Rangers Vs. Islanders: Rangers Take First Place In East With 3-0 Win Over Islanders
by Bryan Winters on Dec 26, 2011 9:56 PM EST
in New York Rangers Recaps
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PrintThe New York Rangers won their fifth straight game tonight over the New York Islanders, and move into the 1st spot in the Eastern Conference. Henrik Lundqvist was SOLID tonight, and so was Carl Hagelin, who had two goals on the night.
The first period was pretty much back and forth, and we were left scoreless after one. However, we did have a scrap early in this game between Stu Bickel and Michael Haley. It was a pretty heated battle, and both players got some good hits in. However, the Rangers would end up with the power play as Haley was charged with an instigator penalty.
We moved into the second period where Carl Hagelin finally got the Rangers on the board on a rebound. Michael Del Zotto made a spectacular toe drag move around the Islanders forward, and forced a shot on net. Callahan got a stick on the first rebound, and tapped it over to Carl Hagelin who banked it off the back of Evgeni Nabakov and in.
Follow after the jump for more.
Michael Del Zotto has been improving all year, and he's finally settling into his role. He's been great on both ends of the rink, and has been great in the offensive zone. The Rangers headed into the locker room with a solid 1-0 lead, and looked to come out strong in the third period.
Carl Hagelin tallied again just six minutes into the third period, and Del Zotto made a great pass once again. The Islanders made a bad change, and Del Zotto skated it into the zone, and dished it off to Ryan Callahan. Callahan dropped it low to Del Zotto, who found Hagelin right in the slot for the goal. Again, Del Zotto was really noticeable in the offensive zone.
Marian Gaborik capped the game off with an empty net goal which gives him 22 goals on the year, the most in the NHL. With that goal, Gaborik moves two goals ahead of Phil Kessel to get some insurance. The Brian Boyle, Brandon Dubinsky, and John Mitchell battled all night long, and wore out the Islanders. That line played a solid game tonight, and played a large part in the offensive zone.
Henrik Lundqvist earned is 38th career shutout, and helped the Rangers move into first place in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers were put up to the test in these last four games, all against Atlantic Division rivals, and have won all of them.
The Rangers will be in action this coming Wednesday against the Washington Capitals.. Here are tonight's three stars of the game, and the recipient of the Broadway Hat.
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eeeny , meeney miney, mo
Some amazing saves by Hank; MDZ looked like what everyone is hoping he will be- a very good offensive defenseman; Hagelin- great hustle, right positioning, great accuracy with his shots.
So who does Hagelin (aka The Magic Rat) push off the team? Is it EC, Avery or WW?
"Shoot the Puck Barry, Shoot the puck !" Bill Chadwick
by RangerFanInChicago on Dec 26, 2011 10:06 PM EST reply actions
Hrm you mentioned 3 players who are not currently on our bench. But as I said a few days ago, Hagelin makes Avery entirely expendable. Avery’s big contributions are his forechecking and energy, and Hagelin brings it more effectively. Avery’s additional skills are his agitating, whereas as Hagelin has great defensive skills. This is a defense-first team, so…. yeah Avery and EC BOTH need to be sent down when WW comes back.
I like Avery and believe he has had a place on the team but I agree that Hags looks like the real deal both offensively and defensively. IMHO I would try to jettison Wolski for a draft pick and get rid of EC for an old pair of socks. If we waive Avery and he heads back to Hartford I’m good with that. I’d really like to get rid of Wolski’s contract sooner rather than later.
"Shoot the Puck Barry, Shoot the puck !" Bill Chadwick
by RangerFanInChicago on Dec 26, 2011 10:19 PM EST up reply actions
I can understand your preference of Wolski over Avery, but as George has pointed out, WW can rack up points at a top line rate, or at least has in the past. He has to be given a shot to see if he’s the winger that puts us over the edge. If he catches fire, we’ll be seriously formidable.
IF * (and thats a big if) Wolski can score like a top 6 player on the 3rd line then it may be worth hanging on to him. At a $3mm + cap hit Wolski is an expensive experiment. I just dont recall seeing him score ( or more importantly – play well overall) in the limited time he had last year and before he got hurt this year. To me he is E Christensen all over again- very talented, no drive, no heart.
"Shoot the Puck Barry, Shoot the puck !" Bill Chadwick
by RangerFanInChicago on Dec 27, 2011 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
he’s gonna get a shot. and he’s now in a situation where the players in the locker room are holding each other accountable. If he’s not giving the effort, his teammates will let him know it, or he’ll be benched. He hasn’t done it for us yet, but I think he needs another chance. We’ll see… but he’s capable of producing at an impressive clip, as he showed when he put up 65 pts. a few years back. He’ll certainly produce more than Avery.
Exactly.
The lineup’s playing well right now, but Wolski will certain give you a lot more than, say, Rupp, against non-Atlantic opponents who don’t rely on truculence as much.
We can reunite Fed-Boyle-Prust on the 4th, put WW-Dubi-Mitchell on the 3rd, giving Dubinsky a playmaker instead of a grinder, which combined with the weaker competition, might just finally kick his season out of 1st gear.
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by George E. Ays on Dec 27, 2011 3:36 PM EST up reply actions
I hope you guys are right and Wolski proves me wrong . It would be great to have Wolski kick in for 15+ goals the remainder of the season. However until I see him play consistent, hard nosed, hustling hockey I won’t believe it. Please WW- prove me wrong.
"Shoot the Puck Barry, Shoot the puck !" Bill Chadwick
by RangerFanInChicago on Dec 27, 2011 3:54 PM EST up reply actions
15+? You have to be realistic too, he’s not a goal scorer, he’s only been good for 18-23 in his good seasons, which was a lot more than the 40 or so games he’ll play down the stretch.
If over 40 games he gives you 6-16-22 or so, you take it. You’d like more, but when his minutes aren’t exactly guaranteed, you have to temper expectations.
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by George E. Ays on Dec 27, 2011 4:08 PM EST up reply actions
hhmmmmmm- 6-16-22 over 40 + games for his salary cap hit? That doesnt make me tingly.
If he wants to continue his career- somewhere in the NHL- he best put up at least 10-20-30 for half a season. In theory he has fresh legs, no bumps or bruises. And, this is the biggie, he should have something to prove.
"Shoot the Puck Barry, Shoot the puck !" Bill Chadwick
by RangerFanInChicago on Dec 27, 2011 4:23 PM EST up reply actions
Again…look at the minutes he’s gonna get. You know he’s not cracking the 1st line, and with the way Hagelin has played, he’s not getting the 2nd. So at best you’re looking at 3rd line time with some PP time thrown in. 22 in 40 in that role would be amazing.
Give me another guy on the roster who can put up 22 points in 40 games as a 3rd liner (besides Dubi, who is already there).
Sure, I’d love 10-20-30, but it’s not realistic unless he goes on a ridiculous heater, or someone in the top 6 got hurt.
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by George E. Ays on Dec 27, 2011 4:29 PM EST up reply actions
I hear ya George. I am being unrealistic in my expectations but you seem to have him overvalued. He hasnt done much in the games he has played for us. (I’m not talking about his one and only “good” season.) My thinking is if that’s all he’s goning to supply I’d let him go-if I can get another team to take him just to free up his cap space. 22 points in half a season (even with 3rd line minutes) just isnt worth his pay grade in my opinion. I’d take a kid from Hartford to see what they can do instead.
"Shoot the Puck Barry, Shoot the puck !" Bill Chadwick
by RangerFanInChicago on Dec 27, 2011 5:07 PM EST up reply actions
He put up 19 points in 37 games last year, and lead our not very good offense in playoff points. On a per minute basis, he trailed only Gaborik and Prospal. 22 pts in 40 games is perfectly reasonable for $3.8m (it works out to 45 per 82). I will admit I forgot about MZA at this point, who could replicate those results for 1/2 the hit, but b/c of size, I don’t think Tortorella will bring him back for bottom 6 minutes.
No, he’s not going to hit things, and no, he’s not going to look very good doing it, but he’s a productive offensive player, well above average at even strength. We seem to be short one of those right now, all things considered.
He’s going to have a mega-short leash because the lineup is playing well, but he’s well worth the gamble right now.
Blueshirt Banter - Where Rangers' Fans Matter
Tracking the Rangers - Numbers don't lie. They just don't agree with you.
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by George E. Ays on Dec 27, 2011 8:43 PM EST up reply actions
John Mitchell
has played pretty well, does he stay when WW, Staal, Sauer return?
"Fantasy, reality, science Fiction. Which is which? Who can tell?"
by feslenraster on Dec 27, 2011 10:53 AM EST up reply actions
I hope so. He has looked pretty solid and I believe he is cap-friendly.
"Shoot the Puck Barry, Shoot the puck !" Bill Chadwick
by RangerFanInChicago on Dec 27, 2011 11:12 AM EST up reply actions
i think the rangers need to play WW just to let him entice other teams to trade for him. I think its pretty clear WW is completely expendable but you can’t just let him walk at the end of the season. I wonder what him and MZA can bring in as a package
Whatever happend to: "DON'T MESS WITH SUCCESS?!"
Screw those 3 for now:
Avery is there in case of injury
EC is useless over the long haul sans SO and u don’t dress a guy just for SO, regardless of what Torts says.
And WW’s been in this lge long enough for 29 other teams to know what he’s all about.
’nuff said! :)
There was a pretty big fight at the game tonight.
by Section 336 on Dec 26, 2011 10:23 PM EST via mobile reply actions
You mean when Bickell got his ass handed to him by Haley?
"Shoot the Puck Barry, Shoot the puck !" Bill Chadwick
by RangerFanInChicago on Dec 26, 2011 10:27 PM EST up reply actions
Bummer- they didnt show anything about it on the tube.
"Shoot the Puck Barry, Shoot the puck !" Bill Chadwick
by RangerFanInChicago on Dec 26, 2011 10:38 PM EST up reply actions
was it between a rangers and fishsticks fan?
I didn’t see any isles fans on tv.
Is hockey hard? "I don't know, you tell me. We need to have the strength and power of a football player, the stamina of a marathon runner, and the concentration of a brain surgeon. But we need to put all this together while moving at high speeds on a cold and slippery surface while 5 other guys use clubs to try and kill us, oh yeah did I mention that this whole time we're standing on blades 1/8 of an inch thick? Is ice hockey hard? I don't know, you tell me. Next question."
-Brendan Shanahan
by RichieToGabbySCORE on Dec 26, 2011 11:48 PM EST up reply actions
Del Zotto...
…was brilliant tonight. For my money he’s been this team’s best defenseman over the past 8 games or so. So much fun to watch that kid when he’s playing with confidence.
w00t!
Just ordered Winter Classic tickets!
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Dec 26, 2011 10:32 PM EST reply actions
FIRST PLACE JAZZALNCHE BITCHES
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
by Kevin Power on Dec 26, 2011 11:08 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
rec’d!!
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Great win tonight!!
This team is very very good and I’m excited to know they’re only scratching the surface.
FIRE Perry Fewell
by bleedblue12 on Dec 26, 2011 11:19 PM EST via Android app reply actions
First place in the east is great and all but...
How about HBO not being able to show one of our losses on 24/7???? That’s even better.
Is hockey hard? "I don't know, you tell me. We need to have the strength and power of a football player, the stamina of a marathon runner, and the concentration of a brain surgeon. But we need to put all this together while moving at high speeds on a cold and slippery surface while 5 other guys use clubs to try and kill us, oh yeah did I mention that this whole time we're standing on blades 1/8 of an inch thick? Is ice hockey hard? I don't know, you tell me. Next question."
-Brendan Shanahan
by RichieToGabbySCORE on Dec 26, 2011 11:47 PM EST reply actions
yes!
there are none to show!!
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Toe-drag aside (and that's one BIIIIG toe)...
Most telling MDZ play?
…actually occurred after a whistle in the 3rd.
Cally, who can certainly handle himself, was about to mix it up with a fishstick when MDZ instinctively jumped b/w the two of them to Cally’s defense and without hesitation.
Perfect! :)
My first Ranger game in a few years since I moved back to civilization from Alaska, sat in the 300’s but it sounded like the 400’s was where it was at. Great game though, these are the games this team has to win. Not sure of the shot totals but they outshot them and outplayed the Islanders tonight.. And I loved the Kansas City chants at the end of the game, f the islanders and f their fans they deserve every bit of shame and misery they get.
Henrik down to 1.95 GAA and .936 SV%, top 5 overall in each.
And to celebrate, a frankie post from tonights recap on yahoo:
“Blueshirt Banter did not give Stralman a single star for his contributions in this gm.
Everyone knows I am a BIG TIME MDZ fan, but give credit when credit is due.
They really need to get some knowledgeable hockey fans on that site or just scrap it and start over.”
LGR! Onward to the next victim!
oh man..
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
Another yahoo-quality post from old’ frankie.
Blueshirt Banter - Where Rangers' Fans Matter
Tracking the Rangers - Numbers don't lie. They just don't agree with you.
Twitter: RangerSmurf
by George E. Ays on Dec 27, 2011 5:28 AM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Man…I get really tempted to unban him from time to time just to ban him again
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
Wantttttttt. Seriously, we only have like 2-3 dissenting opinions here and none of them are lunatic trolls. Need that comedy relief.
Also, aren’t the 3 stars posted here = the actual 3 stars at the game?
yes they are, Brian makes up the graphic after the three stars are announced
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
by Kevin Power on Dec 27, 2011 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
That’s what I posted in reply to him, alas I fear he still doesn’t know how to use replies properly lmao.
by teknics on Dec 27, 2011 12:03 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yes, yes they are.
Blueshirt Banter - Where Rangers' Fans Matter
Tracking the Rangers - Numbers don't lie. They just don't agree with you.
Twitter: RangerSmurf
by George E. Ays on Dec 27, 2011 11:18 AM EST up reply actions
more from frankie re: staal
Staal had a mild grade 0 or grade 1 concussion; typically your “rang my bell” concussion with no loss of consciousness and was cleared to return to play with 2 weeks of the injury LAST SEASON. Obviously, Mr Staal has not returned to play for some other reason. Maybe the pain management doctor for the Rangers, who also treated and prescribed medication for Derek Boogard can shed some light.
@joereiter
"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?" - Lord General Sather
"Nobody knows anything" - William Goldman
ouch
"Don't look now, but there's one too many people in this room and I think it's you." Groucho Marx
In Prust We Trust
"Kovalev would work with Tortorella like a kitty would work in a microwave.
A lot of smoke and desperate clawing at the door. It wouldn’t work. It would just be a big, hot mess." -Dig Deep
Follow me @8kpower
win song ?
It’s great to see the Rangers on the right track.
I haven’t been to a game and can only stream them . Does anyone know if the new song played over the PA after a win is Finally Moving by Pretty Lights? I heard it on the HBO series also. If so , it’s prophetic because there are good things on the horizon for these guys.
by themessiah11 on Dec 27, 2011 12:43 AM EST via iPhone app reply actions
The song they play is Good Feeling by Flo Rida.
by Bryan Winters on Dec 27, 2011 1:42 AM EST up reply actions
Flo Rida jacked that sample from Avicii “Levels”… “Levels” would be a much better victory song
by I.Am.Spartacus on Dec 27, 2011 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
NHL network hates us
Been watching NHL network’s evening update for 20 minutes – no mention of the Rangers, top team in the East.
If we win the Cup, that night the lead story will be who’s better, Crosby or Ovechkin.
"To everybody else we're underdogs, but we go in thinking we can handle any team in the NHL."
Brandon Prust, #8, New York Rangers
by Joe1969 on Dec 27, 2011 1:18 AM EST via mobile reply actions
NHL.com
Also has no mention of us taking first place. Wow, if dethroning the Bruins isn’t enough to overcome their dislike of us, I don’t know what is.
"Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come."
-- Al Gore (founder of the internet)
Some odds and ends from other games
Cam Ward scored an empty net goal against the Devils, after he touched the puck, then Kovalsuck passed the puck into his own net. lol what a tool
Evgeny Grachev got his 1st career nhl goal for St Louis, and it looks like it was the game winner. Good for him
R.I.P Derek
Rangers FTW!
by BleedsRangerBlue on Dec 27, 2011 1:27 AM EST reply actions
good for eg. i hope he turns out good.
"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
LET'S GO RANGERS!!!
A song comes to mind...
Said the “King” to the people everywhere, “do you know what I know?”…
The Rangers, the Rangers, the Conference-leading Rangers are the best in the N-H-L, are the best in the N-H-L!
"The winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award is Number Eight, Brandon Prust!"--Ofc. Colin McDonald, NYPD, April 7, 2011
"I'm a doctor, not a barber, Jim." Dr. McCoy to Captain Kirk
"Thanks, Chris. Enjoy your retirement."
by Danz10 on Dec 27, 2011 1:38 AM EST via mobile reply actions
This was really a team win!! Everyone did their part! Boyle, Anoisimov, Prust, Callahan, Dubi, Stalman,Richards, and, of course Lundquist, etc., etc.(just to name a few) --ALL contributed!!!
I sure hope it continues!!!
And I sure hope Tort’s doesn’t start farting around with this lineup when some of the injured players are ready to come back.
It’s pretty obvious the team can’t continue to win 5 and lose 1; there’ll be plenty of time to make changes over the course of the season!!
All I have to say, MDZ a PLUS 25!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by CrazyRangerFan on Dec 27, 2011 11:21 AM EST reply actions
His toe drag was sick, as soon as I saw it I knew a goal had to follow, it was just too nice a play to end up with no goal, was even happier that hagelin got it
by teknics on Dec 27, 2011 12:05 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
nice win last night...
didn’t know where better post this…but was a funny comment i saw in an article about how the standings would be if there was no loser point in the NHL, and we still had ties.
A 60 minute result should have more total value than an extra time result.
So:
4 points for a 60 minute win
2 points for an OT win
1 point for an OT loss
0 points for a 60 minute loss.
The last 5 minutes of a tie game would be a lot more exciting if 4 points were available.
Giving out 3 total points for an OT game, versus 2 for a 60 minute game is stupid beyond belief.
I can just here Jon Tortorello in the dressing room. "OK boys, let’s hold them for 3 periods and we’ll get’em in OT.
Dumb, dumb, dumb…
sounds a lot like frankiec…anyways here is the link if anyone wants to see the story.
In Prust we Trust
we need to get cam newton before the panther’s get off lock down cause eli cant (QB) by hisselfall this saeson also we need plax back to cause smith is the best (WR) we got nd plax cant help smith nd the team out….. do that nd we have a a shout at the superblow
by Master Ov Brutality on Dec 27, 2011 2:16 PM EST reply actions
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