New York Rangers Must Avoid Trap Game Tonight
by Joe Fortunato on Jan 10, 2012 7:00 AM EST
in New York Rangers Analysis
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Generally the term "trap game" is reserved for when good teams take on lesser opponents. Tonight, however, the New York Rangers will host the Phoenix Coyotes in a trap game, even though the Coyotes are a respectable 20-17-5 this season.
But after the 2012 NHL Winter Classic the Rangers played a Florida Panthers team who called Mike Rupp out after a loss before the Winter Classic and then the Pittsburgh Penguins; two scinarios in which the Rangers didn't need a reason to show up ready to play.
Tonight the Rangers are looking to do the same, except there won't be a divisional rivalry or a pregame war of words to stroke the flames. This time it has to come from within the Rangers themselves.
Join me after the jump for more.
The Rangers' defense, which has been slammed with injuries since the start of the season, seems to be on the mend. And even though Michael Sauer and Steve Eminger remain out of the lineup, the Rangers have gotten three good games out of Marc Staal with better things seemingly on the way.
The Rangers are also seeing a much more balanced offensive output, thanks in large part to a recent four-game period put together by Brad Richards. Brandon Dubinsky seems to be finding his game and the Rangers' blue line is adding some offense as well, which is always a good thing.
Henrik Lundqvist has been on fire, and give a big tip of the hat to Martin Biron too, since Biron has really played well when he's given Lundqvist rests this year. The goaltending has been a big part of the Rangers' success, especially in the early goings when New York was missing Eminger, Staal and Sauer at the same time.
Basically, the Rangers can't afford to let the two points on the table slip through their fingers tonight. The schedule get's tougher after this one, when the Rangers host the Ottawa Senators and then travel to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens.
The Rangers can keep the momentum they have gained on this winning streak by continuing to do just that, win games.
Tonight will be another tough test along the way.
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With how they've handled themselves this year
They’ve earned the benefit of the doubt that they won’t turn in a no show performance just because it’s a Western Conference team. They avoided the trap game against Florida right before and after the Winter Classic, they’ve gotten right back to winning after having their win streaks snapped. This team seems focused, confident and ready to grind out games to the very last (tenth of a) second. Sure they could have better first periods and certainly a more lethal power play, but the amount of games where they haven’t put on their work boots and dug in until the last whistle is refreshingly small this season.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Jan 10, 2012 9:46 AM EST reply actions
With the rangers winning so much
Every game is practically a trap game.
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 Jan 10, 2012 9:56 AM EST reply actions
fantastic reference
Admiral Ackbhar always makes me smile and crave calamari
by truebluesince75 on Jan 10, 2012 10:54 AM EST up reply actions
MARTY, MARTY!
What a great point Joe makes. “Henrik Lundqvist has been on fire, and give a big tip of the hat to Martin Biron too, since Biron has really played well when he’s given Lundqvist rests this year”.
I don’t think we give Biron the respect and recognition he really deserves. If you take the number of games he won away from the Ranger record, we’re a mediocre team. I don’t mean to propose that he is the only reason for the Ranger’s climb to the top, but boy, has he been instrumental in that rise. Just the knowledge that he can fill in for the king anytime, anypalce, is a tremendous advantage.
He has earned our praise.
Is Biron Signed for Next Year?
I thought he only signed a 2-year deal at the beginning of last year. It’s time to extend his deal by 2 more ASAP.
We need to extend him. Hopefully he likes his role here more than being a starter on another team. There are probably 4-5 teams he could go to and start.
I would say he well knows his role here. When we first signed him, there wasn’t a chance that he would start over Lundqvist. I’d say we extend him at least 2 more years.
by Bryan Winters on Jan 10, 2012 12:14 PM EST up reply actions
Marty’s got some miles on him I think at this point in his career he knows he can’t carry the workload of being a number 1 goalie for one of those 4 or 5 teams. Plus he has too like his chances of winning a cup with this team down the road me thinks.
by ImMike88 on Jan 10, 2012 1:40 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Two things:
1) Scenario, not scinari.
2) , NHL will announce its 36 remaining All-Stars on Thursday, to tack on to the top six already named of 4 Senators, Phaneuf, Thomas
by Gabby the Gutless Sniper on Jan 10, 2012 10:32 AM EST via mobile reply actions
When did the Panthers call out Mike Rupp? Did it have something to do with punching the sh/t out of Kopecky after he sucker-punched MDZ, or was it just a generic call-out after the outdoor game?
Pierre McGuire needs to go away.
by MartyEqualsPansy on Jan 10, 2012 10:43 AM EST reply actions
After the Kopecky thing, their coach cried that Rupp shouldn’t touch their “skilled” player because it was MDZ’s fault he got suckered punched eyeroll
by SnowKitten35 on Jan 10, 2012 10:54 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
no player, no matter their skill level, is immune to repercussions if they act inappropriatelty
its stupid to believe otherwise and I would expect the same of another team if say Gaby sucker punched someone.
by truebluesince75 on Jan 10, 2012 10:56 AM EST up reply actions
which he would never do because he's a classy player
if you are a dirtbag, no matter your skill level, you deserve to face consequences for your actions, ESPECIALLY if they’re dangerous like a sucker punch. What difference does the skill level of the player who enforces make?
What an ass-backwards, ignorant statement. Makes the league look bad.
@btown46
On 24/7
Yoi could hear Prust say he didnt retaliate because he didnt want to get suspended for Winter Classic.
by Gabby the Gutless Sniper on Jan 10, 2012 11:44 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
this picture for the article
it looks like girardi has a huge boner that happens to be a ketchup bottle
I piss excellence
+1
"It's far from done, but we did get something accomplished."-#19 B.Richards
by -19-AgainstAll on Jan 10, 2012 11:58 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
My sentiments exactly.
A game against a weaker opponent after a 4-day layoff? That has trap game written all over it. With the way Torts called them out at yesterday’s practice for coming out flat, I don’t think they’ll be repeating that to open tonight’s game.
Homo homini lupus est - Human beings are wolves to each other
Interesting bit of info I came across today
Bickel will take a huge step in cementing a spot on an NHL roster for the remainder of the season when he skates against the Coyotes tonight at the Garden in his 10th game since making his big-league debut in New Jersey the night following his promotion.
Reaching that milestone means Bickel would have to clear waivers in order to be reassigned to the Blueshirts’ top farm club. And because right-handed defensemen who can play adequately are in as much need around the NHL as left-handed relief pitchers who can get a batter out are in Major League Baseball, it’s extremely unlikely Bickel would get through. That’s not to mention Bickel’s age, size (6-foot-4, 207), willingness to take the body, and contract situation ($600,000 as an impending restricted free agent).
Here’s the rest of the article.
Do we chance sending Bickel down once Sauer is healthy and possibly lose him?
Nevermind. There’s already a thread on this, just saw it now.
by Eastern Impact on Jan 10, 2012 2:44 PM EST up reply actions
They play 17 games in 30 days this March
They absolutely need every point they can get right now, that stretch is going to be hell with nearly all the teams they are playing being playoff contenders.
The Rangers Must Avoid the Rap Game Tonight
Especially these West Coast rappers like Phoenix.
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