What happened on the shorthanded goal?

Ryan Callahan's shorthanded goal 7:23 into the third period tonight was the turning point in the game and stood up as the game-winner in the Rangers' 4-1 victory over the Devils.

Here's what I have from the key players involved.

Martin Brodeur on why he didn't just cover the puck: "I just wanted to keep the play going. I was only looking at Gomer. I didn't know (Callahan) was around. It's a simple play. Youv'e got to freeze that. The way I play, I try to keep the play moving. I made a mistake and it cost us."

Scott Gomez on how he got the puck past the three Devils that were around him (Mike Mottau, Sergei Brylin and Sergei Brlyin) and to the front of the net: I just took a little whack at it. I didn't really see it."

Mottau: "Everyone was whacking at it and I don't know who hit it, but that's unacceptable. We can't give up a shorthanded goal at that time of a game."

Brylin: The diference in the playoffs is in games like this you can't make those kind of mistakes on the power play. It was the turning point in the game. After that we had to look for the goal and (come out of their system) and that's not the way we're used to playing."

"We can't let up against these guys. That's what happened tonight. We gave them one or two chances and that was the difference in the game."

Brent Sutter: "He (Brodeur) saw everything on one side (of the ice) and when the puck was over on other side, he never saw the guy coming around the net. Obviously, if Marty knew he was there, the puck wouldn't have stayed there. He just wasn't aware that the guy was coming behind him. It was unfortunately, obviously. But the breakown actually occurred at the other end, (Greene) making a bad decision with the puck on the back end and allowing the rush to come at you and there were a couple of mistakes made in our zone before the puck even got to Marty not having the proper coverage."

Comments

[SC]

That goal was all Greene's fault, he gives up the puck in the offensive zone, then just stands there when Callahan skates around and knocks it in. No expression on Greene's face, as if he doesn't care.

[Mike]

Bullspit! Marty cost us the game. We were pressing and were going to score soon. That goal broke our backs.
No matter what you think and how blind your devotion to Marty may be, he cost us the game.
I have no doubt he will show up strong and continue to play his game. He made a mistake and he has done it before and bounced back.
What really gets me is how we have not been able to score any goals.
Stop hitting the post and PUT IT IN THE NET ALREADY!!!!!

[JN]

It goes without saying that if Elias doesn't bury his great chances and Marty makes a mistake like he did tonight, the Devils are going to have a hard time winning. And I can't figure out what this organization sees in Andy Greene ... he plays timidly, makes mistakes, and doesn't supply the offense he's supposed to be in the line-up for.

But let me say something about the crowd tonight. I have been going to Devils games since they moved to NJ in 1982 and I can't remember so many NYR fans being at a game and being so boisterous. Where are the Devils fans? Where are all the fans that were at the game on Sunday, when it was easily 65/35 or better Devils fans? My Hall of Fame goaltender got jeered in his home building, and that's a disgrace. I had to leave listening to "Lets Go Rangers" chants. Again, a disgrace! Devils fans, you'd better wake up and show up on Friday night or you might not get a chance to see the team again until October. If I can commute from Long Island for 40 games a year, the rest of you should be able to find your way to a few playoff games!

[DanT]

TG...... the marty and sarge comments are EXACTLY what i thought watching ......mistake in goal and ...off the system trying to comeback. its a tought thing to do and wheels fall off........on to game 2 .........

[DanT]

TG...... the marty and sarge comments are EXACTLY what i thought watching ......mistake in goal and ...off the system trying to comeback. its a tought thing to do and wheels fall off........on to game 2 .........

[Adam]

Whoa Whoa Whoa guys! It hurts to lose the game, but last time I checked you win and you lose as a team. That short handed goal was a series of break downs by a number of guys. We pressured their D hard but didn't finish most of our chances. Seems like (almost) everyone had some great plays, and some disappointing ones. We rang some posts and crossbars, but I'll take that better than missing the net altogether or popping it right into Henrik's huge pads.

Paul Martin was our best player tonight. Not just because of his goal, but because he, more than anyone else, looked cool and collected pretty consistently throughout. It's a cliche, but we're gripping the sticks a little tight and are a little over anxious in general, especially on our shots. Paul scored because he had the poise on the PP to find the opening, freeze Henrik and make him pay. And all that after being sent to the box on a pretty weak (dare I say, phantom?) interference penalty that essentially lead to that first Rangers goal. This team could learn a lot from his play tonight. Forcing things (including, but not limited to Marty trying to push the play foward instead of trying to freeze the puck) cost us tonight. We had the fire tonight, but rarely the patience to finish. A win in game two makes this series a long way from over I think.

[midnight]

JN-

Think about the crowd on Sunday, a weekend afternoon game. A lot of families and kids. That's not going to happen on a weeknight.

And it's easy to be boisterous and loud when you're half in the tank. The loudest Ragr fans in my area were young, single people, perhaps 20-30 years old, with a beer in each hand. And for every chant they put up, we chanted back.

I will say they better put security at the tops of the escalators as a fight nearly broke out in the concourse by 213/214 between one Devs fan and a group of Ragrs fans. Several older fans were shoved into and had to shove back, myself included. I'm a season ticket holder and I'll be d*mned if I'm going to put up with a bunch of drunks from NY.

[James]

Midnight-

Looks like you will be damned. They have a huge fanbase and we don't, and it's absolutely pathetic that there were so many ranger fans there. There will probably just be as many of them there Friday too.

[Brodie30]

I figured out what it is about the Rangers that gives the Devils fits. They are like a slower version of the Carolina Hurricanes. They play a stingy 1-4 that forces the Devils to dump. They are only interested in scoring if it's in transition or a powerplay. And no matter how much the Devils play better as a team than them... they get a lucky bounce and win. It doesn't hurt that the Devils can't score. Yes Lundquist made some big saves but he was also getting beat all night and the Devils couldn't hit net or they hit the post. I'm not buying him, I think he's fragile in big games. Only they are making him more confident.

[midnight]

James -

From up in 212, I'd say the crowd was at minimum 2/3 Devs fans. Any Devil fan who sold his tickets to a Ragr fan should be ashamed.

Notice we didn't get any Saturday or Sunday games?

[walt]

that carolina comparison is one i thought of during the game as well. rangers were blocking so many shots and passes during game one it looked alot like games 1-3 of that 2006 carolina series where they blocked a ton of devs shots. thing that is scary about that was i was going "theres no way cam ward is beating them " and he did and went faaaar beyond as well. i pray lunquist isn't on that same path. i couldn't stomach it.

[Matt]

Effin' Marty! How do you not cover that puck? A defensive breakdown leads to a goal on net and you don't cover it to give your teammates a chance to recover? What the 'eff? Cover the 'effin' puck! It's like all those "kick out saves" (also known as rebounds) that Marty gives to opponents. Just catch the darn puck and hold onto it! If he played like he wasn't the best goalie ever, we may have won tonight. King Lundquist 1- Brodeur 0

[Concerned fan]

My first post and I have to say it is a good thing Greene was on the ice when Marty let the soft goal in. Sutter likes place blame on certain players and it looks like Greene was the scape goat on that one when it was clearly Martys fault. However with that said can Sutter keep blaming Greene and the defense when the offense clearly CANNOT score goals. The Devils have been shut out more times this season then ever before. Is that Greenes fault, too? Or is it another defensive players fault? Maybe the coach should place blame where it is needed....THE COACH. The team is only as good as its coach, and one goal or no goals per game is not going to cut it. Sutter you can blame whoever you want, but come on.....teach your OFFENSE to score some goals, and when Marty and the defense lets a few in here and there it will not be a big deal.

[DG]

Yes sure, Brodeur should have covered the puck, but either way you aren't going to win scoring only 1 goal, I don't care how good Marty is he hasn't got any offensive support. None, zero.

[joe]

Brodeur needs to steal a series soon. I've watches so many no name goalies outplay him in the playoffs in recent years and its getting disturbing. Last year he cost us with so many deflating bad angle goals and this year he already cost us a chance to win. When you have a team like the devils who have a hard time scoring you just can't give away easy goals it just has to mentally deflate any team that has battled for 50 minutes and a tie game up to that point. Again just a reminder, good job Lou. I'm glad you didn't add any offense at the deadline and 'ruin the chemistry'. Your a joke of a GM, step down.

[Falcone]

I agree with an above post. You can't keep going to blame the D, when there's no O. Putting pressure on Lundquist is great, but unless they score, it means nothing. Our story all season. No one on offense shows up.

[Danofan355]

How do you spell aggravation? P-O-S-T. That game was great until Greene let Callahan in like he didn't care and Marty tried to keep the play moving. Sit Greene, he isn't helping us with his shots from the point if he plays lousy D.

[joe]

As for the ranger fans in the building, in reality I think it was 70/30 devil fans which is still a disgrace but it just seemed a lot worse toward the end. The 200's were just about 100% Devil fans, good showing. I look at it this way, if we were playing Ottawa in the first round we would have drew about 14,000 to this game. Instead it was a near sell out and it looks for the first time this year as if just about every single luxury box was sold. Lets hope we use whatever additional revenue the rangers are giving us and land some scoring in the offseason

[MoonDragn]

Thats the one thing I have not liked about Sutter, his ability to blame everyone but himself. Hey you're the coach. If you see a defensive breakdown you better get on them. He should have called a time out when they started playing sloppy on the power play. period.

I saw that breakdown coming a mile away, I knew Greene was going to have a problem with Calahan coming up because another Ranger was pressuring him on the right side. The forward behind that Ranger kind of just stood there and watched.

[concerned fan]

What do you think of the offense that cannot score? If you recall it was Martin that scored the Devils lone goal (yes...the defense scored, the offense did what???) Do you think you can win games scoring one goal. Greene was on the ice for ONE goal...the final score was 4-1. Greene is a rookie....Lets blame him for everything...oh and the bad ice...oh and the Rangers fan, they were obnoxious....oh and the Devils fans that stopped cheering for their team....Maybe the Devils do not deserve to go any further in the playoffs. They are ALL to blame not just Greene. I guess it is easier to blame one player, though. I am sure Greene will sit Friday...I guess the Stanley cup should be in the Devils possession in no time, right??? Just as long as Greene is off the ice the cup is the Devils. Yeah and I have some land I would like to sell you.

[Richer's Ghost]

The first poster got it right; as did Sutter. Brent Sutter: "the breakown actually occurred at the other end, (Greene) making a bad decision with the puck on the back end and allowing the rush to come at you and there were a couple of mistakes made in our zone before the puck even got to Marty not having the proper coverage."

3 guys watching the puck; the only D man back on the short side not covering the slot and anyone coming in the backdoor... all basic hockey concepts.

Greene - fail.

[Zavior]

We need more physical play by our defensemen, Greene should sit and Vishnevski should take his play. Vish likes hitting Gomez and Jagr and I am all for that.

Also Gionta had the best up close chances and missed that net everytime. Gionta needs to either show up and contribute in this series or we should trade him in the offseason for better prospects.

The defense made a routine play by Callaghan into a goal and Marty should have frozen the puck instead on trying to play it,
this is the playoffs and mistakes here cost goals you can't play with the puck in the crease, there is no excuse for that.

The 2nd power play unit (the one with no Elias, Parise or Langs) is a joke. They try to dump and chase the puck on the power play which is unheard of... we have the man advantage!

Hopefully we can pull out a win on Friday to keep this series interesting. I don't mean to dump on Marty, it's just that our offense is shitty'er than the Canucks so every goal that Marty let's just looks bad on him more than it should.

Gomez by the way had a unbelievable game. Too bad Lou did not even try to offer him a contract to stay, but then again we got his replacement (Zubrus) for 1/4th of Gomez's salary, who also happens to score 1/4th less goals that Gomez. Good job Lou!

[MikeP]

Sutter deserves fault for not switching up his lines at the tailend of this season while the offense has dropped to nil, but he wasn't the one out there on defense when Gomez and Callahan were able to just walk around Brylin, Greene and Brodeur which resulted in the goal. Is there any blame on Larry Robinson for not getting Greene to play better ? Is there any criticism of John MacLean because we've been just out a team record number of times this season ? Is there any criticism of Lou who replaced Gomez and Rafalski with zubrus and Rachunek, then decided he didn't want to tinker with team chemistry even through the team had been shutout a near team-record number of times before the deadline ?

[MikeP]

Sutter deserves fault for not switching up his lines at the tailend of this season while the offense has dropped to nil, but he wasn't the one out there on defense when Gomez and Callahan were able to just walk around Brylin, Greene and Brodeur which resulted in the goal. Is there any blame on Larry Robinson for not getting Greene to play better ? Is there any criticism of John MacLean because we've been just out a team record number of times this season ? Is there any criticism of Lou who replaced Gomez and Rafalski with zubrus and Rachunek, then decided he didn't want to tinker with team chemistry even through the team had been shutout a near team-record number of times before the deadline ?

[joe]

Do we have to endure another year with Sergei Brylin? this guy brings nothing to the table... Nothing and I have to watch this guy on my power play? pffft, what a joke.