Battle Of Hudson covers the Rangers and Devils, who's intense rivalry heated up in the 90's. With fresh faces added, they battle for supremacy in NYC and NJ..
When the Rangers battle the Blue Jackets later tonight at The Garden, Henrik Lundqvist will be back in net. He’ll oppose Sergei Bobrovsky. It’ll be a battle of the last two Vezina winners.
For Lundqvist, it’s a chance to redeem himself. Despite another strong performance from rookie Cam Talbot along with everyone else in a 7-1 laugher in Toronto, Alain Vigneault has gone back to the franchise goalie. With the Rangers stepping up in competition Wednesday at the Blackhawks, he’s giving Lundqvist an opportunity to regain his old form. In nine of his last 10 starts, he’s allowed three goals or more. Once unheard of.
It’s been a mental grind all season. Even with his new contract, Hank continues to baffle. Even more confusing is how the team plays in front of him. It’s as if they don’t trust him. For so long, he’s been the backbone of the franchise. However, everyone plays tight when he starts. Perhaps it’s the pressure. Everything is magnified in the Big Apple.
It’s no secret that the Blueshirts aren’t a good home team winning eight of their first 20 (8-10-2). A 13-10-0 road record has kept them afloat in a mediocre division. Aside from first place Pittsburgh, nobody is a playoff certainty. The Caps are currently tied with the Flyers for second with 46 points. Philadelphia holds the ROW tiebreaker with six more regulation and overtime wins (18). By winning again yesterday, Carolina sits fourth with 45. With 39 games remaining, the Rangers are fifth with 44. The Devils are sixth with 42. Columbus is currently seventh with 40. The Islanders are last with 35.
This is a key stretch before the Olympics. The Rangers have 16 games remaining prior to the Olympic break. Eight of the next 10 come at home. Following their brief stay in Chicago, they’ll host the next four against Dallas, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Detroit. Then visit Ottawa 1/18. The Caps, Islanders and Blues all visit preluding the Stadium Series against the Devils and Islanders at Yankee Stadium. The Rangers are the road team in each. On 1/31, they host the Islanders. Colorado and Edmonton visit MSG on Feb. 4 and 6. Then the Rangers finish at Pittsburgh 2/7.
It’s important for them to establish home ice. Eleven of the 16 are at the remodeled Garden. If you count the pair of Stadium Series games at a neutral site with plenty of support from our fans, that’s technically 13 that aren’t in the opponent’s building. They’ll never have a better chance to turn the season around.
In today’s NY Post, Larry Brooks speculates whether they’re better off renting out Dan Girardi and Ryan Callahan. Both can become unrestricted this summer. Brooks believes Girardi can fetch two good prospects and a pick. I’m not so sure a team will pay that. Callahan would definitely be worth it. Girardi is more of a defensive defenseman who won’t put up many points. Much depends on how the Rangers perform prior to the March 5 trade deadline.
As far as the lineup, it stays the same except for Lundqvist. That means newest Blueshirt Dan Carcillo will have to wait before debuting. Might we see him when they visit the Blackhawks? A former team he won a Cup with. I don’t know. J.T. Miller continues to look good. It could depend on what happens tonight. The last time they hosted the Jackets, it was another frustrating loss. Columbus chased Lundqvist with three on 13 shots in a 4-2 win on Dec. 12. Girardi pulled them within 3-2 but Ryan Johansen put it away beating Talbot.
Aside from familiar faces Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky and Fedor Tyutin, the Rangers will have to deal with Nathan Horton. A pest in front, the defense must pay attention to him. With Conor Allen sent back to Hartford to clear room for Carcillo, Mike Del Zotto has gotten back in the lineup. His return went well recording a helper and going plus-two. With him wanting out, it’s a showcase for NHL scouts to increase value. He’s better off leaving. Vigneault hasn’t handled him right. If Del Zotto goes, he’s still a Group II this summer unless he isn’t tendered. Justin Falk remains the extra defenseman.
Another great conclusion to an epic World Junior Tournament took place yesterday in Malmo, Sweden. The IIHF U20 prospect showcase featured Sweden and Finland in the gold medal game. In one of the biggest rivalries, it was Finland who prevailed over Sweden 3-2 in dramatic fashion- winning gold thanks to Sabres’ defense prospect Rasmus Ristolainen, who scored 9:42 into overtime.
The 2012 Buffalo first round pick selected eighth overall last June got to a loose puck around the boards from teammate Teuvo Teravainen. He made a great move around a Swedish player and then patiently tucked a backhand around Oscar Dansk for the tournament winner.
“I saw that they played man-on-man defense in their own end,” an emotional Ristolainen told the IIHF site. “It was empty in front of the net. I just skated there. I tried to put the puck somewhere hard and it went in.”
“Nobody trusted us to win, but we trusted,” Teravainen added after adding a tournament best 15 points (2-13-15) with assists on all three Finland goals. He also led everyone with 13 helpers. “We knew we were going to be a good team and we had a chance to win this tournament. It’s an awesome feeling right now.”
It was a bitter pill to swallow for host Sweden. Many observers felt they were the best team. A pre-tournament pick, they ran the table getting all the way to the championship game. Despite rallying twice from one-goal deficits, they were unable to capture a second WJC in three years.
“We were playing in their zone the whole game,” a disappointed Sweden captain Filip Forsberg said after being named tournament MVP finishing with four goals and eight assists for 12 points. “Obviously, it’s hard to lose like this.”
Also making the media All-Star Team were Teravainen and Canada’s Anthony Mantha up front. On defense, Ristolainen and Russia’s Nikita Zadorov were tabbed with Ristolainen garnering Top Defenseman honors. Rounding out the team is Finland goalie Juuse Saros, who posted a tournament best 1.57 GAA and .943 save percentage. Even though Saros made the All-Star Team, Sweden netminder Dansk was tabbed Best Goalie finishing with a 1.79 GAA and .928 save percentage.
Finland took an early 1-0 lead when Esa Lindell scored 28 seconds in. Lucas Wallmark (’14 Draft Eligible) tied it. Finnish defenseman Saku Maenalanen beat Dansk with a wrist shot through traffic to put them back ahead. Ironically, Ristolainen was in the penalty box for Christian Djoos’s tying goal. He could only watch as Djoos one-timed a Wallmark feed past Saros.
Ultimately, Ristolainen redeemed himself by playing the hero. His goal allowed Finland to win the WJC for the first time since 1998. It’s their third championship.
Russia edges Canada for bronze: In the bronze medal game, Russia prevailed over Canada 2-1. It marked the second consecutive year they defeated Canada for bronze.
Sabres’ forward prospect Mikhail Grigorenko and Eduard Gimatov each scored in the first period to give Russia a 2-0 lead. Grigorenko’s shot deflected off Canadian defenseman Matt Dumba past Zachary Fucale for the opening goal at 3:35.
“It was a little bit lucky,” Grigorenko said. “I was trying to make a pass to [Pavel] Buchnevich and there were a lot of guys in front.”
Buchnevich is Ranger property. The club selected him in the third round of last year’s draft number 75 overall. Gimatov followed later in the stanza when a simple wrist shot fooled Fucale.
“There was no deflection,” Fucale expressed afterwards. “He just scored. It’s something I have to stop. That was my bad, for sure.”
Canada’s lone goal finally came with 12:50 left in regulation. Josh Morrissey redirected a Charles Hudon feed in front by Russian netminder Andrey Vasilevskiy. But that was the closest they got. Vasilevskiy finished 4-2 with a 1.83 GAA and .933 save percentage.
Early on last night it just had the feeling of one of those games we’ve seen too often as Devil fans the last couple of years…meaning yet another desultory 1-0, 2-1 loss, and sure enough that’s what happened in Buffalo against the worst team in the league. Granted, the Sabres have been playing better under still interim <cough> coach Ted Nolan, but let’s call last night for what it is – yet more points left on a table by a Devils team that is increasingly getting caught in a vice, even in the joke that is the Metro division. Four points out with one more game played than the Flyers and Capitals (currently tied for the final two automatic spots in the Metro) is getting perilously close to being in critical condition. Especially with the Flyers white-hot since shortly after firing Peter Laviolette, the Rangers white-hot whenever Cam Talbot plays, along with a talented though streaky Capitals team and even a Blue Jackets team that’s getting healthier with the recent returns of Nathan Horton and Sergei Bobrovsky. If you want to make the playoffs, you have to win these types of games. At least be competitive and act like you aren’t just going to throw out the skates and sticks and win with a half-***ed ‘effort’. We barely got twenty-two low-quality shots on net against a team that allows 35+ on a normal basis. After a season of being under seige in Buffalo, Ryan Miller must have felt like he was already in the Olympics for Team USA playing in a prelim game against Latvia.
At least during the first period I had the distraction of the wild Colts-Chiefs comeback to prevent me from watching much of an opening twenty minutes that was like an insta-cure for insomnia. Of course turning on an even worse second period after that actually made hockey seem boring in comparison to the NFL. Even beat writer Tom Gulutti could barely contain his annoyance after spending all day finding a plane connection to this game lol
Definitely worth four hours of listening to Rhapsody in Blue to get here for this game..
If that’s how a neutral feels, imagine how poor Cory Schnieder must feel watching this crap game after game after game. We kid about ‘Goals For Cory’ becoming a non-profit charity but it’s not a laughing matter anymore. Our splits in goals scored have been alarmingly skewed all season. To put it in a nutshell:
Martin Brodeur – 24 starts, 71 goals scored by the Devils (2.96 per game)
Cory Schnieder – 19 starts, 31 goals scored by the Devils (1.63 per game)
And we wonder why Schnieder only has five wins as a Devil so far. Or why he recently admitted he had to ‘reset’ mentally and physically during Christmas break. To his credit he’s avoided publicly crying about his hard luck, only allowing that he has to be better so that the team wins games 2-1 instead of loses them 2-1. Personally, I’m going to start to look at his press conferences to notice whether his nose starts growing Pinocchio-style or not. Between getting jerked in and out of the lineup even when playing well despite a 2.13 GAA and .914 save percentage and the lack of goal support, he must be wondering what he deserved to get a one-way ticket to hockey hell for the next two years. While his level of play certainly sagged in December compared to the rest of the season he certainly deserved better last night.
Of course it’s hard to score when you have Adam Henrique chunking a two-on-zero breakaway with an easy wrister his nemesis Miller stopped. It’s also hard to defend when you continually let guys get open in front of the net, and that’s how the Sabres finally broke the scoreless deadlock in the final minute of the second period when somehow their one true threat in Matt Moulson is allowed to dissapear in the middle of three defenders and get an easy tap-in goal that put us predictably behind. It was telling last night that Ryane Clowe got in his third fight of the season, which somehow leads the team despite his long absence and concussion issues over the last few seasons. Even our supposed goon Cam Janssen is trying to be more of a hockey player and less of a fighter. If anyone else did what Clowe did – jumping on Mike Weber early in the third period after he thumped Andrei Loiktonov at center ice – they would be hailed for being a team player, but since it’s Clowe people get on him for being dumb. Ludicrious…honestly, Clowe’s kind of useless without his physical element anyway, as risky as it may be for someone like him to stick his nose in. It would be nice to see more people do that on this team.
Even without the goon-centric former coach Ron Rolston, the game definitely took a physical turn in the third period and is perhaps the only reason at all the Devils got back into the game. After a too many men on the ice penalty to the Sabres, our struggling power play finally scored when Michael Ryder beat Miller shortside…but wait, because Tyler Myers clocked Danius Zubrus with an illegal head shot along the boards the goal was disallowed because the ref had blown his whistle – we think. Referee Gord Dwyer didn’t do a very good job of explaining why the goal was disallowed because he merely said it was because ‘a penalty was called’. Well no ****, but the Sabres never touched the puck between the penalty and Ryder scoring so that couldn’t be the reason. In a sequence that make you think there really are hockey gods, the Devils got the goal they deserved on the 5-on-3 with Ryder scoring again, almost from the same spot on the ice.
Back in the game now you would have hoped Ryder’s goal could springboard the Devils to a big third period that would carry them through to a barely-deserved win. That never really materialized though, in fact Zubrus took a dumb retailiatory obstruction penalty on Myers, and the Sabres’ power play connected yet again – this time through an unlikely source. Instead of Matt Moulson, it was the immortal ex-Devil (for about five minutes last year) Matt D’Agostini scoring his first of the season. Once again, the Devils’ net presence was lacking as Steve Ott was allowed to coast in on Schnieder, and then D’Agostini cleaned up the rebound with four…count ’em FOUR Devils standing in the vicinity of the crease. Neither guy had a hand or stick laid on them during that sequence. Disgusting, inexcusable, whatever adjective you want to use.
Irony of ironies the Devils had made a notable personnel move before the game, demoting Eric Gelinas (whose play had fallen off in recent games) to get Anton Volchenkov back in the lineup, reuniting our supposed great PK tandem of Volchenkov and Bryce Salvador. Yet our PK gave up both goals against a Sabres offense that may actually be one of the few in the NHL worse than ours, though you wouldn’t know it from our two games against them this year where we’ve scored a grand total of two goals in 125 minutes. Bear in mind despite good goaltending from Miller and Jhonas Enroth this season, the Sabres don’t have a single shutout because their defense is so bad and yet we came within 40 seconds (in game #1) and a 5-on-3 goal (last night) of being shut out TWICE by this team! Also being removed from the roster was former first-round pick Mattias Tedenby, who cleared waivers and was sent down to Albany, at least free of the Pete DeBoer doghouse that swallows up every under-25 player not named Adam Henrique or Jon Merrill. But hey, gotta get even more of our slow vets in the lineup! And keep leaving Adam Larsson on the bench despite the young defenseman claiming he’s ready to play now after a leg injury that hampered him for weeks. It’s a wonder every team with speed doesn’t beat us by even higher margins, clearly we struggle against such teams as evidenced by our lousy performances against the Isles, Oilers and Blue Jackets, all young teams with speed and little else.
With just thirty-nine games remaining it’s getting late early. If the Devils don’t pick up their play on a consistent basis, they could easily fall out of it by the Olympic break (there are another sixteen games left till that point including the outdoor game against the Rangers) and be sellers by the deadline, not an ideal position to be in considering we have no first-round pick. Home games against the Flyers, Stars and Panthers are critically important before the Devils go on the road the week after for four games in a week at Toronto, Montreal, Colorado and Phoenix. It would be nice if Patrik Elias got back by next week but who ever knows with the Devils. All of our supposed day-to-day injuries turn into week-to-week mysteries.
This team still has to do better and it starts with picking up their defensive play. You would think with nine hundred NHL-caliber defensemen on the roster they’d be able to avoid the kind of meltdowns they’ve had the last few weeks. Then guys up front like Henrique and Travis Zajac need to start producing more. Our offense up front without Jaromir Jagr‘s been a joke lately. Only three goals scored by defensemen against the Blackhawks made our goal total respectable that night. If the solutions are not currently on the roster, then GM Lou Lamoriello needs to take a long, hard look at his entire organization and re-assess things soon before the trade deadline.
Brian Boyle deflects home a Mike Del Zotto pass for a power play goal. The Canadian Press/Mark Blinch
The Rangers came away with easily their most complete effort of the season. It only took 43 games. Following a dismal effort in a 5-2 loss at Pittsburgh, they clicked on all cylinders by hammering Toronto 7-1. The seven goal explosion was the most they’ve scored since putting home eight in an 8-4 home win over Buffalo on Apr. 19, 2013.
”I know the guys were ready last night and turned the page on it, analyzed it, we got ready, the guys came out, moved the puck well, got some good opportunities and we were able to finish a couple,” a more pleased coach Alain Vigneault said.
Among the highlights, fifteen different Rangers hit the score sheet. Of the 18 skaters dressed, only three didn’t register a point. They included Rick Nash, Anton Stralman and Mats Zuccarello. The offense was so spread out that only two of the 15 recorded two points with Carl Hagelin notching a goal and assist while Dominic Moore scored twice. A lucky 13 Blueshirts had at least a point including five out of six defensemen. So thorough was the performance that 16 of 18 skaters finished with pluses. Only goal scorer Chris Kreider and Derek Stepan (assist) went even.
”I’ve always just kind of started as a backup and then started playing more games, so I’ve been in these situations before and you learn from every situation you’re in,” rookie Cam Talbot pointed out after making 25 saves only allowing a goal to Joffrey Lupul.
The Rangers outshot the Leafs by a healthy margin (50-26). They chased starter Jonathan Bernier with five on 32 shots. Moore’s second of the night at 16:35 of the second forced Leafs coach Randy Carlyle to replace Bernier with James Reimer. In relief, he allowed two on 18 shots including Brad Richards’ 10th and Brian Boyle’s second on a late power play. It nearly became three when Benoit Pouliot appeared to have his second but the refs ruled that Reimer didn’t have enough time to recover after incidental contact.
Prior to the game, the Rangers made a minor deal sending a seventh round pick to the Kings for antagonist Daniel Carcillo. He’ll join the team tomorrow.
No Kidding Around: Rookie Chris Kreider had enough of Dion Phaneuf getting a takedown during a fight. He also scored his team best 11th in the Rangers’ 7-1 rout of the Maple Leafs. The Canadian Press/Mark Blinch
Call it a bounce back. Whatever you will, the Rangers brought it tonight burying the Maple Leafs 7-1 at the ACC. In front of a Saturday Hockey Night In Canada national audience, they rang up a touchdown and kicked the PAT to post a convincing win. They concluded the five-game road trip 3-2-0. A much better outcome following Friday’s humiliation in Pittsburgh.
The Leafs are hardly synonymous with team defense. Despite locking up captain Dion Phaneuf, defense is optional. No wonder the Rangers responded in such strong fashion. Maybe last night woke them up. After all, they held a team meeting.
Whatever the reason, they were ready to play and the Leafs- who were coming off an emotional Winter Classic victory over the Red Wings at the Big House- weren’t. It resulted in the highest output of the season. Chris Kreider continued his Calder push with his 11th goal and even got a takedown of Phaneuf during a fight. Dominic Moore scored twice to triple his goal total (3). Benoit Pouliot also continued his surge netting his eighth. Brad Richards and Carl Hagelin each scored. Even Brian Boyle got a late one on the power play from Michael Del Zotto, who after being reinserted recorded an assist and finished plus-two.
It made for a much happier night. Coinciding with our fun holiday get together with Brian being back one more day, it was all the more fitting. Even his Sabres got a win over the Devils. Playing as they usually do in front of unflappable rookie Cam Talbot (25 saves, 9th win), they stepped up with a complete performance which was easily one of their best. It all added up to a nice win.
Most importantly, it allowed them to get back on the winning track. With the Devils and Islanders losing, the Rangers gained ground inside a tight Metro. Every point is valuable. Interestingly, they’re now 13-10-0 on the road. Eight of the next 10 are at home including a pivotal one against Columbus Monday. After suffering a bitter loss last month, the Rangers should have plenty of incentive. The Blue Jackets are one of the teams they’re competing against.
The games are always fun. Hopefully, it won’t be a field day for Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky and Fedor Tyutin.
BONY 3 Stars:
3rd Star-Carl Hagelin, NYR (10th of season, assist)
2nd Star-Dominic Moore, NYR (2 goals- 2nd, 3rd, nice night for a solid team guy)
1st Star-Chris Kreider, NYR (11th of season, fought Phaneuf)
When the Rangers visit Air Canada Centre tonight for a classic Original Six match-up against the Maple Leafs, rookie Cam Talbot will be back in net. It’ll be his first start of 2014. Henrik Lundqvist got the last three starts winning two of three. Unfortunately, a bid to earn his first three-game win streak was halted again by the Penguins, who humiliated the Blueshirts 5-2 last night. In the first two periods, he gave up four goals on 17 shots. In the third, Chris Kunitz ended a comeback for the final margin. Lundqvist finished with 23 saves.
There wasn’t much positive. Outside of Mats Zuccarello, who continues to impress with a goal and assist, the Rangers didn’t compete. They were passengers defensively allowing a more gifted opponent to plant their feet in front and beat Lundqvist. The most glaring example was Benoit Pouliot, who stood and watched after Marc Staal chased the man behind the net instead of the puck. This wasn’t on Staal but rather Pouliot for failing to rotate down low. It allowed Jussi Jokinen time and space to beat Lundqvist top shelf. Jokinen had entered without a goal in 14. Of course, he snapped out of it by scoring a pair and also drawing a lazy penalty on Rick Nash that led to the Pens’ first from Kunitz on the power play.
Speaking of Nash, he led the Rangers with six shots but wasn’t effective. He was far from alone. Not many Blueshirts competed. Outside of Zuccarello, rookie Chris Kreider and Ryan McDonagh, there wasn’t much else. Derek Dorsett laid out to block a shot and paid dearly. He’s out four to six weeks with a broken fibula. J.T. Miller takes his place in the lineup. There will be no other changes. Despite horrific D, Mike Del Zotto remains out along with Justin Falk. Fed up with getting the run around, Del Zotto had his agent request a trade. Wherever he winds up, it won’t be for fair value. The Rangers destroyed it. I make no secret of the fact Alain Vigneault has treated Del Zotto differently. The sooner he leaves, the better for his career.
A win tonight would result in a winning five-game road trip. It’s just hard to be encouraged after what we saw last night. Two steps forward and then two gigantic steps back. And we’re not talking no Paula Abdul jive. Just the facts.
Finland celebrates a goal in their 5-1 semifinal win over Canada at the 2014 WJC in Malmo, Sweden. They’ll face the host Swedes for gold tomorrow. The Canadian Press/Getty Images
The IIHF U20 WJC2014 tournament is coming to a close. The gold medal game won’t feature Team USA or Canada. Not even Russia. All have been eliminated. USA bowed out in disappointing fashion to the Russians in a lopsided quarter. In today’s semifinals, Russia fell to host Sweden 2-1 while Canada was ousted by Finland 5-1.
And so, for a third consecutive year Canada will not play for gold. The repeat broadcast is on TSN at 7:30 tonight. However, it should be blacked out in most parts of the United States for a special NHL Network HNIC Saturday feature of Original Sixes the Rangers and Maple Leafs from Air Canada Centre.
In the first semi, the Swedes prevailed thanks to the goaltending of Oscar Dansk. He made 26 saves including some dandies late to hold off an all out Russian attack. Filip Forsberg scored his tournament leading 12th point and Oskar Sundqvist notched the game-winner. Damir Zhafyarov scored for Russia. A brawl at the end of the game made for an ugly conclusion. Jesper Petterson came out of the box and went after a Russian. Hopefully, there won’t be any suspensions.
The second semi saw the Finns make the most of their chances. Joni Nikko took full advantage of a fortunate bounce off the boards to beat Zachary Fucale. Arturri Lehkonen steered home a rebound off a nice set up from Teuvo Teravainen for a power play goal that made it 2-0 in the second. But Jonathan Drouin came back with a sweet finish thanks to a steal from Anthony Mantha cutting the deficit in half.
However, Canada’s momentum was hurt by a Drouin illegal check to the head minor that also cost him an extra 10. Following a sprawling save by Fucale, Sabres’ prospect Rasmus Ristolainen converted to restore a two-goal lead for Finland. Carefully opting to defend, they let Canada get plenty of attack time. However, they couldn’t beat Juuse Saros, who had help from a maze of defenders.
With a desperate opponent pinching, eventually they caught Canada allowing Julius Honka to get behind for a break. With Honka indicating he injured his hand, the Finns sent out the more dangerous Teravainen. The controversial move led to the gifted Blackhawks’ prospect beating Fucale with a backhand deke upstairs. He added an empty netter for good measure.
It dealt former Devils’ coach Brent Sutter his first regulation loss in WJC play dating back to when he coached Canada to gold in 2005-06. For a second straight year, Canada will play Russia for bronze. Last year, Russia prevailed.
During last night’s Devils’ 5-3 defeat to the defending champion Blackhawks, Chicago forward Patrick Sharp recorded his second hat trick in five games. Nothing can stop the 32-year old lately. He’s been on a tear scoring 14 goals and seven assists over his last 13 games.
Now tied with Hart candidate Patrick Kane for first on the Hawks in goals (25), he is on pace for a career season. In nine seasons with Chicago, Sharp is a three-time 30-goal scorer notching a career best 36 in ’07-08. He’s scored at least 20 or better in seven of the last eight. Last year’s lockout shortened season was the exception with him netting just six in 28 games. However, he had 10 in the playoffs to help his team win a second Cup in four years.
“I don’t know numbers-wise,” Sharp said regarding the recent hot streak. “I think I’ve felt like this a few times in my career. It’s the result of the good players I’m out there with making good plays, and all the hard work you put in as an individual. It’s a good run for our team, it’s a good run for me, and hopefully we can keep it going.”
Making it extra special, he turned the trick against Devils legend Martin Brodeur. Sharp beat him once in the first with a laser top shelf and then added two more in a wild third that saw the teams combine for six goals. During a three-goal Hawks explosion, he scored from an almost impossible angle making it 4-1. But Marek Zidlicky tallied twice to pull the Newark hosts within 4-3. They came close to tying it before Sharp erased any doubt by breaking away from Jon Merrill and deking a sliding Brodeur who missed the poke check.
“It’s fun to play against a guy like Marty Brodeur, arguably the best goaltender of all-time,” he added. “You see guys like that on the ice, Jaromir Jagr as well, it’s crazy to line up against those guys.”
What makes Sharp’s story so special is that it didn’t happen right away. Selected by the Flyers in the third round of the ’01 Draft (95th overall), he spent two years with the University Of Vermont before turning pro in ’02-03. After spending a couple of seasons with the Phantoms, he debuted with Philadelphia during ’03-04 tallying five goals and two assists in 41 games. In the lockout year of ’04-05, he posted AHL bests in goals (23), assists (29) and points (52).
But after posting five goals and three helpers in 22 contests, the Flyers dealt him to the Hawks on Dec. 5, 2005. He was traded with Eric Meloche to Chicago for Matt Ellison and an ’06 third round selection (Ryan White). After finishing ’05-06 with nine goals and 14 assists totaling 23 points in 50 games with his new team, he followed it up by scoring 20 with 15 helpers for 35 points. That included three shorthanded goals. Moved into a higher role, he erupted for 36 goals, 26 assists, 62 points, a plus-23 rating with nine power play goals, seven shorthanded goals and seven game-winners. Quite a fantasy year.
You wonder why the Flyers gave up on him. Ellison played seven games for them and registered one assist. His NHL career totals are 43 games and 14 points. White was moved in draft pick swap in ’06 to Montreal for the rights to Jonathan Matsumoto and Jakub Kovar. Matsumoto never played for the Flyers and Kovar spent the past three seasons home in the Czech Republic and currently plays for Yekaterinburg Automobolist of the KHL.
It’s one of the most lopsided trades in recent memory. A Sharp attack that keeps haunting the Flyers.
Derek Dorsett is expected to miss four to six weeks after breaking a fibula. AP Photo/John Minchillo
During the first period, Derek Dorsett was injured after sliding to block a shot during a Penguins power play. At the time, it didn’t look good. Somehow, he stayed out for the conclusion of the penalty kill shift. Hockey players are blood and guts. And Dorsett was one of the few Rangers to show a pulse even bugging Marc-Andre Fleury.
Unfortunately, his effort resulted in a painful injury that will require four to six weeks to recover. Dorsett suffered a broken fibula. A valuable energy guy who’s become a fixture on the penalty kill will be missed. Even if he doesn’t put up many points, having an effort guy who hustles is always an important part of a team. Especially one as paper soft as the Blueshirts.
With Dorsett on the mend, expect J.T. Miller to dress for Saturday’s Hockey Night In Canada showdown at Toronto. As was noted by coach Alain Vigneault prior to last night, Miller did nothing wrong. It was strictly a numbers game with Ryan Callahan returning. Look for the 2011 first round pick to get valuable experience. It’s better than sending him back to Hartford where he’s dominated.
Excited Pens celebrate a goal in an easy win over the listless Rangers. Getty Images/Canadian Press
Halfway through the 82-game schedule, I was ready to give the Rangers a reprieve. Figuring our best players couldn’t be possibly worse, it had to go up. Following two consecutive wins, they stepped up in class and visited the Penguins at First Consol Energy Center. It wasn’t a pretty sight. Looking hung over, they mailed it in with a listless performance in a 5-2 loss that was much wider than the final margin.
Speaking of which, I feel like mailing in my recap. 😛 But I digress. If that’s the kind of effort they’re going to put into it, what’s the point? Why go through the trouble of blogging about this shameless team? That crappy MSG slogan #ItsDifferentHere sounds vaguely familiar to a similar one they came up with the year they brought in Bobby Holik. Remember those days? Exactly.
This team is a collective embarrassment. On the night Ryan Callahan works so hard to comeback, they give you a stinker. Why does the captain even hustle to get back to such a lifeless unit? It’s broken. Everything John Tortorella did has been destroyed. I’m not throwing the blame directly at Alain Vigneault. They play so passionless that it reflects poorly on the well mannered French Canadian speaking coach. Need I remind you his last two Canucks teams gave up. In fact, they lost 10 of their last 11 postseason games dating back to the 2011 Stanley Cup conclusion against the Bruins. That and not the Cup appearance is what those teams will be remembered for.
I don’t even feel like doing a goal by goal breakdown. What’s the point? There’s no point fooling ourselves into thinking this team will turn it around. You know who I pin most of the blame on. The goalie. Henrik Lundqvist wanted a change and management caved. He opened his mouth and that was enough. Even if more key players wanted a new voice in the locker room, Hank is the one with some pull. What never made sense is Glen Sather waiting until mid-December to give him his extension. He even screwed that up waiting for Vigneault to create odd questions pertaining to Cam Talbot, who even after Lundqvist got his big deal started three in a row before they went back to Hank.
More than anyone, Lundqvist wanted a more wide open style without realizing that the personnel wasn’t cut out for it. What we continue to get is numerous breakdowns and substandard goaltending from the anointed “King.” He entered with a 2.70 GAA and .908 save percentage. It couldn’t possibly get worse, right? Wrong. At some point, you expect an elite goalie to clean up his teammates messes. By allowing the Pens’ second goal to an unchecked Jussi Jokinen with Benoit Pouliot watching, the roof caved in. It isn’t so much that it was a bad goal but for Lundqvist to not even be set was sheer laziness. Especially against a dangerous opponent capable of erupting.
Before you knew it, it was 4-0 Pens after two. The game was over. By that point, we switched to a more competitive Hawks/Devils which showed a rival that fought to the bitter end before Patrick Sharp sealed it with his hat trick. Sure. Mats Zuccarello scored and set up Ryan McDonagh suddenly cutting it to 4-2 with 8:07 left. But any false hope was erased 61 seconds later by Chris Kunitz because our goalie never comes up with the big save. Don’t worry. Win or lose, Hank will get his money for a long time. A King who was outclassed by ageless wonder Martin Brodeur.
Most humiliating was the lack of guts. Nobody stood up for McDonagh or Dan Girardi following tough hits. And McDonagh had to deal with the ever loathsome Sidney Crosby after he finished a clean check. Want the biggest difference between these franchises? Following a scrum, Crosby went out of his way to shove Derick Brassard away from Marc-Andre Fleury’s crease. When’s the last time a Ranger did that for Lundqvist? They’re too busy lying down or not bothering to take the man in front. Maybe they can blame Mike Del Zotto. Or tease another John Moore Beginnings. Or perhaps point to The Lounges. Anything for a spin.
That’s what it’s become. Clown management. It took a while for it to come full circle. I’m most looking forward to the Stadium Series in freezing temps at Yankee Stadium. Then the Olympics will be a nice distraction. After that, I don’t care what happens with this team. If they get eliminated from playoff contention, that’s fine with me. It needs to be dismantled. Here’s to the Draft.
hasan4978
Derek
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