Battle Of Hudson

A Caps fan watches supporting Alex Ovechkin in Section 419.
Copyright Derek Felix

Rick Nash continued to stay hot. So did the Rangers. Nash’s two goals lifted them to a 4-1 win over the Caps at The Garden. It was a fun game to be at. Our section 419 had a few Caps’ fans which made for entertaining banter. During play, they took on a couple of our loud fans with “Let’s Go Caps” chants to our “Let’s Go Rangers.” It was very entertaining. Especially when you have one guy screaming at the top of his lungs at them which energized the entire section. Honestly, the sideshow made for some good videos. I recorded a few.

On top of the playful back and forth chants, you had our team’s latest assault. A week ago, they victimized the visiting Flyers. This time, the Caps were on the receiving end of a three-goal first period outburst. Playing with so much more confidence, Nash took full advantage of a hard Chris Kreider forecheck that forced a turnover inside the Washington zone. A complete breakdown allowed a flying Nash to cut in and beat Philipp Grubauer with a backhand top shelf just 70 seconds in. The quick start sent our section into madness. We were just getting warmed up.

”It was a tough back-to-back for us,” Nash said referencing a weekend sweep after being named the game’s First Star. ”Traveling (Saturday) and coming home to a team that is right on our heels … it’s a huge four points.”

Henrik Lundqvist was also sharp from the outset stopping 10 Capital shots in the first. I never really felt they were going to score. A strong penalty kill of a Derick Brassard minor combined with some undisciplined play from Washington led to the next two goals. Following a Martin Erat minor, Karl Alzner hooked down Mats Zuccarello to hand us a two-man advantage. The seventh ranked power play cashed in twice. First, Nash took a Brad Richards feed and snuck one through Grubauer for his seventh goal in the last eight. Richards and Ryan McDonagh drew assists. As Alzner’s penalty expired, Derek Stepan scored for a second consecutive game shooting a wrister thru a Kreider screen. That chased Grubauer (3 GA on 8 shots). Mike Del Zotto and Dan Girardi added helpers.

Photo taken by Derek Felix

Pandemonium in the stands following those two goals. Plenty of sarcastic commentary to a friendly Caps’ contingent. You had to respect them because they never let up. It really was comedy. When you have an entire section involved, it definitely makes it more fun to be a part of. With it being my sixth game, I really enjoyed myself. It was also nice to reach .500. I’m now 3-3. Doubly important, the last two have been great wins over division rivals. It’s always nice when you win those. Especially in a crowded Metro where almost every team is bunched up.

The Caps did get on the board early in the second thanks to their own 5-on-3. Alex Ovechkin scored his league-leading 35th at 59 seconds to cut the deficit to 3-1. Moments earlier, he drew a slash on Carl Hagelin with a bit of embellishment. A good sell job from the Great Eight. You had to figure he’d find a way to get one. Mike Green and Nicklas Backstrom set him up for one of those patented lasers. When it became a two-goal contest, our Capital friends had their fun. My favorite part was when one in a red Caps’ jersey said, “We got our one.”

While that was true, suddenly it was a game. The Rangers really needed the penalty kill to come through on the back end. Not only did they deliver but Ryan Callahan scored a back breaking shorthanded goal at 2:25 to restore order. Dominic Moore took a Girardi outlet and came in on a two on two. He wisely fired a low shot on Caps’ reliever Braden Holtby, who fumbled the puck. With Callahan wisely tracking the puck, he steered home the rebound for his ninth.

”You’re not going out on the PK and thinking, ‘I want to score a goal by any means,”’ Callahan said after earning Second Star. ”I feel like with the guys we have killing, and the speed we have on our killers, if the opportunity presents itself, we are going to go for it.”

They could’ve had more. So much more in sync offensively are they that you no longer feel offense is impossible. That has been erased. With Lundqvist shutting the door en route to the game’s Third Star and 24 saves, it was his fifth win in six. He returned following Cam Talbot’s latest victory.

”Starts are important,” Lundqvist said. ”If you can jump out and start the right way and then get the momentum, then I think you set the tone for the rest of the game and you gain confidence right away.”

The game got chippie with Tom Wilson and Dan Carcillo exchanging matching roughs during a scrum. John Erskine also was involved with Brian Boyle, who of course did nothing. He wouldn’t have thrown down anyway. After that, the game settled down. The only other storyline was Erat’s stupidity. Having already taken a pair of minors, he made it a hat trick with a foolish chop on a fallen Boyle. He lost his footing and the puck was underneath him when Erat got nabbed for slashing. I don’t know how the Caps could’ve dealt away top prospect Filip Forsberg for him. What a disaster. It’s a trade that should come back to haunt them.

An uneventful third saw the Rangers defend well only allowing seven shots. The best part from my perspective is I can’t think of one player on our side who played badly. It was a total team effort. They’re up to 57 points and sit second behind the Pens. Having played two more than the idle Flyers, that could change. As long as they take care of what’s in front of them, it doesn’t matter. There’ll be some good tests this week with the Islanders visiting Tuesday and then one of the league’s best in St. Louis Thursday. That preempts the highly anticipated first game of the Stadium Series next Sunday at Yankee Stadium versus the Devils. They then conclude it with the Islanders Jan. 29 before finishing the season series with a home date Jan. 31. We’ll learn more about where they’re headed.

A focused Henrik Lundqvist makes a save as Mike Del Zotto battles a Red Wing in front.
Getty Images/Frank Franklin II

Sometimes, you need your goalie to be your best player. For the Rangers, Henrik Lundqvist has been that and more for nearly a decade. Though his season doesn’t reflect it, he’s finally playing with more confidence. He stopped all 38 shots to outduel Jimmy Howard in a virtuoso performance won by the Rangers 1-0 over the Red Wings. Howard was sensational in a losing effort finishing with 47 saves.

A classic Original Six battle saw the teams combine for 86 shots. Only one snuck in. Since Alain Vigneault benched him in Detroit, Mats Zuccarello has been the team’s best player. He continued his penchant for big goals scoring the clutch tally with 5:58 left in regulation when his centering pass deflected off a Wing past an outstretched Howard. Sometimes, it’s better to be lucky than good. Zuccarello will take it.

The winning play started thanks to a defensive play from Benoit Pouliot. Moments earlier, he had a dangerous hit that went undetected. The Rangers came three on two with Pouliot feeding Derick Brassard, who quickly got the puck to a cutting Zuccarello. With a step on the Detroit D, he moved in and tried to get the puck across but got the fortuitous bounce for his 12th tying rookie Chris Kreider and Brad Richards for the team lead. It’s been that kind of year for The Hobbit. A joker off the ice, he was all smiles talking to John Giannone, who hinted that Kreider was lurking in the background.

There’s no doubt how much his teammates love him. From Kreider giving him a playful hug after the win to Mike Del Zotto hand slapping with the man known to Garden fans as Zuke, it’s easy to admire the crafty Norwegian. He’s fearless. Zuccarello will battle anyone for a loose puck. That’s why he’s having a breakout year. His 34 points trail only Richards (35) for the team lead.

”It was a pass to (Benoit) Pouliot,” Zuccarello said. ”It was a lucky bounce, I guess. I will take that.”

”Bittersweet,” Howard said following a tough defeat for the visitors who again were without Pavel Datsyuk and Daniel Alfredsson. ”Zuccarello wasn’t looking to shoot that. He was looking to pass it across. It’s unfortunate.”

I only wish I could’ve seen the entire game. I got in late and caught most of the third between the latest excruciating St. John’s loss. My alma mater still comes first. Luckily, it went two overtimes allowing me to see the best part of a big Ranger win. They needed it badly after losing a heart breaker to Ben Bishop and Tampa Bay 2-1. They still can’t figure the big USA snub out. Eight seconds was all it took to go from up one to being on the losing end despite tons of pressure late. So, what did they do? Pepper Howard, who looks to be almost back to form which is why he’ll be one of three goalies representing our country. Even if I still feel Bishop deserves it over him, Howard can be deadly when on. He and Lundqvist one upped each other with tremendous athletic saves.

”Both Hank and Howard had their ‘A’ game out there,” Vigneault said. ”They were seeing the puck and controlling the rebounds. We were just fortunate to finally be able to put one past him.”

”I think we both felt that the next mistake is going to be the difference. And it was,” Lundqvist noted after turning aside all 13 Detroit shots in the deciding period. ”Lately, we just believe in our system and we play a really strong team game. It’s been paying off lately in big games.”

Much of that has to do with his improvement. In six of his last eight starts, he’s allowed two goals or less. The best aspect is he earned his third shutout (48th career). His first one since 11/23 at Nashville. It’s been a long time coming. It wasn’t without close calls. At one point, a leaping Lundqvist dove forward to snatch a dangerous shot to keep the game scoreless with under 10 minutes remaining. Then after Zuccarello’s tally, he caught a break when Gustav Nyquist’s shot with Howard pulled hit the post and caromed off him before Hank dove on top just in the nick of time to keep it out with 44.5 seconds to spare.

”You kind of wait for a reaction when you hear it hits the post, but then you don’t get a reaction, so you know it’s behind you somewhere,” Lundqvist said. ”You don’t want to make too big of a move, so I just turned around, and it was right there. It’s fun when you get some puck luck. Maybe I earned it after a few tough bounces.”

It was about as close as it gets. One foul up and it’s in. Thankfully, Lundqvist carefully made sure his glove covered it up on the goal line. At this point in a heated race where teams are bunched up, every win matters. It put the Rangers back into a tie with the Flyers. Each has 53 points but Philadelphia has a game at hand. The Metropolitan’s top three are Pittsburgh, Philly and the Blueshirts. The top three in the Atlantic are Boston, Tampa and Montreal.

Setting up the wild card, the Leafs have 53 and the Caps come in at 52. Following another shootout loss, the Devils are tied with Ottawa with 51. Then Detroit has 50. Columbus has 48 and Carolina 47. The surging Islanders are up to 45 following a shootout win over the Lightning. Florida has 43. Only Buffalo remains out of the hunt with 32.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Mats Zuccarello, NYR (clutch game decider at 14:02 of 3rd-12th)

2nd Star-Jimmy Howard, DET (47 saves-brilliant in defeat)

1st Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (38 saves-another big performance)

Chris Kreider is congratulated by Rick Nash after his power play goal put the Rangers up 4-0 on the Flyers.
Getty Images/Seth Wenig

When you’re hot, you’re hot. Suddenly, the Rangers are back to playing consistent hockey. They continued their best stretch by dismantling the Flyers 4-1 at an energized Garden. The latest win moved them into a tie for second in the Metro with Washington. They have played two more games but own the all important regulation/overtime wins tiebreaker with 21 ROW compared to the Caps’ 14.

A three-goal first period put the Flyers in a foul mood. The first two came within a 28-second span. One of the story lines was Daniel Carcillo going up against another former team. He was a popular Flyer antagonist. In his third game as a Ranger, he scored his first goal. It came out of sheer hustle with Carcillo stealing a puck and stuffing home a wrap around past Ray Emery at 2:14. Exactly what you want to see from the fourth line energizer.

Inspired by a goal that reminded me of another former pest Sean Avery, the Blueshirts followed it up on the next shift by getting a second. This time, it was Rick Nash finishing off his 11th from Chris Kreider and Ryan McDonagh. The Flyers had a terrible defensive breakdown, allowing Kreider to easily find an open Nash for his fourth in four games. That made it two straight with one. If he continues to finish, that’s great news.

For the opposite side, it wasn’t so good with Philadelphia coach Craig Berube forced to call a timeout. Playing its second consecutive game over two nights, they weren’t sharp. Even though they fired 17 shots on Henrik Lundqvist, he was equal to the challenge. Following a missed hold, Dan Girardi was sent off for interference. Lundqvist fought off a few testers through traffic to keep the Flyers off the board.

”I got tested early, and you gain confidence when you make a couple of good saves,” Lundqvist said after winning his third straight start for the first time all season. ”I’m happy with the way I am playing.

”It definitely helps when we play the way we play in front of me and make good decisions all over the ice.”

With their goalie shutting the Flyers down, the Rangers made it three first period goals. Derick Brassard buried a one-timer top shelf for his eighth. Following a faceoff win in the offensive zone, a quick cycle resulted in Benoit Pouliot recovering the puck to Mats Zuccarello along the boards. While being checked, he had enough strength to center a perfect backhand saucer pass to a vacated Brassard, who made no mistake.

They could’ve had four. It’s arguably the best period of the season. Especially on home ice given who it was against. The Flyers have played much better and entered leading us by a point. With teams getting points around them, it was imperative for the Rangers to keep pace.

This was only my fifth game. The last one didn’t go so well with them losing badly to the Caps on my birthday. I entered 1-3-0. I was hoping to see a win against a hated rival. There were enough Flyer fans painted in orange and black throughout the arena. I’d say probably 20 percent. Despite their team’s discouraging play, they made their presence known. One of the highlights was a Flyers fan tossed out in the third. Typical of the rivalry.

Not shockingly, the Flyers tried to goon it up once they were down. Scott Hartnell earned a rough after engaging Carcillo during a scrum. I’m sure Carbomb said something to rile him up. A fairly appropriate Twitter moniker for a guy who’s made a living agitating opponents. At some point, you knew he was going to have a fight. That happened during the second when he stepped up in class and fought Luke Schenn. Much bigger in stature, Schenn rag dolled him a couple of times. But a game Carcillo got up twice and kept throwing earning cheers. This is a player we hated. If he keeps this up, you won’t recognize our fans.

”I just got here, and from what I can see, when we do the little things right and play the game plan that we want to play against our opponents, we seem to have success,” Carcillo said.

With the game more physical throughout, Nicklas Grossmann boarded Kreider from behind. For the most part, the power play struggled. On an abbreviated 5-on-3, they cut it too fine. Just as I tweeted another gem from my seat in 419, I said it would be nice for them to get one. That’s when Kreider came out sending a backhand off Braydon Coburn. His team-leading 12th broke a five-way tie. Four players are tied for second with 11 including Nash, Carl Hagelin, Brad Richards and Zuccarello. An odd balance. Brassard and Pouliot each have eight.

In the third, the only question was whether Lundqvist could get the shutout. But that wasn’t to be as the Flyers converted a power play goal with Zuccarello in the box. Former Islander Mark Streit’s one-timer snuck through a maze past Lundqvist cutting it to 4-1 with 13:11 remaining. Sean Couturier and Vinny Lecavalier had assists. For Lecavalier, it was career assist number 500.

A Ryan McDonagh penalty handed them a second straight man-advantage. But a focused Lundqvist wouldn’t allow the Flyers to get any closer. Once it was decided, they did what they do. The craziness came after we left. But we heard an incensed Dave Maloney on ESPN Radio getting on the officials for not giving Hartnell anything following a punch to Carcillo. What else would you expect? The circus included John Moore scrapping with Braydon Schenn and two players from each side earning misconducts including Brian Boyle, Carcillo, Luke Schenn and Wayne Simmonds.

The Flyers acted like babies because that’s who they are. When they lose, they can’t do it cleanly. That’s why they’re so universally loathed. The 1970’s were four decades ago. No wonder they haven’t won anything since.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Rick Nash, NYR (11th of season-4 goals over last 4 and looking dangerous with 6 shots in 15:37)

2nd Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (his 37 saves can’t be overlooked-rounding into form)

1st Star-Daniel Carcillo, NYR (1st goal as a Ranger, drew a penalty, fought and drove his ex-team batty in 12 shifts-9:42)