Rangers News: Avery In, Zuccarello Out, Defense Stays The Same
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 15, 2011 1:42 PM EDT
in 2011 Rangers Playoff Coverage
Email
PrintIt should come as a surprise to no one that Sean Avery will return to the lineup tonight for Game Two. We've seen both the good and bad of what Avery is capable of in the playoffs, so keep the rabbit's foot handy.
Matt Gilroy remains in the lineup, Steve Eminger scratched.
As far as Matt Zuccarello goes, here is what John Tortorella had to say (courtesy of Ranger Rants)
In discussing his lineup choice, coach John Tortorella expressed some reservations about the 5-foot-7 Zuccarello and "whether he can handle the size and the overall consistency of playoff hockey, I’m not sure." Tortorella said he still wasn’t sure where Zuccarello’s NHL career would play out but that he certainly had a chance to adapt
"It’s been a long year for him as far as up and down and learning the new game in North American, playing in the minors with everybody chasing you around," Tortorella said. "It’s still an open book for him as to where he sits as a National Hockey Leaguer. He sees the ice. He makes some plays that some players don’t see."
No word yet on the lines for tonight, although it sounds like Avery will skate on the fourth line with Artem Anisimov and Chris Drury. Expect Erik Christensen on the first line with Marian Gaborik and Vinny Prospal.
Also no word on who starts in goal tonight for the Rangers, going to keep that a secret, keep the Caps guessing.
81 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Avery
Does it not bother you that Avery apparently has no care for the outcome of team? He didnt even watch the came and gives the impression of being petty.
Then you should be happy he is playing
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers
Big Blue View: Unofficial New York Giants blog
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 15, 2011 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I am.
Of course, if he’s whacking at the goalie’s pads the refs immediately blow the whistle.
by It may HAVE to Last a Lifetime on Apr 15, 2011 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Maybe your name should be “Avery’s Secretary” seeing as u seem to know a lot
by XxC17xX on Apr 15, 2011 2:11 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
This was the obvious move, imo. MZA looked lost, and Avery brings physicality and attitude, both of which were lacking in Game 1.
Btw, great radio show last night Jim, you guys are hilarious.
"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
Agreed.
Wrote fanpost on how I think we need Avery about an hour ago.
HEY D#$%HEADS - GIVE CREDIT WHEN FANS POST
You guys pulled this sh!t on me last month when I posted that Sather was willing to listen to offers about Gaborik.
http://www.blueshirtbanter.com/2011/2/9/1984514/sather-willing-to-listen-to-offers-for-gaborik
by GaboriksGroin on Apr 15, 2011 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Not really, that big of a deal...
I just mentioned it because I wrote alot about how I feel Avery needs to be used.
Dude, relax.
Worst Rangers day: April 10, 1984
by Stepan the Ice! on Apr 15, 2011 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
huh?!?
In Prust we Trust
"It's just pain."
This team has balls.
by Master Ov Brutality on Apr 15, 2011 3:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Please understand that when I post stuff during the day, I am at work. I have to do it fast, and get back to doing what I get paid to do. I apologize for missing the fan post.
And that is the last time you call me a dickhead on my site.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers
Big Blue View: Unofficial New York Giants blog
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 15, 2011 4:33 PM EDT up reply actions
give em hell Jim
"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
I think I am pretty damn good at giving credit where it is due around here, but I just can’t sit and read every fan post to see if someone beat us to the punch. I don’t have the luxury of blogging for a living, I have to work a real job.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers
Big Blue View: Unofficial New York Giants blog
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 15, 2011 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
i agree 100%
you shouldnt take that from anybody…keep doing the great work Jim
"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
Just for clarification, not sure why the dude was so upset, it was my fan post. Frankly it’s your site and you can add whatever you want I’m just here to comment and get other fan’s prospectives. As usual you do a great job.
It was directed at Gabby, he’s complained before when he hasn’t gotten credit for posting something.
And Jwuer, thank you for the Fan Post, good job, and sorry I didn’t notice it beforehand.
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers
Big Blue View: Unofficial New York Giants blog
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Apr 15, 2011 4:48 PM EDT up reply actions
It must be hard for him to get around on his high horse, or fit through normal doors with that big head…
by Peter North Stars on Apr 15, 2011 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions
You can take your warning and stick it up your arse.
I was a lot more polite about it the first time and was ignored. I’ve seen it happen quite a few times with other users before, and I have been nothing but respectful in the past.
There are plenty of blogs. Fire Sather, trade Gaborik, it’s Drury’s fault. That should sum up the site until I check back in 2012.
Enjoy your power trip in the meantime. Let’s go Rangers!
by GaboriksGroins on Apr 15, 2011 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions
meh, I don’t know if this is such a great move, but I guess we will see, Avery please dont take any penalties….. pretty please. and as for the goalie situation no doubt in my mind Chad Johnson goes ;)
If you’ve watched the games this season, Avery hasn’t taken the bad penalties (except for those 2 penalties against the Isles that 1 game we won 6-3 or something)
Zuccarello took a horrible/stupid/unnecessary penalty in the 1st period in Game 1…
twitter.com/NYRangers365
by NYRangerFan718 on Apr 15, 2011 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
The Zuccs penalty I believe was a bs call, but thats besides the point. The only thing avery brings to the table is cycling behind the net and stupid dumb turnovers, I can just see him throwing the puck to the slot with no one their and Ovie and Backstrom going the other and putting it in the net behind us. But god do I hope I am wrong.
by CrazyRangerFan on Apr 15, 2011 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions
disagree
nobody is better at getting the puck deep than avery. if he doesn’t have a play, he sacrifices his body time after time to make sure the puck isn’t turned over in the neutral zone.
i just hope the refs don’t pick on him like they always do.
Fun with Torts and Brooks
For those who haven’t seen the exchange yet, coutrest of James Duthie:
http://www.twitlonger.com/show/9s7bb8
Blueshirt Banter - Where Rangers' Fans Matter
Tracking the Rangers - Numbers don't lie. They just don't agree with you.
Twitter: RangerSmurf
“I’m talking about a series of playoffs. Why are we even going back to regular season. Cause its logistics with you. You try to use my words…”
Started out like a ’Who’s on First’ routine. Brooksie really is a tool.
Manning lobs it, Burress alone, touchdown New York!
For the empty net, Mark Messier... do you believe it?! Do you believe it?! He said we will win game 6 - he has just picked up the hat trick!
As a reporter for 20+ years
i think i know brooksies position. his been a beat reporter with the rangers for 10-15 years, isn’t it? he walks a fine line. it’s not easy to do a decent job working on the same oraganisation for such a long time. u get tired of them, they get tired of you. torts and brooksie is an odd couple. but bottom line is that i think the ones loosing the most, are the readers of the post. it looks like brooks knows a lot about the game. and he’s bold compared to some of the other beat reporters.
a little less quarreling and som more open minded questions would help. as it is now, brooks himself steals to much of the limelight.
"He went up with his arms and really played it out, and I told him to stand up," - Henrik Lundqvist on Crosby's diving.
by NYR North pole fan base on Apr 15, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
One great reason to fire Torts
Just to see him kick the sh-t out of Brooksie because he can.
Manning lobs it, Burress alone, touchdown New York!
For the empty net, Mark Messier... do you believe it?! Do you believe it?! He said we will win game 6 - he has just picked up the hat trick!
Torts seems in a kinda dick mood all around today
On Ranger Rants he got into talking about MZA’s chances of becoming an NHL player and all kinds of BS when they asked about the change from Avery to MZA.
by BuckarooClub on Apr 15, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Also no word on who starts in goal tonight for the Rangers, going to keep that a secret, keep the Caps guessing
Weekes?
"Jaromir Jagr.... it's a POWER PLAY GOAL!"
- Sam Rosen
"Let me ask you, would you want to play for the Edmonton Oilers...? (laughter)"
-Evgeni Nabokov
"We're not going to win a 1-0 hockey game tonight"
-John Tortorella, before the Rangers 1-0 win over the Canucks.
No. . .Duguay.
Worst Rangers day: April 10, 1984
by Stepan the Ice! on Apr 15, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
cam talbot
"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
Mr. Sense of Entitlement – Cam Talbot?
Manning lobs it, Burress alone, touchdown New York!
For the empty net, Mark Messier... do you believe it?! Do you believe it?! He said we will win game 6 - he has just picked up the hat trick!
Julie "The Cat"
"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
Wait, is the Brooks - Torts transcript real?
My brain is fried today so have at it if this is a stupid question…
Game is on MSG. I believe it’s on Versus tonight also (full coverage).. Game starts @ 7:30.
twitter.com/NYRangers365
by NYRangerFan718 on Apr 15, 2011 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Will Versus be blacked...
in the Poconos? I’m going to play poker tonight at the Mt. Airy Lodge but they don’t get MSG and I’m afraid Versus will be blacked out there anyway.
Smart move playing Avery. Since he has zero value to the team, I think his mission is quite simple tonight.
Take Ovechkin, Semin or Green out of the series, even if it means you getting suspended for the remained for the year, and into next year.
no no
a hundred times no…not even avery is that insipid
"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
That's also a slight against Torts...
He’d never allow it, nor would Avery intentionally take someone out as a mission.
Don’t take this guy SA-Town seriously – he’s a spy and provocateur from enemy territory.
"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
Yeah, because Avery is just like Cooke and intentionally aims to injure people. Avery gets under player’s skin, not injure them. Ovechkin is a dirtier player then Avery, maybe he’ll get his karma tonight.
And the next time you come on here do us a favor and take a minute or two to put together a well-thought-out comment.
Im glad you guys dont think Avery is going to hurt anyone tonight on purpose…I hope your right….we’ll see
Just as long as Dale Hunter isn’t out there, everyone should be safe.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Apr 15, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
i hope you dont hurt yourself.
psycho.
"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!!!
He really shouldnt get a reputation for trying to hurt people. I can’t even think of the last person to miss a game as a result of a cheap shot from Avery. That’s not to say he doesnt try to get under people skins, because he does. He just does it with stupid shit, i.e. Tim Thomas, Brodeur, Kovalchuk.
by Peter North Stars on Apr 15, 2011 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions
That’s your proof? One weak shot? Ovie is just as dirty as Avery then with his penchant for knee on knee hits.
Manning lobs it, Burress alone, touchdown New York!
For the empty net, Mark Messier... do you believe it?! Do you believe it?! He said we will win game 6 - he has just picked up the hat trick!
Thats a pretty awful example, and was essentially a high stick. That type of stuff happens in scrums in front of the net, and that was 2 years ago. Since then Ovechkin has been suspended twice (once?) for hits he’s thrown. It’s not like avery drove him from behind into the boards or threw a flying elbow ala Matt Cooke. If you are going to pull an example off of youtube might want to find one a little more serious than a love tap…
by Peter North Stars on Apr 15, 2011 4:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Just to clarify, I’m not saying it wasnt a cheap shot, because it was, but it isnt on the level of head hunters like Matt Cooke.
by Peter North Stars on Apr 15, 2011 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions
I dont know...
if it was an intentional cheap shot… Avery basically landed a spinning backhand with stick in hand while going into the boards. That’s pretty tough to do when actually trying.
Either way, I agree, nothing compared to Cooke or even Ovechkin’s knee-to-knee hits.
As much as I hate him
The Briere hit always make me cringe
"In the '60s I slept with many women, often outside in the mud and rain. It's possible a man may have slipped in there, there's no way of knowing."
Yeah I dont think avery has ever put anyone on a stretcher….
Also see the coment above about the high horse…
by Peter North Stars on Apr 15, 2011 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Green? We can get Stepan to do that.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Apr 15, 2011 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
so pumped for tonight I really think we can pull it out
Hank’s looking real good lately, let’s hope he can keep it up
Definitely going to either celebrate or drown my sorrows before/during this one via large amounts of beer
I listen to Enter Sandman before taking exams. I wear the exact same jersey every Giants game. The Rangers goal song goes off in my head when I achieve small successes in life.
HEN-RIK
by BombersGmenBlueshirts25 on Apr 15, 2011 5:00 PM EDT reply actions
Rather See...
Dubi/AA/Gabby
Prospal/Step/WW
Aves/Boyle/Prust
EC/Drury/Feds
Drury can interchange to take face offs.
Gabby and Christensen are both scoring tonight.
You heard it here first.
Sorry but EC could of been scratched instead of Zuke and we wouldn’t of noticed much of a difference. So he gets a promotion to line 1 tonight? I don’t understand why EC is anywhere but the 4th line.
Expect goals from Stepan, Girardi and Anisimov for my guesses. We ugly out a road win with a 3-2 decision. Maybe one point combined from Gaborik and EC, but no goals from them.
"...AAAAnd In Goooalll, Numbah Thirteee, Hhennnrikk LUNDqvisst!!!"
Living in the Pacific Northwest, but rocking my Rangers jersey every game.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Blueshirt Banter
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
Rangers Schedule
Next 5 Games
New Jersey
|
Sun 05/27 | TBA |
Last 5 Games
|
@
New Jersey
|
Fri 05/25 | OT - L 2 - 3 |
|
New Jersey
|
Wed 05/23 | L 3 - 5 |
|
@
New Jersey
|
Mon 05/21 | L 1 - 4 |
|
@
New Jersey
|
Sat 05/19 | W 3 - 0 |
|
New Jersey
|
Wed 05/16 | L 2 - 3 |
SBNation.com Recent Stories
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Eulogy: Remembering the 2011-12 New York Rangers
- Stanley Cup Final: 5 keys for New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings
- Friday’s Three Stars: Devils head to Final; Brodeur, Kovalchuk the difference in Game 6
- Devils eliminate Rangers in Game 6, ending fear of the past, setting course for the future
- Adam Henrique sends New Jersey Devils to Stanley Cup Final with OT goal vs. Rangers (VIDEO)
