Devils pull big rivalry win out of a hat

Posted on February 2, 2016 by hasan4978

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Sometimes a million different things determine the outcome of a game, and sometimes it’s much less nuanced the way it was tonight – under siege for the entire game, Cory Schneider just flat out refused to allow the Devils to lose to the Rangers tonight.  It really was as simple as that in the Devils’ 3-2 win and the fact the attending media only gave him second star just shows how predictable and tone-deaf the media can be.  I know there’s something in the unofficial three stars handbook that says the first star must go to the guy who scored a GWG in the final ten minutes of a game (in this case David Schlemko) but let’s be honest, just seconds earlier Schlemko was nearly the goat with a horrific turnover springing Ryan McDonaugh on a breakaway that he somehow missed the net on.

Maybe that play itself was symbolic of the entire game tonight, Cory aside – and he did get some ‘action’ during All-Star weekend, almost everyone else on both teams looked like they were rusty and flat-footed from the long break.  For every time Devils d-man Adam Larsson got coned by Chris Kreider alone (three by my count), Rangers d-man Dan Girardi also got coned about as many times, including on the game-tying goal in the third period scored by rookie Joe Blandisi, who showed off his speed and opportunism getting around the veteran D and beating Henrik Lundqvist shortside on a goal the $8 million goalie really should have stopped.  Just like Schlemko giveth and taketh away in the third period, Eric Gelinas did something similar earlier in the game when his horrifically timed zero percent chance pinch led to a two-on-one the other way in the first period that JT Miller scored on which pissed me off to the highest level of pisstivity.  Mistakes and getting beat are one thing but that was just about the dumbest decision in a series of dumb decisions made by the third-year defenseman that is the reason why he’s been out of the lineup for much of the season and is only playing now due to injuries to Jon Merrill and John Moore.

Yet later on it was Gelinas who would factor into the Devils’ early second period goal on the power play when his point shot got through a screen set by Lee Stempniak and rebounded directly to the winger in front, and he put the biscuit home to tie the game, continuing a very successful ‘tour run’ playing in the sixth of seven straight games against teams he used to play for.  Perhaps the break did at least help the Devils’ special teams as the PP contributed the first of its two goals in the game, and the penalty kill was perfect in four attempts.  Both units were struggling going into the break but the PP in particular seemed like they made some adjustments, getting more point shots from defensemen tonight than they had practically all season when defensmen were primarily used as distributors on the PP.  I’m sure Derek will have more to say on the very odd coaches’ challenge on that goal which had practically a .00000 chance of getting overturned, and yes that’s all zeroes – Stempniak didn’t make contact with Lundqvist at all on the play.  I heard someone say well AV just wanted a long timeout.  Well why would you need a long timeout in a tie game barely ninety seconds after intermission?

Although the Devils weren’t playing very well they were still tied after two periods, but early in the third Miller struck again on a one-timer from an off angle to give the Rangers back the lead and send the pro-Ranger half of the crowd into a frenzy.  At this point I’m depressed getting visions of the home finale last year and thinking how annoying it’s been to go to Devil-Ranger games the last 2-3 years.  That thought barely popped into my head when Blandisi tied the game with his burst of skill barely a minute later.   Even with the game tied I was still fearful given the frequency of high-quality scoring chances the Devils would give up and continue to give up but Cory continued to make one outstanding save after another and eventually the special teams kicked in one more time when Schlemko scored at 11:14 off a pass that got deflected right to the pinching defenseman.  Still I was fearful of the breakdown that would eventually send the game into OT but for the most part the Devils did play the final minutes masterfully, not allowing the Rangers to get Lundqvist out of the net till barely a minute remained and for once stiffening up on defense enough to hold the surge at bay and give the Devils a huge post-break win.

It was not only a big win for the team but also a big win for the fans, many of whom (including me) were there at the lowest of low points last year when we were just the clown props for the Rangers to win the President’s Trophy and got jeered off the ice by a Ranger crowd on Fan Appreciation Day at the Rock.  My, how things have changed in less than a year.  And as Schlemko said after the game, our fans cheered last and loudest tonight.

Posted in Battle Of Hudson, Devils, NY Rangers | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Schneider carries Devils to big win over Rangers

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Derek
David Schlemko.jpg

David Schlemko celebrates his game-winner power play goal in the Devils’ 3-2 win over the Rangers at Newark. AP Photo/Julio Cortez/Getty Images

The second installment of the Battle of Hudson went to the Devils. They can thank Cory Schneider, who made 31 saves to give Jersey’s team a well earned 3-2 win over the Rangers before 16,514 at The Prudential Center. They did it in come from behind fashion on third period goals from Joseph Blandisi and David Schlemko stunning their close Big Apple rivals to close within two points in the standings.

With the Pens also winning, the Devils kept pace with 57 points. They still are on the outside of the wildcard due having played two more games than Pittsburgh. But they’re right there. With the Islanders prevailing over the Wild, they pulled within a point of the Rangers for second place with 58 points. The loss may have been costly for the Blueshirts, who saw defenseman Kevin Klein leave the game late with a injury on an unpenalized Reid Boucher hit into the boards.

Even though it was only the second meeting of the season and first since a Devil shootout win over the Rangers at MSG on Oct. 18 due to ridiculous scheduling, it was a good game. The Devils turned over pucks plenty in the first period. That forced Schneider to be at his best. He made some strong denials early keeping it scoreless.

A bad pinch from Eric Gelinas resulted in the game’s first goal scored by J.T. Miller. The confusing Devil defenseman got caught deep with Jesper Fast firing out of the zone to spring Derick Brassard and Miller on a 2-on-1 break. Brassard patiently waited before sliding the puck across for Miller who buried his 14th at 13:31. It was the only goal of the period allowing the Rangers to take a one-goal lead to the locker room.

There was one problem. A lazy penalty from Derek Stepan with under six seconds left in the first wound up hurting them. He took a bad hooking minor in the offensive zone. After the Devils didn’t score at the end of the period, they still had 1:54 to work with at the start of the second. For a while, it looked like the Rangers would kill it. But a coverage breakdown between Marc Staal and Klein allowed a wide open Lee Stempniak to steer home a rebound of a low Gelinas’ shot past Henrik Lundqvist at 1:34 to tie it. Adam Henrique set it up.

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Lee Stempniak gets position on Kevin Klein and scores on the power play in the second. AP Photo/Julio Cortez/Getty Images

Rangers coach Alain Vigneault made a mistake challenging the goal for “goalie interference.” To his credit, Stempniak was parked right in front of Lundqvist, who was out at the edge of his crease. He never made contact impeding Lundqvist’s ability to stop the shot. Honestly, it was just a brutal challenge that would come back to haunt Vigneault’s team later because it cost him his timeout. The goal was properly ruled as called by refs Dean Morton and Tim Peel.

Following Stempniak’s 15th goal, the Devils played a stronger second. They were more noticeable on the forecheck. Especially the pesky fourth line featuring Bobby Farnham and birthday boy Jordin Tootoo. Farnham was a pest during a couple of shifts. On one, he bobbed his head up and down trying to draw a penalty. It’s not the most commendable thing to do which drew laughter from Tanner Glass. A small player, Farnham was effective on the cycle and even had a great chance point blank which Lundqvist denied with Tootoo just missing wide.

The Rangers also had their chances firing 12 shots on Schneider. But he was razor sharp. A couple of notables included stopping Chris Kreider from in tight off a rush pushing his backhand deke attempt to the corner. Kreider was thwarted at least three times. He also had to contend with a blind giveaway from Gelinas right to attacking Blueshirt but was able to make the clutch save. The Devils were guilty several times of sloppy play. But Schneider was more than willing to cover for them. They ought to by him a steak dinner.

A big difference in the game was special teams. A sore spot for the Rangers all winter, they failed miserably. That included two bad misses in the second with the game tied. Vigneault was unwilling to try Keith Yandle on a new top unit that featured four forwards and Ryan McDonagh. They were unable to generate much even giving up a couple of dangerous shorthanded chances. While they went 0-for-4, the Devils were a perfect 2-for-2 including Schlemko’s game-decider with 8:46 left in regulation.

Entering the third, the game was anybody’s. The teams were still tied. On a dominant shift following a Devil icing, Dan Boyle and Yandle combined to set up Miller, who was able to beat Schneider from a tough angle for his second of the game at 2:06 giving the Rangers their second lead. It was one Schneider should’ve had. He just got caught a little off angle and missed Miller’s shot with his glove. Miller has been the one consistent Blueshirt during a confusing time where they can’t put anything together. He now has 15 goals and is building a case for a nice contract as a restricted free agent this summer.

One thing about these Devils. They never quit. Under the general as I refer to him coach John Hynes, they are relentless. Much like their team mantra on Twitter, it doesn’t matter if they’re badly outplayed for stretches. They find a way. Before the Rangers could even relax, Joseph Blandisi flew past three Rangers including Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh before whipping a nice wrist shot from the left circle past Lundqvist which allowed the Devils to respond 1:07 later. New Jersey captain Andy Greene made a smart play banking a pass off boards at center which allowed the faster Blandisi to utilize his speed and score his second NHL goal tying it at 3:13. Damon Severson drew the secondary helper.

What followed was the Rangers searching for a way to beat Schneider. He wasn’t willing. As if to prove a point, Blandisi’s show was the Devs’ first of the third. It was mostly Blueshirts who led in shots 5-1 and wound up outshooting the Newark hosts 11-5. Throw the stats out the window. It didn’t matter.

Instead, a Oscar Lindberg interference minor led directly to Schlemko’s winner. It almost didn’t happen. At the start of the power play, it was Schlemko who made a horrible giveaway at the point right to McDonagh, who had a clean shorthanded breakaway. But his shot missed its target going over the net. Inexplicable. Usually, when you fail on such chances, the opponent comes back and scores. That’s what happened. On another blown coverage, Schlemko was the recipient of a Stempniak feed at the doorstep sending a perfect one-timer past Lundqvist inside the goalpost. Tyler Kennedy started it with some good work in the corner. Dominic Moore got caught.

Almost immediately, Boyle outskated Adam Larsson forcing him to take a holding minor. Considering that even when a weak call a period earlier on Kyle Palmieri for a phantom rough resulted in nothing, it wasn’t too startling that the Rangers didn’t get the game tied. Finally, Vigneault started Yandle. Fittingly, he turned the puck over at the start resulting in a clear. The rest of the power play got looks. But none got past Schneider, who wasn’t having it. The All-Star netminder made his case for the Vezina with a strong denial on Viktor Stalberg and giving Boyle nothing to shoot at.

The Devils also prevailed because they were determined. A great shift with over a minute left pinned the Rangers deep. They even scrambled before pulling Lundqvist for an extra attacker. When McDonagh had the puck, he didn’t have much room to shoot and fired off a Devil out of play leaving one more face off. That typified the effort from the Devils, who did what they do. Find a way to win thanks to Schneider and timely scoring. A Travis Zajac faceoff win over Derick Brassard and a clear allowed them to congratulate their winning goalie. The game’s best player.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-J.T. Miller, NYR (2 goals-14 & 15, 3 SOG, +2 in 23 shifts-18:13-the lone bright spot)

2nd Star-Lee Stempniak, NJD (goal-15th, assist in 26 shifts-17:11-continues to make Vigneault look bad)

1st Star-Cory Schneider, NJD (31 saves incl. 12/12 in 2nd and 10/11 in 3rd-Vezina caliber)

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Groundhog Day for Vigneault

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Derek

Groundhog Day

It is Groundhog Day. Cue the jokes from Bill Murray’s classic Phil character whose life keeps repeating the same day over and over. Unlike the classic movie made in 1993, Rangers coach Alain Vigneault has his own version of Groundhog Day.

It involves keeping young rookie defenseman Dylan McIlrath out of the lineup even when he probably would be a better fit in a big rivalry match against the Hudson rival Devils.

At least with the movie, Murray’s lovable Phil recreated the day to his advantage winning the heart of the beautiful Andie MacDowell’s Rita. In other related news on Groundhog Day, the Staten Island groundhog Chuck didn’t see his shadow predicting an early Spring. Considering that it’s been a week since 28 inches were dumped here with mild temps melting the snow, there’s reason for hope.

The same cannot be echoed for Vigneault’s stubborn lineup which keeps Dan Boyle in over McIlrath and prevents Keith Yandle from playing on the top power play unit. In his latest experiment, he’s going with one defenseman and four forwards on the top unit.

https://twitter.com/NewYorkPuck/status/694564989231841280

At least Rick Nash skated at the end of practice. Happy Groundhog Day!

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Hockey Season Part Two

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Derek

Hockey restarts tomorrow. Following the All-Star break that featured rags to riches feel good story John Scott taking home MVP honors after helping lead the Pacific to a 1-0 championship win over Jaromir Jagr’s Atlantic, the second part of the season returns.

For the Rangers and Devils, they’ll face off in Newark for a crucial Battle of Hudson. Four total points separates second place from the second wildcard. The Rangers find themselves in second with 59 points. One ahead of the Islanders, who’ll host the Wild Tuesday night. The Devils and Penguins are tied in points with 55. But Pittsburgh holds the second wildcard by virtue of two fewer games played. The Pens will also be in action hosting the Senators. The Hurricanes have 54 and resume Wednesday at Calgary. The Flyers have 50 and host the stumbling Canadiens, who have 52.

Aside from runaway Eastern Conference leader Washington who lead the NHL with 73 points, everything is in play. That includes the Atlantic Division-leading Panthers, who are five points up on the surging Lightning and the Red Wings. Wild card leader Boston has 57 which means only six total points divide first from fourth. Montreal and Ottawa each have 52 and need strong finishes.

While the chaos ensues over the next four weeks with teams positioning themselves for the special trade deadline in a Leap Year on Feb. 29, plenty will be decided by the games. As with any deadline, there are buyers and sellers. Right now, with so much parity, there aren’t many teams out of it in either conference. Outside of the Sabres, Oilers, Flames, Blue Jackets, Maple Leafs and Jets, everyone else is still alive.

That includes the Coyotes and Devils who are two of the biggest surprises. Arizona is in third in the Pacific due to the play of rookies Max Domi, Anthony Duclair and January Rookie of the Month Louis Domingue. Coach Dave Tippett has also gotten big contributions from Norris darkhorse Oliver Ekman-Larsson, grizzled vet Shane Doan, Mikkel Boedker and Tobias Rieder. He’s always been one of the league’s best coaches. If he gets them in, he’ll win the Jack Adams easily.

Under first-year coach John Hynes, it was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Devils. Instead, the brilliant play of All-Star goalie Cory Schneider has carried them into playoff contention. Leading scorer Mike Cammalleri has been the offensive leader along with key pickup Kyle Palmieri, who GM Ray Shero stole from Anaheim. Together along with Adam Henrique and bargain basement vet Lee Stempniak, they have scored and setup big goals. Hynes has also gotten more out of Travis Zajac. There’s even hope for the kids with Reid Boucher and Joseph Blandisi showing promise. Adam Larsson and Andy Greene do most of the heavy lifting on the blue line.

Meanwhile, across the Hudson the Rangers have been unpredictable. Since Henrik Lundqvist carried them to a strong start over the first 20, they’ve yet to put together a real winning streak. Two in a row doesn’t count. Even with coach Alain Vigneault insisting they were playing better having won three of four at the break, there’s been little consistency. Will Derick Brassard’s breakout game spark them? Is Chris Kreider finally hitting his stride? Has Derek Stepan finally discovered how to win faceoffs consistently and now that he has, is he in for a big finish? What about Ryan McDonagh, who seems to have found his form? Mats Zuccarello had a good first half but probably needed the time off to recover. J.T. Miller is the one Blueshirt who has improved evolving into a top six forward Vigneault can lean on. He still doesn’t trust Oscar Lindberg and Kevin Hayes doesn’t play as much as thought due to inconsistency.

There are a couple of big questions surrounding the Rangers. How long will Vigneault stick with Dan Girardi and Marc Staal while keeping Dylan McIlrath in the press box? How serious is Rick Nash’s injury? It was thought the time off would allow him to be ready from the bone bruise he suffered. Instead, even with no structural damage, he still isn’t skating making him out for tomorrow. When will he return? Without him, it hurts a offense that has under performed. It also means Vigneault will continue to juggle his top lines with the exception of the slow and plodding fourth line.

Whatever happens remains to be seen. This month is sure to be a emotional roller coaster ride for most hockey fans. February should separate the pretenders from the contenders.

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Projecting 2016 World Cup of Hockey Rosters: Team USA

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Pan Karalis

World Cup Hockey

Last January, less than a year after the most recent Winter Olympics which took place in Sochi, Russia, the NHL announced the return of the World Cup of Hockey for its third edition. The international hockey tournament previously took place in 1996 and 2004, and has been brought back amid speculation that the NHL will not permit its players to participate in upcoming Olympic tournaments. Unlike International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) sanctioned Olympic play, the World Cup will be played under NHL rules and regulations, and revenue will be controlled by the NHL and its owners. While it is not clear whether or not the NHL will allow its players to compete in upcoming Olympic tournaments, the World Cup of Hockey could be the permanent replacement of the Olympics in terms of highest-competition international hockey. If the NHL does permit its players to go to Pyeongchang and Beijing, the sites of the next two Olympic Winter Games, and decides to continue the World Cup of Hockey, we could see a major international hockey tournament every two years. One can dream.

 

 

I am as excited as anyone about the upcoming World Cup, but my one major complaint is the inclusion of the Under-23 North American Team. Not only is the team unlikely to compete for the championship, but it will take players out of the available pool for the United States and Canada, preventing either nation from icing the best possible players from within their borders. I think a seventh team representing another single country would be a more appropriate addition to the lineup of competitors. A Denmark, Slovakia, or Switzerland could compete with the Big 6 (the United States, Canada, Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Finland), and their inclusion could still allow for Team Europe to put a competitive team together for the tournament. If this generation’s inevitable Quebec sovereignty movement succeeds, this problem could eventually work itself out (if the hockey fan in you isn’t liking its lips at the thought of an independent Quebec team at a future tournament, I don’t really know what to tell you). In the meantime, The United States is likely the more affected of the two nations by the inclusion of the North American team, losing potential players like Johnny Gaudreau, Jack Eichel, Dylan Larkin, and Brandon Saad.

 

World Cup 2

 

Holyoke, Mass. native Dean Lombardi, president and general manager of the Los Angeles Kings, is the general manager of Team USA. He and his team chose former Rangers bench-boss and career side-show John Tortorella to coach the US in the tournament, another Massachusetts native. Tortorella has since continued his tendencies of underachieving mediocrity after becoming a punishment-hire of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Whether Dean Lombardi picked Tortorella because he was first in line at the unemployment office, or because more sensible options, like Dan Bylsma or Peter Laviolette, declined to participate in the event, is unclear. While much of the US coaching staff and other available American NHL coaches were untested going into this season, like Devils coach John Hynes (who was named an assistant to Tortorella earlier this month) and Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill, he was chosen over Islanders coach Jack Capuano, who has also been named an assistant to Tortorella. Whether the defensive-minded team Tortorella and Lombardi will certainly assemble will be competitive and bring home a medal is unclear. We will find out if John Tortorella’s strategy of collapsing all five skaters into the slot and being condescending towards his players and the media will earn the United States its first major senior-level tournament win since the inaugural World Cup of Hockey in 1996.
We are only nine months away from the start of the tournament, and discussions about who will be included on the rosters has gone from speculation to serious analysis with the first roster deadline on the horizon. On March 2nd, teams must submit a 16 player roster, with the remaining 7 players to be announced on June 1st. With the first deadline nearing, I thought I would take a shot at projecting the Unites States roster for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. I do not know if I am going to project all eight rosters. What is more likely is that I will focus on the Unites States, and do roster and match-up analyses as rosters become official.

 

World Cup 1

Zach Parise scoring to tie Canada with 24 seconds left in the Gold Medal game in 2010 in Vancouver

Forwards

LW – C – RW

Max Pacioretty – Joe Pavelski – Patrick Kane
Zach Parise – Tyler Johnson – Bobby Ryan
Nick Foligno – Derek Stepan- Blake Wheeler
James van Riemsdyk – Nick Bjugstad – Kyle Palmieri
Phil Kessel

        Bubble: T.J. Oshie, David Backes, Kyle Okposo, Paul Stastny, Ryan Kesler, Jason Zucker, Anders Lee, Chris Kreider, Brandon Dubinsky, Cam Atkinson, Jason Pominville

The first thing I need to do is defend my inclusion of Kyle Palmieri in this group. A Devils fan adding a hometown guy who has been on fire for their favorite team seems a bit suspect, especially when most would consider Palmieri to have an outside chance at making the final roster. Palmieri certainly has played well enough and has the production numbers to this point in the season to deserve consideration for the World Cup roster. He has scored 20 goals and put up 35 points so far this year, giving him the 7th highest points-per-60 rating among American skaters. A guy like T.J. Oshie, who is included in most USA roster projections, does not have the same production numbers as Palmieri, and has been playing alongside much more talented line-mates in Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom. Decisions on the roster will not be based solely on the 2015-16 NHL season, but with the strong campaign Palmieri is having during the first season he has had the opportunity to produce at this level, don’t think his name won’t come up when this team is being put together. John Hynes will make sure he gets a serious look.

 
Centers David Backes and Ryan Kesler are definitely candidates to break into the roster over guys like Stepan and Bjugstad. Bjugstad is much more than a big guy, but his 6’6” frame could be a huge presence in between James van Riemsdyk and Palmieri. If his production doesn’t improve on what is a very strong Florida team, he might be on the outside looking in come June. Stepan isn’t having a career year either, but their talents and the production both have shown they are capable of in previous years could put them on the American roster over Kesler and Backes, who have both played major roles in the red, white, and blue in previous tournaments. The U.S isn’t deep at center, and Kesler or Backes could also be candidates to fill in that 13th forward spot over a Phil Kessel. Don’t count out veteran center Paul Stastny, either. Kyle Okposo is having another good year with the Isles and could knock out a Palmieri or Foligno. Tough guy and solid point producer Brandon Dubinsky, who Tortorella has coached in both New York and now Columbus, is just the kind of sleeper that would fit well in a Tortorella/Lombardi system. I would not be surprised if they found a spot for him on the roster to provide more grit and toughness on the narrower NHL ice.

 

world cup carlson

Colonia (Woodbridge Township), New Jersey native John Carlson with team USA during the 2014 Sochi Games

 

Defensemen

Ryan Suter – Justin Faulk
Ryan McDonagh – John Carlson
Jack Johnson – Erik Johnson
Kevin Shattenkirk

Bubble: Andy Greene, Cam Fowler, Keith Yandle, Jacob Trouba, Dustin Bufyglien, Brooks Orpik, Jeff Petry

        This is where it gets a little trickier putting together the American roster. The United States is incredibly deep on defense, and defensemen are frequently much more than their numbers. I think the bulk of the 2014 Sochi defensive corps will be intact, including Ranger Ryan McDonagh, who impressed many at the most recent Olympic Games. The Johnson pairing is the only change I have from the 2014 roster, as on the narrower ice, I think the two will form an effective shutdown pairing against top opposing lines, and is a group that can also move the puck, skate, and join the attack. Defensive groups are usually more stable tournament to tournament, and I think it is time for guys like Paul Martin and Brooks Orpik to be cycled off the roster. I would like to think Andy Greene will finally get his shot for Team USA after his snub at Sochi. He hasn’t quite had the season he had leading up to and following the last Olympics, but he still provides veteran leadership, a steadying presence in the back, and leads American defensemen this season in time-on-ice shorthanded. He could take Jack Johnson’s spot on the roster on the left side of the third pairing. Any of the bubble guys have a real shot at making the September trip to Toronto; Carlson and both Johnsons could see their spots in jeopardy if any or all of those guys impress from now until the tournament begins. I think Suter, McDonagh, Faulk, and Shattenkirk are likely locks to be included.

 

 

World Cup Quick

Johnathan Quick in goal for the United States in Sochi

Goaltenders

Cory Schneider
Johnathan Quick
Ben Bishop

Bubble: Craig Anderson, Ryan Miller, Jimmy Howard

This one is pretty simple. The starting spot is going to either Cory Schneider or Johnathan Quick, and they will probably be joined by Ben Bishop, of course barring injury. Only 8 American goalies have appeared in 20 or more NHL games this season, and two of them, Connor Hellebuyck and John Gibson, are ineligible for the United States due to their age. They will likely be two of the three goalies on the North American U23 team, and will probably be joined by Canadian Zachary Fucale. If they were old enough to play for the United States, one of the two might go in place of Bishop. All three have had excellent years, and own marginally different save percentages and goals against averages. If the tournament started today, Cory Schneider should be the number one for the United States. While Quick has done well backstopping the U.S in previous competitions, Schneider has the highest save percentage among American goaltenders, is first in games played, second in wins, and has the second highest goals against average among eligible goalies. Johnathan Quick does bring experience and a resume that includes two Stanley Cups and a Conne Smythe Trophy, and he will make sure Schneider is challenged for the starter’s role. No one knows how the rest of the season will transpire, and no one knows who will show up to the World Cup camp in better shape. The all-Hockey East tandem of Schneider (Boston College), Quick (University of Massachusetts) and Bishop (University of Maine), who all competed against each other in the college ranks, will be one of the best goaltending groups in the tournament.

        The first thing a local hockey fan may notice about this group is the amount of players from the Tri-State area included. Nine total players in my projection are from one of New Jersey, New York Or Connecticut, making up more than one-third of the total 23 man roster. Four of these players are from New Jersey, two are from Buffalo, two are from Connecticut, and one is from West Chester County, New York, a direct suburb of New York City. In a sport that has historically been dominated in our country by players from Minnesota and New England, many players from our area have made their impact on hockey at the highest level, and that will be reflected on Team USA’s roster.

While I am not confident that Tortorella can effectively lead this group against the world’s best in tournament-style play, he has an available pool of players that are some of the best in the world, and have the talents to swipe gold from Canada on their home-ice in the reborn World Cup of Hockey. Six months is plenty of time for other Americans to step up and get their name into the roster conversation, and enough time for others to get hurt, play poorly, and lose what would be a chance to play for the U.S in this tournament. I am excited to see the group Lombardi, Tortorella and the rest of the staff put together, and am counting down the days to the opening puck drop on September, 17th. I look forward to hearing our readers’ comments about this projection, and would love to hear others’ ideas about what Team USA could look like in Toronto.

Posted in Battle News, NHL, Off Season, Team USA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Brassard’s career high five points helps Rangers past Sabres 6-3

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Derek
J.T. Miller

J.T. Miller (left) scores the game-winner while Derick Brassard watches after a career high five points highlighting a 6-3 Rangers win over the Sabres. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

Derick Brassard made sure the Rangers went into the All-Star break on a high note. After a disjointed performance in a 3-0 defeat at Ottawa Sunday, Brassard exploded for a career high five points helping the Rangers past the Sabres 6-3 at MSG Monday night. He entered without a point over the past five games.

”For me, I have been struggling the last two weeks to find some offense and I hope this will give me some confidence,” Brassard said after being named the game’s first star.

”We knew it was only a matter of time,” captain Ryan McDonagh noted while referencing that Brassard had battled the flu recently. ”You get a tough illness like that, it’s tough to get your body back to feeling the way you want to feel as a hockey player. It’s great to see him break through before the break.”

Playing without Rick Nash a second straight game, the Rangers played a tale of two games with the Sabres. The first part was lower scoring with the Garden hosts ahead 2-1 after two periods. The teams traded goals in the first period. Dylan McIlrath opened the scoring from Keith Yandle and Brassard by beating Buffalo backup Chad Johnson with a clean wrist shot through traffic. Buffalo forward Brian Gionta evened it with a nice deflection of a Marcus Foligno shot. Zach Bogosian added a helper on Gionta’s sixth.

Viktor Stalberg got the lone goal of the second stanza. He continues to play well. The checking winger got to a loose puck of a fanned Kevin Hayes shot and fired an off balance turnaround shot that beat Johnson for his seventh at 14:51. Oscar Lindberg also notched a secondary helper. That allowed the Rangers to take a one-goal lead to the locker room.

Then came a whale of a third in which the two teams combined to score six goals. Brassard got it started when he redirected a Jesper Fast feed off his skate legally for a 3-1 lead at 1:06. Kevin Klein also assisted on the play.

But before they could breathe, the Sabres struck twice within a 1:13 span. Zemgus Girgensons was the beneficiary of two great passes from prized rookie Jack Eichel. Quiet for two periods, Eichel kicked a puck to an open Girgensons in front allowing him to beat Henrik Lundqvist at 4:31. On the next shift, it was Eichel again flying in transition making a perfect backhand saucer feed that allowed Girgensons to walk in and beat Lundqvist with a backhand tuck inside the post. On both goals, Marc Staal and partner Klein were victimized. The fourth line was also burned on Girgensons’ tying goal.

Rather than hang their heads, the Rangers responded immediately thanks to J.T. Miller, who finished off his 13th from Fast and Miller a minute later. While in transition, Brassard passed across for Fast, whose pass deflected right to Miller at the goal mouth for a lay-up. Miller continues to excel. Tonight, it was with Brassard.

”If you asked him he probably wished over the last couple of games he could have brought more production but at the same time, he plays the same way every game,” Miller said. ”He still brings it and this was a great example of what kind of threat he is with and without the puck.”

Mats Zuccarello got a little insurance when he connected for a power play goal a few minutes later. He and Derek Stepan worked a give-and-go resulting in Stepan dishing across for a sweet Zuccarello one-time finish for his team-leading 18th. Brassard set it up with his third helper.

As things got heated between Dan Girardi and Sabres’ antagonist Evander Kane, Brassard put the exclamation point on his big night by scoring his 17th unassisted into an empty net at 19:24. Behind the play, Girardi and Kane were shoving and chatting. About what I have no idea. That’s who Kane is. He competes every shift. My guess is he was just frustrated after going minus-three with five shots and three hits in over 21 minutes of action. The Sabres’ big line with Kane, Ryan O’Reilly and Jamie McGinn were shutdown. They went a combined minus-eight. Top defensemen Bogosian and Rasmus Ristolainen each were minus-three.

For the Blueshirts, it was exactly what they needed. A win that allowed them to escape on a better note. They won three of their final four. Combined with a Islanders’ 4-2 loss to the Red Wings, they’re in second place with 59 points. Three up on the Isles and four ahead of the Devils with the Penguins six back.

Dylan McIlrath goal.jpg

Dylan McIlrath is congratulated by teammates after his goal in the first period. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Zemgus Girgensons, Buf (2 goals-4, 5, +1 in 19 shifts-14:34)

2nd Star-Jesper Fast, NYR (2 assists, +2 in 20 shifts-14:34)

1st Star-Derick Brassard, NYR (2 goals, 3 assists for career high 5 points, 6 SOG, 11-and-8 on faceoffs, +3 in 23 shifts-19:17)

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Game Preview: Rangers get first look at Eichel, Sabres

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Derek

In what’s the final game before the All-Star break for them, the Rangers host the Sabres with a special start time of 7:30 P.M. at MSG.

It’ll be their first look at Jack Eichel. Buffalo’s 2015 second overall pick who is one of the league’s premier rookies. So far, he has 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points which places him fourth in rookie scoring. Artemi Panarin is first with 46 (17-29-46) with Dylan Larkin (15-17-32) and Max Domi (13-19-32) tied for second. Eichel paces all first-year players in shots with 145. He also leads all freshmen with five power play goals and 16 power play points.

Unlike the Rangers, the Sabres have done some damage on the man-advantage. They rank seventh connecting at 20.7 percent. On the road, they’re sixth going 23.4 percent. Considering that they’ve struggled on the penalty kill ranking 22nd (79.3 percent), the Blueshirts may want to stay out of the penalty box. At least they kill penalties better at home ranking fifth at 87.3 percent.

Then again, they’ve been a much better home team bringing in a 17-5-2 record. They’re 4-0-1 in their last five with the one loss coming against the Caps in overtime on 1/9. A game they came back in and led before Nicklas Backstrom tied it in the closing second and Alex Ovechkin won it in 3-on-3.

For the Rangers, it’s about responding to a really bad loss. In a lackluster effort, they were shutout 3-0 by the Senators on Sunday. A defeat that didn’t sit well with coach Alain Vigneault, who ripped into them. He cut his press conference short. Henrik Lundqvist also was critical indicating that he can’t speak for other players and how they prepare for each game. That’s about as upset as the star goalie gets. Ditto for the coach, who normally gives the press more quotes.

At this point, every game is crucial. The Rangers find themselves clinging onto second place a point up on the Islanders and two ahead of the Devils with the Pens lurking. Even the Hurricanes are hanging around. What it comes down to is the players delivering a more consistent effort. It’s inexcusable for this team to have not put together a real winning streak in over two months. They haven’t played well and have left themselves a lot of work following the break.

Rick Nash will miss his second straight game due to a bone bruise. He had an MRI earlier today and according to Vigneault, there was no break. So, he should be good to go when they return after the break. February is a big month featuring three games against the Devils, one against the Penguins, two against the Flyers. Plus tough home tests against Western powers Chicago and Los Angeles. And they’ll visit St. Louis and Dallas to conclude the month.

The forwards remain the same for tonight including Daniel Paille getting his third game on the fourth line. They struggled against Ottawa on for a goal against and weren’t effective 5-on-5. But also, Derick Brassard and Ryan McDonagh both had bad games. With this team, it’s more than one player or line when they lose. Only J.T. Miller has put in a consistent effort. Dylan McIlrath gets back in the lineup replacing Dan Boyle on defense. So, that means he’ll be teamed with Keith Yandle.

Ryan O’Reilly leads the Sabres in scoring with 40 points (17-23-40). In his first year with Buffalo after being acquired last summer with Jamie McGinn from Colorado for Nikita Zadorov, Mikhail Grigorenko, J.T. Compher and a 2015 second round pick (Jeremy Roy), the 24-year old O’Reilly has been as good as advertised. He paces Buffalo in goals (17), power play goals (7), power play points (24) and faceoff percentage (57.2). He needs 11 goals to match his career high in goals (28) and is 25 points away from a new career best.

Buffalo doesn’t have much in the way of scoring. However, Rasmus Ristolainen supplies offense from the blue line with 31 points (8-23-31). His 23 helpers are tied with O’Reilly for the team lead. He also has four PPG’s and 14 power play points. The 21-year old former 2013 first round pick is a dangerous rover with a lethal shot who must be accounted for.

Evander Kane is a physical force up front. After coming over from Winnipeg along with defenseman Zach Bogosian and Jason Kasdorf last year  for Tyler Myers, Drew Stafford, Brendan Lemieux, Joel Armia and a 2015 first round pick (Jack Roslovic), he has 10 goals and eight assists with 32 penalty minutes in 38 games. His 107 hits pace the team. With the 24-year old Kane, it’s all about finding consistency and staying healthy. He has the physical tools to be a power forward once scoring 30 goals and 57 points in Winnipeg’s return (’11-12). Since, he’s been an enigma also making the wrong kind of news off the ice. That includes a sex offense investigation. At some point, Kane needs to grow up. What is it about the last name Kane and Buffalo? Hawks star Patrick Kane had a rape allegation dropped against him due to insufficient evidence.

Buffalo is still without rookie Sam Reinhart. The 2014 second overall pick has 12 goals. He remains out with an upper body injury.

For most of the season, the Sabres have been without Robin Lehner. He recently returned. In four starts, he’s 0-3-0 with a 2.34 goals-against-average and .934 save percentage. The former Sen hasn’t gotten much support. In a 3-0 loss to Detroit, he made 42 saves. There also was a last second 2-1 defeat at Colorado where Francois Beauchemin scored at 19:28.

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Angry Vigneault fumes at short press conference

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Derek

Alain Vigneault

Following a disappointing 3-0 shutout loss to the Senators, Rangers coach Alain Vigneault wasn’t in the mood to discuss what went wrong with reporters. Borrowing a page from former bench boss John Tortorella, he was abrupt and left the postgame press conference.

After how they performed in wins over Vancouver and Carolina, Vigneault thought they were building momentum. Granted. Neither the Canucks nor Canes are good teams. But they had played better 5-on-5 and gotten some good things done. That included a strong shift from Kevin Hayes in a 4-1 win Friday night at Carolina. He stole the puck from rookie defenseman Noah Hanifin and held onto it before pushing it down to Oscar Lindberg, who then came out from behind the net and centered for a cutting Keith Yandle goal.

In the same game, Ryan McDonagh was pretty strong scoring a goal while controlling the play. J.T. Miller recorded two goals in a 2:10 span giving him a new career high of 11, surpassing last year’s total (10). It was a good performance from everyone. Kreider missed the game with neck spasms. He returned tonight. Rick Nash was out. But expected back for tomorrow’s home game against Buffalo. The final one before the All-Star break.

The issue with the Blueshirts remains the same. Consistency. Until they put together a good stretch, it’s hard to take them seriously. Even in a weak conference where anything’s possible, they must step up their game before next month’s trade deadline on Leap Year (Feb. 29). Finishing with a win over the Sabres would give them three of their last four and set them up for a pivotal showdown in Newark against the Devils on Feb. 2. They’ll play the Devils twice in six days with New Jersey visiting The Garden Feb. 8. In their only meeting, New Jersey took it in overtime on Lee Stempniak’s winner on 10/18. The Hudson rivals will also meet at The Rock on 2/23. That’s it for the season.

Similarly, the Rangers will face the Penguins four times after the break. One comes on 2/10 at Pittsburgh. The other three are all in March including 3/3 in the Steel City with 3/13 and 3/27 both at MSG. It’ll be odd to see Carl Hagelin in Pens colors. He’s already fitting in on his second team this season with three assists in four games while playing on a second line with Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel. Traded by the Rangers at last year’s NHL Draft due to the salary cap, he went to the Ducks along with a second round pick (Julius Nattinen) and sixth rounder (Garrett Metcalf) for Emerson Etem and a second round pick (Ryan Gropp).

It didn’t work out in Anaheim. Hagelin lasted 43 games tallying four goals and eight helpers despite signing a four-year contract worth $16 million. Sent to the Pens for David Perron and Adam Clendening on Jan. 15, it’s working out better for both teams. Perron has a goal and two helpers in three games for the Ducks. The only difference is Perron is unrestricted this summer making the deal a rental and cap cutting move for Anaheim. For Pittsburgh, they added quality depth gaining another speedster who can drive possession and kill penalties. With a 5-4 come from behind win over Vancouver Saturday, the Pens are fifth in the division with 53 points. Games against them, the Devils and Islanders could determine the Rangers’ fate.

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Rangers follow up win streak with awful shutout loss at Ottawa

Posted on January 24, 2016 by Derek

Henrik Lundqvist

After finally winning two straight games, the Rangers couldn’t summon up the strength in a awful 3-0 shutout loss at Ottawa. They were outskated and outhustled by a bad Senators team. The defeat keeps them just one point up on the Islanders and two ahead of the Devils for second place in the Metro Division. Their final game before the All-Star break is tomorrow at MSG against the Sabres.

Craig Anderson stopped all 35 shots for his 32nd career shutout. Honestly, it didn’t feel like that many. The Rangers generated little consistency at even strength. Without Rick Nash, the top line was useless. Even with Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello combining for 12 shots, they weren’t effective. Brassard got victimized on Bobby Ryan’s game-winner at 19:40 of the second period. He watched Ryan outmuscle Kevin Klein to the front of the net for a rebound of a Jared Cowen shot set up from Mike Hoffman.

Following MSG rover John Giannone’s second intermission report in which assistant coach Ulf Samuelsson said, “We need to play a lot harder than we are,” instead they continued to sleepwalk through the third. On a bad pinch by Ryan McDonagh that caught the fourth line deep, Hoffman took a Mike Zibanejad feed and waited for Dan Girardi to go down for a block, wiring a shot top shelf past Henrik Lundqvist’s glove off the bar for his 22nd making it 2-0 at 2:40. It was a great shot by Hoffman. One that was too much to overcome.

For the most part, only one line was effective. Whoever played with J.T. Miller. He was their best forward again. Very active and involved, he continues to improve in his third season. He spent the first two periods with Chris Kreider and Derek Stepan. They were the only line that forechecked. In the third, Alain Vigneault mixed and matched sticking Miller with Brassard and Zuccarello. Jesper Fast moved up to Stepan and Kreider. Viktor Stalberg, who started on the top line, went down to the third line with Kevin Hayes and Oscar Lindberg. The fourth was Dominic Moore, Daniel Paille and Tanner Glass.

The Rangers’ last gasp was a Mark Borowiecki slashing minor drawn by who else but Miller with 3:23 left. However, the power play teased with nothing substantial. Again, Vigneault went with McDonagh and Dan Boyle on the top unit. It’s not like they could’ve used Keith Yandle. He did receive 3:21 of power play time but wasn’t out when Vigneault decided to pull Lundqvist with over two minutes left for a 6-on-4. It backfired completely when McDonagh flubbed a pass right to PK specialist Jean-Gabriel Pageau who fired from center ice for his fifth shorthanded goal with 2:22 left.

Afterwards, this came out of the locker room:

Pretty telling. That’s the leader of the Rangers calling out his teammates for another craptacular effort. Through 48 games, they are a mediocre and unpredictable team. The 26-17-5 record is what they are. And also a bit generous due to the great start which Lundqvist covered up. Otherwise, they’d be out of the playoffs.

Most troublesome was Vigneault’s reluctance to use Lindberg more. He took 16 shifts and got 11:09 including 1:03 shorthanded. That’s what he usually gets. Eleven minutes. He had four shots. Not that the third line was any good. Hayes had one of his bad games giving away the puck which led to a 2-on-1. He also fanned on a shot with a empty net. Fast didn’t have a strong game either.

A final point. Why when you’re down two goals with five minutes left do you not shorten the bench and double shift your best forwards? Not Vigneault. Never. He still had the fourth line out. They were already partially responsible for Hoffman’s goal and nearly victimized again on the following shift. At that point in the game, the Rangers needed offense. They did get the power play and as usual, failed miserably. But why does this coach always play the fourth line at inopportune moments?

I’m done. Tomorrow’s a new day. The 31 inches of snow dumped on Staten Island hopefully are a thing of the past along with this miserable weekend. Congrats to Peyton Manning. At least he gets a chance to go out on top in the Super Bowl.

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Devils keep rolling towards the break

Posted on January 24, 2016 by hasan4978

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Nothing encapsulates an NHL season better than the last month for the Devils.  After going 1-5 in a six-game stretch that had them on the outside looking in of a playoff spot, suddenly they’re hot again after winning four in a row and are now two points up on the Penguins (who have two games in hand) for the last playoff spot currently.  In a fit of dramatic irony the Devils play the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Tuesday for their last game before the NHL’s All-Star break, better known as the John Scott showcase.  Of course, a playoff spot can’t be won or lost in game #50 but staying hot going into the break would give an upstart team a tremendous boost.  It is the Devils’ first trip to Pittsburgh this season – in our only matchup so far the Devils won fairly comfortably 4-0 at the Rock – which means a fresh batch of stories about GM Ray Shero and coach John Hynes coming back to the Consol Energy Center to face their former organization.  Though obviously neither man is going to put on a jersey, both men’s fingerprints are on this team’s continued improvement.

If there was an award for best FA signing of the year Shero would win it for bringing in Lee Stempniak, who somehow was without a job heading into training camp and now has 14 goals and 22 assists for 36 points in 49 games making barely an NHL minimum salary.  It’s not as if Stempniak’s never shown a scoring touch at the NHL level but certainly in the latter part of his career he was pigeonholed into a bottom six role despite some early success as a scoring forward in St. Louis.  Given a legit top six role on the Devils, the 32 (soon to be 33) year old Stempniak’s thrived beyond anyone’s expectations.  If there was an award for best trade of the year, Shero would probably be at the top of that list too dealing two picks for Jersey native Kyle Palmeri who’s blossomed beyond expectations already hitting the 20-goal mark and contributing 35 points in 49 games, all career highs for a player former GM Bob Murray admitted he thought could score thirty goals and feared he would have no room to pay him under the salary cap.  If there was a GM award for best in-season waiver pickup Shero would also be in the running for that too with Bobby Farnham, who’s chipped in seven goals in 25 games and given the team an emotional jolt despite playing mostly on the fourth line.  Coming back off a suspension, Farnham got presented with the team’s hard hat (see goofy Rocky pose above) after the team’s 3-1 win in Winnipeg yesterday in part for making a key breakup of a two-on-one in the third period.

Perhaps Shero’s most important move of all was none of the above but rather his coach hire of John Hynes from the Penguin organization, even giving up a third-round pick for someone that’d never coached an NHL game.  Right now that choice is looking good though, as Hynes is getting the most out of a team of mostly young defensemen, overachieving castoff forwards and Cory Schneider.  Continually he does little things to show he has the pulse of his team like reaming the team out for a lacksadasical practice last week after the start of their four-game winning streak or calling a timeout on Thursday against Ottawa – with the team still up 5-1 after a five-goal first period – cause he didn’t like how the team approached having a huge lead early in the second period.  I’ve literally never seen a timeout called with a four-goal lead and had to work to stifle my laughter in a bar I was watching the game in that night.  Not only that but he’s getting the most out of seemingly every player on the roster including the aformentioned Stempniak and Palmeri.  To the point where even offensively challenged Jacob Josefson suddenly has become an indespensible part of the power play, or Arizona castoff John Moore and bargain-bin signing David Schlemko both becoming important parts of the defense, though Moore’s back on IR after reaggravating a lower-body injury.  When freaking Josefson who can’t score at all 5-on-5 can actually carve out a role as the half-wall distributor on the power play and make a difference that tells you the coaching staff (including assistants Geoff Ward and Alain Nasreddine) knows how to utilize personnel.  Another example of managing personnel is how they didn’t bring up young forwards Reid Boucher or Joseph Blandisi before they were ready to contribute in this system but when they have been brought up they’ve both been ready to contribute and certainly the Albany staff led by Rick Kowalsky deserves some credit for that too.

Of course even with the GM and coach’s contributions this team’s position in the standings simply wouldn’t be possible without Cory Schneider in net beasting it up…again.  Since October 29 Cory’s posted a 1.96 GAA and .932 save percentage and if it wasn’t for Braden Holtby having a fine year on the one team in the league that’s been clearly above the rest in the regular season (Washington) Cory might be leading the Vezina straw polls.  New Jersey’s recent four-game winning streak started in Arizona where Cory had a dominant 36-save performance in a 2-0 win where the Devils were badly outplayed in the last two periods.  Since that game which came on the heels of a crucial trip, the Devils have picked up their play mostly feasting on the West, though it’s Western teams they usually do not beat in Calgary and Winnipeg.  Our other game against Ottawa on Thursday the Devils had a rare and nearly unprecedented display of offensive skill in the first period scoring five goals in about twelve minutes, earning themselves a standing ovation from the crowd after the first period and less than one month after being booed off the ice repeatedly in flat performances against Carolina and Boston.

To be fair you even have to give former GM Lou Lamoriello a lot of credit for the current roster, starting with Schneider who was a draft day heist back in 2013 and continuing with an improving D that had a good foundation in place with Andy Greene signed long-term anchoring a young defense with Adam Larsson, Jon Merrill (now on IR himself with a wrist injury) and Damon Severson all under 25, all playing important roles.  Even the newest young forwards – Boucher and Blandisi – were both Lou acquisitions, Boucher as a third-round pick and Blandisi as a shrewd UFA signing last year.  While it was time for a change on and off the ice and the organization needed an infusion of forward talent, the cupboard also wasn’t quite as barren as portrayed.  Many had predicted the Devils to be one of the bottom five teams in the league, with even Shero recently alluding to the Hockey News or whatever publication it was picking the Devils 29th in a 30-team league.  I didn’t have them quite that low but figured it’d be an uphill grind for the next year or two at least, but right now they appear to be running downhill more than uphill.

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