To watch on NHL.com, click here.
To watch on NHL.com, click here.
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...it is incredible what Kreider is doing. A month ago he was playing in college, now he is quickly becoming the focal point of the Rangers offense. The Rangers are almost relying on him to carry the offense, which, as much as I love it, may not be a good thing. Without others stepping up, I'm not sure the Rangers get out of this round.
...very impressed with how he's able to shoot the puck in stride. Makes it very difficult for the goaltender to anticipate when the puck is coming.
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"In the first period, they were the better team. The second period, we came back and made a little push. Overall, we just have to be better. They wanted it a little more. They were really good around the boards and that's where they set the tone for the whole game. In the first period, they had us and then we came out and started skating a little more and winning more battles."
...i've got to say, I thought this series was going to be a war and while it's tied up at one, I'm beyond disappointed with the lack of passion from both sides. You would think the Rangers are playing the Minnesota Wild not their biggest rivals.
...Torts better figure out how to get his players motivated for Game 3, because being outworked in the Eastern Conferen Finals is unacceptable.
Carl Hagelin adds...
"It's just us. We didn't get the puck as quick as we wanted to, guys were just a step too late."
...not quick enough? We have to be better? They set the tone? Maybe, unlike what Torts' is selling, this Rangers team is breaking down. One look at Callahan and I'm not sure how you can think otherwise.
...the Devils forecheck seemed to wear down the Rangers leading to costly turnovers.
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To watch Torts' presser, click here.
According to Greg Wyshynski at Puck Daddy, Craig Button of NHL Network was not amused with Torts' press conference calling it a "travesty," saying he shouldn't even come out and adding that "it's a joke, he's making it a joke, it's an unnecessary joke, so stop it."
John Tortorella's playoff non-interviews were amusing shtick for a while. Now they have become annoying and unprofessional.
— Neil Best (@sportswatch) May 17, 2012
...i try not to get too caught up with the brevity of Torts' press conferences, but I would have liked to have heard his reasoning for benching his best offensive player in the third period.
...and if these media types are sick of Torts' act, stop complaining about it your columns, grow a pair and call the Rangers head coach out to his face. If you're not willing to do that then shut up.
...and while Torts is receiving all the criticism today, guess who's not? The players for their poor performance last night. Crazy like a fox this guy.
Remember to follow me on Twitter & Facebook or e-mail me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . no commentsHere's Gaborik on the benching (via Bergen Record)...
"I mean, for the second goal, I didn't get the puck out I guess. You'll have to ask him (Tortorella)."
No you did not get the puck out Marian as we can all see here...
...similar to the Kreider benching, Torts basically cut off his nose to spite his face by sitting out his best offensive player.
...i can understand sending a message during the regular season, but when it's playoff time, unless it's absolutely egregious, Torts needs to realize that with the Rangers lack of offense the only thing that will be learned is that the Blueshirts can't win with their top players stapled to the bench.
...Torts' stubbornness could be the death of this amazing playoff run.
Gaborik told reporters that Tortorella's issue with his game was wall play.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 17, 2012
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Bergen Record - Rangers notes: Marian Gaborik takes seat
New York Post - Devils rally to hand Rangers another Game 2 loss
New York Post - Lundqvist bemoans traffic in front of net
New York Post - Power play works in Blueshirts’ favor in Game 2
New York Post - Coach won’t open up after team gets shut down
Daily News - Knot again! Rangers suffer another Game 2 letdown, lose 3-2 to Devils at the Garden
Daily News - Bondy: Block and Blue Rangers can't match Devs intensity
Daily News - Rangers' Gaborik not in clear, makes costly mistake
New York Times - It’s Tied. What Did You Expect?
New York Times - Pressuring Lundqvist Pays Off for Devils
Wall Street Journal - Gridlock on the Way to Newark
Newsday - Devils down Rangers in Game 2
Newsday - Rangers stick with familiar route: the hard way
Newsday - Gaborik benched for most of third period
Newsday - Devils shuffled lines pay off
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The New York Rangers lost to the New Jersey Devils by the score of 3-2 in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference Finals matchup. The series is tied 1-1. For a recap and box score go to Yahoo! Sports.
...seriously, why can't this team take a 2-0 lead!!!!
...i actually didn't think the Rangers played all that poorly. The result pretty much came down to Clarkson's shot hitting the pipe and going in while Kreider's bounced out. Did feel the Devils came out much hungrier though.
...not sure trying to teach a veteran, 41-goal scorer a lesson while down one in the third period is the best strategy in the Eastern Conference Finals. But that's just me.
...after tonight's game I'm convinced Callahan is injured. He's not even trying to shoot.
...most impressive part of Kreider's goal is that he proved he's not afraid to park himself in front of the net to make a play.
...EIGHT blocked shots for McDonagh tonight. Nothing gallant about that right Mr. Cambell.
...assuming tonight was the last third period shift Bickel sees for the rest of the playoffs after being on the ice for the Devils game winner.
...two straight games with a power play goal? That's got to be a record for the Rangers.
...terrible ice conditions, penalty box doors that don't open. Didn't exactly look like the World's Most Famous Arena tonight.
...does Barbara Underhill run a faceoff school that Stepan can attend this summer?
...effin' Clarkson.
...tonight was the first time I noticed Prust since his Game 6 fight against Neil in the first round.
...got nervous for a second in the third period when Staal was down on the ice after taking high high from Bernier.
...if players such as Hagelin, Fedotenko, Mitchell and Rupp don't start chipping in some goals soon I can pretty much guarantee the Rangers won't top three goals in this series.
...off until Saturday's Game 3 at MSG South.
For post game video highlights & analysis, click the "Read More" tab below.
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Rangers Game Notes
TV: NBC Sports Network; Radio: ESPN Radio (98.7 FM), XM 92
Live Stream (Don't click on ads in stream, may download virus):
http://www.firstrowsports.eu/watch/123044/1/watch-new-jersey-devils-vs-new-york-rangers.html
Probable Lines:
Hagelin-Richards-Gaborik
Kreider-Stepan-Callahan
Anisimov-Boyle-Prust
Rupp-Mitchell-Fedotenko
McDonagh-Girardi
Staal-Stralman
Del Zotto-Bickel
Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist - 9-6, 1.57 gaa, .940 sv%, 2 so.
Martin Brodeur - 8-4, 2.05 gaa, .921 sv%, 1 so
Opponent Notes:
- Zach Parise had five of New Jersey's 21 shots on goal in Game 1.
For more game notes click the "Read More" tab below.
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BRONZE
Carl Hagelin, New York Rangers
Hagelin sent a text to his victim, and he said he was sorry. "He's been one of my favourite players," Hagelin told reporters. "I had no intention of hurting him." But Hagelin did hurt Daniel Alfredsson, and replays make a compelling case for intent. Hagelin raised his elbow just before impact, driving it into the head of the Senators captain, who had already been concussed once during the season. The elbow forced Alfredsson from the game with a concussion, and earned Hagelin a three-game suspension from the league. The Rangers went on to win their Eastern Conference quarter-final series.
Arron Asham's cross check to Brayden Schenn received Silver, while Raffi Torres shoulder to face hit on Marian Hossa received the Gold.
...for Hagelin's hit to be even mentioned with those two acts of violence is embarrassing. But that's what happens when a Rangers player takes out the Captain of a Canadian team.
...apparently Fitz-Gerald must have been out of the country this month and missed the much more dangerous infractions by Weber, Giroux, Neil, Carkner, Hanzel and Doan.
H/T to reader John S.
And if this doesn't get you riled up enough, check out this piece by David Stubbs of the Montreal Gazette describing abusive Rangers fans at MSG despite the fact that he's never attended a Rangers game at MSG.
H/t to Scotty Hockey.
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To watch at ESPN.com, click here.
...just had to look out my window to see if pigs were flying because I actually agree with Barry Melrose.
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Girardi explains it here...
"Especially this year, he's (McDonagh) coming over to my house a little bit more, playing with my son and stuff like that. And I think that's kind of part of why we're doing well. We're good friends off the ice, and it makes our job easier on the ice."
McDonagh adds this about his defensive partner...
"And obviously learned a lot from him, how mentally tough he is. The grind that he goes through, the hits that he takes, and the way he blocks shots. He's such a leader in that aspect, and it's something that I'm trying to get involved in in my game."
...off ice relationships can be very important in team sports as it solidifies that bond and gives you a greater sense of trust in each other.
...amazing that even with All Star Marc Staal back to full strength he still can't get back on the top defensive pair because of how good these two have been.
Here's a video on the pair...
Also got to love that ESPN put them on the front page of their website...
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...let's hope hope we're not seeing any of these guys in a Rangers jersey this Spring because it likely means a key injury for the Blueshirts. Great experience for the kids though.
Gross also adds that Chris Kreider joked about enjoying his virtual anonymity in New York City.
...that's one benefit to playing in such a big city where hockey is the fourth sport, you can walk around unnoticed and enjoy your personal life. Unlike if you're playing for a Canandian team where you'd be noticed even if you're wearing a full Batman costume.
Kreider also discussed difference between one-and-done College playoffs vs. NHL seven game series...
"You get to know a team a little bit better. It's funny, in college there's a kid who played in the ECHL and he was saying how much fun a seven-game series is. You get to know the other team. There's a lot more to it than one and done. You're going into the corner, most times, with particular guys. You get more familiar."
Finally, in Devils Land, Tom Gulitti at the Bergen Record reports that head coach Pete DeBoer reunited Zach Parise with Travis Zajac and Ilya Kovalchuk on the top line at this morning's practice and also put back together the second line of Petr Sykora, Patrik Elias and Dainius Zubrus and the third line of Alexei Ponikarovsky, Adam Henrique and David Clarkson.
The fourth line of Ryan Carter, Stephen Gionta and Steve Bernier was the only combination to remain intact.
...i guess when you're shutout, you feel like you need to shake things up. Won't affect what the Rangers are doing tonight.
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Rangers-Devils Game 1 averaged 6.2% of NY area homes, best ever for this market on NBC Sports Network (formerly known as Versus and/or OLN).
— Neil Best (@sportswatch) May 15, 2012
...amazing how the game of hockey grows when the Rangers succeed. You'd think Bettman might take notice of this factor. I'm not saying the Rangers should receive preferential treatment, but he needs to find a way to capitalize on this. You know, by maybe not having a lockout next year similar to 1994-95 season.
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...that trade had the potential to be more disasterous for the Rangers than McDonagh for Gomez was for the Canadiens.
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H/T to reader Dominick P.
And then there's this pic of David Clarkson that TheNYRBlog reader Jay A. took before Game 1...
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