Rangers Recap: Detroit 3 Rangers 1
by Joe Fortunato on Dec 6, 2009 10:08 PM EST
in Rangers Recaps
63 comments
Well you can't say that they didn't have their chances. The New York Rangers had every opportunity to win this game and they simply didn't. I can cite Sean Avery botching a wide open net on one of the Rangers 4 power plays (3 of them late in the 3rd).
Marian Gaborik didn’t get a shot on net for the first time all season (I believe someone check that for me) which was a small problem but he did set up a few plays that (obviously) didn’t go in.
Honestly the bulk of this game falls on Ryan Callahan and Chris Higgins. I don’t care how many scoring chances they are generating or how well they are playing them not scoring directly lead to this Rangers loss. Callahan didn’t convert a penalty shot and he also flubbed a semi-breakaway. Higgins couldn’t finish two brilliant chances all alone in front and he also missed a breakaway opportunity. I have said this before and I will say it again: them not scoring goals are costing the Rangers games.
Also Jim brought this up after the game: once again when the Rangers relied on Chris Drury he let them down. He took the final face-off of the night (and definitely the most important) for the Rangers and lost it clean. When he is not winning face-offs he is useless and he proved that again tonight, 2 goals so far this season is a horrible thing for me to have to look at night in and night out.
As for Henrik Lundqvist I don’t really know what to say. He was brilliant all game except for one mistake which coasted the Rangers. Looks like the Rangers of old eh? They can’t score, they play well and they lose yet another 1 goal game.
This is way too important for the “empty netters” section below so here it goes. Stephen Valiquette (remember him) was sent down to the minors to find his game after a relatively disastrous season so far. Well his game isn’t in Hartford either. So far he has started both games and been pulled from both of them but not before giving up 10 goals in what amounts up to three periods. This is slowly turning into a HUGE problem for the Rangers, who now don’t have a viable option to run with as a back-up. Keep an eye on this one because we may see a shake up soon.
Empty Netters:
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Michael Del Zotto played the most minutes of any defenseman on the team and has handled his step up in ice time very well. He is easily the best defenseman overall on this team right now.
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Even when Gaborik isn’t playing well (and this was by far his worst game as a Ranger) he is still noticeable and makes a difference when he is on the ice.
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Enver Lisin has one of his best games as a Ranger tonight, good for him we need him to step up.
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Erik Christensen is making a successful start to his Rangers career. He is awesome on face-offs which has helped the Rangers massively. (Maybe you should take notes “Captain Clutch”)
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Also it should be noted that it is looking more and more like John Tortorella has lost this team. He better turn this around soon before things get worse.
Nothing else to say about this, it was a rough game to accept. Vent out in the comments.
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Well
at least I continue my dominance in the Blueshirt Banter Fantasy Hockey League, slated to win 10-1 this week.
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/KingHenrikBB
OR ELSE
lol
The picture caption says Valiquette was in net. You guys trying to send hidden insults? =p
"Malik now." "6 foot 6, 238, not a noted goal scorer but he's gonna give it a shot here." "Malik has not scored this year. In on Kolzig, faked it....SCORES"
Tortorella HAS lost this team. His method is either a 100% success or a complete failure. There is no in-between. Thats the problem with having a hard nose coach in my opinion. When players are benched, they react differently. Lisin is seeing such little ice time that it seems like hes still benched. Higgy looks like he responded but still can’t put a puck in. Rozsival is still being showcased and looks like he’ll remain a ranger. Hank doesn’t seem like Hank and ESPN rumors has stated he is upset with Tortorella.
ESPN rumors
are usually far off base. Lundqvist doens’t deal with Tortorella at all. And Lundqvist has been quoted as saying that he loves the up-tempo system.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
by Joe Fortunato on Dec 6, 2009 11:05 PM EST up reply actions
was the quote recent? and he indirectly influences Hank. He does still control the players around him.
yeah but Lundqvists coach is Benoit Allaire
Lundqvist even said himself when he was asked how the transition was to Tortorella that it was “non-existant because he doesn’t work with Tortorella” and he doesn’t.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
by Joe Fortunato on Dec 7, 2009 12:41 AM EST up reply actions
Tortorella hasn't lost this team,
numerous players who have been expected to score 20 plus goals have simply not stepped up at all. yea Higgins and Callahan get chances and seem to work hard, but they need to be responsible for putting the puck in the net and they simply are not. Kotalik and Avery are just terrible for not putting those puck in the net.(I could have scored on the feed Avery got) So basically this team is in rebuilding mode and our young guys like Anisimov, Lisin, Parenteau, Del Zotto, and Gilroy. will get better and better and eventually be the core of this team along with Gaborik, Staal and if Dubinsky and Callahan are still around. Then our other prospects will get their chance and they will build as a team and maybe is 3 or 4 years we will be a successful cup contender. But yea thats just the plan we’ll see if Sather screws it up by this trade deadline, I pray to god that he doesnt.
I have said it b4 and i'll say it again..........how bad does it have to get b4
something is done? How many games must be lost and how many points must be squandered b4 a MAJOR change is made. Same old Ranger story where points are lost during the season that come back to haunt the Rangers at the end of the year when this team is battling down the stretch just to make the top 8. And who or what is John Tortorella really? It’s getting to the point where just looking at his face is making me sick!!!
FIRE TORTORELLA!!!!!
Bring back Mike Kennan already! there is no sense in waiting.
uhhh… I like Torts? What will Mike Kennan do? He couldn’t get it done in Calgary and they’ve been decent for years. Way better than where we are now. It takes time…everyone forgets you can’t just throw together a team and expect it to win…Look at the Yankees they always try that and maybe they win every now and then they don’t have a cap and they can do that. You have to build from the inside out. We are doing that now. No need to fire a good coach. He knows what he’s got and he’s working on it. Plus we had Tom Renney for how many years? You think Sather is going to bring in Torts and fire him after a 1/3 of the season? They aren’t doing well but they aren’t Barry Melrose bad.
by fromthe51hate on Dec 7, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions
Pretty much what I expected...
This is what I had expected to see. Overpriced has-beens, a couple of solid core players, a bunch of inexperienced youngsters and a very good net-minder, together fighting for the 8th seed. I knew we were not going to battle for the division lead or the 4th seed as some had predicted.
This team is 2 years away from being a top contender in the Eastern Conference… at least.
drury rozi redden
when their gone and we have 18.5 mil.
not to mentioned that 7 mil spent between kotalik higgins and brashear.
25.5 mil open. so 3 years well be good
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
that is...
assuming Slats doesn’t resign any of them…can’t you just see future press release: “Rangers Agree to Terms with Drury, Rosival, Kotalik to Finish their Careers in Blue”…hahah…im laughing because im not entirely convinced that it wont happen lol
btw redden is here a little longer than dru and rozi…thanks Glen!
LETS GO RANGERS
by sloppyseconds on Dec 7, 2009 7:53 AM EST up reply actions
I disagree that Torts has lost the team. If he has, they would not have played well the last two nights. One mistake and some mis-the-net-itis did them in last night.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Dec 7, 2009 8:45 AM EST reply actions
I agree Jim
They played well but didnt capitalize on their chances and Henrik let in another soft goal after being great the whole night. Why is this happening??!?!?! I was watching the game last night and told my wife, with a bout 3 minutes left in the 3rd period that I am gonna be so pissed off if we let in a goal…. and of course we did!!!!! this happens way too often and drives me nuts!!! its one thing if we’ve been trailing going into the 3rd and losing and quite another if we lose in the last 2 or 3 minutes. So frustrating….arghhhh
yup
Its pretty clear that he has NOT lost the team.
…they just are what they are.
The “R” word (and no, it doesn’t stand for rectum).
"It ain't over till its over"---
R must stand for
Rozsival’d! – which I’m pretty sure is a swear word these days.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Dec 7, 2009 9:55 AM EST up reply actions
I would say that Tortorella is in the process of losing this team
lets be honest aside from the past two nights they have played some pretty bad hockey. Oh and we have lost 4 of our last 5.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
by Joe Fortunato on Dec 7, 2009 10:31 AM EST up reply actions
Corsi Leaders
Rozsival +8 (?!?!)
MDZ +5
Boyle, Lisin +3
Girardi -16
Staal -12
Higgins, Gilroy -8
Heikkenen, Gaborik, Callahan, Avery -7
Lundqvist (vis a vis team) -13
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
I dont think you look at Corsi # in a vaccum. Girardi and Staal are 1/2 in Quality of Competition. Gilroy and Del Zotto are near the bottom.
The team played 2 solid games this weekend. If they played like that the majority of the time, this would easily be a playoff team. If they keep it up, the results will more likely come. And if they dont, so what? This team is not going to win anything this year – and if you thought it was, you were blinded by something. We finally have quality young prospects who are finally getting the chance to play quality minutes. If we can continue that process over the next few years, and replace the expensive players we have now with expensive players who deserve the $$, we’ll be in good shape.
Glen Sather is a Hockey Genius.
http://glensathersucks.com/
http://twitter.com/ThGeneralissimo
I agree
But with this team, it’s valuable to at least get a quick glance at who is on the ice for the shots for/against, given that both defense and secondary offense are major issues.
If you want to actually analyze anything, the team was a -13 and lost on a soft goal with 3 minutes left against one of the better teams in the league, that’s a cause for at least mild optimism.
As for the individuals: QUALCOMP aside, Staal also logs more minutes than Gilroy so in bad games he’s going to have a higher number more often anyway.
And of course, Girardi also is near the top in QUALTEAM for the season, so he doesn’t get off the hook just cause he’s also logging tough minutes. Likewise, Gilroy and MDZ are playing with among the worst teammates on the D-side.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Dec 7, 2009 1:18 PM EST up reply actions
im a very statistical person but i dont love the corsi rating.
my opinion is the only way you can really tell how a player played is by watching the game.
we all know staal had a better game than roszival
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
I mostly disagree – One of the things I love about these types of stats are that it helps watch the game from a neutral position. I’ve wanted Rosival off this team from the moment they played him – so when I watch games there’s no doubt that the things Rosival does poorly register more than the things he does well.
Glen Sather is a Hockey Genius.
http://glensathersucks.com/
http://twitter.com/ThGeneralissimo
Terrible game for AA
Most of the 1st period he was coasting around, not going for pucks, no hussle to his game at all. It was only after he was run over that he put a little effort in.
I def do not agree
but he does need to learn to keep his head up…that was a 2nd huge hit on AA in the last week
Getting clocked like he has in the past couple games, you’d expect him to be a little bit timid. Kid just needs to learn to keep his head up.
I also do not agree...
and if he needs to skate with his head up at this point in his career, he’s in trouble. Most hockey players learn to skate with their heads up before Pee-Wee’s. Kids that don’t become baseball players or concussion victims.
Now im not saying Torts has lost the team but
I am just so dissappointed in his approach and the job he has done so far. He is a total blowhard, talking a bunch of nonsense when he 1st got here only to do nothing!! He singles out Lisin when he was just a small piece of the problem. What about Rozsival or Drury, or Callahan, or Higgins and on and on and on…………He has done a terrible job. And lets not 4get that he oversaw a Ranger team blow a 3-1 game lead to the Caps in last years playoffs. Seriously, what has he done since he arrived?
by giantsNYrangers on Dec 7, 2009 10:18 AM EST reply actions
Just a minor nitpick
Are you talking about the faceoff Drury took that led to the empty netter? He won that faceoff. Actually, he won it in the wrong direction and Del Zotto had to go out of the zone to get it. The goal was scored because the ref knocked down Del Zotto’s clearing pass right to Zetterberg.
The blackhawks need to ditch some salaries. What say we make a play for Patrick sharp? Don’t know how it could be done but I’d love to see it. Thoughts? Is this logistically possible?
by jigblahdah on Dec 7, 2009 11:07 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Only
If the blackhawks took Rozsival, which of course they wouldn’t do because they’re trying to shed salary. So Rozsival would have to be moved somewhere before they could even talk to the Blackhawks.
There’s no quick fix for this team unfortunately. The underperformers need to start performing, it’s just that simple.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Dec 7, 2009 11:13 AM EST up reply actions
a move for sharp, be it by us or any other team, won’t be until the summer.the hawks wont have cap problems until after the year…plus it wouldnt be smart of them to ditch him at the deadline anyway they’re going all in for the cup this year (they kind of have to with all the cap problems they will have this summer that you alluded to). we would have to ditch about 3.5-4 mil in salary too and i have no idea how slats would pull that off cause chicago cannot take anything back. that would mean trading rozy (a man can dream) or something similar moneywise. sadly i don’t see sharp coming here although he probably wont be in chicago next year (good player and even better team guy too).
LETS GO RANGERS
by sloppyseconds on Dec 7, 2009 11:14 AM EST up reply actions
well never say never
if there is some interest in him then they would probably have no problem dishing him out now. Waiting until you do have cap problems is a dangerous game to play.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
by Joe Fortunato on Dec 7, 2009 11:19 AM EST up reply actions
Right. Just follow Sather’s approach and waste cap room right away and ensure that you have cap problems. The sooner, the better.
How is that wasting cap room?
Sharp is a solid goal scorer who can win some face-offs. If the price si too high then don’t go for it but whats the problem with kicking tires?
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
by Joe Fortunato on Dec 7, 2009 12:01 PM EST up reply actions
personally, id rather build up for a run next year or the year after
flailing with trades is this team’s weakness. that is why we have no one left from prelockout, because we don’t build a team, we throw one together. if i was sather id make a couple of minor moves to find the right personnel and chock this up to a rebuilding year. not saying its over this year, it is far from it. but we need to field a consistent team and that is not in our immediate future.
i think we all want that but...
knowing sather its playoffs come hell or high water, whether we have a snowballs chance in hell of making it past the first round or not…hence the pavol demitra rumors (from several credible sources)
LETS GO RANGERS
by sloppyseconds on Dec 7, 2009 2:33 PM EST up reply actions
Wow not kidding
Found a link on it:
http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2009/12/06/12055606-sun.html
" Desperate to make the playoffs, the New York Rangers are beating the bushes trying to find a top-six forward.
While the Rangers would prefer to bring in a centre, league sources told Sun Media yesterday that general manager Glen Sather is so desperate to find help up front, the club has investigated the possibility of acquiring injured Vancouver Canucks winger Pavol Demitra once he gets healthy…"
As we continue to chase mediocrity
One more bad deal and i might start rooting against the rangers until a certain GM finally leaves. He gave us hope this offseason. I love this team too much to root for them while he smokes a cigar and continuously proves he doesn’t know how to build a contender.
i completely understand what you guys are saying...
but i wonder who they would give up…i think it might be worth a prospect (depending which one) to get rid of rosival or redden…i think redden has been ok but if we had the chance to get rid of him and his contract i’d jump all over that…crazy thing is the rangers are so thin on D right now theyd have to take a vet D man in return….so this is pretty crazy
hence why i said a bad deal
if we can dump roszival, drury or redden i would be the first in line even if it costs a pretty good prospect. however, id give a medal to sather if he found anyone to take either one of them. In reality, any move we make will likely be for an overpriced forward, dumping 1 huge contract for another and losing good prospects along the way
good prospects, no
Albatross contracts and prospects with limited potential, yes.
The latter is quite difficult without giving up someone of worth tacked on to it though.
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
by George E. Ays on Dec 7, 2009 3:13 PM EST up reply actions
Torts
I thought we played good against a good team, however I don’t see the value in changing the lines so much.
Let some of the guys gel. Is it getting to Vinney and Marion? We now have secondary scoring, but our primary has stopped? I know it is only 2 games… and we have some problems at center. I would think they should keep lines together for a game or 2 not just a few shifts.
can never beat the wings ...
like whats the deal here as far as i can remember they can,t beat the redwings like i think they lost something like 10 out of 11 thats a bad streak and as far as this fire torts stuff goes its insane torts has them right on track you have to be patient they have no good players but a handfull so you can,t expect them to be a contender this year it happend in tampa and when he got good players he won the cup so lets not get bent out of shape lol lol mike keenan c,mon dude that is just ignorant …
This is what i remember...
In the season where jagr, straka and gomez were the projected first line, shanny, drury, and cally on the second…with avery, dubinsky, and god knows who else on the third line. with orr and betts to round out the forwards. Rozy put up good numbers(i wish he hadnt then we wouldnt be screwed now), mara was ok, malik was todays rozy and staal was starting out pretty good a la gilroy now…strudwick yata yata. my point is that was suppose to be a cup contending team and bitched out to the pens…. even then you can say wow, but right now whos surprised? im not who thinks even if we stay perfectly healthy and other teams lose one of there best players for the year we’re contenders. i hate being pessimistic but come onnn. Sather made at least two stupid moves every year since the lock out. drury gomez, redden, rozy, naslund higgins…(i dont care if hes trying hard thats bullshit in my book)…tyutin for zherdev… Our gm is stuck in the past. He thinks the way he won championships back then can work now. obviously not look at the pens and redwings they know the value of players. for instance datsyuk zette lidstrom in..hudler hossa and chelios out.I WANT SATHER GONE!
by louielounz1 on Dec 7, 2009 7:29 PM EST via mobile reply actions
i saw some rumors...
i saw that lecalvier is unhappy in tampa…he played awesome under torts…imagine him with prospal and gabby…what do you think we would have to give up for him? i personally would not mind giving up callahan or dubi, rosival, higgins or kotalik, and maybe a 2nd round pick…(we probably might have to give up more maybe sangs) i know a lot will say we shouldnt give away our youth and i somewhat agree but i dont think dubi or callahan will never get better than what they are now and lecalvier (who is still pretty young) can put up 90pts any given season…just my opinion but if this trade were to happen i would not be disappointed
Lecavalier's contract is $85mil/11 years.
Works out to a cap hit of $7,727,273 per year, which would be in effect through the 2019-2020 season. First of all, good luck in making room for that. Secondly, assuming we could make a move for him, it would only be a temporary fix. He’s 29, and won’t be 40 until his contract expires. Do we really want to pay that much to a player when he’s 35+?
don't want him
can’t even afford to put together a real team with that kind of deal without miraculously getting rid of redden, rozi, drury or gabby. also he’s way overpaid.
dubi for vinny lec in a heart beat ..
i agree dubi & cally are going to be third line 15 to 20 goal scorers in the n.h.l. why not get a guy who can give you 45 &100 any season you hit it on the money dude in a heartbeat …
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Atlantic Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Jersey
|
82 | 48 | 27 | 7 | 103 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
82 | 47 | 28 | 7 | 101 |
|
Philadelphia
|
82 | 41 | 35 | 6 | 88 |
|
New York Rangers
|
82 | 38 | 33 | 11 | 87 |
|
New York Islanders
|
82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 79 |
(updated 4.12.2010 at 9:21 AM EDT)
Rangers Schedule
Next 5 Games
|
New Jersey
|
Thu 09/23 | 7:00 PM EDT |
|
@
New Jersey
|
Sat 09/25 | 7:00 PM EDT |
|
@
Detroit
|
Sun 09/26 | 5:00 PM EDT |
|
Detroit
|
Wed 09/29 | 7:00 PM EDT |
|
Ottawa
|
Fri 10/01 | 7:00 PM EDT |
Last 5 Games
|
@
Philadelphia
|
Sun 04/11 | SO - L 1 - 2 |
|
Philadelphia
|
Fri 04/09 | W 4 - 3 |
|
Toronto
|
Wed 04/07 | W 5 - 1 |
|
@
Buffalo
|
Tue 04/06 | L 2 - 5 |
|
@
Florida
|
Sat 04/03 | W 4 - 1 |
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