New York Rangers Open Game Thread: Rangers Vs. Canucks
Blah, blah, blah John Tortorella.
The Canucks are 5-4-1 in their last ten games and are 5 points out of the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference. The Rangers are 7-3-0 in their ten games and are currently sitting second in their division, although they are just two points ahead of the Flyers, who have two games in hand.
Vancouver is a very different team from the team that the Rangers saw on November 30th when they beat Torts' Canucks 5-2 thanks to a Chris Kreider hat trick. Henrik Sedin is out of the lineup with injury, Roberto Luongo was dealt to the Florida Panthers, and the Vancouver fanbase has seemingly lost its patience with the man behind the bench. I'm not sure what the future holds for the Canucks but they are an old team that is only getting older and the man behind their bench has not handled his new location as well as the man currently behind the Rangers bench.
The Rangers are looking to make it two in a row tonight against the Canucks on the road and in so doing they are looking to set a new club record for road wins in a season. The club has thrice before reached the 24 win mark in road wins but tonight they are looking to make some history against an old friend/foe/guy that yells a lot.
Mike's Player to Watch: Martin St. Louis
No, I'm not predicting he's going to score a goal. I'm just saying we should watch him and start to appreciate the things that he does other than score goals. Marty St. Louis hasn't made a very big impact on the score sheet since becoming a Ranger but he's been making things happen. He's been drawing penalties and, in my opinion, the power play has looked worlds better since the Rangers acquired him (for whatever that's worth). We do all realize that St. Louis is a pass-first kind of player, yes? He's not exactly a prolific goal scorer. Anyway, I just wanted to get all of that off my chest. Tonight, try to enjoy watching one of the most creative, competitive, and inspiring players in the game because he's in a Rangers jersey and he wears #26. And, perhaps for just a game, stop asking, "When is he finally going to f*%#ing score?"
Let's go Rangers.