As a matter of fact, The Rangers as a whole would score a lot more if they could get a few rebounds. Which they do not.
West Coast swings historically bring changes to Rangers rosters and or coaches. We shall see!
JohnM: JohnM, your exactly right about lack of rebound goals. You have to pay a price and look for the open area in the slot(not stay in one spot).
Dubinsky unfortunately is getting less ice time then he should (Has found no rhythm this yr).
This upcoming road trip is critical for the fortunes of the Rangers as team and maybe a few players as well.
Hello Chris, here we are 2 games in the Cali trip and 2-0 and quite impressive game against the Ducks and not so one against the Kings..on another note..i am very angry with the Rangers for even being in the Sundin conversations...now this clown is still not sure and I am getting sick of his childish games,,,he is a mere band aid to what we need and not even close to a solution...I liked that rumor about the Rangers and Thrashers deal..Kovolchuk..Exelby to the Rangers for Gomez, Dawes and Roszival...just take away the Goalies..Vali and Hedberg...Valiquette has been the best back up goalie we have had since Glen Healy
leatherneck: Leatherneck, @for 2 is awesome considering all the BS surrounding the Sundin Sweepstakes.
I will have a new posting up shortly. I liked the trade rumors with ATL as well.
Post a Comment