So now that I've got that Bob Seger song stuck in my head, just reporting that the lineup, lines and defense pairs will all remain the same for the beginning of Game No. 3 as they were for the first two. Tonight, of course, marks the first time (out of six regular-season games between the rivals) that new Ranger Marian Gaborik faces his old boss, new/old Devils coach Jacques Lemaire, after they spent the past eight seasons together in Minnesota.
The two had a brief conversation in the hallways this morning.
Henrik Lundqvist will start for the third time in four nights while Sean Avery (sprained right knee) participated in the morning skate but was wearing a white, non-contact jersey. Still thinking he's a strong possibility for Thursday at Washington.
Vinny Prospal-Brandon Dubinsky-Marian Gaborik
Christopher Higgins-Chris Drury-Ryan Callahan
Enver Lisin-Artem Anisimov-Ales Kotalik
Donald Brashear-Brian Boyle-Aaron Voros
Marc Staal-Dan Girardi
Michael Del Zotto-Michal Rozsival
Wade Redden-Matt Gilroy
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Around the Rangers' dressing room after the morning skate...
- Asked Brandon Dubinsky about Tortorella's comment following Saturday's 5-2 win over the Senators that Dubinsky seems like a different (better) player on the ice this season and that Tortorella believes it's because Dubinsky wants to prove "he's worth what he did," referring to Dubinsky's week-long holdout to get a two-year, $3.7 million deal. Dubinsky disagreed.
"Maybe, sometimes, that stuff gets to you subconsciously," Dubinsky said. "This is a big year for me. I understand the position I've been put in and I take a lot of pride and put a lot of pressure on myself to produce and play well. As far as thinking about the contract, it's not on my mind.
"Obviously, confidence does a lot for you," Dubinsky added. "I kind of feel like I've identified with what I need to do to be successful."
- Asked Matt Gilroy about Daniel Alfredsson's goal that cut the Rangers' lead to 2-1 Saturday as Gilroy followed Jason Spezza into the left corner while, because of a line change, Alfredsson went to the crease untouched. Gilroy seemed to indicate that he should have paid more attention to Alfredsson since Spezza had him beat anyway and you "don't leave that guy alone."
- Asked Lundqvist about the numerous odd-man rushes he's faced. He said the team is continuing to make adjustments and work on limiting them.
"It's like we're supposed to take chances," Lundqvist said. "If we have the opportunity, we've got to pressure up the ice but we've got to keep our third man high."
Overall, though, Lundqvist said he's been pleased with how his defensemen have responded.
"We have a couple of rules we try to stick too," Lundqvist said of defending the odd-man rushes (I'm assuming one is allowing Lundqvist to take the shooter). "We've been getting a lot of practice, me and the defensemen the first two games. They've been doing a good job."
- And a clarification from today's earlier post when I mentioned Michael Del Zotto might have a shorter leash on the power play. John Tortorella said Del Zotto and Gilroy's exclusion from ice time in the third period Saturday had nothing to do with their power play work.
"We just thought with back-to-back situations, we thought they were struggling in a couple of areas," Tortorella said. "Sully (assistant Mike Sullivan) and I talked on the bench and we went down to four with a 3-1 lead. It's going to happen with the young kids."
More later from The Rock.
I'm not sure if the truth was coming out of Dubi in that quote. If you look at his reaction after his first goal, he really wanted that guerilla off his back. He needed to look good in the first couple of games, especially the home-opener, in order to erase the memory of the fans regarding his holdout.
Posted by: CP (Chris) | October 05, 2009 at 02:42 PM
Hopefully they'll be lots of Rangers fans tonight at The Pebble, might have their first sellout of the season.
Posted by: Matty | October 05, 2009 at 03:15 PM
I get Versus through my cable provider, but I can't stand watching games when the Rangers are on it. I can't see this Devils team keeping up with the Rangers tonight...
Posted by: CP (Chris) | October 05, 2009 at 03:24 PM
I would like to see Callahan skate with Anisimov and Lisen and Drury to play with Kotalik and Higgins....Cally would bring a little more spunk to that line.
and it makes no difference which line is labeled # 2 or # 3 to me....
Would be a good experiment at least until Avery comes back on Thursday! Big night for Lisen and Anisimov....if either lights the lamp it will make for some interesting decisions for the staff.
Posted by: Blue | October 05, 2009 at 04:00 PM
I think Lisin already made a statement with his outlet to Dubi on Saturday. He was on the 6-on-5, too, at the end of the game.
I think Anisimov needs to be more aggressive in the offensive zone tonight.
Posted by: CP (Chris) | October 05, 2009 at 04:08 PM
I am also interested to see how the Devils will keep up or try and slow down the speedy Rangers.
Marty also does not play well against the Rangers. He always lets in a soft one.
Posted by: Jim | October 05, 2009 at 04:13 PM
"Sully and I talked on the bench and we went down to four with a 3-1 lead. It's going to happen with the young kids."
It cannot happen too much in a condensed season. Also cannot happen too much when 2 of the 4 left are Redden and Rozsival.
There's a trade coming.....soon.
Posted by: Chris QCT | October 05, 2009 at 04:52 PM
Careful Blue, Drury is considered a sacred cow by a few posters here and that's the same thing someone said on another post. I still agree with the proposition though.
Posted by: Charles | October 05, 2009 at 04:53 PM
I think the Rangers will have a 7th d-man here soon. Bob Mckenzie mentioned Christian Backman still out there, but I don't see the team going down that route again.
Posted by: Mark | October 05, 2009 at 05:19 PM
CHARLES-are you starting again-just leave it be, Drury is not beyond criticism but let's not have another entire season worth of it please. Most of your points regarding him are fair and that's fine. Many of us have said put Drury with Kotalik-I would keep him with Callahan though. I think he could use some more PP time too-he led the team last year I think with PP goals
I was surprised to see Lisin on the ice for the PP but he is talented offensively, that's for sure. He just has to find his niche-Torts likes him too it seems
Posted by: Keith | October 05, 2009 at 05:23 PM
Im going to try and find the game online since I can't get it on tv-if anyone has a link for the game I'd appreciate it
Posted by: Keith | October 05, 2009 at 05:25 PM
Keith- Try atdhe.net, they have a link for tonights game, usually decent enough.
Posted by: Mark | October 05, 2009 at 05:29 PM
Charles, making snide remarks make you feel better about yourself? No one has made any personal remarks about you, and yet, you continue on about this same subject. No one is counting who has the last word, and I don't understand the continuing need to badger some of us that really like Drury. I'm not Hindu, but I would be highly offended if you made the continuing remarks about sacred cows as if it some kind of common punchline of comparison to someone valued.
I think you're a good poster, and like reading your comments, but I don't think it's appropriate to personally attack others just to get your point across.
Posted by: CP (Chris) | October 05, 2009 at 05:47 PM
i live in calif. have the package and ofcourse no game tonight.. i am a ranger fan and have no where to see the game tonight..
Posted by: stuart | October 05, 2009 at 06:00 PM
MARK-Thanks man-so much!! Awesome-now I can catch the game! That is outstanding thank you very much
Posted by: Keith | October 05, 2009 at 06:08 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCjvTm8Hil0
not rangers related but 2nd 1/2 is interesting once they got past the nhlpa union head issues
Posted by: LI Joe | October 05, 2009 at 06:12 PM
keith - see the comments are in the 4:18 to 4:30 range in lohud
http://rangers.lohudblogs.com/2009/10/05/for-versus/#comments
Posted by: LI Joe | October 05, 2009 at 06:22 PM
Duchene is a phenom. I think I am going to make the trip to Denver in January to see the Rangers. That'll be fun with the kids on both teams going end-to-end.
Regarding the tongue, I don't know players play with it out. I always tucked it inside of my shin pad to secure it. Not only is he exposed to other skates, but it's one of the worst feelings in the world to get hit by a slapshot there.
Posted by: CP (Chris) | October 05, 2009 at 06:30 PM
LI JOE-hey that was a decent bit with Don Cherry-he is a loud mouth and a lot of folks don't like him but he is interesting to me in manageable doses. I wouldn't watch him every night. Hey how about that Duchene? He is a heck of a player
Posted by: Keith | October 05, 2009 at 06:32 PM
CP-I don't know why they play with the tongue out either. LI JOE-thanks-I had never gone to that blog lohud before-that's a big one. I have only heard you refer to it before. I think that this blog is better-and Andrew is putting out some good info on here so I will stick with him. Last year was my first year and I'm back again-most of you I recognize because you are fairly consistent on here. I hope they can smack the Devs tonight Let's go Rangers!!! I like Gilroy and if Del Zotto can stick around a bit he's going to be good too
Posted by: Keith | October 05, 2009 at 06:41 PM
Keith and Chris, let it go. The comment above was innocuous. I'm done with commenting about Drury, unless someone initiates a discussion about him.
As I stated above, I agree with Blue's proposition which was the same proposition made by Bob in the other post. I also agree with you that Drury should definitely see time on the PP, a part of his game which is relatively effective.
Posted by: Charles | October 05, 2009 at 06:43 PM