Rangers Playoff GameDay Notebook: 4.22.09
As we nervously await the drop of the puck for Game 4, here are some Ranger stories to get you thru the day:
Remember Theo Fleury? Well, he is doing well up in Calgary, and I am happy to say, living completely clean and sober. But please don't let the Rangers hear that he "hasn't ruled out an NHL comeback".
Sporting News: Avery's antics backfire in Game 3.
NorthJersey.com: Rangers focus on D, penalties.
Steve Zipay at Newsday: Tortorella: Rangers have to regain the momentum.
NHL.com: Rangers need smarter Avery.
NY Post: TORTORELLA ISSUES 'BIG' CHALLENGE
NY Post: RANGERS KNOW SCORE WITH LUNDQVIST
Some final thoughts from me:
Keys to a Ranger win tonight:
- Stay out of the box. This team simply cannot spend a quarter of the game killing penalties the way they did in Game 3.
- Don't let the Capitals take the game to them the way they did in Game 3. It seemed like the Caps would mount a flurry, the Rangers would clear the puck, the Caps would chase it down and mount another flurry. They need to be more aggressive in both zones.
- "Feed The Beast". The MSG crowd was rocking for Game 3, the Rangers fed off of that for about the first 2 minutes of the game, and then were lifeless for most of the last 58. I expect a more nervous crowd tonight; the Rangers are going to need to get them going early, a big hit on the opening shift will set a good tone.
- Create traffic in front of "The Next Big Thing" without taking penalties. Simeon Varlamov, while surely on his way to the Hockey Hall of Fame based on what I've read about him the last 2 days, wasn't tested much in Game 3, the Blueshirts need to make life tougher for him tonight. Get the puck on the net at every opportunity, and try not to give him a clear view of what's coming
- Sean Avery needs to be smart. Every striped eye on the ice is watching him, he can't so much as pass gas near Patrick Ro....I mean Simeon Varlamov, so he has to play intelligent.
John Davidson used say this on MSG telecasts, and I think it applies to what the Rangers need to do tonight:
"Take the shortest route to the puck, and arrive in ill humor"
I love that line, it's a JD classic.
Let's Go Rangers!
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Actually ...
That ill humour quote was from Bobby Clarke …
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Apr 22, 2009 1:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
well I heard JD say it many times on Ranger telecasts, things Flyers say tend to go in one ear and out the other
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 22, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Simeon Varlamov, while surely on his way to the Hockey Hall of Fame based on what I’ve read about him the last 2 days
Ha, good on ya jrs. While he’s been good, I can only we Caps fans haven’t anointed him too early.
by Sct112 on Apr 22, 2009 2:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
well to be fair, its not just the Caps fans. The media in general. Like I said, he’s “The Next Big Thing”, until he’s not.
The Caps problems between the pipes were hashed, rehashed, and re-rehashed, so I can certainly understand you guys feeling giddy about some solid netminding.
If the Rangers call up a young player who scores 1 or 2 PP gials in a game, we’ll feel the same way
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 22, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree big time with 1, 2, and 4. We are not a high scoring team, (SHOCKER, RIGHT!?) therefore we need to control the game in the first 5-10 minutes of the first. We did this on the road twice, and if we do it at home we will have 10X better a chance to win this one tonight.
Play the game in 5 minute intervals. But the most important one is arguably the first five (or so has said three of my five coaches).
by Rob Luker on Apr 22, 2009 2:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
great point, 5 minutes at a time.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 22, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We did this on the road twice
Thats interesting. I don’t, and I don’t think many Caps fans do, feel like the Rangers controled play in games 1 and 2. It was a question of capitalizing on chances. The Caps didn’t, the Rangers did. Certainly, the Rangers need to be a different team tonight than they were on Monday, in the same way the Caps can’t be the team they were in 1 and 2 and expect to win.
by Sct112 on Apr 22, 2009 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, OK, Let me refine
Maybe they didn’t completely control the play, that is for sure. But when you go on the road as a huge underdog, it is key that you show the other team that this will not be a cakewalk, and that you basically survive the first five minutes every game by throwing everything you have at them.
I think the Rangers did that in Games 1 and 2. They did it as jrs said for about two minutes on Monday, but it did not stick. A 0-0 hockey game after 1 period tonight wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for the Rangers.
by Rob Luker on Apr 22, 2009 3:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Schwabbie
Check your email
Agreed on the 0-0 comment
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 22, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

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