Caps 4, Rangers 3: Wrapup

I've made a command decision with Ranger Rants and the in-game live blogs. From now on, rather than bury my post-game notes/thoughts/analysis at the bottom of the Live Blog, I'm going to create a new blog entry just for those items (please tell me if that's easier/not easier/no different for you guys).

And, for a preseason game, lots to go over from here at the Verizon Center, where the locals are dying/crying as they watch their Redskins struggle against the Lions, who have lost 19 straight games.

Anyway, click below for what happened post-game here.
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No surprise Tortorella called the first two periods the worst the Rangers have played in the preseason. "It was turnovers, no battles, anything about the game in the first two periods, you could go down the list," Tortorella said.

Among the post-game news:

- Tortorella said he doubted LW Sean Avery would be ready to play by Friday. Based on today, that's a safe assumption. While walking, Avery could barely bend his sprained right knee and he had it elevated at times during the game in the press box. Avery said it wasn't swollen but there was still some soreness from the PRP treatment he underwent. He also said since he's never dealt with a sprained right knee before, he can't tell whether the PRP was speeding his recovery.

- Tortorella said the plan is to reduce the roster by one by tomorrow, if not tonight, leaving the Rangers with 22 players. Tortorella said, right now, he would include veteran tryout Alexei Semenov within the 22 but the Rangers still need to sign him to a contract. Tortorella said we'd have to talk to GM Glen Sather, then, seeing the looks on our faces, then asked if we ever talked to Sather. Sometimes, he was told. But not often. So if the number is 22 and that includes Semenov, it's down to cutting either a forward (Boyle, Anisimov, Voros, Grachev) or D Michael Del Zotto (presuming Matt Gilroy has made the team and unless the Rangers do something really unexpected like try to send down either Wade Redden or Michal Rozsival, which, personally, I think is kind of doubtful). Under that scenario, I think a forward gets cut because I can't see carrying only six defensemen. Purely on performance, I think Boyle has shown the least of those four, taking the preseason as a whole. Based on salary cap, shedding Voros' $1 million might be appealing. But the fact that Avery isn't available increases the need for wings so maybe they keep Prospal on the wing to start.

- A mea culpa on my part. I listed Grachev as a center and, after the game, I asked Tortorella whether this was an option going forward. Tortorella corrected me and said Grachev was on the wing with Voros in the middle. Quickly, though, the coach said he didn't blame me for being confused since he thought all his players were just skating helter skelter anyway and it wasn't obvious who was trying to play where.

- Tortorella is not happy with defenseman Dan Girardi. The coach said it wasn't just the "young guys" playing badly, "it starts with the veteran guys." Particularly when asked about Girardi's training camp, Tortorella admitted he was not happy with the way the fourth-year veteran had approached his preseason.

"He's got some work to do there," Tortorella said. "We've had running discussions going through training camp, him and I and the coaches. He's got some work to do. It's a pretty big week for him. But, to say the least, I'm disappointed with his camp."

Tortorella didn't divulge the source of his displeasure but, on-ice, at least, it's likely two-fold: Girardi's attention to his defensive assignments and his trouble in transitioning the puck up ice quickly enough into attack mode.

- Grachev was not necessarily thrilled with his third-period goal, saying it didn't outweigh his awful work the first two periods.

"The first period for me was the worst period for me, ever," the 19-year-old Grachev said. "I didn't think I'd get more ice time. I was way too bad in the first.

- Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau wasn't necessarily impressed with ex-Capitals enforcer Donald Brashear's wrister from the left that brought the Rangers within 4-3.

"(Varlamov) was so deep in the net," Boudreau said. "I thought that was a little soft."

- Henrik Lundqvist (20 saves) was supposed to play 60 minutes but Tortorella said the goalie had gotten enough work through the first 40 and he wasn't happy with the way the Rangers were playing in front of him. Tortorella said he had no problems with Lundqvist's play. Steve Valiquette stopped all four shots he saw in the third period.

Comments

[twitter.com/mattreadjunk]

I really like the idea of a separate post game post. Appreciate all the hard work you do during this training camp and the upcoming season. Team related, I would get rid of Boyle. Anisimov deserves to play because he can score goals and is just as big. I hope Del Zotto makes the team as well.

[LI Joe]

appreciate your insights either way andrew. think you meant guys and ladies since some of your good commentators are ladies (not me of course)

of the forwards who ight be sent down who has to clear waivers (voros, lisin i added him anyway, boyle)/ others who went through waivers like parenteau all cleared?

any who have to clear waivers are effectively stuck in hartford until late in season if on 1 yr deal since we can't afford dead money hit and if multi yr contract they will definitely stay in ahl.

any thoughts on trades or waiver pickups - thought he still wanted a vet dman

[Andrew Gross]

LI Joes,

Of course I meant to include the ladies. My mom always gets on me because I leave voice mail for my folks that always start, "Hi, guys."

Far as I know, everybody has cleared.

One tidbit as far as trades, don't know what it might bring but Capitals are apparently scouting Corey Potter at Hartford (AHL).

[tomb]

No one is gonna pick up Voros or Boyle. There are way too many good players in the NHL now. Send Rozsival with them, please.

[Grant]

Well, Potter would help the Caps in the 'A' @ Hershey. I watched the BEARS 1st pre-season game on Friday nite: awful. 1/2 the line-up won't be on the opening night roster, but still... the Caps draft well only in the 1st/2nd round; clearly!

[Pete]

girardi may be struggling somewhat, but Roszival has been atrocious. He has done nothing to warrant being on the roster let alone playing every day

[LI Joe]

pete its september and exhibition season. lets see what happens when the real games start

[Matty]

Andrew,

I've been meaning to ask ... are you personally bothered by the way Torts deals(or doesn't like to deal) with the press? Or do you just accept that as part of who he is, deal with it and move on?

Like I appreciate all you do and how you keep us up to date on this blog and on twitter ... I mean, I can't never get enough Rangers news ... but I'm also of the mind that if a player/coach doesn't like dealing with the press well that's their right even though it's in their job description ... of course maybe I sympathize because when I don't like doing something I usually don't have on a happy face when doing it ...

Anyhow, keep up the great work

[Pete]

yea i just wondered why girardi is being called out and roszival hasn't

[LI Joe]

pete i also remember torts complaining about the vets dmen and he was not just referring to girardi.

again lets see what happens after a few games of the real season

[CP (Chris)]

Poor Skins...I bet they are calling for Jason Campbell's head down there...

I don't think Voros will clear waivers if Boyle is kept in favor of him.

[Andrew Gross]

Matty,

I have absolutely no problems with Tortorella. Sure he's a bit abrupt and confrontational but, what's most important to me, is he's as honest as his position allows him to be which, in turns, allows me to pass along information to the readers. Also, I get a lot of what he's trying to do in shielding his players and creating team unity - us against them - so none of that offends me. Besides, I have dealt with a lot worse class of coach in terms of how they perceived/treated the media. Thinking namely of St. John's Mike Jarvis and the Jets' Eric Mangini. I'll take Tortorella any day over those two. Actually, Tortorella is easier to cover than former Rangers coach Bryan Trottier, too.

[Mike]

Andrew great coverage, thanks!
AA has definitely proved himself worthy. Tonight we saw him turn a game, into a game. He built that momentum in the 3rd. Im gonna be bold here and say, I think Anisimov is going to be a star. He just has that smooth conviction in his play, making it look easy. But, Im confused by Lisin, who is said by Torts to have a good chance of being in the starting line-up, to has no clue without the puck. I think that is awful to hear. Its revealing though... Torts likes to coach. He may look at Lisin as his little project... Dare I say, a player like that should also be considered in the cut for 22. Its a tight race to the starting line-up. I think his name should be up there too.

[benneyb]

Andrew, another fan of the separate post game entry. And thanks also for all your efforts here to keep us informed and up to date - they are truly appreciated!

[Matty]

Thanks for the insight Andrew!! Much appreciated!

[Charles]

Definitely like the wrap-up format ... and love Grachev's comment. This kid either has his "head on straight" naturally, or he's very well coached by his agent. I'm tending to think the former as his English is excellent for a 19 year old Russian, heck it's better than a number of 30+ year old Russian NHLers. He says all the right things and is willing to point the finger at himself. How refreshing is that from a 19 year old potential superstar???

Regarding Girardi, I think Torts is calling him out because he can play better ... and maybe he's just given up on Rosie and Redden.