Setting up the playoff picture, the Rangers trail the seventh place Devils by a point. New Jersey lost their sixth straight to the Lightning, 5-2. They haven’t been the same since Martin Brodeur went down. The Devils have played two more games than the Rangers. Both the Leafs and Senators are tied with 28 points ranking fifth and sixth respectively. Each has two less games remaining. If the Rangers can take advantage of their schedule, they’ll make up ground.
The latest victory was about Nash’s incredible skill. He got them home by scoring his sixth and seventh in the third. Ironically, all of the former Blue Jacket’s markers have come then. Since returning from a “mystery injury,” he’s tallied six points (4-2-6) in three games (all Ranger wins). That also included a shootout clincher over Buffalo. In fact, Nash has registered at least a point in his last seven. Over that stretch, he’s lit the lamp five times and set up six others for 11 points (5-6-11). The two-goal performance was his first as a Ranger.
They came when the team needed it most. With the game knotted 2-2, Nash got behind the Flyer D and took a Dan Girardi outlet. Breaking in on Ilya Bryzgalov, he let go of a perfect wrist shot that pulverized the Flyer netminder to give the Rangers the lead 2:50 into the third. After failing to capitalize on a power play, Nash took care of business with his second. This time, it was a Derek Stepan feed that allowed him to do the rest. He went around a defenseman and even while hooked, deked Bryzgalov with a backhand finish that doubled the margin.
A fantastic move by a breathtaking player, who hasn’t missed a beat. Whatever was ailing him isn’t anymore. The team is rejuvenated. Even without Brad Richards, they won to go a season high three games over .500 (11-8-2). Richards was a scratch following the recall of Micheal Haley. The ex-Islander only played six shifts (4:12) registering three hits and winning a faceoff.
If not for some undisciplined penalties during the first, it might’ve come easier. Callahan put the Rangers in front with a rare power play goal 1:30 in. Marian Gaborik and Stepan combined to set up our captain. On the play, Gaborik dished for Stepan setting up a two-on-one down low. D-Step centered for Cally who went top shelf for the first of two. A Stu Bickel elbowing minor allowed the Flyers to draw even. An unnecessary offensive zone penalty led directly to Wayne Simmonds finishing off his 10th from Claude Giroux and Jake Voracek.
The ridiculous penalties weren’t done. Following a needless Nash minor which they killed off, Callahan was whistled for a dubious hold on Luke Schenn, who clearly embellished it. I guess diving is no longer on the NHL radar. It paid off for the Flyers. They scored their second power play goal of the period when an unguarded Voracek was allowed to steer home his own rebound. On both Flyer tallies, not one Ranger defenseman took the guy in front. Simmonds and Kimmo Timonen netted the assists.
Just when it seemed they would take a one-goal lead to the locker room, Callahan atoned by tying the game with 41 seconds left in the first. On a play in the neutral zone, he took a Ryan McDonagh pass and abused a Flyer defenseman and then went forehand deke on a sliding Bryzgalov for his eighth. A huge momentum turning goal for the unquestioned leader of the Blueshirts.
Neither side scored in what can best be described as a safe second by both rivals. Neither seemed interested in much, resulting in a pretty ho hum period where both Lundqvist and Bryzgalov kept the puck out. Confirming how odd the game was, there were only 26 shots thru two with the Flyers holding a slight 14-12 edge.
In the third, the Rangers were the better team due in large part to having the most explosive player. From my vantage point, it was Nash’s best game so far. He made the plays that won it. First, scoring in transition with a cannon. Then, using his game breaking speed and fancy footwork to ice the contest. From there, Lundqvist shut the door. He came up with a timely save prior to Nash’s go-ahead tally. A big kick out that allowed Girardi to head man Nash.
There also was a scare. During a Flyer sequence, Marc Staal took a puck to his right eye. He was visibly shaken up, creating a hush over the bipartisan crowd. Nobody wants to see that. It was pretty obvious that he was really hurt. Replays showed that a Flyer shot struck him just above the right eye. John Tortorella didn’t provide any updates following the game. Hopefully, he’ll be alright. We won’t know until the next couple of days.
Once they were down two, Scott Hartnell tried to goon it up by taking a run at Haley on the bench. Somehow, Bickel was assessed the identical five to the village idiot in orange. It didn’t matter.
BONY 3 Stars:
3rd Star-Derek Stepan, NYR (2 assists, getting better all the time)
2nd Star-Ryan Callahan, NYR (2 goals incl. game changer, tremendous as always)
1st Star-Rick Nash, NYR (2 goals in 3rd incl. game-winner, dominant)
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Derek
Battle Of Hudson 