Rangers Recap: Thrashers 2 Rangers 1 (SO)
by Joe Fortunato on Jan 7, 2010 9:59 PM EST
in New York Rangers Recaps
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PrintHenrik Lundqvist who? The Rangers walked into Atlanta to play the offensively dangerous Atlanta Thrashers with a rookie in net. Chad Johnson made his first career start against the likes of Ilya Kovalchuk, Maxim Afinogenov and former Ranger Nik Antropov; and was a stud.
The Rangers opened the scoring in the second when Enver Lisin converted a cross-ice feed from Marc Staal to put the Rangers up by one. What did you say? Who got the secondary assist? Oh, just Chad Johnson, joining a select list of goalies who notched an assist in their first NHL start. The lead lasted into the third before Jim Slater walked in alone and put the puck between the legs of Johnson, and into the back of the cage.
Overall Johnson stole the show. The Rangers defense (not wanting to make Johnson feel left out) abandoned him on various occasions and keeping to tune he bailed them out. That included one of the greatest saves you will see all year from any goalie, where Johnson was clearly beat and reached back with his stick to make a jaw-dropping save (which is pictured above in case you missed it live).
Johnson had to make a few nice saves in the third because the Rangers went into their panic mode and couldn't clear the zone. The Rangers took a few dumb penalties that caused some heartburn but aside from that it was a solid period. When the Rangers did get offensive chances in the third though they were quality, and they almost put the game away multiple times.
Unfortunately in the shoot-out Michael Del Zotto couldn't couldn't put one home and the Rangers blew Johnson's brilliant start. Marian Gaborik was the only goal scorer for the Rangers. Christensen was stopped and Ales Kotalik and Ryan Callahan missed the net (which by the way is the ultimate sin in the shootout).
Empty Netters:
- I have to say (and correct me if I am wrong but I missed the first period) that this was probably the quietest game of Marian Gaborik's Ranger career. He made a few passes, set up a few guys, and made some space but I can't remember Sam and Joe calling his name really at all.
- Speaking of Gaborik he only played 18 minutes tonight (Callahan played 25 for comparisons sake). Maybe John Tortorella is realizing that he is using him too much, and is giving him a few less shifts during the games, I like the move so long as the Rangers can score without his 5 extra minutes.
- Eric Christensen continues his hot play. He was pretty dominant tonight away from the puck and I can remember two or three opportunities where he made glorious plays. The kid is definitely showing the type of play that netted him 18 goals with Pittsburgh.
- I have to say that tonight was one of the best games I have seen Artem Anisimov play. He was physical after the whistle (which is something we sorely miss) and was pretty dominant at both ends of the ice.
- By the way was it just me or should Kovalchuck get an 9.4 for that dive he took on the Christopher Higgins hooking call in the third. No doubt that it was a penalty but no need to do a 360 like you just got hit by a truck Kovy.
- Also I want to note that this was one of the best games I have seen blocked shots wise. The Rangers blocked tons of shots and kept the shooting lanes clogged for Atlanta all night. Nice to see.
- By the way I don't want to hear anyone say anything negative about Chris Drury being the captain for the rest of his career as a Ranger. That face-first dive to block a shot at the end of OT was one of the ballsiest plays I have ever seen. I'm serious about the stripping of the C thing by the way, any guy who is willing to take a puck to the throat is a man I want to wear the C.
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If I'm not allowed to rant about Drury anymore
I might as well sell the site
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 7, 2010 10:01 PM EST reply actions
you can rant about him
but not about him not deserving to be the captain
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by Joe Fortunato on Jan 7, 2010 10:02 PM EST up reply actions
completely agree on drury
that is why hes the captain.
wow.
every goalie we play
has our number
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by Joe Fortunato on Jan 7, 2010 10:16 PM EST up reply actions
I’ll take this to the bank. If you told me before playing Dallas (who beat the Blackhawks last week) and Atlanta in their house (half-empty though it was) with Johnson in net that we’d get 3 out of 4 possible points, I would have smiled.
good call
100% agree
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by Joe Fortunato on Jan 7, 2010 10:17 PM EST up reply actions
definitelu. like I said last night. Back to back night, road game, travel in bad weather, rookie goalie, great road point
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jan 8, 2010 10:47 AM EST up reply actions
could it be?
praise for the captain? someone pinch me! :)
Favre 4 Ever
I Believe In Chris Drury
RIP Buddy <3 Love you
Johnson played good..
Ocho may actually be a good stopper one day…
This one seemed like a throwaway from the start..and I guess its good they got a point out of it….
Tho of course..Avery left his Avery in Dallas…
N8 !
Completely disagree
On his first shift Avery and Afinigen (however you spell his name) traded some shoves, and an elbow/slash from Max, but Avery got the coincedental. Then both benches were warned. As usual, the NHL officiating doesn’t want or let Avery play his chippy game. Whether he deserves it or not is not what I’m debating, but the fact is the guy’s got a bullseye on his back. It’s almost painful to watch. In the past Avery ALWAYS got under Kovalchuck’s skin, but I guess it isn’t the NYR leash on the guy but the Zebra leash …
Would it be more agreeable..
if I said the Refs saw Avery in Dallas..and made Sean leave his Avery in Dallas?
He wasn’t the Avery the Rangers need (in no way talking about scoring points…) and I’ve said it all year its not cuz of him..its cuz of people knowing who he is…
N8 !
Hail To Our New Backup
Guys…have to agree with the post — Chad Johnson did his best Henrik Lundqvist impression tonight, standing on his head at times and we have a cool and collected rookie willing to give the King rest. I’ll take the point happily.
Drury deserves more than we’ve given him. As Brian Burke said when asked of why he was picked as part of Team USA he said, “Because HE’S Chris Drury. That’s it. He’s Chris Drury!!”
tdr
Valli? Who?
- Chad Johnson now deserves to be the regular backup and get some games on a regular basis.
- For all of the skill and speed displayed by Atlanta, their record surprises me. Have to admit I don’t follow them in detail – so it could be crappy goaltending (other than when they play us) or an inability to score – but it seems shocking.
- Lisin’s goal – why? ’Cause he drove to the net. Fascinating concept. Maybe he can teach some of the “vets” ?
- O RLY? WTF? Del Zotto in the shootout? I could see if it was the eighth or ninth round (Marek Malik anyone?) – but you’ve got Dubi, Higgins and Lisin available. And if you’re going to use a d-man – wouldn’t you choose Gilroy – the guy who used to be a forward??
I don’t get that one – at all.
- <grabs stick to beat dead horse – you’ve been warned> Several different times, ATL cycled in our zone and we “weren’t on the right side of the puck” and “didn’t have the jam” to knock them off the puck. A big physical d-man – my kingdom for a big physical d-man!!!
absolutely
i thought theres no way he passes on Anisimov there. AA has great hands and has shown it before
Favre 4 Ever
I Believe In Chris Drury
RIP Buddy <3 Love you
I meant to mention AA – don’t know why I left him off – I might have gone to him first over the 3 that I did mention. D’oh.
Yeah I have to say DB I have no idea why Del Zotto went
I don’t think he was in the shootouts in the OHL either. And with Lisin, Anisimov, Higgins and Dubinsky on the bench I don’t understand the move.
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by Joe Fortunato on Jan 8, 2010 12:14 AM EST up reply actions
Eff Kotalik
Is quickly becoming my most hated Ranger…and that includes Redden and Roszival. The guy is supposed to be a shootout specialist yet I cant remember him converting all year. Had the game on his stick tonite and missed the backhand by 5 feet. Guy is useless 5 on 5, gives the puck away routinely on the pp and he takes the dumbest penalties ever and complains abou every one of them. HORRIBLE signing.
He's 1 for 3 in shootouts
Which is not terrible considering the Rangers have only gone to 4 of them on the season. That penalty is the Kovalchuck dive that Joe was talking about, he attributed it to the wrong player. It was Kotalik, not Higgins. I didn’t hear anyone bitching about him when he scored in each of the last 2 games…
I’ve been constantly bitching about Kotalik. $3 million per?
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by Bettman's Nightmare on Jan 8, 2010 1:38 AM EST up reply actions
Oh believe me, the Zherdev jersey that I bought last Christmas reminds me everyday. oh well everybody makes bad purchases in life. lmao
by CrazyRangerFan on Jan 8, 2010 6:00 PM EST up reply actions
I think chad johnson has a great game and of course it didn’t hurt to have a little first time luck on his side with a couple post and wide shots. I was wondering though – after Lisin scored the goal – how much ice time did he see? He seemed to be invisible, or more than likely torts didn’t play him much…
seems unfair that lisin and AA are scoring with what little ice time they are seeing and not given bigger opportunities.
i would have gone with gilroy in the shootout
Good Point Though
3rd game in 4 nights coming off two emotional wins and a 1st time starter in net. All in all a good point. Makes Shitaliks miss all the more frustrating though. Could’ve stole us that xtra point.
him and Callahan missed the net
what a joke
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by Joe Fortunato on Jan 8, 2010 12:23 AM EST up reply actions
on the exact same move, why not mix it up a bit I mean c’mon.
by CrazyRangerFan on Jan 8, 2010 2:24 AM EST up reply actions
we got a point….but yet we still lost. Atlanta is extremely soft on D and we couldn’t score. Johnson deserved a win but his team couldn’t get it for him. I was perplexed when i saw their goal. Was it me or was Brian Boyle watching the play until it was too late? Bad change by our “captain”. Sure he blocked a shot, but how many times has Girardi done the same over his career and Dubinsky breaking his wrist after stopping a shot. Blocking shots doesnt make you a captain, its displayed and vocal leadership. Not once this game or this season did I see Chris Drury step up and put the team on his shoulders… Oh my captain my captain
This one was different
Chris Drury is an on ice and off the ice leader. He doesn’t score goals, or put up points but you dont have to do that to be a good leader. He blocks shots, clears the zone and gets on refs. We get on him for his contract but if he were making 3 million a year he would be a Ranger favorite by a mile and half
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by Joe Fortunato on Jan 8, 2010 12:22 AM EST up reply actions
which is the point i was making yesterday in terms of his value to team USA and how Ranger fans cant stand him because sather overpaid him. for what he does check, block shots, kill penalties he is valuable to the rangers and will be in the olympics. if only we could save that extra 4 mil a year in cap space. lol.
by Michael Gleich on Jan 8, 2010 2:51 AM EST up reply actions
idk aobut the off ice leadership.
im not saying hes not a good of-ice leader, i just dont know. ive never been in the locker room, etc.
but he does show heart and wearing the rangers jersey means a lot to him
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
He should be anyway
At least, I don’t understand why the contract would matter when you’re watching a player play. If the stuff he does makes you like him, you should like him.
I mean, there are other guys who I know who you hate who are crippling the cap…worry about their contracts. Drury’s at least giving something for his, even if it’s not what it should be.
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by George E. Ays on Jan 8, 2010 8:51 AM EST up reply actions
Say what you will about Kotalik...
But I recall being pissed about his play many more times than I am happy. And that counts for so…nothng, because I’m not the guy who signed him to $3 million nor the guy who keeps wheeling him out there.
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by Bettman's Nightmare on Jan 8, 2010 1:39 AM EST reply actions
Kozlov and Hedberg
Both of those punks have our number. I have to start practicing voodoo when we face Kozlov in a shootout, he is so calm and collected and has silky hands. Bastard.
‘Moose’ Hedberg… 10 wins, 2.53 GAA, .916 SV % and 1 shutout and he is an enigma to us. I’ll never understand why, not in a hundred years.
Very impressed with Johnson, he played out of his mind and in my opinion the kid more or less needed it after getting lit up against Philly. Thank God that Hank can get some rest now and then, I just hope and pray he doesn’t come back exhausted from the Olympics like last time.
Drury taking one in the face… gotta love it, way to play for the team Dru! I’d love for him to score some more goals but if he can’t chip in there than he can continue is outstanding defensive play, I just hope he doesn’t have to take shots off the face to gain respect and praise from now on.
drury
I’m a pretty harsh critic of his – but that was a flat-out ballzy move blocking that shot. But all this crap about it being justification for wearing the C – give it a rest fellas. You want to know who was the most prolific shot blocker in Rangers history (at least as far back as I can remember)? Can anyone name him? Larry Melnick. Did he wear the C? No. Did he wear an A? No.
This team is still leaderless, people. It’s been this way for a long, long time. I’m good with giving Dru some props for that selfless move, but I’d expect nothing less from any player in that position. If that’s too much to ask, they shouldn’t be playing at this level.
Sorry for peeing on the parade – just keepin it real.
by schwartzy on Jan 8, 2010 7:29 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Also it should be noted that now
Tortorella should have no problem giving Chad Johnson a ton of starts leading up to the Olympics, I mean thats why he’s here right?
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Exactly. We need to be tactful about giving Henrik some rest. But then again, how often have the Rangers been tactful with their lines this year?
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by Bettman's Nightmare on Jan 8, 2010 12:05 PM EST up reply actions
as much as i would love to see Chad play a bunch up till the Olympics, he wont. Torts was still very hesitant to give him praise after the game, he basically said Johnson earned another start this month, and I think thats all torts is going to give him. I really hope I am wrong though.
by CrazyRangerFan on Jan 8, 2010 6:05 PM EST up reply actions
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Atlantic Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York Rangers
|
55 | 37 | 13 | 5 | 79 |
|
Philadelphia
|
56 | 31 | 18 | 7 | 69 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
56 | 32 | 19 | 5 | 69 |
|
New Jersey
|
56 | 32 | 20 | 4 | 68 |
|
New York Islanders
|
56 | 24 | 24 | 8 | 56 |
(updated 2.15.2012 at 8:59 AM EST)
Rangers Schedule
Next 5 Games
|
Chicago
|
Thu 02/16 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Columbus
|
Sun 02/19 | 8:00 PM EST |
|
@
Pittsburgh
|
Tue 02/21 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
@
New York Islanders
|
Fri 02/24 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Buffalo
|
Sat 02/25 | 7:00 PM EST |
Last 5 Games
|
@
Boston
|
Tue 02/14 | W 3 - 0 |
|
Washington
|
Sun 02/12 | W 3 - 2 |
|
@
Philadelphia
|
Sat 02/11 | W 5 - 2 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
Thu 02/09 | OT - W 4 - 3 |
|
New Jersey
|
Tue 02/07 | L 0 - 1 |
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