Rangers win 5-2 in home opener over Ottawa. Rangers showed great legs for a team playing back to back nights to start the season, and won 2 of the 3 periods. In the first and third periods, the Rangers held Ottawa to 14 shots combined....but allowed 20 in the second. And the second is where Hank took over, and made his mark on the game. Not just saving 19 of 20 shots, but some of the saves were of the "Oh man, I am definitely going to completely exaggerate and call that the best save I have ever seen" variety. But unlike many games last year, this game wasn't all Hank.
# 1 Star - Doobie: Similar to last season, getting off to a great start. Scores two goal tonight, also picks up an assist. Was driving hard to the net all game, and gave Ottawa all sorts of problems. A training camp holdout, he needed a strong start. But Nugman is calling it right now, look for doobie to put up a minus on Monday and see less ice time against the Devils, because I am relatively positive he is going to be the drunkest guy in NYC the next 48 hours
# 2 Star - Hank: 32 of 34 saves. What was an absolutely fantastic game turned a little sour allowing a cheap goal with 5 seconds left, but still another great effort. Hank looks in midseason Hank form, and that's a very good thing for the Rangers.
# 3 Star - (MSG gave it to Del Zotto, but I am not about sentimental BS) Gaborik - A goal and an assist, and his hands are absolutely terrifying. Every time he touches the puck inside the blue line, he is a threat to score. The Rangers haven't had a player like that since 2005-2006 jagr, and they haven't had a player like that in his prime since......? It's been awhile. If the guy can play 75 games this year, he'll score 50 goals.
Good Sign from something Odd: Does everyone else remember watching the Rangers last year, and especially in the second half, you couldn't go through a game without noticing Ryan Callahan? The guy just worked so much harder, more consistently, then everyone else on the ice. Non-stop motor, non-stop hustle. Through 2 games, Callahan has been almost non-existent. And that's no knock on him. He hasn't found the back of the net yet, but there's nothing wrong with that, he's still palying hard. It's just that...EVERYONE is flying right now. It could be the early season legs. It could be the grueling training regimen Torts put everyone thru in camp. Don't know what it is, but Callahan no longer stands out. Everyone skates fast, hard, and for 60 minutes. (Except Redden and Rozsival of course, whose names barely get mentioned in a telecast, despite making 11 million between them)
An honest take on the Rangers so far: The Rangers have played two of the better offensive teams in the league their first two games (Well pittsburgh is certainly one of the top 2-3, and Ottawa still has one of the top lines in all the NHL) with an incredibly young and inexperienced defense. Staal, girardi, Gilroy and Del Zotto. In the 2 games, they have given up 4 goals of relevance (5 total). A lot of that has been the great play of Hank, but you'd have to say the kids have done "ok" so far. They've given up more than their fair share of odd man rushes, but these are two very good offenses that have been held mostly in check. On offense, the Rangers do look like a much more explosive team than last season....but it all rides on Gaborik. Without him, this is a scrappy team that can win some 3-2 games. With him, the Rangers could become a team that can score 4-5 on any given night, which is pretty much an automatic win with Hank. Looking at the Rangers schedule, in pittsburgh, a place they struggle, then home against Ottawa, you'd expect them to be 1-1 after 2, and they are right there. So far the Rangers look like a competitive, hard working, playoff team with a legit sniper and supporting cast that could scare one of the big boys in the first round.
Around the Eastern Conference: The biggest statement so far has been made by the Flyers, who have cemented themselves right off the bat as one of the top 3 teams in the East. The hype was big coming in, and they have lived up to it. Two dominating wins on back to back nights, on the road, against tough playoff teams with tested goalies (Carolina - Ward, New Jersey - Brodeur). Philly controlled the Carolina game from early in the first on, and absolutely blew New Jersey off the ice tonight. They look very strong. That said, the Rangers have matched up very well against them the last few years, and have made winning in Philly look rather easy. But, a very overhauled Rangers squad, who knows how they will take to Philly's physical style. Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, dynamic dou.
The Capitals will finish 1 or 2 in the eastern conference. I am not sure where, but they are blowing teams out of the building and are too young, too talented to ever really go into any type of slump.
And the Penguins are the champs (as they showed tonight with a comeback victory over the pathetic Islanders). Until some one proves otherwise, the Penguins are the champs. So penguins, Capitals, and Flyers look to be the top 3 teams in the east.
Boston I have to see play before I annoint them to anything, and I have my concerns about the losses they took on their league leading defense, and trading Phil Kessel. But right now, you'd have to think they are a strong lock for a 4/5 seed.
Then the Rangers fall into that next area. The Devils,Carolina, Rangers, Canadians. The probably other 4 playoff teams fighting for 5-8, and then there is Ottawa and the Sabres, both of whom are going to battle down to the wire to give the Rangers and those other 3 all they can handle. 10 teams, 8 spots, and I think 4 have all but already been decided. 6 teams, 4 spots. Watch those other 5 all season long.
# 1 Star - Doobie: Similar to last season, getting off to a great start. Scores two goal tonight, also picks up an assist. Was driving hard to the net all game, and gave Ottawa all sorts of problems. A training camp holdout, he needed a strong start. But Nugman is calling it right now, look for doobie to put up a minus on Monday and see less ice time against the Devils, because I am relatively positive he is going to be the drunkest guy in NYC the next 48 hours
# 2 Star - Hank: 32 of 34 saves. What was an absolutely fantastic game turned a little sour allowing a cheap goal with 5 seconds left, but still another great effort. Hank looks in midseason Hank form, and that's a very good thing for the Rangers.
# 3 Star - (MSG gave it to Del Zotto, but I am not about sentimental BS) Gaborik - A goal and an assist, and his hands are absolutely terrifying. Every time he touches the puck inside the blue line, he is a threat to score. The Rangers haven't had a player like that since 2005-2006 jagr, and they haven't had a player like that in his prime since......? It's been awhile. If the guy can play 75 games this year, he'll score 50 goals.
Good Sign from something Odd: Does everyone else remember watching the Rangers last year, and especially in the second half, you couldn't go through a game without noticing Ryan Callahan? The guy just worked so much harder, more consistently, then everyone else on the ice. Non-stop motor, non-stop hustle. Through 2 games, Callahan has been almost non-existent. And that's no knock on him. He hasn't found the back of the net yet, but there's nothing wrong with that, he's still palying hard. It's just that...EVERYONE is flying right now. It could be the early season legs. It could be the grueling training regimen Torts put everyone thru in camp. Don't know what it is, but Callahan no longer stands out. Everyone skates fast, hard, and for 60 minutes. (Except Redden and Rozsival of course, whose names barely get mentioned in a telecast, despite making 11 million between them)
An honest take on the Rangers so far: The Rangers have played two of the better offensive teams in the league their first two games (Well pittsburgh is certainly one of the top 2-3, and Ottawa still has one of the top lines in all the NHL) with an incredibly young and inexperienced defense. Staal, girardi, Gilroy and Del Zotto. In the 2 games, they have given up 4 goals of relevance (5 total). A lot of that has been the great play of Hank, but you'd have to say the kids have done "ok" so far. They've given up more than their fair share of odd man rushes, but these are two very good offenses that have been held mostly in check. On offense, the Rangers do look like a much more explosive team than last season....but it all rides on Gaborik. Without him, this is a scrappy team that can win some 3-2 games. With him, the Rangers could become a team that can score 4-5 on any given night, which is pretty much an automatic win with Hank. Looking at the Rangers schedule, in pittsburgh, a place they struggle, then home against Ottawa, you'd expect them to be 1-1 after 2, and they are right there. So far the Rangers look like a competitive, hard working, playoff team with a legit sniper and supporting cast that could scare one of the big boys in the first round.
Around the Eastern Conference: The biggest statement so far has been made by the Flyers, who have cemented themselves right off the bat as one of the top 3 teams in the East. The hype was big coming in, and they have lived up to it. Two dominating wins on back to back nights, on the road, against tough playoff teams with tested goalies (Carolina - Ward, New Jersey - Brodeur). Philly controlled the Carolina game from early in the first on, and absolutely blew New Jersey off the ice tonight. They look very strong. That said, the Rangers have matched up very well against them the last few years, and have made winning in Philly look rather easy. But, a very overhauled Rangers squad, who knows how they will take to Philly's physical style. Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, dynamic dou.
The Capitals will finish 1 or 2 in the eastern conference. I am not sure where, but they are blowing teams out of the building and are too young, too talented to ever really go into any type of slump.
And the Penguins are the champs (as they showed tonight with a comeback victory over the pathetic Islanders). Until some one proves otherwise, the Penguins are the champs. So penguins, Capitals, and Flyers look to be the top 3 teams in the east.
Boston I have to see play before I annoint them to anything, and I have my concerns about the losses they took on their league leading defense, and trading Phil Kessel. But right now, you'd have to think they are a strong lock for a 4/5 seed.
Then the Rangers fall into that next area. The Devils,Carolina, Rangers, Canadians. The probably other 4 playoff teams fighting for 5-8, and then there is Ottawa and the Sabres, both of whom are going to battle down to the wire to give the Rangers and those other 3 all they can handle. 10 teams, 8 spots, and I think 4 have all but already been decided. 6 teams, 4 spots. Watch those other 5 all season long.
Brashear Update: 2 games, 2 fights, I'd say he is 0-1-1, and he's still alive. I'll leave that up to you whether it is a positive or negative thing.
Seriously, this sh*t has to stop: 0-5 on the power play tonight, 0-9 on the power play on the season.
3 Goals For Hank: 1-0-0 this season when scoring 3 or more.
Next Game for the Rangers: Monday at the rock in Jersey against Fatso.
Next Game for the Rangers: Monday at the rock in Jersey against Fatso.
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