Rangers Recap: Rangers hold off Hurricanes 2-1
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 31, 2009 11:00 PM EST
in New York Rangers Recaps
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Raleigh, NC (Sports Network) - Brandon Dubinsky scored the game-winner near the midway point of the third period, as the New York Rangers edged the Carolina Hurricanes, 2-1, in the opener of a home-and-home series at RBC Center.
Erik Christensen had a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who bounced back from a 6-0 loss to the Flyers on Wednesday night. Marian Gaborik dished out two assists for New York, which got 17 saves from Henrik Lundqvist.
Joni Pitkanen had the lone goal for the Hurricanes, who have lost four of five. Cam Ward turned aside 33-of-35 shots in defeat.
With the score tied 1-1, the Rangers scored with 8:11 remaining in the third period. Gaborik's shot from in front set up a rebound for Dubinsky, who backhanded a shot past Ward.
Lundqvist stopped all six shots he faced in the final 20 minutes to preserve the victory.
The Hurricanes scored on the power play at the 11:08 mark of the first period to take the early edge. Ray Whitney slid a pass to the point for Pitkanen, whose one-timer snuck past Lundqvist.
Christensen's first goal of the season with 2:24 left in the first deadlocked the tilt at 1-1. On the power play, Gaborik fired a shot on net and Christensen was there to put home the rebound.
Ward made 15 saves in a scoreless second, while Lundqvist stopped seven shots.
The Rangers beat the Hurricanes, 3-1, at RBC Center on December 21. New York will host the Hurricanes on Saturday to complete the home-and-home series...Christensen now has 100 points in his NHL career...Rangers head coach John Tortorella coached his 600th career game.
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Christensen had a really good game, he should have had another goal or 2, the chances were there but ill settle for some production. Higgins was invisible again. Roszival looks like hes lost half his brain. This is the last place team in the league and we only beat them 2-1. We should’ve DESTROYED them with the chances we had. We also could’ve lost, they hit 3 posts, 2 in the 3rd. Its great to get 2 points, but against any solid team, we probably would’ve lost again.
Higgins was invisible again.
Then all you’re watching are the highlights and the goals.
Higgins has consistently been one of the best and hardest forecheckers the entire year, with an occasional game or two exception. He’s also been one of the best on the PK.
Yes, I too wish he’d score. But he certainly wasn’t “invisible”. Anisimov was more “invisible” last night than Higgins…..
i was watching the most important aspect in the game of hockey. the score sheet. If hes not putting up points, hes of no use to me. You can make a case that he Blair Betts that makes more $
I definitely see the similarity
Between a 4th line center who’s never had more than 13 points in a season and a guy who’s scored 20 goals 3 times in 4 seasons that for some reason is shooting an obscenely low percentage this season.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Jan 1, 2010 3:17 PM EST up reply actions
also, blair betts...
was much more significant to the rangers PK than higgins is.
by #17ToTheRafters on Jan 1, 2010 3:50 PM EST up reply actions
Well all I can say is that these players on the Rangers right now have to give a much better effort to go out there and do a job. I know the Canes are coming on Saturday Afternoon, but that home game on Vs against the Bruins, it better not be a flat start again or else Sather has to start cutting dead F’en Weight.
I have no clue what happened to us. Yeah, we lost our first game to Pittsburgh, but after that, we had a 7 game winning streak where we dominated every game. We were faster, more conditioned, had a killer forecheck, cycled the puck well, did EVERYTHING RIGHT. Then it all went downhill. Injuries piled up, people started slacking off, We lost any sense of morale and momentum we built up during that streak and went from top of the conference to being a .500 team. Something absolutely needs to be done, and done right now. Not at the trade deadline, not in the off-season, RIGHT NOW.
kritikal – I mentioned this in a recent post. I think in the first couple of weeks the Rangers conditioning took a few teams by surprise (until of course the rest of the league caught up to them in that department). They were going balls out for nearly 60 minutes and controlling the majority of the play. Then came the inevitable defensive breakdowns, largely a result of playing a more offensive game and having d-men join the rush and pinch. Eventually this team was exposed for what they really are: mediocre, with too many deficiencies. I also think some of the “softies” on this team (see Redden, Kotalik, Roszival) got rattled once Tortorella started digging into them a little bit.
Once Vaclav Prospal comes back, I see the lines as follows:
Gaborik Christensen Prospal
Dubinsky Drury Callahan
Avery Anisimov Higgins
Kotalik Boyle Lisin
Problem here is, Dubinsky looks pretty good on the wing, though he is a natural center. I don’t feel entirely comfortable with this lineup… though that second line does look pretty nasty, especially if Drury has finally shaken the cobwebs from that concussion which seemed to be affecting his play well after he returned to the ice.
We really need to trade our dead weight or buy out some contracts. Redden, Roszival, Voros, possibly Kotalik, Brashear, possibly Drury… we’ll be in much better shape.
Yeah I gotta say Christiansen
looked amazing last night. Why has he been on the bench?
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
Probably the same reason that Brashear has been put on the 3rd line, Anisimov can’t crack the top 6 for more than a game or two, and variation other curious moves.
Torts has no idea what to do with the parts he has.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Jan 1, 2010 11:48 AM EST up reply actions
After watching last night's game...
I’d be shocked if the team doesn’t attempt to move Drury (noting his limitations on trade approval). It was obvious he could care less out there. Higgins – I love ya’ – but you simply stink in this system. Please give this man a better opportunity. Brashear is an abomination; even Voros is an improvement.
Watching Christiansen dominate – a guy with no points all year – made me realize that talent is not holding this team back, rather the absence of heart. There’s no forecheck to be found anywhere (Sean Avery; what gives?), and half of our defense doesn’t finish checks nor take shots. (It’s like watching James Patrick and Sergei Zubov in their last years as Rangers all over again. Both, of course, rejuvenated their careers once moved.)
Heart, in my opinion, is a product of your leadership and coach. Both need to go.
"...also I'll brush my teeth and remember to turn off the stars at night and put the hyena out." ERNEST HEMINGWAY
'Brashear is an abomination' (yes, I know he didn't play) :)
"...also I'll brush my teeth and remember to turn off the stars at night and put the hyena out." ERNEST HEMINGWAY
when vp comes back.
prospal – christensen/dubinsky – gaborik
christensen/dubinsky – anisimov -callahan (dubi/christensen for faceoffs)
avery drury lisin
higgins boyle voros/kotalik
what do you guys think?
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Brashear
It is unreal to me that Brashear is in this league. I have ,with no lie played with better players in high school.
brashear was brought in only because sather was afraid teams were gonna go after Gaborik. But hes too old and slow to even fight or catch someone. Aaron Voros seems to be fighting…. and actually WINNING. Voros is a better skater, hits harder and more often, fights on par or better than Brashear right now, and has been shown to have a SLIGHT scoring touch. Remember a bigger cone can take up even more space and thats not necessarily a bad thing when talking about Voros and Brash.
Voros did win his fight last night, despite getting hit in the back of the head once or twice (any MMA fighter will tell you that a shot to the back of the head is worse than taking one clean on the chin or temple), seemed to shake him up for a couple seconds before he regained his composure and brought it hard. If he can play with the intensity he played last night, I could possibly make an argument to keep him around, otherwise he’s an unnecessary cap hit.
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Atlantic Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York Rangers
|
52 | 34 | 13 | 5 | 73 |
|
Philadelphia
|
54 | 31 | 16 | 7 | 69 |
|
New Jersey
|
54 | 31 | 19 | 4 | 66 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
54 | 30 | 19 | 5 | 65 |
|
New York Islanders
|
53 | 22 | 23 | 8 | 52 |
(updated 2.11.2012 at 8:02 AM EST)
Rangers Schedule
Next 5 Games
|
Washington
|
Sun 02/12 | 3:00 PM EST |
|
@
Boston
|
Tue 02/14 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Chicago
|
Thu 02/16 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Columbus
|
Sun 02/19 | 8:00 PM EST |
|
@
Pittsburgh
|
Tue 02/21 | 7:00 PM EST |
Last 5 Games
|
@
Philadelphia
|
Sat 02/11 | W 5 - 2 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
Thu 02/09 | OT - W 4 - 3 |
|
New Jersey
|
Tue 02/07 | L 0 - 1 |
|
Philadelphia
|
Sun 02/05 | W 5 - 2 |
|
@
Buffalo
|
Wed 02/01 | SO - W 1 - 0 |
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