It's pointless to point out this is a must-win game for the Rangers. It's been that way for a while now. The Panthers got walloped by the Devils, 7-2, so the Rangers can break the sixth-place tie at 70 points. The fifth-place Canadiens are hosting San Jose, which rarely loses and the eighth-place Sabres are at the Islanders, who rarely win.
John Tortorella's lines for tonight as he coaches his third game for the Rangers:
Markus Naslund-Scott Gomez-Nikolai Zherdev
Brandon Dubinsky-Chris Drury-Ryan Callahan
Nigel Dawes-Lauri Korpikoski-Petr Prucha
Fredrik Sjostrom-Blair Betts-Colton Orr
Henrik Lundqvist will make his 11th straight start, extending his season-high, and Mark Bell, Aaron Voros and Erik Reitz will be the healthy scratches.
The Rangers have not beaten Colorado at MSG since Nov. 20, 2001. I remember covering Glen Sather's first game as Rangers coach, an OT loss to the Avalanche (goal by future Ranger Greg de Vries), one of the crazier day in Rangers history. Sather pops onto the ice to conduct practice to widespread gasps, Mark Messier says in the locker room Slats had discussed the job with him prior to giving it to Bryan Trottier and then MSG boss Jim Dolan challenges the media to say what they really think of the Rangers. At the time, I had been on the beat all of three weeks.
Good pre-game chat with Brandon Dubinsky earlier this afternoon. Dubi had adjusted well to playing the wing and Torts seems inclined to keep him there for the time being in order to get Dubinsky playing among the top six forwards, rather than centering a third line.
"I haven't talked to him too much about where I'm playing," Dubinsky said. "Things are gong pretty well. I don't mnind wing at all. I miss taking faceoffs, otherwise I don't mind."
Obviously, the main thing to Dubinsky is being counted among the team's better players, which equates to more ice time under Tortorella.
"It's as important as anything. I like the role he's put me in. I've got to score, I've got to help create scoring opportunities."
Dubinsky has gone 14 games without a goal. Captain Chris Drury has gone a career-high 17.
Updates once the puck drops.
PRE-GAME UPDATE: Forgot to mention - Mike Hasenfratz and Dean Morton, the referee combination that brought you that ridiculous game January game in Chicago (11 power plays for Chicago, five five-on-threes) are working tonight's game. Of course, the Rangers did win that night so maybe this is good luck for the team.
UPDATE, 1:08 First period: Two goals on three shots to start the game isn't too bad. First Ryan Callahan completes a 2-on-1 with Brandon Dubinsky against Colorado D Brett Clark. Then, Lauri Korpikoski backhands a puck from behind the 'Lanche net to Nikolai Zherdev at the left post. Zherdev's backhander goes through the crease and in off Colorado D Ruslan Salei. They need to keep attacking and not give this back quickly.
UPDATE, 5:21 First period: I know Colorado's no good. But it's something more tonight. They don't want to play. The Rangers are beating them to every puck.
UPDATE, 13:24 First period: Before the game, Tortorella was saying he was going to give Prucha a whack - every opportunity to show he belongs in the lineup. But Tortorella said he needed Prucha to finish, to score some goals.
Prucha to new boss: OK, Torts, whatever you want.
Prucha getting the type of goal he used to thrive on, beating D Brett Clark to the puck in the crease and knocking in Lauri Korpikoski's pass.
UPDATE, 15:02 First period: First shot on Andrew Raycroft goes the same way as three of the nine shots against Peter Budaj. Scott Gomez, at the left post, tips in Marc Staal's one-timer off a pass from Nikolai Zherdev. This ties the Rangers season-high for goals in a period.
AFTER FIRST PERIOD: As just noticed, that's the most the Rangers have scored in a period since they had four in the first period at Philadelphia on Oct. 11. Rangers led that game, too, 4-0, after 20 minutes then held on for a 4-3 win. Don't see that happening tonight. The Avalanche are a disinterested bunch. Rangers will hold on for this one. You read it here first.
UPDATE, 4:56 Second period: Chris Drury breaks his long goal drought and on the five-on-three power play no less, which Tortorella called a killer in the 2-1 loss to the Panthers. Drury's streak, as noted above, was a career-high 17 games.
UPDATE, 13:05 Second period: Ryan Smyth breakaway makes it 5-1. Rangers Milan Hejduk and John-Michael Liles get the assists but it really should have gone to Dmitri Kalinin. The Rangers defenseman completely whiffed on the puck in the neutral zone, allowing Smyth to go free as he poked the puck up ice.
AFTER SECOND PERIOD: This is definitely what Dr. Tortorella ordered. I know there's 20 minutes left to play but let's just take a leap of faith and assume the Rangers will win a laugher. Even against the West's worst, this has to be a huge confidence boost to a team that, even though a change of coaches, was still squeezing the stick around the net. Sudden thought: maybe Jim Schoenfeld giving them great perspective on hwo it looks from the puck's point of view was a genius move. And I'm not trying to be snarky there. Yes, the 'Lanche are brutally bad tonight. But the Rangers are shooting from good angles at proper distances.
FINAL: RANGERS 6, AVALANCHE 1: Some local flavor: After Henrik Lundqvist got the first star, he flung his stick (gently) into the crowd to 11-year Avery Zaretsky of River Vale. "I'm probably going to keep it in my room," said Zaretsky, wearing a No. 30 Lundqvist jersey.
- John Tortorella, asked if this game was a milestone for him, deflected the conversation away from him.
"This isn't about me. I'm excited to be here. It's a privilege to coach for this organization, an Original Six team. But this is not about me. This is about a hockey team trying to find it's way that's been through a little bit of an ordeal the last few weeks. We're trying to clear our heads. It's about a team trying to get into the playoffs. It's not about me."
Great-Dubinsky likes the playing time-how about scoring a goal? That would be nice-and Drury too. He's one of my favorites and he is having an awful year-he needs to relax.
Posted by: Keith | February 28, 2009 at 07:04 PM
That's what I'm talking about-I'll take an assist Dubinsky! Now how about four more and I can breathe easy
Posted by: Keith | February 28, 2009 at 07:09 PM
Holy cow-these guys look worse than NY-I think this is just what the team needed.
Posted by: Keith | February 28, 2009 at 07:10 PM
That's an excellent observation Andrew-they really don't show any energy tonight. That's fine but in that case NY needs to score 5 to get their heads going in the right direction again. Callahan just rung one off the post that beat Budaj again
Posted by: Keith | February 28, 2009 at 07:30 PM
Where the heck did this come from? Hopefully it gives them some confidence now
Posted by: Keith | February 28, 2009 at 07:38 PM
Keith... this came from what's been hiding for months thanks to tom renney and his ridiculous "system"
Posted by: Godwin | February 28, 2009 at 07:47 PM
Well some of it is luck too-but the rest is a bad team on the other side. I hate to say it but the team is off for a while so they had to have this one as the teams fighting for a spot are going to be gaining and/or passing them.
Posted by: Keith | February 28, 2009 at 07:53 PM
To say that first period was one of the best periods of the year would be an understatemnt. All top three lines were dominant and possessed the puck the entire period. Callahan could have and maybe should have had a hat trickl in the first. The Dubi-Drury-Cally line was doing whatever they wanted. Dubi was throwing big hits and creating havoc. Korpikoski looked as good as he has all year. A month or so ago I thought he was a stone handed Sjostrom clone well he proved me 100% wrong. He looks like he could be a nice 3rd liner here. Zherdev had much more giddy up in his gamne and went forward and didn't try to beat 2-3 guys and smartly moved the puck. Hank made two very good saves otherwise he could have taken a nap. Budaj was either flopping around like a fish or having a seizure either way he is one of the worst goalies you'll ever see. The Avs sure seem to have mailed the season in. The only top 9 forward that wasn't visable in the first was Dawes. Imo the lineup would look alot better and probably be more effective with Avery in there over him. Plus you can get something back for Dawes. Nice to see Staal jump in the rush more and his D not suffer. Great to see Pruch score hopefully it will start him off on a big time hot streak.
Posted by: graves9 | February 28, 2009 at 07:57 PM
I am still calling for trades-I know I am not a GM but Sather should be burning his cell phone up trying to trade Rozy or whoever he can and get some of these guys that are on the block
Posted by: Keith | February 28, 2009 at 08:03 PM
PP still looks like doo doo
Posted by: Keith | February 28, 2009 at 08:05 PM
Bit of a lull after scoring the 5th goal. Kalinin and Girardi have looked pretty bad today. Girardi is a turnover machine and is out of position all the time. I would rather see Mara play with Staal and play 25 minutes than Girardi(who I wouldn't be upset if he's traded) Kalinin is soft along with beingturnover prone.
Posted by: graves9 | February 28, 2009 at 08:32 PM
Andrew,
Anybody scouting the Rangers tonight?
Posted by: Jim | February 28, 2009 at 08:45 PM
Few teams here, Florida GM Jacques Martin among them. The L.A. Kings also had a name on the list as well as the usual suspects, like Neil Smith for Anaheim and a Phoenix scout.
Posted by: Andrew Gross | February 28, 2009 at 09:17 PM
Interesting.... Bill Guerin was not in the lineup on Saturday night which could possibly mean that he has been dealt to another team prior to the NHL trade deadline.
According to the blog, "The Islanders have a deal in principle that will send Bill Guerin "to an Eastern team" and will be finalized by Sunday, sources tell Point Blank. All indications are that Guerin will waive his no-move clause and agree to the trade, according to the source." Stay tuned for more updates as we get more information. Feb. 28 - 8:56 pm et
Source: Islanders Point Blank
Posted by: graves9 | February 28, 2009 at 09:18 PM
Easily the best offensive showing of the year. The team dominated a dead team with two goalies who can't stop beach balls yet it was still impressive and the way they played they would beat the vast majority of the teams the way they played tonight. You had guys like Drury and Gomez looking as confident and comfortable on the ice and with the puck as they have their entire time here. You had a guy like Zherdev play his best and most under control game in months. He competed in pretty much in every shift. Gomez was as good as he was all year. Her was skated hard and using his speed to create all kinds of chances. Naslund was much better and much more involved than he's been in weeks. Naslund-Gomez and Zherdev have had been tried together a handful of times this year and didn't click. Well tonight they were dominant together. As was the Dubi-Drury-Cally line. Nice to see Drury score and Cally could have had a hat trick. Korpikoski continues to show his offensive prowess with two assist(and he's really picked up the offense the last month) Great to see The no longer buried Prucha score and play and rambucusition. He hits he gets great chances and always sticks up for teammates(like he did for Dubi late) Dawes was really the only top 9 forward to play his butt off(he was rather invisable) Staal was terrific again joining the rush at times and battling throughout with Ryan Smyth. Hank didn't face alot of shots but he made some tremendous saves(even when he went awhile without chances against) He was real good in the second period. Good game by Mara. He hit shot the puck and even pounded Turtling Tucker. I liked the passion late but Redden didn't do a good job protecting Dubi(I mrean come on just grab a full hold of Lappiere) I liked seeing Orr on the ice late and taking on Stewart. I wouldn't mind seeing Mara moving up the D pairs and playing with Staal and moving Girardi to either the third pair or outta town. I liked Schoeny's passion yelling at Lappiere. Next up is against an Isles team with little talent but plenty of will. Every game is huge obviously.
Posted by: graves9 | February 28, 2009 at 09:48 PM
The pp needs to be better still great to see the goal scoring and passion. Gotta love homegrown guys like Dubi, Cally, Pruchs, Korpikoski being hugely involved in the offense.
oh yeah how bout a 5 on 3 goal? Shocking
Posted by: graves9 | February 28, 2009 at 09:56 PM
I'm not sure it's fair to credit the "puck's view" thing as a genius move seeing as most of the goal scorers for tonight weren't on the ice for that exercise :)
Still though ... love this coaching staff.
Posted by: seme | February 28, 2009 at 10:10 PM
Gotta have a trade Slats! Make a major move and get this team some talent for the stretch run. I want Bouwmeester or Pronger!! I'll take Tkachuk too, but not for much-he's old.
Posted by: Keith | March 01, 2009 at 10:28 AM
Keith thanks to Sather there's no cap room available to get a top line player.
Posted by: graves9 | March 01, 2009 at 01:57 PM
I am aware of that but he sure can move somebody to get some room! Rozy or someone else that's making a bunch of $ and doesn't deserve it
Posted by: Keith | March 01, 2009 at 08:26 PM
Sather needs to be fired NOW.
Posted by: Prokat | March 01, 2009 at 09:20 PM
Keith may I point something out please?
Glen Sather is the person who made the moves that put the Rangers in this spot in the first place.
Now you are wanting him to make more moves which given the Sather track record this season is not very good.
The only move that Sather can make that would be a good move would be to turn in his resignation.
Would you be willing to accept those players that you want gone on your team if YOU were an NHL GM?
Posted by: Jess | March 02, 2009 at 01:21 AM
Jess-
I will tell you the same thing that I told everyone else who yells 'fire Sather' at the games and hopes/wishes he will leave. It's not going to happen! He is not leaving any time soon and Dolan will not fire him-so why bother complaining? Frankly I think it's ridiculous to ask for Sather to resign. He won't do it. The only logical source of hope for this team is that A-either the light comes on and they start playing a LOT better or B-Sather finds a willing partner and can shed some of the players he brought to clear some cap space and move on next year.
He can't undo those contracts-the team is stuck with them for now. The only way to create some room is to deal one of the following: Rozy, Gomez, Drury, Redden. I do think that there are GMs out there that would trade for those players ie: Burke in Toronto. He has said he will take a bad contract on if it will help his team. I'm almost certain he's not the only one. All I'm saying, in conclusion, is that it's pretty evident after 60 plus games that this team cannot score. So why not try and trade someone to get a couple of guys in here that can help with the offense?
Posted by: Keith | March 02, 2009 at 01:04 PM
keith - i do think sather will be gone in the next 2 yrs. he is 65 already. if the fans keep it up eventually dolan will listen. not now but 1-2 yrs from now it will happen
Posted by: LI Joe | March 02, 2009 at 02:07 PM