Rangers 4, Capitals 1
Losses are inevitable. Even the Chicago Blackhawks couldn't avoid that. So when the Rangers lost to the Senators after four straight wins, the bigger concern was not the loss itself but how the Rangers would respond to it. For the first five minutes of today's game, the response was miserable. The Capitals were all over the Rangers, got to every loose puck, and scored as bad of a goal as any Rangers goaltender has given up in a long time. Hockey games are 60 minutes for a reason, though, and coming off a game yesterday against the Islanders it seemed unlikely that the Caps were going to keep that pace. Stepan took advantage of a sleeping Holtby, and from there the Rangers kept their foot on the gas the rest of the way. A very good response from the Rangers, and a game one could argue was as well executed as any they've played this season. Let's look at some post-game thoughts, which will be a lot more complimenting than those from two nights ago after the game against Ottawa.
Martin Biron: The goal he let up was quite possibly the worst one to get passed him in his tenure with the Rangers. He rebounded, though, and earned the first star of the game with 28 saves on 29 shots. No indiviudal saves particularly stand out, but rather he earned the honor from strong sequences. His positioning was spot on; when you're playing your angles correctly highlight reel saves aren't necessary. With a two goal lead late in the second period, the Capitals had a big opportunity to get back into the game an regain momentum with a two-man advantage. Though some timely blocks came from the skaters, Biron was the most important penalty killer, not only making the important saves but making sure rebounds did not land in front of his net. For some reason, Biron has become a whipping boy for some people. Backup goaltenders are backup goaltenders for a reason, so of course he is not going to be on Lundqvist's level. Still, you'd be hardpressed to find many superior backup goaltenders in the NHL. Can't expect much better than the 2.17 GAA and .923 Save % that Biron has amassed in five games this season.
McDonagh and Girardi: In truth, the entire defense deserves credit today. All six guys played a very solid game in relation to their expected contributions. I'll single out the top two guys because they really were fantastic today against an offense that has the ability to score at will. Ovechkin and Ribiero were held to only five total shots, and pretty much all of them were from the perimeter. Staal usually has the job of shadowing Ovechkin, so great job from these two limiting his chances specifically. The two also combined for eight blocked shots, were vital to keeping the Capitals' scoreless on three powerplays, and McDonagh was involved in the offense, pinching at the right time and adding a couple of assists.
Brian Boyle: Once again Tortorella scratches Boyle, and once again Boyle comes back playing with fire. He got his first goal on the year from a well placed shot, used his huge frame to shield the puck on the boards as well as to drive towards the net, and did his part with 2 minutes on the PK and two blocked shots. Two nights ago his future was in doubt. Today Tortorella gave him 15:30 in icetime. One game does not save him, but he certainly did more than enough to keep himself in the lineup short-term. When Brian Boyle is alive and playing like he can there are not many better bottom-six forwards in the NHL. With the lack of scoring we have received from the bottom two lines, a thriving Boyle certainly would be a big asset. He's more than capable; it's all mental with him.
Brad Richards: Two games since coming back from injury, two goals. Though he was playing better before being rammed into the boards by Patrick Kaleta, perhaps the injury was a blessing in disguise. Maybe a short stint out of the lineup was good for Richards. He has certainly stepped up offensively. Of course, it's a two game sample size, but the Brad Richards of last season has been the Brad Richards we are seeing.
Rick Nash and Carl Hagelin: We're running out of ways to say that these two are playing well. Nash had a goal taken away off an apparent Callahan deflection, ending his streak of games with a goal. Nonetheless, he was as vital as ever. It's no coincidence that the team's record is significantly better with him in the lineup than out. Two well deserved assists for him. With 23 points in 20 games, Rick Nash is now playing at a 94 point pace over a full 82 season.
As for Hagelin, yes, playing with Rick Nash of course is a big help. That being said, ask the plethora of talented but unsuccessful forwards in Columbus exactly how much that made a difference for them. Rick Nash is big, fast, strong, and skilled. so he definitely is going to open up space for his linemates. Still, and again as Columbus has proven, you can't just stick any random player on his line and succeed. Hagelin not only is fast but has really improved his offensive awareness. As Hagelin was developing with Michigan, the hope was that he would eventually become a defense first, bottom-six winger with the ability to chip in offensively on occasion. He is exceeding that projection significantly and is making a case for a long-term future as a top-six winger.
Fourth Line: As Kris Newbury and Christian Thomas and Brandon Mashinter were earning call-ups, it was a loosely contained secret that Micheal Haley was unhappy. He got his call-up with the Richards injury and I think has done what Tortorella wanted. He's good on the forecheck, throws the body around, battles for pucks along the boards, and doesn't take crap from anybody. Clear upgrade over Stu Bickel, who Tortorella wisely scratched tonight. Things will get interesting once Asham is healthy. Powe and Halpern have consistently done their jobs, and Boyle seems to be alive again. Whom do you remove from the lineup to insert Asham? For a team that was struggling to put together a fourth line capable of contributing anything earlier in the season, it's a nice problem for John Tortorella to have.
This was one of those games where I could have said something nice about all 19 players. I think we have to be pretty happy with what the Rangers have done the past four days, with three games; two on the road. Two wins which were the result of a sixty minute effort, and even the loss against the Senators was more about making a few too many mistakes as opposed to an overall bad effort. NBC alluded to it; the Rangers are finding their groove and identity; wins are coming from a complete, team effort as opposed to great individual efforts. They've put together four lines and three defensive pairings who are doing the jobs assigned. They've gotten back to the high tempo, physical, sixty minute games that were so successful last season.
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Jeff, I never have and never will have a problem admitting when I'm wrong. I give my opinion on everything, never going to be 100% correct.
I really don't know why everyone is freaking out about Gaborik... He has not been playing well I think everyone can agree with that, even to the point where he has looked disinterested. However, throughout his whole career he has been a streaky player. I mean 40 goals 3 years ago, then 20, then 40 again shows that.
Let me put another issue to rest there is NO WAY he is injured... If he were he would not be playing right now in the regular season. He really is not contributing at the moment, so it is not like we would miss him if he were healing for said injury. If he were injured the guy that is making 7.5 million dollars would be sitting, getting healthy and waiting for the stretch run if not the playoffs, so that is not the issue.
Give him some time... He has been the key to the turnaround for this organization over the past couple years. Everyone points to Callahan and Hank, but no one has been as big a threat for us as Gaborik. In my opinion I think he needs time to adjust to learning to co-exist with Nash. Sometimes it can be hard going from top-dog to having to share the spotlight. By no means is that an excuse, but I beg of all of you give the guy some time, he has been a gold mine for our organization over the past couple of years, and if he didnt tear his labrum in the postseason who knows how far we go...
Just to explain why I do not feel the same about Richards. I really didn't think he played as advertised last year. He was extremely streaky, and besides those clutch goals was not a consistent threat. I do not think he has been worth the money we have paid him, which is why I stick to buying him out. However, he has looked "good" or at least better than he was playing since coming back from the Kaleta hit so hopefully that woke him up
@slapshot13j I've been rebutting all the "Gab-bashing" on this site so I agree with you, as well as on Richey. I like Gabby's play in general - when he first came here he carried the team on his back, and last season he was up and down but wound up with 41 goals - was invisible in the playoffs but was injured. I'm just a bit perplexed at his lack of passion lately, a couple games he looked better when he was shooting the puck so I guess I'll hope you're right and his game will return. I'd think adding Nashty would help Gabby since he'll draw the other teams best defensive players on him and away from Gabby
Malkin out 1-2 weeks most likely another concussion, probably out longer... Another concussion, that is 2 in less than 2 weeks
What? No post game thoughts on Gaborik? Here's one, he didn't do a freakin' thing! I would seriously have a conversation with him and Richards to discuss teams they wouldn't mind being traded to. That $14 million dollars skating for the Rangers was not worth $2M. And even worse, was Ovechkin, who, thank you very much, single handedly, gave us the game. Thank God he's not on the Rangers!
@MikeBlue richards makes 12 million this year, and Gabby made some nice plays on the PP, and Richards has showed signs of life since coming back
@slapshot13j @MikeBlue I think you were watching a different game then I did. I'm a big fan of Gaborik and watching him yesterday, he was awefull. I just wonder if his shoulder is still not a 100 percent. He was tentative along the boards and very weak on the puck. Hope he'll pickup his game because we need his scoring.
@MikeBlue I like Gabby. He's been mostly a good player for us. He's not a physical, shot blocking type player but when he's going he's sneaky on both ends with a subtle nasty edge. He's around the net, He beats guys one on one, has a tremendous shot and he scores. I don't understand his lack of passion as of late. There may be an injury we don't know about or the shoulder's not healed but if he's not happy here they need to move him and get something good in return
@Betweentheworlds @MikeBlue he is playing like he is afraid of getting hurt. Assuming of course he is not actually playing hurt.
@greggray24 @Betweentheworlds @MikeBlue That's the flip side to his 40 goal production. Injury prone. I hope it's not true but if he's playing scared of injury his career is gonna tank
hockey for dummies: can anyone explain this, a season high 6 game point streak, and then it says ten? {Rick Nash recorded two assists, including one on the power play, to extend his point streak to a Rangers’ season-high, six games (six goals, five assists during the streak). He has now tallied a point in each of his last 10 games (seven goals, nine assists over the span).}
@hank4president I believe it's the difference of his six game streak being 6 consecutive Rangers games, but the 10 point streak being for 10 consecutive games that he's actually played in. So the 10 game streak was broken by his missing 4 games with injury.
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@AG_Blue I got some very nice portraits of the lads on the bench and I'll see if I can get a few of those uploaded onto the NYR facebook page tonight since I don't see how to do it here. When I'm at to the office I'll go through my shots of the ice action. My cellphone has its limitations, but with some good cropping, I hope to get some nice action scenes. One of these days I'll invest in a telephoto digital camera. Its such a toss up from being in the game to trying to capture it! Today I had the pleasure of enjoying both!
I missed Boyle's 1st goal??? Heard it was a good game. We should runa contest to see when he will get number 2 lol. Gabby must have an "undisclosed injury" or they're worried about the shoulder. Torts would never tolerate his lack of contact otherwise 40 goals or not.
@slapshot13j Good prediction, I think soon too. here's a few of my other predictions. Boyle gets traded and becomes a 20 goal scorer with another team. Richey gets bought out, gets signed by another team and gets 30 goals and 80 points. Gabby gets traded next year, but only after he finds his scoring touch. Rangers resign Sean Avery, Darius Kasparitis and Esa Tikkanen to lucrative contracts....
@slapshot13j @hank4president Last I checked anyway the term "lead foot" is not a compliment if you're a hockey player nor does it imply speed
@Betweentheworlds @hank4president yea, but its six consecutive games since he was injured in-between
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@hank4president @Betweentheworlds its a ten game point streak, and yea boyle cant skate for $hit
@slapshot13j seriously the guy could be a decent hockey player if he learned to use his size. doesn't have bad hands. his skating... well we won't go there :)
@Betweentheworlds @slapshot13j hockey for dummies: can anyone explain this, a season high 6 game point streak, and then it says ten? {Rick Nash recorded two assists, including one on the power play, to extend his point streak to a Rangers’ season-high, six games (six goals, five assists during the streak). He has now tallied a point in each of his last 10 games (seven goals, nine assists over the span).}
@Betweentheworlds just kidding i actually think it will be, but I couldnt not use that joke.... haha
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@Betweentheworlds Hahahahaaha you thought I meant this Thursday... thats really funny man. I laughed for a good minute with that one
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@AveryTrain I usually get articles done before the highlights are available. The way I see it, you can go to NHL.com or the Rangers official website to see highlights; presumably you're coming here to see stuff you're not going to find elsewhere. I'll make an effort to get highlights up in the future when possible.
@Herman_NYRBlog yea, i understand the nhl.com argument, but i used to come here to get everything, highlights,post game, great arguments, articles, discussion, all in one in, it was nice, didnt need to switch from nhl.com to blogs, great for phone as well because of that
@AveryTrain @Herman_NYRBlog Appreciate the feedback. Sometimes it's hard to know what's working and what's not.
@KevinDeLury @Herman_NYRBlog you know, it doesnt really matter if its in the morning or at night, it was nice kevin when u did the post game videos, then followed by the article.. used to all go up at the same time that night. doesnt really matter tho, this is the ranger blog i come to regardless, i just missed the post game stuff, bc i cant always catch it bc of work, so i come here for everything usually, but besides for that this blog has made alot of changes for the better.... :)
@KevinDeLury @AveryTrain @Herman_NYRBlog A picture and/or recap video when available might be nice. Obviously that stuff won't be there right when the game ends. I don't really mind personally since I'm checking a lot of other sites too, but in order to get that "Your One Stop For Your Rangers Needs" thing going it'd definitely be a good idea.
@AveryTrain @Herman_NYRBlog I've gotten away from posting the videos myself this year. NHL.com has been late this year getting highlights up. Do you like the video in the post game recap that night or the next morning? Or does it not matter as long as the video is up?
@Herman_NYRBlog @AveryTrain At least include one "photo worth a thousand words" embedded image with each wrap-up.
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Just want to point out Blackhawks goalies tonight... 6 goals. They were hot, but playoffs are a different animals. You guys can hate, but I would take the Kings in a 7 game series over the Hawks in the playoffs
@AnnoyingJoe @slapshot13j Can't count the Blackhawks out yet though. Goaltending may not be on right now but if they can score the way they are...well then shit.
@JoshKaye @AnnoyingJoe Just like the Penguins, except their goaltending is a lot worse... They both got hot at the same time, but Ray Emery going 10-0 with a sub 2 gas is a fluke...
