Battle Of Hudson

John Tortorella had reason to smile watching his new team.
Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward

Tonight sucked. If you were looking for a statement, keep searching. The Rangers were terrible in Vancouver. Score one for John Tortorella, whose new team delivered a 5-0 KO. Playing its third game in four nights, Alain Vigneault’s club started strong carrying the play while out-shooting the Canucks. Roberto Luongo was sharp allowing the home team to get untracked. He finished with 40 saves for the shutout.

Undisciplined play away killed the Rangers. Bad penalties and lackadaisical coverage led to easy pickings for The Sedins. They had a field day. Henrik Sedin scored twice on his 33rd birthday while twin brother Daniel set up an early power play goal. A furious Henrik Lundqvist griped to the refs about goalie interference. He should’ve been upset with his defense. Frank Corrado beat Lundqvist from the blueline making it 2-0. Despite a 17-9 shots edge, the Rangers trailed after the first period.

It only got worse. Henrik Sedin tipped in his second 1:12 into the second from Alex Burrows and Alex Edler. Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi struggled mightily. The normally unflappable tandem were on for three goals against. On each, they were largely responsible. Derick Brassard fell down on one, which didn’t help. Neither did Rick Nash, who never bothers to back check. It’s a bad habit that must change along with the shoddy D we’ve seen so far. It’s still only preseason. Hopefully, once they trim the roster it’ll change. Not having Derek Stepan, Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin around hasn’t helped. That’s a gritty trio who make life difficult on opponents. They get in on the forecheck and go to the net. Luongo was able to see every shot.

The Canucks did a better job in front of Lundqvist, who was taken off his game following Sedin’s opening tally when Ryan Kesler and Kevin Bieksa fell on top of him. Lundqvist wasn’t himself allowing five goals in two periods. Marty Biron replaced him in the third and stopped some more dangerous Vancouver chances. A dumb penalty from Derek Dorsett led to Kesler redirecting an Edler drive right through Hank’s five-hole. It was one of those goals he probably doesn’t allow last year due to his equipment. Hopefully, he’ll adjust to smaller pads. Hunter Shinkaruk scored on a rush when his shot from the left faceoff circle deflected by Lundqvist.

There really isn’t much else to say. The effort the Rangers put in was atrocious. They have been porous defensively in all five games. I keep having to remind myself that it’s only preseason. There’s still 31 players in camp which doesn’t make much sense. Encouraging is that Callahan has been cleared for contact. He and Stepan return to the team Sunday following the final exhibition against the Kings in Vegas. It looks like the captain is shooting for the season opener in Phoenix. It sounds like Callahan is rushing back. He’s built similarly to Derek Jeter. I hope he doesn’t have any setbacks.

On a night where there weren’t many positives, here are a few:

Darroll Powe continues to distinguish himself. He’s much more noticeable on the attack registering four shots. He’s definitely a factor shorthanded, always seeming to be in the right spot. He and Dom Moore seem to read off each other well.

Jesper Fast doesn’t look out of place. I can’t think of one good reason not to keep him. This team can use another young player with jam. An old Tort expression that applies to AV’s new system. I find myself wanting to see more of him.

Marc Staal was the best defenseman. That’s not saying much. But he and John Moore weren’t on for any goals against. Staal particularly has looked more confident pinching and taking shots on the power play. If he plays like this during the season, it bodes well.

Mats Zuccarello was active during his shifts because he always is. You notice how hard he battles. That work ethic improved under Tortorella. Look for a good year out of Zucc.

Brad Richards made some good offensive reads in the third leading to chances. He looked better in the third with Zuccarello and Benoit Pouliot. Maybe that’s who he should play with instead of the lazy Nash.

Alain Vigneault and John Tortorella trading places is a unique storyline. How will their new teams do?
sportingnews.com

In the classic 80’s hit movie Trading Places, Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd are used by The Dukes. “They used as guinea pigs,” Valentine tells Winthorpe, who is restrained by servant Coleman from strangling him. A classic scene in one of the best 80’s movies. After finding out it was over a bet of one dollar, they team up and put the Dukes out of business.

In the NHL, the stakes are higher. Guide a team within grasp of the Stanley Cup and you can still lose your job. Alain Vigneault can vouch for that. In 2011, his Canucks lost in seven games to the Bruins for Lord Stanley. Following two early exits, he was out of a job. A year later, John Tortorella led the Rangers to their first Conference Final appearance since ’97. After falling to the Devils, high expectations were too much for him to overcome. Following a second round exit, he was dismissed. The locker room had become stale. Tired of the taskmaster, players wanted a fresh face with a different outlook. What they got was Vigneault. A successful coach who plays a higher tempo. The Rangers are hoping he’ll be the right fit. His successor in Vancouver turned out to be Tortorella. The Canucks felt they needed a tougher approach. That’s exactly what they got in the more demanding coach, who fared well in New York.

Now, the two coaches are pitted against each other. Tonight marks the first of three meetings between the Rangers and Canucks. What you’ll get is plenty of talk centered around Tortorella and Vigneault. Both are still adjusting to their new rosters. For Tortorella, he goes from coaching Henrik Lundqvist to the unpredictable Roberto Luongo. A man who thought his days in Vancouver were over. Instead, GM Mike Gillis stunned everyone by dealing Cory Schneider to New Jersey for 2013 first round pick Bo Horvat. Stunned by the move, the normally colorful Luongo went silent. He’s still a Canuck with his new coach praising him. The kind of love he shouldn’t get used to. What’s more intriguing is if Tortorella can get The Sedins to buy into his shot blocking style. He has emotional leader Ryan Kesler, who he’ll love more than Ryan Callahan. Meanwhile, Vigneault is looking to reignite Brad Richards, who was at odds with the coach he teamed with to win a Cup in Tampa. At his arsenal is Rick Nash, who figures to benefit from a more aggressive system. That includes pinching defensemen. Already Marc Staal has demonstrated what Vigneault wants scoring twice.

Interestingly enough, neither team has lit it up. It’s still preseason. The Canucks enter their final exhibition 1-4-0 while the Blueshirts come in 1-3-0. After tonight, the Rangers have one final game against the Kings. A Vegas reunion 23 years later. That should be a treat. For Vigneault’s club, they’ll fly home this weekend and make final preparations. They start with a crucial nine-game road trip that includes stops in LA, San Jose, Anaheim and St. Louis. It’ll be interesting to see how quickly they gel. The coaching staff is still making final decisions on a roster that finally includes re-signed center Derek Stepan. As for Vancouver, they start against the team that eliminated them at San Jose. Four of their first six are at home including visits from the Oilers and Sharks. Tortorella still has to make final cuts. Does he decide to keep Horvat?

The exciting aspect is both coaches get fresh starts along with their teams. Two coaches have never traded places like this. It’s one of the most unique storylines. Who will have more success? We shouldn’t be so quick to judge. There’s no guarantee either club reaches their goal of the Cup. It’s Year One of realignment. Gone are the days of three division winners. Making the playoffs will be more of a grind. Especially in the East where Columbus and Detroit have been added. The Rangers play in the Metropolitan that features Pittsburgh, Washington, New Jersey, Columbus, the Islanders, Philadelphia and Carolina. Even though there are only 14 teams in the West, Vancouver finds itself in a much tougher Pacific that features Los Angeles, San Jose, Anaheim, Edmonton, Phoenix and Calgary.

Each coach is presented with new challenges. It’ll be something to follow. They shouldn’t be compared to each other. Of course, fans and media will because that can’t be helped. But they should only be judged on how their teams perform. Tonight will be fun. The Rangers won’t see the Canucks again until Saturday, Nov. 30 at The Garden. Hopefully, fans will not boo Tortorella. He doesn’t deserve it. Not for developing most of the roster Vigneault takes over. The Rangers improved under him. Expectations are higher with several players believing they’re capable of winning the Cup. What a story that would be on the 20th Anniversary of 1994. Ironically, they beat the Canucks in seven. Vancouver is still searching for its first Cup. Now it falls on Tortorella.

In a bizarre twist, the Rangers don’t return to Vancouver until April 1, 2014. An April Fool’s Day joke showing that the league has a sense of humor. By then, we’ll have a better idea on both teams. The fun starts tonight.

“It’s not unrealistic to think you can win the Stanley Cup. The first step is BELIEVING.”-Glen Sather

In the second part of John Giannone’s MSG exclusive with Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather, he was asked about the difference in philosophy with new coach Alain Vigneault. Slats emphasized a more skating and attacking style without many set break outs. Most notably, he thinks a more aggressive game is better suited for their defensemen. Already we’ve seen a difference with Marc Staal, who’s scored on consecutive nights in Alberta. Staal also jumped in and nearly scored late in the second period in an exhibition Edmonton leads 4-2.

Sather also felt getting on the road for the camp in Banff was good for team chemistry. It’s a chance for players and coaches to get acclimated. All part of gelling. A word he used when pressed further about the 10-11 players he spoke to who felt winning the Stanley Cup is a realistic goal, To summarize, he said a lot of things have to go right including team bonding, playing like one unit and most importantly, health. He was quick to point out that injuries to Staal, Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin hindered last year’s team.

It’ll be interesting to watch how this team develops. With Callahan and Hagelin practicing minus contact, we still don’t know if they’ll start the season. There remains a log jam at forward with two preseason games remaining including a Vancouver reunion with former coach John Tortorella. In the first part of Sather’s interview, he had some pointed remarks on unsigned center Derek Stepan. It was basically a message to his agent that he needs to lower his demands. There’s no way he’ll get $3.5 million. However, if it becomes $3 million that’s doable. With the club facing important decisions on vets Arron Asham, Taylor Pyatt and Darroll Powe, much depends on the status of Callahan, Hagelin and Stepan.

Vigneault and the coaching staff must determine which kids might be worth keeping. Jesper Fast and goal scorer J.T. Miller have made strong cases. Miller’s first game has been impressive. He scored a goal by driving the net to finish a play set up by Asham and Chris Kreider, who looks better on the kid line. Kreider’s also been used up front on two power plays. An experiment Vigneault wants to try. A noticeable difference from the last coaching regime. Players are stopping in front while the points are getting shots through. A positive sign.

Another rookie who hasn’t looked out of place is Marek Hrivik. He possesses good speed and plays aggressive. Thus far, he looks more polished than Oscar Lindberg and Danny Kristo with both likely ticketed for Hartford.

As for the D, it’s a work in progress. Vigneault knows what he has in the top six with Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi and Staal the anchors. With Staal showing no ill effects from his eye, that’s very encouraging. Mike Del Zotto remains an enigma but is still vital due to the offensive skill set he possesses. Anton Stralman and the ever improving John Moore round it out. After that, it remains a mystery. Nobody’s stood out. Justin Falk is supposed to be the seventh D but needs to show more. Stu Bickel has played himself off the roster and Tommy Hughes clearly needs work. That leaves Conor Allen, who at times hasn’t looked bad. He’s a better skater than Falk and seems to play with poise. Would they really consider him? We’ll have to wait and see.

Marty Biron made some strong saves early. The Oilers got their first three goals on deflections including two beauties from David Perron. The other came from Taylor Hall after Kreider left the box. None can be considered softies but Ben Eager’s shorthanded goal following another 5 on 3 failure went short side. Not great. Cam Talbot still is getting half a game. Guess they want to take one more look.

A lot remains unsettled. Once we get through the weekend, there should be many questions answered.

Henrik Lundqvist can’t stop Curtis Glencross during the Rangers’ 4-1 preseason loss at Calgary.
Canadian Press/Jeff McIntosh

It was a total flame out for the Rangers in Calgary. Only kidding. It’s still preseason. In their first game in what felt like a month, the Rangers lost to the rebuilding Flames 4-1 at The Saddeldome. It was nice to see hockey back there following serious flooding damage. Speaking of which, kudos to the Rangers for holding a golf charity event to help raise money to help Calgary. That’s one area they always do well. As for the game, it was a mixed bag. Some good. Some bad. And some ugly. Let’s get to the good first.

The Good: Marc Staal looked great. He wants more games to get his timing back and so far so good. Staal was strong defensively, making some excellent recoveries. And he scored the lone Ranger goal, which actually came on the power play. He made a great read jumping in and buried one past Karri Ramo. Rookies Jesper Fast and Marek Hrivik set it up with some good work in front. Along with Danny Kristo, who saw a late shift with the top line and was out in the final minute, they were active. Kristo led in shots with four. But was minus-two. However, that was more on the defense.

Henrik Lundqvist played well in his first full start. Minus Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi, Hank was under siege at times. He made several big saves. That’s what we should expect from the league’s best goalie. This is the biggest year of his career. A new contract awaits. Hopefully, they’ll be able to turn their attention to that once Derek Stepan is signed.

John Moore continued to impress with his ability to jump into the rush. Alain Vigneault will love this guy. He can fly and isn’t hesitant to take his shot. He did make a mistake on the Flames’ first goal. Let’s not forget he’s only 22 entering his second full season. Aside from the great skating, Moore stood up for himself by beating Curtis Glencross in a fight. He landed a couple of rights. The blueline can definitely use more snarl. A good characteristic that’s been lacking since Mike Sauer went down.

Darroll Powe also had a strong game. His hustle was noticeable on the forecheck and nearly resulted in a goal. So far, he’s looked okay at center going even (4 of 8) on face offs. Taylor Pyatt also had a couple of good shifts playing on the checking line. He works hard. I wonder if he’ll be an odd man out due to salary cap. At some point, Glen Sather has to make room for Stepan. Pyatt and Arron Asham are likely candidates. Brian Boyle still has more of a role. I’d keep him around.

The Bad: The top line struggled again. Not to beat a dead horse. But Chris Kreider hasn’t looked good. He’s been outplayed by Kristo and the other kids. I get that he has a lot of talent. He’s one of the fastest skaters and has a good shot. But when exactly is he going to start showing it? He hasn’t been consistent. Hopefully, Vigneault will get in his ear the way Tort did. He seems to need that kick in the ass. Brad Richards was meh. He went minus-two and lost 14 of 20 draws. That can’t happen. All we’ve heard is how this year’s different. Hopefully, he’ll prove it.

Rick Nash always has moments where you sit back and enjoy the special talent. At times, he dominates shifts. But there are others where he leaves you wanting more. During one shift, he passed up an open shot from the slot. After recovering the puck, he got too cute at the blueline trying to stickhandle around two Flames. The end result was a turnover with the D bailing him out. Nash is a high risk, high reward player. Sometimes, I wish he’d simplify his game. You don’t have to put on a show.

Dave Maloney keeps talking up Justin Falk. I’ve yet to see it. Sure. He’s an upgrade over Steve Eminger. But enough with the direct shots at the former coach. Falk isn’t exactly Coffey in skating terms. He got caught out of position and took a penalty. At least he looked better in the third getting a shot through. It looks like the defensive depth isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Anton Stralman made a mistake on one of Calgary’s goals. He was caught scrambling while Matt Stajan snuck in and rifled one home. At least Stralsy had better moments. His defensive improvement makes him a valuable commodity. As we discovered, you can plug him anywhere.

Did Oscar Lindberg even play? According to the Yahoo boxscore which isn’t always dependable, it says he took 16 shifts (12:06) and lost six of nine face offs. Next stop. Hartford!

The Ugly: Mike Del Zotto continues to struggle. It’s no coincidence that he was on for three goals against (minus-3). He’s never in the right position. Too often, he either gets caught or is chasing behind the net. That’s not what you want to see from a defenseman entering his fifth year. But he’s only 23. I get that. Del Zotto has talent offensively. He had a shift where he made a great outlet that led to a chance. He’s just not consistent. Either he gets it under AV or bye bye.

Stu Bickel is hideous. The try is there. It’s just that he’s a tortoise. There are too many instances where he’s caught scrambling. He did have a scrap. Nobody can deny the man’s character. It’s just that he’s not NHL caliber. Sorry Stu.

Sather’s remarks in that ‘MSG Exclusive’ left a bitter taste. Maybe if you weren’t always overpaying middling free agents, you’d have gotten Stepan done already. What a hypocrite. He left no margin for error. I’m not saying Stepan is right here. He’s not getting $3.5 million. Come down to $3 million and I think it gets done. Two year bridge contract for $6 million is more than fair.