Rangers Recap: Lundqvist stones Devils, Rangers win 3-1
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Feb 7, 2010 12:03 AM EST
in Rangers Recaps
43 comments
Playing Martin Brodeur always seems to bring out the best in Henrik Lundqvist, and tonight was no different.
Henrik Lundqvist continued his strong play against the Devils, leading the Rangers to a 3-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden Saturday night.
Lundqvist is now 15-6-4 lifetime against New Jersey, with a goals-against under 1.8.
In the second period, all hell broke loose. First, with the Rangers on the power play, Marian Gaborik banged home his 35th goal of the season to give the Rangers the lead. The goal came after a terrific sequence of passes from Michael Del Zotto and Ryan Callahan.
Fifty-six seconds later, it was Callahan with a fantastic slap shot that beat Martin Brodeur over the shoulder. A minute forty three later, Chris Drury put the Rangers up by three with his ninth goal of the season.
Ranger fans got to see Brandon Prust fight on Garden ice for the first time, when he mixed it up with the much larger Andrew Peters. The two then rematched later in the first. The first fight was more of a dance, the second had a little more action with Prust landing a take-down. If he sticks around, and that's always a big "if" with this team, but if he sticks around, he is going to be a fan favorite for a long time. Prust also picked up an assist on the Drury goal. Peters is five inches taller than Prust, and forty five pounds heavier. Prust is one tough kid, Ranger fans.
The story of this game was Lundqvist, who just seemed to be in another dimension tonight, making at least five spectacular saves, and stopping forty one shots, including nineteen in the third period.
It also bears noting the Rangers did a lot of the "little things" we joke about on this site. Blocking shots, and just good sound hockey awareness. For example, with two minutes left in the game, and the Devils pressing, Sean Avery provoked Ilya Kovalchuk into a fight, which left Kovy watching the remainder of the game from the sin bin.
This game was a shining example of the type of play the Rangers are capable of when they set their mind to it. It's just unfortunate they can't find a way to play like this every night.
Final thoughts:
- Why are the Devils on MSG in HD, and the flagship franchise of the network isn't?
- Sean Avery takes a penalty in the first period, and MSG posts his name as Steve Avery. Nice.
- Matt Gilroy has been joining the offensive play more of late, and taking more shots. It's good to see. We know he has talent, he just needs to use it.
- I thought the Rangers got a real emotional lift after the second Prust fight. That was to me when their game really started to pick up.
- Props to you guys, a fine showing as always in the open thread. This site is kicking ass all over the place, and its all because of you guys, I am eternally grateful.
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Couldn't see the game because we don't get MSG 2 at QU
but seems like we played well. Stanley Cup here we come!
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
Ozzie studied under Hank....
taught em everything he knows
Rectum? Damn near killed em!
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 6, 2010 10:37 PM EST up reply actions
Rangers can beat the Devils...
any day of the week.
Probably wouldn’t mean anything thereafter…but if somehow the Rangers get into the Playoffs…I really hope they get the Devils.
Rectum? Damn near killed em!
Isn't that the definition of "can"
out of potential first round opponents…say, Washington, Buffalo or NJ…I think the Rangers can beat the Devils and I wouldn’t be surprised at all.
Season series are practically irrelevant for the posteason anyway.
Rectum? Damn near killed em!
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 6, 2010 11:10 PM EST up reply actions
I still think it’s much too early to tell who could beat whom. We’ve still got almost 3 months till the playoffs start not to mention the olympics basically hitting the clear button for awhile.
I'm just going by recent history of this team with the Devils.
mostly same players, with of coruse the Devils being the team with the better record.
The Devils bring out the best in the Rangers.
I’m not going by this season and who’s doing what. Just the feeling I always get when the Rangers play the Devils, throw the records out the window
Rectum? Damn near killed em!
by FreeBradshaw on Feb 6, 2010 11:24 PM EST up reply actions
Ummmm not exactly...
Rangers have definitely had the Devil’s # lately but the addition of Kovalchuk itself = not “mostly same players”.
Devils will kick our asses in a 7 game post-seasons series…
Kovalchuck really mattered didn't he?
He really mattered when they played the Thrashers a while back too?
They got Kovalchuck….wow.
We still got that Gaborik guy don’t we?
Rectum? Damn near killed em!
Hey Free
Better hope the Rangers can make the playoffs first LOL!
by Late for Dinner on Feb 8, 2010 5:21 PM EST up reply actions
Anyone see Kotalik got 15 PIM tonight? Who does he think he is, Redden?
Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
I really think the Dubi-Olli-Cally line will continue to grow and improve
They were really impressive
----Warner----
-------13-------
by Scent of a Woman on Feb 6, 2010 11:22 PM EST reply actions
Nicely Done, Jim
Best game of the season for Henrik Lundqvist…hands down!
My Rangers Blog: www.rangerstribune.com
Follow Me: www.twitter.com/rangerstribune
by Nick Montemagno on Feb 6, 2010 11:46 PM EST reply actions
Avery: The Smartest of the Smartest
How smart of Avery to take out Kovy at the end of the game. On a side note that is not the Mike Mottau I remember from a few years back
by The Last Shall Become First on Feb 7, 2010 12:35 AM EST reply actions
flames fan.....
You guys seem to be getting a kick out of Prust eh? He’s pretty scrappy, and since he always takes on heavyweights and holds his own, he gets the team pumped. Prust is a decent player with some potential, but even more heart. Good to see he’s getting some kudos around here.
Anyways, in case you were wondering… Higgins is what we expected- great defensively, forechecks hard, drives possession, but can’t score.
Kotalik is interesting. He scored yesterday vs FLA, and had a big hit and a great defensive play in the final minute.
Tonight was interesting, though.
He had a BIG open ice hit on Vinnie Lecavalier, and Stephane Viellieux (sp?) came in to the Tampa Captain’s defense, dropping the gloves with our new favorite Flame. Ales scored the takedown, but unfortunately, forgot to tie his jersey down, so he received a misconduct. A very unexpected start to Kotalik’s Flame career- that was his first fight in 7 years, and the 2nd of his career!
by Rod Blogojevich on Feb 7, 2010 1:23 AM EST via mobile reply actions
BTW- keep the Sex Panther’s memory alive! Nolli Goaligen will always be remembered for his nicknames here in CGY
by Rod Blogojevich on Feb 7, 2010 1:26 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, you guys would still be watching Prust raise hell up in Calgary if, this past off-season, Sather the genius didn’t let Colton Orr walk, then sign has-been and Ranger villain Bumshear to take Orr’s place. Brilliant move… But that’s how it works in NY under the Sather regime- GM makes a bonehead move, then has to figure out how to weasel his way out of it somewhere down the line.
As for Kotalik, he was in Tortorella’s doghouse 90% of the time, and when he wasn’t he’d be sure to find a way back in with a lazy penalty or sloppy turnover. Did you actually say “BIG open-ice hit,” then “takedown” and you were referring to the same Ales Kotalik that wore a Ranger uniform for the first 45 games of 2009-10? (that is, when he wasn’t a “healthy scratch”) . I don’t know what they’re feeding him in Alberta, but for the Flames’ sake don’t stop!
On Kotalik
He definitely finishes his checks, which is good to see from a hockey player. It sounds like change of scenery has done him well.
I hope the same for your new guys… I’ve always liked the Rags, the Flames had a few lean years when I was a little kid and I loved NYR when Fleury played for them.
by Rod Blogojevich on Feb 7, 2010 1:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
This doesn't make up for a season of frustration - but it sure as hell helps.
I’ll say it again – Kovi is no Ovi. He can be shut down by good defensive play. Henrik was an absolute magician tonight. Now Torts – PLEASE keep Dubi-Jokinen-Cally together for awhile!!
Given the option of Non-HD MSG2 with Sam/Joe or HD MSG+ with the two creeps, I’ll take the former any time. The Devils have some work to do if they want to go far in the postseason. As I’ve been saying, the loss of Oduya has affected them, Fatso looks tired, and offensively they look out of sync.
I loved
when MDZ rocked Kovy after I think it was Elias’s shot. He knocked him down and cleared the crease.
notice they have been doing more of that during the last 4 games. it’s noticable. since the gaborik “fight” maybe? when people started noticing girardi and stall not standing up for their goalie, star, etc.. its a good change.
by #17ToTheRafters on Feb 7, 2010 5:28 PM EST up reply actions
If you look closely, as MDZ hit him, Lundqvist pops his skate out and Kovy trips over it… still a nice thing to see :P
still, anyone clearing the front of the net is huge, at least they’re understanding what they need to do.
if you watch it again ...
You’ll see MDZ clear the crease, but Girardi, true to NYR veteran defensive form, jump on Hank and try to play goalie instead of hitting elias and letting Hank play the puck. I’m convinced that getting rid of R&R will do more than clear cap space, it will let some of these young defensemen devep by NOT watching those two morons play D.
The loss to the Caps actually helped tonight.
I know that scoring five goals and giving up six is not a fun thing to see, but honestly there were some positives from the Caps loss. They can score more than a goal or two a game and they have to keep on playing like that.
Solid defense and they can put it in many times. Hank was exceptional and made several fantastic glove saves. Callahan can beat Marty any day of the week & a fabulous tic, tac, toe PPG from Gaborik.
While Drury still has that scoring touch. I’m sorry folks, he is now officially 4th line material. Let him lead the team, but he just can’t skate on a scoring line anymore. It is all over. PP’s once in a while, but that’s it.
Sold game & it’s nice to take out the Devils. I hope they can really start putting it all together and have a nice run after the Olympics.
henry the wall
hank the king was great and prust show guts in our place around good game by all i hope stally holds on all that ice time come on sather we need one more banger back there lets go RANGERS
by James kurtinbach on Feb 7, 2010 10:37 AM EST reply actions
I'd Love to Know What Avery Said.
Kovi dating any of his ex’s?
by It may HAVE to Last a Lifetime on Feb 7, 2010 11:14 AM EST reply actions
Whatever it was it got Kovi to spear him in the chest
I wonder if that spear will go to the NHL for suspension review; oh wait, it was on Avery, so matching minors only. Every time I watch OV leave his feet for a hit, or slew foot another player I remember how Colin Campel’s discipline system works.
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