Rangers Recap: Offensive Woes Continue as Senators shut out Rangers 2-0
We talked about it before the game, how the Rangers couldn't let themselves get trapped against the lowly Senators coming off the Devils game. We talked about how the measure of a good team is not just how they perform against the best, but against the worst as well.
The Rangers proved they aren't quite ready for the "good team" category yet. For the second straight game at Madison Square Garden, they were shutout, losing 2-0 to the Ottawa Senators behind stellar goaltending from Mike Brodeur.
Five minutes into the game, John Tortorella was using his timeout, his team was as flat a pancake. Not even two fights between Donald Brashear and Matt Carkner could energize his team.
Rangers did pick up their play at times in the second period, but it really wasn't until the third period that they truly found their game, but Brodeur, summoned from Binghamton earlier in the day to start in net, was up to the task, making 32 saves and earning his second victory of the season.
On the other side, Henrik Lundqvist was just as good, making several incredible saves, keeping the Rangers in a game that they were mostly outplayed and outhustled in.
With just over a minute left in regulation, Alexei Kovalev found an open man in Chris Campoli, who was able to put a shot over Lundqvist's shoulder for the game-winner. Chris Kelly would add an empty net goal to finish the scoring.
Final thoughts:
- I think Henrik Lundqvist is playing the best hockey of his career. I can't recall another stretch where he was as locked in as he is right now.
- Rangers haven't scored since Erik Christensen's goal 37 seconds into the third period against Boston on Saturday.
- Chris Drury and Sean Avery were by far the Rangers two best forwards on the ice tonight.
- The Rangers got trapped, proof that not enough of them are reading Blueshirt Banter.
Notes and Quotes after the jump.......
NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES
January 14, 2010 - New York Rangers 0, Ottawa Senators 2 (Game #47, Home #25)
Click Here For The Official Game Summary
- The Rangers were defeated by the Ottawa Senators, 2-0, tonight at Madison Square Garden, and have now posted a record of 22-18-7 (51 pts.) overall and 10-11-4 (24 pts.) at home this season.
- New York have now recorded a point in 12 of their last 14 games (9-2-3), and are 8-2-1 (17 pts.) against Northeast Division opponents this season.
- The Rangers penalty kill held the Senators scoreless in one power play opportunity, and have now held their opponents scoreless on the man advantage in their last 21 chances, including each of the last seven games overall and the last five games at MSG.
- Henrik Lundqvist made 32 saves and has now held opponents to two or fewer goals in 16 of his last 19 games; prior to Chris Campoli's goal at 18:46 of the third, Lundqvist stopped 81 consecutive shots and registered a 127:06 scoreless streak, dating back to Jan. 9 at Boston (D. Wideman, 16:16 of the third period).
- Rangers Captain Chris Drury registered a season-high 19 faceoff wins, and recorded a 79% (19-24) success rate; he has recorded a 50%-or-better faceoff winning percentage in each of the last six games, registering a 63.1% (77-122) success rate over the span; Drury also tied for the team-high with five shots on net.
- The Rangers won 44 of 63 faceoffs for a success rate of 70% in the contest.
- Ryan Callahan tallied a team-high six hits in 19:54 of icetime, and has now registered 165 hits on the season; entering tonight's contest, Callahan ranked fourth overall in the NHL in hits.
- The Blueshirts practice schedule for tomorrow, Jan. 15, is 12:00 p.m. at the MSG Training Center.
- The Rangers return to action when they will face-off against the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, Jan. 16, at the Scottrade Center (8:00 p.m.), in the first game of a back-to-back set; the game will be televised live on PIX 11 and can be heard on 970 The Apple.
POST-GAME QUOTES
John Tortorella on tonight's game...
"We were outworked. That team wanted to play harder than we did tonight. They deserve what they got and we deserve what we got. It is funny what happens. It is simple game of work habit and they simply worked harder."
Henrik Lundqvist on tonight's game...
"We played hard for the whole game and then I don't know what we did in the last minute. When you don't score, a mistake like that costs you. It is frustrating because, I think, everybody is playing hard and playing solid defensively but it comes down to we need to score goals, too."
Ryan Callahan on tonight's game...
"No excuses. I don't understand why we're not ready, but we have to start getting prepared to play games. We wanted to make sure there was no let down after the (New) Jersey game, after being such an emotional game, and I thought we did that and tonight we come out and we have a start like that. I don't know what the explanation is but it definitely has to change."