The Rangers lineup remains the same for tonight's opener from last night's 3-2 loss at Pittsburgh. That means Henrik Lundqvist in net and LW Sean Avery (sprained right knee) still in (dapper) street clothes. Avery skated on his own earlier today and likely will participate in tomorrow's practice.
The Rangers are also standing pat with six defensemen for now and Tortorella brushed aside a question about adding a seventh before the game.
But he was pretty interesting when clearing up what he considers the misconception that the Rangers will play run-and-gun hockey this season.
"I guess the biggest thing that we need to address tonight is puck support," Tortorella said. "If we're going to be aggressive as far as defending, try to jam the neutral zone, pinching in the end zone when we have the opportunities, we need to have support coming back. I think we lost ourselves a little bit there.
"I even heard one of our players say on a TV program before last night's game, run and gun. This isn't run and gun. This is pressure defense pressuring the puck. Defense first with support allowing us to be aggressive. It's not run and gun. These are things we have to curb and make our team understand because we gave up too many odd-man rushes."
Also to look for, the Rangers have won four straight home openers for the first time since 1989-92. The franchise has never won five straight openers.
Also to listen for: I'll be the second intermission guest on ESPN 1050. Swing on by and tune in.
Lines (to review):
Prospal-Dubinsky-Gaborik
Higgins-Drury-Callahan
Lisin-Anisimov-Kotalik
Brashear-Boyle-Voros
Staal-Girardi
Gilroy-Redden
Del Zotto-Rozsival
Updates coming once the puck drops. Pre-game player introductions not expected to push back the 7:08 puck drop.
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STARTERS: Rangers: Staal-Girardi; Prospal-Dubinsky-Gaborik; Lundqvist. Senators: Phillips-Volchenkov; Michalek-Spezza-Alfredsson; Leclaire
Pre-Game entertainment: Love the Blue Man Group. If you get a chance to check out their off-Broadway show in the Village, go.
4:10 First period: Much better start for the Rangers than last night. They're playing stronger on the body, on the boards and doing a better job getting to the loose pucks.
6:00 First period: Shots 4-0 for the Rangers, though the Senators are gaining the zone with a little more frequency.
10:44 First period: First power play with Alex Kovalev off for hooking. Del Zotto-Kotalik, Gaborik-Prospal-Callahan
12:28 First period: Next up PP unit: Gilroy-Staal; Lisin-Dubinsky-Higgins. Good pressure/chances on the power play. Much like last night, need to convert.
16:09 First period: Another PP chance; Ottawa bench minor. They've got to convert at some point.
18:13 First period: Leclaire pretty lucky this period, though he did make one great kick save. Lundqvist sharp when he has to be, gloving Carkner's shot from the right.
First intermission: Wade Redden took Mike Fisher's stick to his face and had trouble regaining his skates with the Senators buzzing in the Rangers' end. Eight of the Rangers' 13 shots came on the power play. That can been in one of two ways. 1. Wasted opportunities or, 2. the fact that the Rangers are drawing penalties and have a much more active power play than last season. Since the cliche is beggar's can't be choosers, let's go with No. 2 for now. Just remember how it was last season, with nobody willing to shoot. Now with guys like Kotalik, Gilroy, and, most importantly, Gaborik, there are plenty of players willing to shoot. The goals should come, probably tonight. Also, a reminder, I'll be on ESPN during the second intermission.
Other thoughts: Forgot to mention but nice touch by the Rangers not being introduced individually but as a team. Also, Marian Gaborik played 8:39 in the first period after playing 24-plus last night. Tortorella said he uses his best players.
3:20 Second period: Vinny Prospal makes it 1-0 off a 2-on-1 with Gaborik, beating Leclaire over his shoulder to the far post from the right faceoff circle. But the play is really started by Henrik Lundqvist's strong save on Chris Phillips.
8:22 Second period: Great job by Lundqvist kicking out his left leg to stop Ryan Shannon off a turnover. Also, forgot to mention but Wade Redden back on the ice, no problems after being struck in face in first period.
9:00 Second period: Senators outshooting the Rangers, 13-1, this period. Of course, the Rangers made that one shot count.
10:00 Second period: Third shot of period yields second goal for the Rangers. Dubinsky comes up ice, over to his left and beats Leclaire over his shoulder to the far post.
10:54 Second period: PP unit: Staal-Gilroy, Higgins-Dubinsky-Lisin.
15:36 Second period: Matt Gilroy did the right thing chasing Jason Spezza into the corner. The question is, where was Marc Staal or any other defensive support for the rookie. Daniel Alfredsson skates untouched to the net.
19:09 Second period: Rookie Michael Del Zotto gets the first of what should be plenty of NHL goals with a shot through traffic from the blue line.
Second intermission: Heading to ESPN booth. Senators outshoot Rangers, 20-13, in the second period.
3:00 Third period: Do like the way Gaborik is always looking for a breakaway. You can't teach those instincts. Still, Senators, though unsuccessful on power play off Staal high-stick, are controlling neutral zone this period so far.
7:17 Third period: Tough tripping call on Higgins. Not much he could do.
17:36 Third period: Donald Brashear still isn't winning over the Garden faithful. His short (for him) bout with Matt Carkner ends with Carkner taking him down.
Another awful shift by the third line. Gaborik looks great. The defense not so much. Nice pace to this game.
Posted by: graves9 | October 03, 2009 at 07:22 PM
What in the world are they doing out there? They keep letting up all of these chances and they are going to get their butts whipped all year long!! Hank is bailing them out so far
Posted by: Keith | October 03, 2009 at 07:33 PM
Gotta finish-this is ridiculous
Posted by: Keith | October 03, 2009 at 07:36 PM
Nice pp so far. How did Del Zotto miss the net? Why the heck is a stiff like Lisin on the pp over Drury?
Posted by: graves9 | October 03, 2009 at 07:37 PM
Again the pp looks great but can't finish. Gaborik has been dominant. Dubi and Prospal are flying too. Kotalik has been invisable 5 on 5 but good on the point of the pp.
Posted by: graves9 | October 03, 2009 at 07:49 PM
Because Drury is a much bigger stiff than Lisin. He almost took Redden's eye out.
Posted by: bob | October 03, 2009 at 07:52 PM
Oh here we go again huh Bob-what are you a devils fan-you gotta lighten up pal
Posted by: Keith | October 03, 2009 at 08:08 PM
Man Girardi is horrible. Michalek made him look like bozo the clown.
Posted by: graves9 | October 03, 2009 at 08:11 PM
Voros is really hitting people. I think Gilroy is a real good young dman. What a shot by Prospal!!!!!!
Hank is on fire right now
Posted by: Keith | October 03, 2009 at 08:13 PM
I think Anisimov needs to play more of an offensive role. Switch him and Drury, I think that would make more sense. Drury would be with his buddy Kotalik
Posted by: bob | October 03, 2009 at 08:17 PM
The top line has looked great tonight. Prospal is a fit with Dubi and Gabby. Rough game again for Anisimov. Staal is a beast.
Posted by: graves9 | October 03, 2009 at 08:20 PM
Hank with a sick save on Shannon. Rangers need to get the offense rolling again. Only 2 shots this period.
Posted by: graves9 | October 03, 2009 at 08:24 PM
I agree with Bob about AA and Drury switching.
It's early but it does seem our finishers still can't finish ... must be something in the NYC water.
Posted by: Charles | October 03, 2009 at 08:24 PM
Dubi looks great whatta shot. He is gonna have a big year.
Posted by: graves9 | October 03, 2009 at 08:33 PM
I also agree-put Dru with Kotalik his ol buddy. Prospal brings a lot of energy to this team-he gets fired up
Posted by: Keith | October 03, 2009 at 08:34 PM
BTW, Kotalik other than his hard shot looks like a bust and a stiff.
Posted by: bob | October 03, 2009 at 08:36 PM
Wow-that was a hell of a pass-Lundy had no shot on that
Posted by: Keith | October 03, 2009 at 08:36 PM
Gilroy needs to throw a hit when he gets a chance.
Posted by: bob | October 03, 2009 at 08:39 PM
Keith bad line change and Gilroy played Spezza all wrong there. Gilroy hasn't looked good today.
Posted by: graves9 | October 03, 2009 at 08:41 PM
Wow what captains we have. Jagr, now Drury can barely hit and when they do they injure themselves.
Posted by: bob | October 03, 2009 at 08:44 PM
Del Zotto has played a lot better tonight. Great grunt work by Cally setting up the goal.
Posted by: graves9 | October 03, 2009 at 08:54 PM
I don't know what happened to my ex fovorite Ranger Girardi. Maybe he lost too much weight to be effective, maybe it the run and gun system, but he is disappointing me. He used to be a hitting machine.
Posted by: bob | October 03, 2009 at 08:54 PM
Why did Drury get an assist instead of Callahan on Del Zotto's goal?
Posted by: bob | October 03, 2009 at 09:24 PM
I dunno either. I didn't see him with the puck there. It went from the boards with Cally to Higgins to Del Zotto.
Posted by: graves9 | October 03, 2009 at 09:32 PM
Where are those morons that said Dubinsky should be traded and that Voros is a useless punching bag?
Posted by: bob | October 03, 2009 at 09:43 PM