Canadiens 3, Rangers 2
The New York Rangers (26-17-3) lost to the Montreal Canadiens (25-17-3) by the score of 3-2, tonight. For a recap and box score go to Yahoo! Sports and newyorkrangers.com.
...with the outstanding effort in the third period you have to wonder why it wasn't there in the first two and why they needed their goaltender jumping a Canadiens player to get them going.
...Hank was a man on an island alone tonight. Absolutely no help. Good for him standing up for himself because God knows his teammate won't.
...lack of offense has been masked by Hank and defense lately, but it is very alarming. And the number one culprit is Gaborik. He is just way too invisible.
...bad game for Wolski tonight as he couldn't convert on numerous opportunities.
...not a surprise that the Rangers started playing well once Torts gave Avery more minutes.
...thought Sauer might have had his worst game all season.
...can't believe I'm saying this but Boyle has become more of a go to guy than Gaborik.
...not sure why but when things start rolling downhill for the Rangers in Montreal they can't stop it. The only thing that saved them in the first period was that it ended.
...MZA from Stepan. I love it.
...do you realize Drury has absolutely zero goals this season? Wow.
...i don't blame Dubi for trying to get back at Subban but I think he got too caught up in it and took careless penalties.
...quick turnaround for the Rangers as Flyers are in town tomorrow.
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Whatever it is about going into Montral on a Saturday night (Hockey Night in Canada broadcast) visiting teams are behind the 8-ball. Last Saturday the Bruins had a 2-0 lead with 2:33 left in the third and lost 3-2 in OT.
Read a headline from Newsday that quotes Subban as saying he is not the next Avery. Just a few thoughts on this:
(a) when you play like he does (i.e., slew foot, trash talk, etc....) you DO become another Avery;
(b) if the non-Ranger community has been paying attention at all this year (and perhaps last year), Avery has been somewhat of a choir boy with very little nonsense occurring. For the most part, he is paying for his reputation which he has earned for past discretions. Maybe it is due to lower playing minutes but certianly his edge is not there this year. When he does get the extra time he brings a strong forecheck;
(c) whether they like it or not, every team has or wants an Avery. Montreal has Subban and Pacciorety, Pens have Cooke, Sens have Ruutu and Neil, Leafs have Armstrong, Flyers have Carcillo, Canucks have Burrows, etc.....He gets the most press because he is the NHL's poster boy for this position.
@CraiginCanada @erichan He's right he's not the new Avery b/c Avery isn't a dirty player.
@erichan @CraiginCanada Montreal fans are incredibly fickle as they demonstrated when they booed the team at the end of the 1978 season on their 8th loss!!!!!
If a Canadiens player trips over his own feet reaching for the soap in the shower the fans would go nuts for a penalty. As such, I believe that refs, much like players, get intimidated going into the Bell Centre.
I am wondering if Subban will eventually get a reputation amongst his teammates much like Claude Lemieux. When he got in trouble nobody would jump in to help. Word out of Montreal a few weeks ago was that the guys in the locker room were not happy with Subban either. Soon enough he will get the target on his forehead and refs will keep a closer eye on him to reign him in.
@CraiginCanada man did that comment by Subban make my blood boil. That and the amount of booing everytime avery stepped on the ice... he hasn't done anything boo-worthy in probably a month and a half (partly because he's hardly been on the ice, of course, but still). I just do not understand why he can't seem to live ddown his reputation, while guys like Subban, Carcillo, Hartnell, and who know who else get away with murder. Talk about a double-standard.
By the end of the 1st the Rangers clearly got knocked off their game. The first 10 mins had a great pace to it. It took them nearly a period to bounce back. Home ice advantage? That Montreal crowd is RIDICULOUS (I love it).
Boyle and Prust are great don't get me wrong but do you really want them as the BEST guys on your team?
Gaborik has been ghostly (not ghastly) and Drury is just...IDK. I guess I wouldn't mind him on the team if he wasn't making crazy dough and the announcers making excuses of "how Tortorella is using him." Anyone know any other Captains making $7,000,000 who play on the fourth line with AHLers? I don't even think he's winning "key faceoffs" anymore.
Eh, can't win 'em all. Just hope they wipe the floor with Philly.
@_Jack Re; Drury. Also tough to have constant leadership on the ice when your Captain is playing 4th line minutes.
The Rangers have got to start playing their A-game right out of the gate. They really haven't been doing that all season, but they've been masking it by their clutch play in the second and third periods. I don't know what it will take for them to step it up and play hard from the first minute on, but they've got to figure it out.
I also really think they need some serious drills oon puck handling and passing. They've been loooking seriously sloppy the last few weeks, and against a team like the Habs that has almost impeccable puck control it really hurts them.
I agree though, there is something about this team that the Rangers can't seem to get a handle on. They've come back and won games against teams with the same level of skill, same speed, same offense, but they just can't seem to gain control when the Habs are on the ice. I don't understand it.
