Rangers Recap: Bluehsirts Open Preseason with 4-3 Win over Devils in Overtime
by Nick Montemagno on Sep 23, 2010 10:34 PM EDT
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Tonight's match-up between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils certainly did not feel like a preseason game that had absolutely no meaning in the standings. Instead, it had the intensity and atmosphere of a contest we would expect to be watching in October or November. What does that say? Well, each team entered the game in tremendous shape and performed as if it was mid-season. It was a routine Rangers - Devils match-up, especially since it took overtime to decide it. But besides all of this, there are a lot of positives to pull out of it for the Blueshirts.
Brian Boyle and Adam Mair set the tempo for the night, dropping the gloves in front of the benches just 4:45 into the first period. From there the speed of the game picked up and each club was getting their chances. The Rangers had plenty of those, going on the powerplay three times in the first alone. The top offensive line for New York took advantage by scoring a pretty goal to gain the lead. Derek Stepan first collected a rebound from behind the net. He then protected the puck while moving into the slot, where he blindly passed it to Alex Frolov. Frolov wasted no time getting it across the crease to Marian Gaborik, who was just waiting to bang it home.
The Devils responded to that, though, when Travis Zajac rifled a drop-pass from Ilya Kovalchuk over the shoulder of Martin Biron. The fast paced period ended in a tie, despite the Rangers outshooting their rivals, 16-9.
The sloppy play in the defensive zone continued for the Devils in the second period. At 5:15, Alexander Frolov capitalized on a turnover in the slot by sending Marty Brodeur on a ride with a whirlwind of dekes that gave his team a 2-1 advantage. Not surprisingly, New Jersey came fighting back just seven minutes later when Kovalchuk finished a breakaway-igniting pass from Parise to tie things at 2. Shortly after, Brian Boyle showed his speed when making a strong move off the boards and snuck one through the legs of Brodeur. That one had to of grabbed the attention of head coach John Tortorella. Towards the end of the period Brandon Prust and Brandon Mills squared off in an entertaining exchange of fists that lasted at least a minute.
Replacing Marty Biron in the third stanza was Chad Johnson. For the most part, the youngster played well, but allowed a lousy goal to Parise with just a 1:30 remaining in regulation time. In typical Rangers-Devils fashion, we headed to overtime where Marian Gaborik's snipe from the top of the slot won the game for the Blueshirts, 4-3. Good call by John Tortorella to throw five forwards out for that powerplay in OT. It paid off nicely.
Continue reading after the jump....
Okay so there are obviously a lot of positives to take out of this game for the Rangers. The first player I would like to discuss is Derek Stepan. Stepan, to me, brought life to every offensive line he was placed on tonight. The rookie finished the tilt with one assist, but with the way he was playing easily could have had four or five. His puck movement was amazing and for him to keep up with the pace of Gaborik and Frolov was very impressive. He was reliable on offense and defense and showed his abilities on both sides of the puck. If he continues to play like this there is no doubt in my mind he earns a roster spot out of training camp.
Also impressive on offense was Alex Frolov, who had three points tonight. Alex was more noticeable than I thought he would be, in all honesty, and that is a good thing. He is very strong with the puck and similar to Jaromir Jagr, knows how to protect it and make it hard for a defensemen to steal it from him. Frolov played nicely with Gaborik, but he is a player who I think can make things happen no matter who is skating alongside him.
Mats Zuccarello-Aasen got thrown around a bit, which was expected coming in. However, it did not slow the speedy winger down at all. Although he was dumped every other shift, Zuccarello bounced right back up and found the puck immediately. I have not seen many players that can control the puck AND move as fast as Mats does. Those little legs of his know how to move, and surprisingly, help him avoid being hit by some of the bigger bodies out there. He was all over the place tonight.
Ruslan Fedotenko, well, not so much. I was not impressed at all with what he did out there, which was not much. To be honest I think he is losing steam overall as he gets older, because he was sluggish out there and could not keep up. I doubt Torts will be keeping him around for too long. Also a disappointment to me was Erik Christensen. I expected more out of him, but he was not noticeable all that much.
I did like the "Big Boys" line consisting of Dale Weise, Derk Boogaard and Brian Boyle. Those three skate around like giants, which is very intimidating for the opposition. Not sure what Torts' plans are for the fourth line, but it would not be such a bad idea to keep that trio intact.
Marian Gaborik was his usual self, as was Brandon Dubinsky. Both were flying around the rink, creating chances left and right. Gaborik, especially, made some eye-opening passes to generate scoring opportunities, in addition to his two goals. I'd say he is good for another 42 this season, eh?
On defense, the standout players to me were Marc Staal, Ryan McDonagh,
Michal Rozsival and Mike Sauer. Girardi and Semenov were quiet for most of the night, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Staal was joining the rush a lot more, which is always good to see. McDonagh is ridiculously strong, as you saw when he dumped a Devil player by shoving him effortlessly with one hand. Mike Sauer was also very physical, using the body every chance he had. And Rozsival, I felt, made some great defensive plays. Remember, he had an atrocious preseason last year, so I am happy to see him come out on top of things this time around.
And last but not least, Martin Biron was spectacular between the pipes. He was not tested much, and the two goals that did get by him he had no chance of stopping, but he made some fabulous saves at key points in the game. Marty was very sharp and if tonight is any hint as to how he will be throughout the season, I am excited to have him on the squad as Henrik's back-up. Good stuff.
The Rangers will be back at it on Saturday night when they faceoff with the Devils again, but this time at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
One last thing: BIG thanks to everyone who participated in the game thread tonight. The number of comments in it was phenomenal. You guys are awesome!
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AWESOME
cant wait for regular season. stepan looked great from what i saw. i wonder about zucarello? he got pushed around a bit, but as you said always found the puck, and played hard. kennedy looked pretty good as well. boyle surprised me. I was high on him last year so hopefully when he gets his chances he plays well. i cant wait to see dubi!
LETS GO RANGERS
YES YES YES
i know its a preseason game but ive been down on our offense for some time
Gabs brought in was a move I raved about
but the little things we did as starting to pay off
Frolov idk why nobody wanted this guy
seriously he and Gabs looked great together and showed great f’n chemistry
those two together make this team on offense so much better
how about Stepan, yeah alot of hype from us fans but to me he came out and your right every line he was on he made a impact
he needs to make this team, he just has “it” so to say
MZA is going to be good he is going to need time but his speed fire and puck skills are a great assest to the team
this is the best Ive felt about our team in a few seasons
amazing is how I thought we didnt do well in free agency besides from Fro
Boooooo looks like a monster if he plays the way he played tonight def not questioning that signing
what i liked is that he dropped liked 30 pounds, Sam said he was called by Torts and Torts said “yeah 290 aint gonna work here”
say what you will about Torts but I like that guy man
great f’n start
by Archie Barberio on Sep 23, 2010 11:20 PM EDT reply actions
Question
So I was at the game tonight and didn’t see what Boogaard did to earn his time in the box w/ 10ish mins left in the 3rd. Can anybody fill me in?
Nothing that should’ve earned him a 10min misconduct. It was a horrible call.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers for SB Nation.
The Rangers Tribune: A hockey blog dedicated to covering the New York Rangers.
by Nick Montemagno on Sep 23, 2010 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions
+1 he did not even deserve a 2 min penality
that was a garbage call.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
Boogaard
Shoved a player before the puck was dropped for the faceoff, something we have all seen a million times during a hockey game. Instead of the ref seperating the two players (I think Leblond was the Devil) he gave Booger the game misconduct and I believe a minor penalty. Atrocious call.
In Hank we trust.
my problem with that
and what i was posting on the open game thread when it got partially swallowed was joe micheletti’s reaction
he claimed it was good on the ref’s part to stop ‘nonsense from happening before & after the whistle’ and followed up with ‘if you want to drop the gloves and fight, do it’
clearly boogaard and leblond were getting ready to go, so it’s ok to fight, but doing anything leading up to the fight is wrong….?
bad enough sam rosen is an anti-fighting pacifist, it really sucks when the play by play guy has the same opinion….this is when i miss jd’s counterpoint in the booth
"You can be a lion maybe once in your life. If you don't make this deal, you're a
mouse forever….Wouldn't you rather be a lion for one day than a mouse for life?"
Amen
Jostling for position, pushing and shoving, and a little bit of sandpaper before the faceoff is part of hockey. No one is going to get hurt, if a guy throws a cross check or a slash then call a penalty… but a 10 minute misconduct? Ri-goddamn-diculous.
In Hank we trust.
what bothers me...
is that Boogy is really working on his game and the refs obviously picked on him because of his reputation, not because of anything he did wrong. i don’t like complaining about refs and i rarely do it…but after the call you could see Boogs looking to the bench as if to say, “don’t dock me for that one coach!” i felt for him because its exactly what he doesn’t need in pre-season as he’s fighting for a position. good news is that it was such a stupid call, even in pure hockey terms as dig deep says, that it may work in Boogy’s favor. Watching the replays he’s doing just what he’s supposed to do.
Yeah
Standing up for Prust, Prust can stick up for himself really… I must have missed the moment where Prust got hit or something and Boogaard was standing up for him.
In Hank we trust.
No - that's not how he was standing up for him
The Devils Goons were making it clear they wanted to fight, but no one wanted to throw with Boogaard, even though he was on the ice too. They wanted to go with Prust, since he is smaller.
by BuckarooClub on Sep 24, 2010 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Error in my piece: Torts put 4 forwards out there in OT, not 5. Sorry about that.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers for SB Nation.
The Rangers Tribune: A hockey blog dedicated to covering the New York Rangers.
by Nick Montemagno on Sep 23, 2010 11:29 PM EDT reply actions
Sweet
Good win boys,that was pretty sweet to watch for an exhibition game.
Hank deserves better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Impressions
Nick is right. The energy level tonight at the Garden was much higher than any pre-season game that I’ve ever been at. Hell, I’ve been to regular season games that had less energy than this one. First “Potvin sucks” of the year came at just over a minute into the game, and even Larry felt compelled to show us how enthusiastic he was. I wanted to concentrate on the new players, but how can you possibly ignore Gaborik? He’s essential to this team’s success. Was very impressed with the play of Stepan and McD. They look ready to move up.
MZA is very gifted and showed no fear in his game. Frolov may be the steal of the year, showing strength, quickness and vision. Biron played a really good game in goal. I left the Garden tonight feeling much better about this team than I did last year at this time. Let’s hope they can keep it up for a whole season.
Thanks
Thanks for the correction Nick, I was worried about my mind a bit because I was sure the guy standing in the Ranger’s crease had pads on.
i wish i could have gotten a picture
but i sat a few rows behind lou lamoriello tonight and inbetween the 2nd and 3rd periods he went to a concession and came back with popcorn for himself – in a lets go rangers popcorn box. is that a conflict of interest? i wish the pictures i took came out clearer, i got such a kick out of it.
otherwise, boyle skated like he had something to prove tonight (because he does) and stepan looked like a seasoned vet. the boys came to play and i couldnt be happier. here’s to a great season
Stepan
Anybody have Stepan’s face off numbers? I know it’s his weak point, just curious to how he did in the face-off circle tonight… By the way how great did that first line look… It’s going to be hard for Torts to break them up… Stepan made that line that much better with his vision and passing, and his defensive positioning, Stepan and Gabs almost hooked up on a break away pass off of a nice defensive play by Stepan in our on end, and then a long breakout pass to gab… Stepan I think is the real deal… Only thing that may hold him back is his face-off issues…
I was very impressed with McDonagh, I think it’s going to be very hard for Torts to send those two back down to the Pack/Whale…
Boogey and Boyle just throwing the body around… it was great to see…
I was very impressed with Rozi’s play, he wasn’t noticeable unless you were looking for him, and thats a good thing for a Dman… Semenov had a nice opportunity to score, but you have to believe in regular season it would have been DZ sneaking down the left side, who would have netted that puck… Just a thought, and Semenov is not known for his offense so it while it would have been nice to see him net that puck it wasn’t a complete dissappointment…
One thing I want to point out… Every single dman tonight looked better than Redden has at any point in the last two years… there is absolutely no way he makes this team… Keep in mind DZ wasn’t even in the line-up… I have a feeling if in the end Sauer and Semenov are of equal evaluation, Sauer gets the call for 7th man being that he’s already in the organization… Just a thought…
Found FO Stats
Stepan
Offensive Zone FO: 0-3 (0%)
Opponents:
Pelley 0-1
Mair 0-1
Zajac 0-1
Defensive Zone FO: 2-2 (100%)
Opponents:
Kovalchuk 1-1
Zajac 1-1
Neutral Zone FO: 3-6 (50%)
Opponents:
Zajac 3-6
In total he was 50% on FO tonight… he was however 4-7 against Zajac tonight which is the Devils #1 Center at this point… Still to small of a sample size, but i guess we’ll see
by Clalicata17 on Sep 24, 2010 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah I think he will get the hang of it, he looks very good everywhere else
It is hard to believe he was in college last year.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
Yea i know he fit in soooo well… it’s going to be very hard to put him somewhere other than the first line… I just think he won’t be as effective if he’s not centering that line… Christensen was supposed to center that line as was mentioned at one point, i never really thought he did that great of a job… more like Gabby making his stats witha nice goal here and there… but I think Stepan is proving quickly he is a ranger… not a whale
by Clalicata17 on Sep 24, 2010 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I didn't hear anyone say that
his shot was anything other than amazing ;)
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
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by Joe Fortunato on Sep 24, 2010 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Maybe I am confused
I thought he has great passing ability but not the best shot. I thought he had a couple nice shots last night.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
Great wrist shot
Frazee had to fight it off with his shoulder. That shot impressed me, it was quick and deceptive. Steps is a really intelligent player.
In Hank we trust.
MZA Too Small
He got tossed around like a rag doll tonight. He showed flashes of good puck handling, but this dude is going to need some serious time in the AHL to adjust. I didn’t think he displayed enough speed.
PS a 5’9 170lbs listing is an insult to peoples intelligence. This kid is soooo tiny.
Swedish website had him listed at 5’6 156 pounds. That’s probably more accurate.
Stepan looked good though. He seemed pretty calm out there.
http://thehockeysuit.blogspot.com/
dude isn't Kane to small by that way of thinking?
In a perfect world I would love a guy with his skill a little bigger but he will get the hang of it. It is so different then the bigger ice surface, once he adjusts we will be glad he is in the Ranger’s system.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
Can't compare him to Kane
Kane grew up on North American rinks. Plus he’s double the talent MZA is. Bummer… I was hoping for a weeble-wobble the likes of Fleury, Dionne or even St. Louis. But agreed… he’s more in the 156 world, than 170. With that talent, I’d love to see him put some Tootoo-ish muscle on that frame. Then we got ourselves and NHL’er.
What does skill have to do with it? I think Zuck will be good enough to make up for his size
So I have been told anyway. My only point was lots of people said Kane was not big enough. When Zuck gets fimiliar with NA rinks he will be fine imo. Joe Mic made a point during that big hit, when your small like Zuck you get good at minimizing the brunt of the check otherwise you would be hurt all the time.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
I agree. He was the best puck-handler out there tonight, and I thought he was plenty fast as well. What worries me is that we’ll have the same problem with him that we had with Zherdev: He’s so much of a finesse player that no one else on the team knows what the hell he’s doing.
There was only one big hit on Mats that stuck in my mind. Most of the night, I was admiring how well he was avoiding/withstanding the big hits and how quickly he’s adjusting to the smaller rink. He’s not quite there yet, but I’d prefer him to complete his adjustment in the NHL.
by PowerForward on Sep 24, 2010 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions
lol, good point about Zherdev
Die hard with a Vengence keeps popping into my head- Sam L “Not even God knows what your doing”.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
During the game they had Stepan listed at 189 pounds when he is closer to 170.
All sports teams do this which I don’t understand.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
He is small
But whether or not he is too small I think is debatable, much like I am hesitant to sign off on Stepan being 1st line center after one game I am equally hesitant to pass full judgement on Zuccarello after one game. He made some good plays and handled the puck well, he was especially noticeable moving the puck around with the man advantage (he was out there at least in the first period). His long stick tries to give him an edge in speed but when he is being pinned up against the boards and can’t get to the puck with his feet his long stick can’t get to the puck either. That long stick looks like it is a big hindrance along the boards.
Zuccarello is an interesting case for a roster spot- he adds offense, you can’t deny that. I think he might need that AHL experience too, though I feel the Rangers could benefit from him in their big club right now. I am anxious to see what he can do with a few more preseason games. I have heard he is very built and solid for his height, but I think I heard that from Sam Rosen or Joe Mic during the game.
In Hank we trust.
agreed
I thought i was the only one who noticed this as well. YES he is fast and YES he has soft hands..BUT..he was a lost puppy out there. I would be willing to bet that half of his passes caused turnovers..specifically in the neutral zone and in their own end. He was struggling with breakouts..looking over his shoulder every time he received a pass. I am not doubting this kid but maybe we have all hyped him up too much at this point. Certainly agree that he will need to spend some time in the A for him to get settled with the north american play. Loved the way Stepan played..the kid is confident and WILL be like dubi during his rookie season when he played with Jagr. looking forward to seeing him again on Saturday.
by inHANKweTruST on Sep 24, 2010 7:33 AM EDT up reply actions
MZA Too Small
I was at the game last night and MZA’s jersey looked light a night-gown on him. Someone in the locker room must have told him because he had it tucked in Jagr style in the third period haha. Anyway, I was very excited for him but I was disappointed. He absolutely got tossed around and everyone here saying he was the best puck handler on the ice, are you talking about last night or his youtube videos? Because last night he miss-handled passes, lost the puck and made an errant pass/dump in the offensive zone that flew out of the zone. I’m not saying that he didn’t show flashes of skill with his speed and hands, but overall he looked shaky and out of his element.
Zuccs
Also got pinned up against the boards easily by big defensemen like Volchenkov, he overhandled the puck one time and was bailed out by a diving play by Michael Sauer. Zuccs needs some adjustment time to the small ice and North American game, I still am giving him the benefit of the doubt though. First game, garden ice, etc. hope he gets to skate Saturday and does something with his ice time.
In Hank we trust.
Yeah I am not done with Zuc, just like I am not ready to crown Stepan ( but it is easy to get real excited about him). Zuc has to get some time imo. Listen to me, I normally always hate small players, I think they should be avoided as much as you can. At the same time he is on the roster and its not like he was our top 10 pick. If he helps the team awesome, if he flops and can’t adjust (I think he will) the only thing lost is Dolan’s money.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
lol
I will be much more certain about my feelings for Stepan, MZA, and McDonagh after three games or so. Anyone can have an off game, especially considering it was the first time on Garden ice for a lot of them (preseason or not). A lot of butterflies must wake up and fly around in your gut when you pull that blue sweater down over your head and shoulders.
In Hank we trust.
Where I have (I think he will) that means I think he will catch on and get this. Not sure if that is clear or not.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
Think he'll adjust
Before he gets outplayed or beaten for a roster spot? He has talent and can be dangerous in the offensive zone but I think he is still a bit of a project (and I am pretty big fan of Zuccs). Might be that guy to bring up in case of an injury to add a new dynamic to the team.
In Hank we trust.
Yeah I don’t think he is ready, but def a good investment imo.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
Absolutely
I was excited that the Rangers got him, so many other teams were interested.
He is going to adjust his game to fit the small ice and North American style and be a potentially big part of this team in a year’s time (perhaps). Good prospect.
In Hank we trust.
Kane is bigger, stronger, and most importantly faster….i have no problem with him being small, it’s not being fast and being small is the point i wanted to bring up
http://thehockeysuit.blogspot.com/
Kane wasn’t a good comparison, but I can’t believe you’re calling this kid slow. He wasn’t as noticeable down the length of the ice, but laterally he was zipping in between and around guys all night.
by PowerForward on Sep 24, 2010 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions
his foot speed was average….kinda why he wasn’t noticeable down the length of the ice…..its early and i dont wanna harp on this, but time will tell if this kid is the next Brian Gionta or Stephen Gionta….but from what i saw the elite speed it takes to compete at that size wasn’t there
http://thehockeysuit.blogspot.com/
Suit
Yes, he is small, but you have to realize that it’s gonna take some time to him to adjust to the game.
As for slow, he hit the jets a few times and flew past guys who weren’t expecting it. I liked a lot of what I saw out of him today, his vision is insane.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
"We can trade Lisin for a gun, then hold it to Drury’s head and make him waive the no-movement clause" - XLII
"Tortorelli sounds like a kind of pasta… an unforgiving, stubborn, chewy, flavorless pasta that demands ‘jam’ from other pastas." - Dig Deep
by Joe Fortunato on Sep 24, 2010 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
I like him behind the net
Working in the office he seemed to be comfortable as the set-up man for guys hovering around the net, waiting for the bang-in play.
In Hank we trust.
Oh I guess I mis understood what you were saying about Zuck
I thought you were saying that Zuck wil not make it in the NHL because he is to small, which people said about Kane. That was why I brought him up.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
Impressions...
Honestly, I never thought I’d be saying this because I’m a believer in working the youth up through the system but IMHO Stepan looked ready for the big time. Really that’s just a straight forward cold assessment. He won’t reach his full potential, he’ll have frustrating slumps, he’ll get burnt here and there this season but what I like is his hockey sense. I’m not convinced he needs to be in Hartford to learn what he needs to learn. He needs to be up here and his presence won’t really hurt us. He made some tentative choices tonight but he always seemed to compensate for his own errors with hustle and hockey sense. I was watching him away from the puck and he “gets it”. He has great sense of not only where he needs to be for an opportunity, but where he needs to be to fill the ice when his linemates are creating opportunities. This is so, so crucial and something that a lot of players are never able to grasp. For instance, I felt Gilroy had a hard time with that last year. Anyway, Stepan is strong on the puck and even if he ends up doing third or fourth line duties…which he won’t…it will help us out tremendously.
McD also impressed me way more than I thought he would. He played smart and strong…really solid game. All the hype may turn out to be warranted here. Haven’t decided yet on if he’s ready to hit the club out of pre-season…still want to see a few more games. But he will wear a Ranger jersey this year FOR SURE. What impresses me about he and Stepan is that they both are clearly focused on being NHL’ers. These are some smart, hard-working and character ice hockey players. Reminds me of how I felt when Weight and Amonte came into the league…haven’t felt this positive about fresh talent for a minute.
Frolov. No words necessary here aside from the fact that Gabby and he might be classic linemates for some time. They certainly looked dominant tonight.
I thought Duby was absolutely fantastic.
Aside from this, the team did look very sloppy and the game took on the feel of a scrimmage at times. What else is to be expected from the necessary experiments and changes coming from the bench…and no, I don’t blame Torts for this. He’s working on the final lineup. We lost cohesion and slept on their top lines. I expect this to be worked out by opening day.
Overall, a very encouraging showdown.
d
I was troubled
By Dubi and EC’s lack of presence last night. Dubinsky had that one break away where he rung it off the post, sprung by a fantastic play by Tim Kennedy. I think Dubi was much more noticeable in the 3rd period, when he gets a breakaway like that (especially against a goalie in a Devils sweater not named Brodeur) he has to bury it in the net.
By the way, Tim Kennedy looked really good.
In Hank we trust.
agree on Christiensen – disagree on Dubi – I noticed him every single time out in the second and third. I thought he played well.
Dubinsky
Definitely was more noticeable as the game went along, I think he had a quiet first.
In Hank we trust.
Ahhh...
I didn’t get home from work until about 8:00 or so and picked up the game at the tail end of the first. Maybe that’s why I nodded to Dubi…forgot to say that i agree with what everyone is saying about Boyle. it looked like he’s learning…adjusting. One encouraging thing about our club is that its not only young but smart.
d
How was Staal a standout on D? His giveaway led to the first goal and he was up ice for the other 2. Mcdonagh and Sauer played well, Rosi and Semenov were ok. Staal starts slow, but the 3.325 million dollar pylon drives me nuts.
Sauer was solid.
Staal had the biggest screwup of the night, but he made up for it the rest of the game. He set up a few offensive chances that didn’t pan out.
McDonagh’s play was the most inconsistent—extremely physical but slow to cover the wing.
Rosi showed glimpses of offensive brilliance and glimpses of Rosi 2k09.
Did Girardi and Semenov play tonight? I hardly noticed.
by PowerForward on Sep 24, 2010 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Girardi had a rough game as well
although tonight it’s just kind of about getting the nerves out.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
"We can trade Lisin for a gun, then hold it to Drury’s head and make him waive the no-movement clause" - XLII
"Tortorelli sounds like a kind of pasta… an unforgiving, stubborn, chewy, flavorless pasta that demands ‘jam’ from other pastas." - Dig Deep
by Joe Fortunato on Sep 24, 2010 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Offensive brilliance? Sorry… just not feeling Rosi. I’d just as soon see Staal get power play minutes before Rosi. That said, while not a peep’s been made of ‘em, I’m really curious to see what Exelby will look like when he gets the call. I wanted to see Semenov make guys pay with that big body of his. Didn’t happen. Exelby? He’s that reckless a-hole of a defenseman – I dunno -I just think the Rangers have been missing. Capable of that one HIT that gets into guys head when that visiting team bus door opens and they pile out and see the Garden.
frolov stepan gaborik
dubi prospal cally
avery anisimov white
boogey drury prust
boyle kennedy
GO WITH IT :)
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
White?
Avery-Anisimov- Kennedy? Maybe? But with what I saw last night alone, Boyle was awesome. Fast and tough and with him on the same line as Boogard, New York finally has the twin towers back. Without a mosque…
I too was there last night and I had the poor fortune of sitting in the Homo Larry section. Man will I have something ready for him next game. When you see a guy grinding behind him in a bald cap and a pink ranger jersey, remember this post.
One last note, thanks to all you guys here at the Banter I have been “studying” the youngsters more on the ice. Stepan is legit. So smart, excellent vision, and a great passer. The rest will come. I truly think it would be detremental to his development to have him any where else but the NHL. Although first line minutes might be a stretch night in and night out for a rookie, I’d like to see him take the challenge head on and go from there.
I really hope the Boogeyman get a couple of scraps in this year too because his hockey skills are horrible.
I was at the game, and it was a great atmosphere, and like most of you, saw a lot of good things.
Stepan has the makings of a potentially great player, his poise reminds me of another Derek his rookie year – Jeter. He and McD looked like they BELONGED out there.
Biron was solid, with a couple of great saves, you can’t really blame him for the Kovalchuk breakaway, that guy is death in those situations.
Maybe the most exciting development is seeing Boyle skate with more confidence, protecting the puck and slipping it past Fatso. If he could give us some scoring from the fourth line, that would be a big boost.
There’s no way this time isn’t better than last season.
agreed
on boyle. he really impressed me with his ability to throw his body around especially on his 1st shift the game he knocked two people on there ass, and on his goal that is kind of thing he needs to provide for the rangers. i really hope boyle makes this team because you can see he trained hard and a line of boyle and boogard and prust is scary for the opposition.
Finally when we have some kids almost breaking down the door to get on the team
Boyle picks now to start playing his best hockey. Where was that last year..lol I just hate wasting picks so I hope he can help the team some way but I don’t want him to keep the of AHLers off the team if Wiese or Boyle could get his spot on the 4th line.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
That is what I was thinking
I like Brian Boyle, he is a guy who was a former 1st round pick, entered the league as a goal scorer and then lost his touch, his confidence, and his game. The Rangers trade a 3rd round pick for him and see how he does as a 4th line center. He has a pretty unremarkable year last year and for all intensive purposes is written off in our hearts and in our minds.
He busts his ass in the offseason to improve his skating and physical play and give the Garden Faithful exactly what they asked of him- some physicality. One game is not exactly a reliable sample source, but Boyle did look good, good enough for a roster spot in my opinion. I’d really like to see how Todd White skates as I think they are fighting for that same spot as 4th line center. Boogaard on Boyle’s wing makes for a big, mean line. Throw Prust on the other wing and that line will be physical and a force to be reckoned with… but potentially at the cost of pushing away Weise or Byers who could play on that line this year. Tough call, neither Weise or Byers is a natural center iceman.
In Hank we trust.
Not to be a grammar Nazi but:
“intensive purposes” is really “intents and purposes”
Like how people say “I could care less” but it’s really “I couldn’t care less”
Again not being a Nazi.
And I completely agree on Boyle but let’s not covet that one Voros season where he looked great….for the first 10 games.
by teknics on Sep 24, 2010 9:56 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Damn iPhone turned “forget” into “covet”, ironic hah
by teknics on Sep 24, 2010 9:58 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
My mistake
No worries about the grammar Nazi thing, I am one of those people that likes when things like that are pointed out.
In Hank we trust.
thats a good point, about center vs wing
Even if Byers could make the team, it would not be Boyles spot. So Boyle would be keeping a center from the team.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
Tim Kennedy
Looked very capable with the puck and made that fantastic play to spring Dubi for the breakaway (he drew a penalty on the same play). He looks like he is a strong skater and has a great work ethic, he was a stand-out last game to me just because he ECLIPSED the play of Fedotenko (I am sure they are competing for the same roster spot and minutes). Fedotenko looked miserable, he had no speed to his game.
In Hank we trust.
Yeah, I think he's a good shifty player
Good speed, decent hands. Although his shot isn’t too great. He seems to have some skills but you wonder where he fits in on the team.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Sep 24, 2010 9:09 AM EDT up reply actions
13th forward?
Plug him in instead of Boogaard some nights? Tricky to peg him into the roster, he seems like one of those guys that is either on the third line or not on the ice.
In Hank we trust.
Probably. I think he’d work well with some of the skilled players but I’d rather see Anisimov or Stepan get their chances with them.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Sep 24, 2010 9:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Chances of him cracking the top 6
Are slim, but he has had a great camp and looked solid last night. I would like to see him skate with EC and Dubinsky for a big chunk of time. I agree about wanting Anisimov and Christensen in the lineup more than Tim Kennedy… but he looks like a bit of a steal at the moment doesn’t he?
In Hank we trust.
I think that Kennedy
really proved himself out there as well. Again, it’s only one game, but he looked great tonight.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
"We can trade Lisin for a gun, then hold it to Drury’s head and make him waive the no-movement clause" - XLII
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by Joe Fortunato on Sep 24, 2010 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions
Random thoughts on various people
I thought Staal and Girardi looked like crap, but mostly cause I remember the two early goals (CJ has to stop the last one). Speaking of, I regret my arguments about not needing a backup because we have CJ. I barely knew Semenov was playing last night. I thought Stepan played well, but I worry about MDZ part 2..plenty of offense, but might end up with a -10 or -15 by season end, especially if he sticks on line 1. Really liked Kennedy, surprisingly. Really didn’t like Christensen, also surprisingly. Thought MZA was wearing a giant target rather than #36 on his back. Thought Boog was actually who Boog is, which isn’t a positive. I actually forgot it was Biron and not Hank early, which is a positive. Boyle looked like a different player, those writing him off and players named White should be worried. McDonagh I didn’t get to focus on, but he made himself noticeable a couple of times. Sauer’s a good player too, I’m amazed we can’t find a place for him. Rozsival’s one ole! early sticks out, otherwise he was forgettable. And of course, Gaborik and Frolov are beasts. Love them together, but would still love them more apart.
Incidentally, If anyone questions why I rely on advanced stats more than what can be seen and remembered during a game, the number of differing opinions on each and every player in this thread has been a perfect example.
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The first impression I got last night
After Boyle was throwing around his body in his first shift was that he knows his spot on the team is on the line. If he plays like how he played last night all the time then I wouldn’t mind seeing him get ice time over Christensen, White and Kennedy. I think if he occasionally got paired with Dubinsky that would a good physical line that could unsettle the other team’s defense. But I’m sure he’s shown these flashes before so let’s see him do it a few more times before he gets to keep his spot.
I actually though Semenov played pretty well. He stood some guys up very well and moves pretty decently for a big guy. Between the guys that might be in the mix for the 6th or 7th D role he definitely could find a home.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Sep 24, 2010 9:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Rozi
Drew a few penalties and looked good skating with Ryan McDonagh. I agree about Staal and Girardi they didn’t look like the solid pair they have been.
No thoughts on Fedotenko Smurf? Lol.
Weise didn’t get enough ice.
In Hank we trust.
Fed was tied for the lead in shots!!
In all seriousness…you have a lineup that currently looks like (ignore the line order for now)
Frolov Anisimov Gaborik
Dubinsky _ Callahan
Avery Drury Prospal
Boogaard _ _
________
And you have Stepan, Christensen, White, Kennedy, Boyle, Prust, Byers, Weise, MZA and Fedetenko fighting for the 4 blanks. Two of the openings are at center, the others are 13th forward and 4th line RW. (I know Dubi, Prospal, Drury are all flex positions, but still)
Where does Fedetenko fit? I think right now the front runners for the 4 spots are Stepan, Christensen, Boyle, and Prust. Kennedy would be the 5th. There’s still time, so who knows what will happen, but I see Fed as a waste of time, and am mostly hoping he’s cut today.
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by George E. Ays on Sep 24, 2010 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree on Feds
He looked sluggish last night, took a dumb goalie interference penalty and got ice time with Gaborik that he shouldn’t have got. Torts is throwing him a big bone giving him that ice time.
I think Christensen has to lose his roster spot as 2nd line center to Stepan,.. that should be an interesting story this preseason.
Then there is the battle for the 6/7th d-man spot to think about.
In Hank we trust.
the number of differing opinions on each and every player in this thread has been a perfect example.
It’s even more ridiculous when you consider people are basing it off of 1 game…and a pre-season game at that.
still doesn't mean you can't get excited about it
I saw a lot of good things, from a lot of good players against a very good defensive team. Stepan was one of them. He outplayed nearly everyone (aside from Gaborik and Frolov) tonight.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
"We can trade Lisin for a gun, then hold it to Drury’s head and make him waive the no-movement clause" - XLII
"Tortorelli sounds like a kind of pasta… an unforgiving, stubborn, chewy, flavorless pasta that demands ‘jam’ from other pastas." - Dig Deep
by Joe Fortunato on Sep 24, 2010 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m fine with getting excited, but people need to remember, it’s 1 pre-season game; none of the question marks guaranteed their spot last, although some may have lost theirs.
Let’s be honest, Stepan looked good, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s never played an 82 games schedule, more if you think the Rangers will make the playoffs. College players hit a wall in their rookie season. So, Stepan may light up the world for the first half, but he’s going to fade, which is bad if he’s your #1 center. Thus, I’m extremely happy Stepan performed well last night, but I’m not going to pencil him in just yet. I do think he may get the mini-tryout while Drury is out, which is cool, but ultimately, he’s Hartford-bound.
Also, the Devils are no longer coached by Lemaire and employ Kovy…it’s an open question whether they are “a very good defensive team” anymore.
Not to mention no Tallinder and no Greene last night.
Camp Torturella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
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by George E. Ays on Sep 24, 2010 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
You also have to realize that Stepan is gonna play 82 games in the AHL as well
Obviously there is a huge difference between the AHL and the NHL style of play, but I think with some consistent breaks during the season he would be better off than Gilroy was. At least now the coaching staff knows what to do.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
"We can trade Lisin for a gun, then hold it to Drury’s head and make him waive the no-movement clause" - XLII
"Tortorelli sounds like a kind of pasta… an unforgiving, stubborn, chewy, flavorless pasta that demands ‘jam’ from other pastas." - Dig Deep
by Joe Fortunato on Sep 24, 2010 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions
In the AHL, he’s not affecting the Rangers playoff chances if he hits a wall. For many, that’s a dealbreaker.
I don’t personally agree because I don’t think whether or not we make the playoffs is important for the overall direction of the team (get younger), but I’m in the minority there.
Camp Torturella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay
Blueshirt Banter - "ARISTH"-Assuming Redden is sent to Hartford
Twitter: RangerSmurf
by George E. Ays on Sep 24, 2010 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
At least now the coaching staff knows what to do.
Still don’t understand this reasoning. The coaching staff was not to blame for Gilroy. And exactly how do you coach around a player hitting the wall? And when you talk to players, it’s as much mental as physical; not exactly something the coaches can control.
I actually agree with George, I don’t care if the Rangers make the playoffs this year. I’ve always seen this year as more of a transition/holding pattern year. But the problem with Stepan is if he hits a wall at the NHL level, you can’t continue to play him on the 1st line, you have to drop him down. Then the question becomes, Does that affect his confidence? If so, how much? Whereas in Hartford, with much less media attention, you give him the opportunity to play through it.
The coaching staff overworked Gilroy
It seemed like Tortorella expected him and Del Zotto to work on the same path and they didn’t. In order to help Stepan from “getting over the wall,” rest during the season should help keep him more fresh.
And if you don’t care about making the playoffs then why do you need to drop Stepan from the 1st line if he hits a wall? It seems like keeping him with two elite players will help get him over it.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
"We can trade Lisin for a gun, then hold it to Drury’s head and make him waive the no-movement clause" - XLII
"Tortorelli sounds like a kind of pasta… an unforgiving, stubborn, chewy, flavorless pasta that demands ‘jam’ from other pastas." - Dig Deep
by Joe Fortunato on Sep 24, 2010 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Well I don’t care about making the playoffs, but I can’t speak for the rangers organization. If Stepan struggles, there will be a lot of pressure for the media and fans (I don’t have the utmost faith in the majority ranger fans to see long term).
Either way, the organization will make the call and we’ll live with it.
by NTB on Sep 24, 2010 12:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Agree 95%, until the part where if he hits a wall you have to drop him down. If he stays, he’s likely going to be with Gaborik and Frolov. Those two are plenty of firepower to help him play through whatever is ailing him. I would rest assured Tortorella never drops him to the 3rd or 4th line, they’ll send him down first.
Does it hurt the kid’s confidence? I don’t know, I’m not a psychiatrist. Guys handle stress differently. My opinion is he’d be fine, but the whole process is something that I’m sure will go through the organizational food chain to decide.
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by George E. Ays on Sep 24, 2010 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Been a long time without hockey
I completely agree and understand your point but you can’t fault us for enthusiasm and excitement. I am reserving all my major judgments until we get a much larger sample size for all those players on the bubble.
In Hank we trust.
watched most of the game...I am impressed
with the rookies. yes, it’s only one game, but I was excited for it. Stepan looked good, let’s just keep him on the big league roster.
MZA may be “too small”, but Theo Fleury wasn’t exactly a big guy either….not that I’m comparing the two per se, some considered Theo “too small” too.
I liked what the 4th line did, I was shocked at the actual size there! finally, seeing some size on the Rangers’ team. I hope Torts keeps this line together.
"Fantasy, reality, science Fiction. Which is which? Who can tell?"
MZA
I was watching from the 200s last night, and MZA didn’t just get tossed around, he really looked like he didn’t belong. He had a few bad give-aways, and some awful passes-to-nobody that just bounced around. The kid has skill, but he definitely needs some more time to adjust to the NHL style before he can play on the main roster. The effort is there, but he needs some time in Hartford first.
Little Kennedy didn’t do a whole lot, but looked very smooth with the puck. Frolov looked great. Stepan looked pretty good. McD was hit-or-miss; few great plays, but a couple blatant screw-ups as well. He definitely has some big-time potential. And Boyle looked good even before his goal. He was skating much better, and using his size more than ever before. He must really want that 4th line spot. Good for him.
I had no idea Semenov was so huge. The man is a beast. He’s almost as tall as Boogaard. Would love to see him work out.
"Prucha has tons of heart, plays hard every shift, and is a fan favorite. Betts is one of the best penalty killers & shot blockers in the league, and he costs close to nothing. Orr destroys people and has greatly improved his skating ability. Let's get rid of all three. Brashear looks good." - Glen Sather
by MartyEqualsPansy on Sep 24, 2010 10:13 AM EDT reply actions
the numbers are working against him
especially with McDonagh playing like he did last night
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
"We can trade Lisin for a gun, then hold it to Drury’s head and make him waive the no-movement clause" - XLII
"Tortorelli sounds like a kind of pasta… an unforgiving, stubborn, chewy, flavorless pasta that demands ‘jam’ from other pastas." - Dig Deep
by Joe Fortunato on Sep 24, 2010 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions
If Semenov on the team means McD is not
then hey thanks for coming out Sem. But I think he could be a good veteran addition to the blueline.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
Maybe
I’m just not 100% convinced that Gilroy is going to play all 82 this year. Even McD for that matter, he’s never played as long as a schedule as the NHL and I imagine he’ll go through the same lulls that MDZ did last year.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Sep 24, 2010 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions
That's what
Eminger is for
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
"We can trade Lisin for a gun, then hold it to Drury’s head and make him waive the no-movement clause" - XLII
"Tortorelli sounds like a kind of pasta… an unforgiving, stubborn, chewy, flavorless pasta that demands ‘jam’ from other pastas." - Dig Deep
by Joe Fortunato on Sep 24, 2010 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
In case you didn't see it..
Here’s a link to the Gilroy interview at training camp. Guy seems pumped…
I'm not expecting Semenov to make this team
the numbers are working against him.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
"We can trade Lisin for a gun, then hold it to Drury’s head and make him waive the no-movement clause" - XLII
"Tortorelli sounds like a kind of pasta… an unforgiving, stubborn, chewy, flavorless pasta that demands ‘jam’ from other pastas." - Dig Deep
by Joe Fortunato on Sep 24, 2010 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions
If you had to guess rank them on the depth chart right now.
Gilroy, McD (working under the assumption he keeps looking better then last night), Emiger, Exelby, Semenov These 3 in this order after Gil and McD?
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
I'm actually going with
Eminger, Semenov, Exelby. Since Semenov looked good last night and Exelby has yet to play.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
"We can trade Lisin for a gun, then hold it to Drury’s head and make him waive the no-movement clause" - XLII
"Tortorelli sounds like a kind of pasta… an unforgiving, stubborn, chewy, flavorless pasta that demands ‘jam’ from other pastas." - Dig Deep
by Joe Fortunato on Sep 24, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
I’d put Semenov ahead of Exelby, but otherwise that’s about right, IMO.
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by George E. Ays on Sep 24, 2010 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions
I guess it depends what type of D the Rangers feel they need
For guys that can contribute on offense I’d pick Gilroy then Eminger. If they want guys that can take care of business in their own end, then go with McD and Semenov. Either way, I think the blueline needs a bit of both.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Sep 24, 2010 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Do you think they'll carry 7 D for at least part of the year?
Staal-Girardi
MDZ-Rozi
Then 3 of: Gilroy-McD-Eminger-Semenov
I just don’t think Exelby makes the team at all.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Sep 24, 2010 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
If McD builds on last night, that is a tough call. I would like to see what Gilroy looks like after his off season.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
Gilroy
I think his roster spot is very dependent on his conditioning this offseason, he looks like he has bulked up and ‘filled out’ (that still sounds creepy to say). If he can trim some of the mistakes out of his game he has the talent to make the starting 6.
In Hank we trust.
Yeah but Eminger
or Exelby might be the 7th defenseman. I’m expecting Eminger.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
"We can trade Lisin for a gun, then hold it to Drury’s head and make him waive the no-movement clause" - XLII
"Tortorelli sounds like a kind of pasta… an unforgiving, stubborn, chewy, flavorless pasta that demands ‘jam’ from other pastas." - Dig Deep
by Joe Fortunato on Sep 24, 2010 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Another note to add
Boyle was 2-8 on faceoffs last night (20%). After last year’s 38% debacle, one has to at least consider that if he makes the team, he needs to get the flock out of the middle and play wing, or at least give hiim a winger that can take a faceoff.
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Twitter: RangerSmurf
Prust
13 wins on 31 taken last year (hardly the answer but a thought)… doesn’t really help Brian Boyle’s roster spot if he needs a winger to take faceoffs for him, does it? I think he can move to the wing but he seems like he enjoys the center position’s two-way role.
In Hank we trust.
Question about McD
I don’t know much about his offensive game. He seems like he is a good skater but is he a liability in that zone or can he bring a something to the table? Another reason I don’t think Gilroy has to be real worried about making the team because there won’t be a ton of offense on the blueline.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
dubi dubi doo
Dubinsky looked rediculous! he was flying! I am amped for the season. frolov and gabby are gonna make some magic on the ice together. Let’s Go Rangers!
DukeGnar
by dukegnarly on Sep 24, 2010 11:42 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I don’t know about ridiculous but he was strong on the puck and a few of his play impressed me last night. He apparently worked extremely hard this offseason. Building off last year with a full camp holdout free, I am excited to see what he can do.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
Any update on Sauer?
He did not return after he was banged up.
"Sorry bro, he Jason Bourned me"- Drama
Biron's Mask
Did anyone else think that thing looked exactly like one of those post 9/11 welding masks? They’ve been doing such a great job for the goalies, that one was a bit disapointing.
I liked Auld's mask
Didn’t get a great look at Biron’s mask. Looks very stars and stripes orientated. Big lady liberty logo on the top. I don’t hate it… I am going to miss Vally’s Spiderman mask. ;)
In Hank we trust.
Gotta love Dubi's move
When he passed the puck to himself off the back of the net near the end of the 3rd period.
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