There are certainly areas of improvement for the Rangers after their season-opening loss, most notably limiting odd-man rushes and battling harder for the puck. But, despite the loss, the Rangers saw plenty of promise. All that's needed is a little more consistency in their play and more finish on their scoring opportunities.
"There was a lot of good things," said goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who made 28 saves and gotten beaten on two deflections right in front of his net. "Personally, it feels good to be out there again. There's definitely a difference compared to the preseason. There's more emotions, more tense. It's the first game of the season, I was very nervous."
Neither Lundqvist nor coach John Tortorella would answer when asked whether Lundqvist would be in net for Saturday's home opener against the Senators - "That's up to Torts," Lundqvist said - but you have to believe Lundqvist will be on the ice for the first regular-season game at Madison Square Garden. The question is, whether he completes the three-games-in-four-nights stretch Monday at The Rock against the Devils.
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Also up in the air is when Sean Avery returns to the lineup. I'd call it doubtful he goes tomorrow, especially since there's no morning skate.
Avery's return would obviously strengthen the lineup. Most likely, fourth-line center Brian Boyle would come out for Avery, with rookie Artem Anisimov possibly being moved down a line and Vinny Prospal moving from top-line left wing to center a line.
Against the Penguins, Anisimov centered the third line with Enver Lisin and Ales Kotalik. Lisin was good skating into the zone and creating chances but both he and Anisimov needed to be stronger on the puck.
"That Lisin is a talented player," Tortorella said. "Artie I don't think is the type of player Lisin is but there's promise there. The biggest thing we need to stress for them is just the strength on the pucks just to win the little battles."
As for the Rangers two other rookies, Matt Gilroy and Michael Del Zotto. Both were impressive in their own way. Of the two, Gilroy was more polished and that showed in all the ice time Tortorella afforded him down the stretch. But Del Zotto played on the power play and showed no hesitation in getting down low. On the third period power play, Del Zotto wound up in the right corner with Marian Gaborik coming up to the point as a result.
"They did really well," Lundqvist said. "They looked really sharp in the preseason and if they were nervous, it didn't show up. It's probably been a longer week for them."
Tortorella said Gilroy looked comfortable but Del Zotto looked nervous.
Tortorella also confirmed logistics kept the Rangers from watching the banner-raising ceremony. The coach said the ceremony was too long and when they went over the schedule at lunch, decided against having their team out there for the duration.
Tortorella was also hot-and-cold with the 0-for-4 power play, noting there were eight shots and, at times, really good puck movement. But in the third period, with the Rangers trailing by one, the power play just didn't produce enough chances and Tortorella said he was disappointed by that.
Looks like Torts is on to Rozy -- gave him the least amount of minutes.
Higgins, Lisin and Prospal are better than I thought, thet got some good moves and creativity and can throw good hits.
Anisimov and Girardi had a bad game.
Voros rocks with huge clean hits and has decent skill to be a threat.
Gaborik is also much better than I expected, he really is a unique talent and much better passer than I thought. Great signing.
Why is Kotalik getting so much PP time? I rather put Anisimov on the PP.
Posted by: bob | October 03, 2009 at 01:14 AM
The defense is soft and turnover prone. It is a serious worry.
Posted by: graves9 | October 03, 2009 at 01:19 AM
Wow Torts gave way too much icetime to the top line, especially when they play next day.
Posted by: bob | October 03, 2009 at 01:20 AM
"The Rangers didn't get Brashear to fight to draws."
There you go again Andrew poisoning us against Donald Brashear. Wonder how long it is going to be before Tortorella declares you the reason why anything goes wrong with Rangers.
Posted by: Jess | October 03, 2009 at 04:56 AM
My observations from 2+ periods at a glance: Gilroy is a player, Brashear looked awful slow but he did a good job fighting Goddard, Redden was the worst player out there-too many mistakes, Gaborik is as advertised
Posted by: Keith | October 03, 2009 at 05:42 AM
I like the all out attack, this will be fun to watch.
Posted by: Jim | October 03, 2009 at 09:12 AM
it is pretty obvious that Brashear at 37 should be the one to sit when Avery returns. There is no need to play him every game.
Posted by: bob | October 03, 2009 at 10:00 AM
I don't want to hear how great that save was by Fleury on Prospal. When you have a butterfly goalie stretching across the crease he's going to take away the bottom part of the net, Prospal should have shot the puck higher than 9-12" off the ice.
I also question the SOG totals for Pitt, I can't believe he only took 31 shots last night, I'm thinking it was more like 35-36.
Posted by: Charles | October 03, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Keith, sorry gotta disagree. Redden was very good and solid last night, and I am no Redden fan. But, have to try to be fair.
Posted by: Benneyb | October 03, 2009 at 01:33 PM
the biggest mistake of the offseason was clearly essentially trading Betts and a 3rd rounder for Boyle.
Betts is the superior player...
also Lundqvist is going to play just as many games as last season. Valiquette is a liabilty in net and after he blows a game for us, Tortorella will wind up sticking with Henrik
Posted by: oleosmirf | October 03, 2009 at 03:28 PM
i don'y think valley is a liability at all. if he gets 1/2 the points in games he plays - and i think he will - he will be doing his job
Posted by: LI Joe | October 03, 2009 at 04:23 PM
Oleo, I think you need to become a Flyers fan ASAP, get on the bandwagon.
Posted by: bob | October 03, 2009 at 04:46 PM
LI Joe
getting half the points you play in not acceptable.
If Vally starts 12 games this season and goes 3-9 (6 points) that is terrible (especially when he plays the majority of his games against the bottom half of the league)
Posted by: oleosmirf | October 03, 2009 at 04:55 PM
oleo - i meant 1/2 the pts available so if he plays 12 games 1/2 the pts meant 1/2 of 24 or 12. he also plays when the team is tired like a 3rd game in 4 days type scenario,
we've been down this road before. you don't like valley i do.
Posted by: LI Joe | October 04, 2009 at 03:16 PM
and oleo each game valley plays helps henrik have a little more in the tank for games he does play. maybe henrik won't fade in game 5 of 1st rd if valley gets enough time. remember this is an olympic yr
Posted by: LI Joe | October 04, 2009 at 03:18 PM
The Antarctic penguins are dying, we will go to save it
Posted by: air jordans | November 16, 2010 at 01:35 AM