A Nashty Return

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Derek
Rick Nash returned and so did the Rangers mojo. After missing four games with a mysterious injury, Nash didn’t miss a beat. He scored and set up another in helping the Blueshirts snap a four game losing streak. At times, they dominated the Lightning en route to a 4-1 win at MSG. 

The Rangers outshot the Bolts 20-2 in a lopsided first period yet only led by one. Carl Hagelin and Derek Stepan scored 1:17 apart. Hags’ seventh was a rocket top shelf past Mathieu Garon. Stepan notched his fourth thanks to a nifty set up from Ryan Callahan. For a second straight game, D-Step played with Taylor Pyatt and Captain Cally. They had some tremendous shifts. 
John Tortorella slid Nash between Brad Richards and Hagelin. Obviously looking to get his struggling top center going, Tortorella got a bit of a better performance from Richards who assisted on Marc Staal‘s power play goal and won 17 of 20 draws. But the game simply was all about Nash. In his first game back, he had 12 shots and easily could’ve had four or five points. The skill level he possesses is jaw dropping. It rubs off on teammates. He had a couple of breakaways and powered through Tampa checks. Most importantly, the team played inspired and earned a critical two points.
Tortorella also put together a solid third line that cycled the puck effectively and won board battles. As odd as it is to see Brian Boyle playing with J.T. Miller and Marian Gaborik, the trio did a sound job. In particular, Miller who played aggressively. He made some strong power moves, shot the puck and took the body, reminding of Brandon Dubinsky. Perhaps one day he’ll get Dubi’s old number 17. 
The team not only benefited from Nashty’s return. But also got stronger on the blueline thanks to the returns of Ryan McDonagh (2 assists) and Mike Del Zotto (+1, 3 hits, 2 blocked shots in 20:53). Having our top four intact allows Tortorella to balance the ice-time. Plus Anton Stralman’s no slouch. The only blueliner who didn’t see much action was elder statesman Steve Eminger (7 shifts-4:20) who played well the other night in an expanded role. 
Marty St. Louis scored Tampa’s only goal on their second shot. He deflected home a Eric Brewer shot. The Rangers blew an opportunity to take advantage of a five-on-three. A Richards misplay allowed Victor Hedman to get a shorthanded chance which Henrik Lundqvist stopped. He made some timely saves, finishing with 24. Staal also made a great defensive play to deny a Bolt bid to tie it. 
Staal scored his second during a goal mouth scramble. A Lightning turnover in the neutral zone led to his tally. The Rangers caught a break when a Tampa clear went off the linesman allowing Nash to catch them in a change. It resulted in Staal beating Callahan to a Miller rebound for a huge goal. 
Nash put the exclamation point on the victory by putting away a Richards feed at 18:27 of the third.
BONY 3 Stars:
3rd Star-Derek Stepan, NYR (4th of season, 11 and 6 on faceoffs)
2nd Star-Ryan McDonagh, NYR (2 assists in return)
1st Star-Rick Nash, NYR (4th of season, assist, 12 SOG-dominant)
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Rangers Must Break Bad Habits

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Derek
Time is of the essence. With 30 games remaining, the Rangers must come together. They haven’t won since Rick Nash went down to a suspected concussion. 

Winless in four (0-3-1), the Blueshirts are back in action tonight when they host the Lightning at Madison Square Garden. After taking part in the morning skate, Nash could return. He’ll be a game time decision. Defenseman Ryan McDonagh is in after missing Tuesday’s loss to Winnipeg. Mike Del Zotto says he’s feeling better but is uncertain. 
In a 48-game sprint, staying healthy is vital. Lacking depth due to the off season, the Rangers have fallen victim to the injury ninja. A term THW’s Chris Wassel has adapted. They’re far from the only team that’s lost players. Earlier today, Wassel noted that it’s already claimed 118. As injury lists grow, it creates more adversity. Last year, the Rangers persevered to win their first Atlantic Division since Bill Clinton was President. That team finished with the East’s best record. 
As has been referenced here and from other Ranger bloggers, it’s not last year. That doesn’t matter. Even with some of the notable subtractions, there are still enough players who’ve been here long enough to turn it around. An underachieving team that currently sits 11th trailing eighth by a point isn’t what they signed up for. It’s time for the 2013 version to step up. Their season is on the line.
If you go up and down a lineup that includes Ryan Callahan, Del Zotto, Dan Girardi, Marian Gaborik, Henrik Lundqvist, McDonagh, Nash, Brad Richards, Derek Stepan and Marc Staal, no one has been consistent. Not even Captain Cally, who along with Girardi, define what it means to be a Ranger. The effort is always there from the club’s two warriors. That includes Lundqvist, who hasn’t matched the Vezina form from ’11-12. It starts with the goalie, who remains the team’s best player. The softies and leaky rebounds have to stop. The man Ranger fans call King hasn’t posted a shutout yet in 15 starts. Even with a weaker defense, the elite goalie is expected to have big nights where he backstops the team to victory. 
In case you haven’t noticed, the offense still stinks. If Nash laces them up, he returns with just three goals. None have come on the power play, which remains a sore topic for Garden Faithful. Mike Sullivan is doing his best Perry Pearn impersonation. John Tortorella might be confused for Tom Renney. The way he’s coached this team is mystifying. A man whose motto Safe Is Death once led Tampa Bay to a Stanley Cup, has become obsessed with playing dull hockey that doesn’t win when it counts. The line combos may as well have come from the Renney generator.
When a team underachieves, it’s on everyone. Not just Chris Kreider, who’ll be a likely scratch assuming Nash returns. A year ago, he was the toast of the town- wowing us with his maturity to score five goals last postseason without ever debuting in the regular season. But his confidence has been shot. Five goals with AHL Connecticut and baffling mishandling from the Ranger organization hasn’t helped. If he’s not going to play, Kreider should be sent back to the Whale where he can hopefully rediscover what made him a first round pick. 
The Rangers brought up Christian Thomas for a cameo before sending him down. He played fearlessly. Thomas has played well for the Whale, scoring 13 goals. He just isn’t ready. The team made the right call with him and 2011 first round pick J.T. Miller, who remains with the big club due to poise he shows. Miller looks like a keeper. He competes hard and has physical tools which could make him a second line pivot. It boggles the mind why the organization can make the right call on Miller and Thomas while having no clue what to do with Kreider. That must change.
At this critical juncture, we can’t concern ourselves with the team’s prospects. But rather the current roster which has been severely lacking the edge that made the ’11-12 Rangers more rootable. That team overachieved- making expectations sky high. Perhaps it was unrealistic to think they were Cup favorites. When you make personnel changes, you still have to take into account what you’re losing. Clearly, Glen Sather didn’t. You make the Nash trade for Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Tim Erixon and a first round pick every time. Anyone can see how talented he is. The tools he possesses are unlike any we’ve seen. Nash is explosive. He takes up so much room and made it easier for Stepan and Carl Hagelin. 
It still falls on Gaborik and Richards to play earn their salaries. There are too many instances where they’ve been invisible. Toss out the stats. Gaborik’s scored five of his seven goals in two games. Both wins. He has two goals and five points in the other 16. Not enough production for the team’s top finisher. Richards’ struggles are well documented. He started out strong with points in his first three (1-3-4). In fact, both his goals and half his point production (2-4-6) came in the team’s first six. Since, he’s 0-6-6 with a minus-five rating and hasn’t scored a goal in 13 (1/26 vs Tor).
The Rangers can’t be a one line team. Tortorella hasn’t helped with his mindless line changes. Toss in the bench minors and it’s a complete lack of concentration from everyone. Have they tuned him out? Or is it just a case of a mismatched vanilla roster that won’t stand together? Unless they find consistency, it’ll morph into ’92-93. Right now, they make too many mistakes. That must change starting tonight. 
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Rally falls short in frustrating loss

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Derek
This team can’t do anything right. Even when they catch a break injury-wise, the Rangers still haven’t learned. In order to be successful, they must play a full 60. Last year’s team was able to get away with more due to the grinding style they played collectively.

A third period rally was too little late in another frustrating loss. This time, it was Winnipeg who came into MSG and took two points- holding on for a 4-3 win. Evander Kane’s softy on Henrik Lundqvist stood up as the winner. The budding power forward tallied twice and had an assist. Old buddy Olli Jokinen scored twice. Another inferior goalie outperformed Lundqvist (28 saves). Ondrej Pavelec made 33 saves.

It’s hard to break down a game I didn’t see. However, from following tweets it sounded like the Rangers didn’t pick it up until the final period. With the exception of fearless leader Ryan Callahan , there were too many passengers. Like any diehard observer, I can’t understand why that is. Sure. It’s well documented that the 2013 roster isn’t equipped to play the taxing style John Tortorella demands. Until he makes an adjustment, I can’t see it changing.

Remarkably, they remain a point out of eighth in a mediocre conference. Good thing they don’t play out West. There’s still time to turn it around. At least that’s what the schedule indicates. The Rangers have 30 games left to alter what’s evolving into a repeat of ’92-93. There are similarities. It appears they’re tuning out Tortorella and the injuries haven’t helped. At least Nash returned to practice. Maybe he’ll return later this week. Ryan McDonagh and Mike Del Zotto remained out.

The Jets used a strong second period to outscore the Blueshirts 3-1. They took advantage of sloppy play on each goal. I caught the lowlights on NHL Network. Kevin Weekes broke down the obvious. A dysfunctional team that’s not paying attention to detail. It doesn’t seem to matter if Tortorella wants to make an example out of Chris Kreider (7 shifts- 4:33, minor penalty). Even his most experienced players are fouling up defensively. But it’s only the 22-year old former No.1 pick’s fault. Keep telling yourself that.

Why did they bring up Brandon Mashinter for? So he could get the same treatment. It’s a joke. Coach clueless is running his best players into the ground. Or in this case melting them like the Garden ice. Even if he was on his best behavior post game, you can’t win the way he coaches. He’s afraid to roll four lines. Unless they get healthy, it’s going to be an uphill climb just to make the playoffs. A far cry from the pre-season hype.

At least the team showed a pulse late. Anton Stralman scored and set up another. He’s been our best defenseman. What the heck does that say? Luckily, Dan Girardi returned. I can’t even believe he’s okay. The man is a warrior. Taylor Pyatt broke a goal drought with a nice redirect of a Stralman shot. But 20 seconds later, Lundqvist allowed a dreadful goal to Kane which prevented the game from reaching overtime. It doesn’t matter if he’s been better. There’s no margin for error.

Final thought. The line of Callahan, Pyatt and Derek Stepan had two of three goals and combined for 13 shots. Throw in constant Carl Hagelin (7 SOG) along with rookie J.T. Miller (3) and that makes up 23 of the Rangers’ 33 shots. Marian Gaborik (assist) also took three and Stralman and Girardi each had two. That’s not even half the roster.

Note: Darroll Powe also returned after missing a week due to a concussion.

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Brodeur hurt, Devils wounded in 4-2 home loss to Jets

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Derek

I was gonna sit here and not focus on the negative tonight.  I’ve been focusing on the negative for two weeks while the Devils’ slump has been ongoing, since that home-and-home sweep of Pittsburgh.  It should be said we’re still in a good position with a 10-5-4 record and with a five-six point cushion over the playoff bubble for the moment.  I’m sure Derek would trade positions with me in a second considering the state of his Rangers, both record-wise and injury-wise…or Brian for that matter with his Sabres not exactly getting the ‘new coach’ bounce after Lindy Ruff‘s dismissal.  With our playoff cushion, there’s still time to resolve our issues before we go to DEFCON 1.

That said, as the losses to bad-mediocre teams are piling up it’s getting harder to ignore the negative returns during this Devils’ 2-4-1 stretch against not exactly the beasts of the East.  Specifically our horrendous ‘special’ teams, which continue to cost this team games.  Granted, today’s game wasn’t exactly a power play orgy with only four minor penalties in the contest.  However, the Devils’ two power plays were predictably infuriating with too much cycling over to players’ non-shooting sides.  I really don’t get the concept of Brad Shaw’s power play, or how it ever worked in San Jose.  Obviously they had better power play personnel, but from what I’ve seen of our man advantage, we put our players in positions to fail.  Ilya Kovalchuk in particular spends too much time off the right wing, cycling back toward the left or passing instead of ripping a one-timer from the left side or the center point, or being able to get off a clean shot.  They have been effective five-on-three (five for eight), propping up their overall percentage from what would be a bottom third to12th in the league, but you can’t count on 5-on-3’s in the playoffs.

And the penalty kill?  The less said, the better.  Our overall numbers in our last nine games (13 PP goals allowed in 32 chances) say it all.  No matter what the Devils do, they haven’t been able to kill a penalty seemingly since last March.  It would be easy to pin our hideous PK this year on the loss of Zach Parise to free agency and Danius Zubrus to injury, as they were two of our six key forwards last year on Dave Barr‘s record-breaking regular season penalty kill.  However, even with Parise and Zubrus around they were undressed repeatedly in last year’s postseason and it hasn’t been quite the same since.  I don’t know if I can pin this on system, as much as personnel and mental mistakes – such as Jacob Josefson drifting over to the right side when Stephen Gionta was already there on our ill-fated first PK today.  Gionta’s failed clear led to Grant Clitsome getting a wide open shot on Johan Hedberg and firing a wrister that somehow muscled out of Hedberg’s glove and in for the tying goal in the second period.

Why Hedberg was even in was a cause for concern, as Martin Brodeur was supposed to start but his back tightened up in warmups and Hedberg had to play a back-to-back.  After Moose’s first three starts were outstanding, his last three have been anything but, particularly playing the puck.  For a guy that doesn’t play the puck very well Moose still tries to emulate Marty too much at times and gets in trouble, the way he did with Eric Fehr‘s shorthanded goal yesterday.  Moose’s overagressiveness to make stick plays hurt him again late in the second period when a weak Adam Larsson shot was blocked, and suddenly Evander Kane was streaking down the middle past Larsson and Andy Greene, as if he hit the turbo button in NHL13.  Larsson and Greene were both a step behind him and could have possibly disrupted Kane’s shot but instead, Moose made a desperate attempt at a poke check and Kane sidestepped him and put it in the vacated net to give the Jets a 3-2 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Perhaps the Devils still hadn’t recovered from giving up yet another PP goal earlier in the period.  There was a certain amount of drop in their play from the first half of the game before Clitsome’s goal to the latter half.  At 2-2 that goal shouldn’t have been a killer but maybe this team’s had enough of hearing and reading about their lousy penalty kill and it affected the rest of their game.  Then again, the Devils made their share of mental mistakes even before that point, specifically the Jets’ first goal 2:30 into the game, indirectly caused by a fight between Krys Barch and Anthony Peluso.  With Barch serving his five minutes, Kovy had to get out on the ice for a second consecutive shift when the fourth line was out there.  Kovy and Gionta both got tied up in the attacking corner, and Kovy coasted back as Zach Bogosian beat both fowards into the zone by a mile and fired a one-timer home from the point to get Winnipeg on the board first.

There were positives to be sure, starting with the play of Andrei Loikotonov.  For the third straight game, the former Kings washout has continued to gain notice with his offensive creativity, nearly scoring in the first period on a breakaway when he deked out Ondrej Pavelec, but didn’t quite have enough of an angle to put it in the open net.  Our pocket Russian dynamo did get on the board for the third straight game later on, when his shot rebounded to Steve Bernier for a goal at 17:10 of the first period, giving the Devils a 2-1 lead.  Perhaps more crucially Travis Zajac finally got on the board before that, when Patrik Elias‘s pretty backhand feed on a two-on-one gave Zajac enough time and space to beat Pavelec with a wrister at 9:52.  Even Steve Cangelosi would say later on this game had the look of a great night for the Devils after the first period.

Of course, it was not to be.  Perhaps the only good news besides the fact Brodeur’s injury is supposedly not serious – if you believe him and coach Pete DeBoer – is that the team has nearly four full days off before the return match of our home-and-home in Winnipeg.  Conversely, the Jets have to play their fifth game on the East coast Tuesday against the Rangers.  You could say the Devils need to take advantage of a Jets team that might be flat, as teams usually are in the first home game back after a long road trip, but also the break itself is important to iron out issues that have cropped up.  Many of the Devils’ problems are correctable.  Perhaps an acquisition would help, specifically a third-line grinder who can win faceoffs and kill penalties…things neither Gionta or Josefson have done very well this season.  Another scoring/creative forward might help too, although reinforcements are eventually going to be available with Zubrus and Ryan Carter coming off the injury list before the end of the regular season.

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Pacioretty Hearing Today

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Derek

In a couple of hours, Canadien forward Max Pacioretty will have a hearing to discuss this hit on Ranger defenseman Ryan McDonagh. It was a retaliatory boarding penalty for an earlier hit McDonagh delivered.

McDonagh let up on his check with Pacioretty facing the Montreal bench. Here, Pacioretty doesn’t, carrying momentum into McDonagh, who didn’t return last night. He could have a concussion. Hopefully for the bruised and battered Blueshirts, that’s not the case.

The question is was Pacioretty’s hit enough to warrant a suspension. Before he plays the puck, McDonagh sees Pacioretty coming. He put himself in a prone position. However, it’s a dangerous hit that crushed McDonagh, who was cut. Patches doesn’t let up and nails McD in the back. Making matters worse, Ryan’s head was exposed.

I’m not sure if Brendan Shanahan will suspend Pacioretty. McDonagh turned into it. Even though the commentary from the Hockey Night In Canada feed is obligatory. Whoever the color commentator is was out to lunch. You can’t compare the two hits. One player shows restraint while the other didn’t. As he was headed to the box, Pacioretty was seen visibly smirking. Even more pathetic, he wasn’t made available to the media. I wonder why.

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Lost Identity Threatening Ranger Season

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Derek
By now, it’s abundantly clear that this isn’t last year. The Rangers are a shell of themselves. A team identity is missing. They’ve already played over a quarter of the 48-game schedule. The return has been underwhelming. An 8-7-2 record is a reflection of who they are. At this point, mediocre.

Gone is the mantra that made them so hard to play against. John Tortorella prides himself on having an aggressive fore checking, physical style. Last year’s roster had it. They played with purpose, going after opponents. Every Ranger finished checks and won the battles in the corners. They were a T-E-A-M. That’s how they put together the East’s best record and willed themselves to the Eastern Conference Final. 
The Blueshirts weren’t overly skilled. It didn’t matter because of the collective effort they gave. They were a team every Ranger fan could be proud of. A resilient club who never quit. Hitting and blocking shots were great characteristics- epitomizing an unselfish brand of hockey that represented the city well. The whole was greater than the sum of its parts. 
When Rangers GM Glen Sather finally swung the blockbuster deal for Rick Nash, he thought he was adding the missing piece. No one can argue that part of the reason they didn’t win the Cup was due to a lack of scoring. They relied heavily on Vezina winner Henrik Lundqvist, who took them as far as they could go. It was his steady play along with a stingy team defense featuring Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh and Marc Staal that were the backbone. 
But they were so much more than that. Tortorella trusted his players. Led by Ryan Callahan, they were tough. A core which included Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Brandon Prust and Ruslan Fedotenko. Ironically, all four are gone. Slats parted with Dubinsky and Anisimov along with defense prospect Tim Erixon plus a first round pick to get Nash. It was understandable why he made the trade. To provide help for Richards and Gaborik.
One of the important decisions Sather made was deciding against re-signing Prust. The ultimate warrior became a fan favorite on Broadway. He teamed with roommate Brian Boyle and Fedotenko to form a cohesive checking line Tortorella trusted. Their ability to crash and bang was a key ingredient. All three also were used on the penalty kill with Boyle and Prust forming a potent duo who were dangerous shorthanded. By subtracting the team’s toughest player (Prust) and letting Fedotenko walk to the rival Flyers, it hurt Boyle the most. Without them, he’s a fourth liner.
Not every move Slats made was bad. Jeff Halpern has been a solid addition, adding a valuable faceoff guy who is a better skater than Boyle that also plays on the PK. Taylor Pyatt got off to a fast start even scoring twice on the power play. But he’s been moved around a lot since. Arron Asham was starting to mesh with Halpern before missing the last two with back spasms. Asham isn’t Prust. He hasn’t made opponents accountable. Former Blueshirt Mike Rupp was alright in that role. But Tortorella had no use for him. So, he was shipped to Minnesota for Darroll Powe. Unfortunately, Powe’s missed a week with a concussion.
Injuries are part of the game. The Rangers are already without Nash and Mike Del Zotto (hip) sat out last night. They miss him badly. With both Richards and Gaborik struggling, the onus has been on Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin to provide offense. They’ve been the team’s most consistent performers. Even Callahan has under performed. Though he did score a big goal that helped them get a point at Ottawa. It would be nice if Tortorella stuck him with Richards. Maybe Captain Cally’s work ethic would rub off.
The area that’s hurt this team the most is the lack of depth. In a shortened season, injuries were the one concern. Nobody anticipates Nash going down and now possibly being without Girardi and McDonagh. Sometimes, sports can be cruel. Twenty years ago, many expected the Rangers to win the Cup following a strong ’91-92 season. Instead, injuries mounted and the team went through two coaches including Roger Neilson. They failed to make the playoffs. We all know what happened in ’93-94. 
Nobody is proclaiming the Rangers dead. They can turn it around. The trouble is they haven’t showed much lately to get optimistic. Tortorella has already made examples of Richards and Gaborik. He’s tried every line combo possible. J.T. Miller remains up with the big club and Chris Kreider’s trying to find his game. Christian Thomas debuted last night. Brandon Mashinter has played the last three. Assuming Girardi or McDonagh can’t go against Winnipeg, former No.1 pick Dylan McIlrath could be the latest prospect to join the fracas.
These aren’t easy times. Indeed, the Blueshirts are facing a challenge. Last year, they dealt with adversity and overcame injuries to become one of the league’s best. It’s time for the 2013 version to show resiliency. They must rediscover what made them successful. Time is ticking.
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Nightmare At Bell Centre

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Derek
It was a nightmare. When the Rangers visit Bell Centre, they may as well be victims of Freddy Krueger. In this classic case, the Canadiens play the role of Freddy. Fittingly, they created another nightmare that could have a long-term impact on our season.

The 3-0 score is irrelevant. It was the way Montreal beat up the Rangers that has everyone concerned. When your two top defensemen go down to injury, there are a lot more problems than what Marty Biron said following the latest setback. But the French goalie’s assessment of this team is damaging.

“It’s the same core guys that were here last year. We were a tough team to beat.”

Basically, it was an indirect shot at how the team has played this year. Through 17 games, the Blueshirts are 8-7-2 with 18 points. The Flyers passed them in the standings with a 5-3 win to move into eighth. However, they’ve played three more games. In a 48-game sprint, it’s never too early to start worrying.

The Rangers may have lost Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi. On a night they were pushed around, McDonagh was boarded from behind by Max Pacioretty during the second period. No teammate came to his aid. He didn’t return. Pacioretty’s hit was dangerous and should warrant a suspension. He’s a repeat offender. Afterwards, John Tortorella wondered about it.

”Can I ask the first question? How high did Pacioretty jump on his hit? Can anyone tell me?” ‘I’m asking you guys. Over/under?’‘ 

A response of six inches from a reporter wasn’t what Tortorella was looking for. Maybe he should be more concerned with how poorly his team played. They continue to look lethargic with only a handful of players showing up to work. It’s always the same guys.

If McDonagh has a concussion, that would be the worst case scenario. With Rick Nash finally placed on the injured list for a suspected concussion and Darroll Powe also out with one, it’s getting pretty crowded. Mike Del Zotto also missed the game with a hip injury.
Making matters worse, they might be without Girardi for a while. Trailing 3-0 late, Tortorella sent his defensive leader out to kill a five-on-three. As fate would have it, a lethal P.K. Subban shot drilled him in the ankle. In another scary scene, he had to be helped off the ice. He couldn’t put any weight on it. I don’t want to speculate but it could be a crusher. That’s all I’m going to say.
When you have a warrior like that sacrificing with the game essentially over, what does it say about Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik, who can’t be bothered? Richards had another miserable night, failing to back check on the Habs’ second goal. Gaborik was even worse. His lazy penalty led to Tortorella benching him for the entire third following a Habs’ power play goal that made it 3-0. 
Some pondered why Girardi was even out late along with Ryan Callahan? It doesn’t matter now. The damage is done. Our team has become the New York Whale. By Tuesday, we could be seeing the debut of Dylan McIlrath out of necessity. He’s been playing well in Hartford. It certainly can’t hurt from a competitive standpoint. The only time a Ranger came to a teammate’s defense was Brian Boyle following Travis Moen running into Biron. Sad.
It’s just so disappointing. Gone is the edge. It’s been replaced by a malaise that’s threatening to turn a pre-season Cup favorite into a  lottery team. The injuries are mounting. But as even Tortorella pointed out, it’s part of the game. All they can do is play through it. If the Senators can do it, why can’t this team? Right now, there’s no heart.
For better or worse, it’s up to the current roster to step up. Christian Thomas wasn’t too bad in his NHL debut, getting two shots on net and delivering a couple of checks. That’s more than you can say for some vets who went through the motions. It can’t always be Callahan, Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Jeff Halpern, J.T. Miller and Marc Staal.
Sooner or later, your best players must be your best. Even Callahan has been eerily quiet. But that’s because of how he’s being used. Tortorella isn’t doing a good job. It almost seems like they’ve stopped responding. Very bad signs.
There’s plenty of time to turn it around. It would be nice if they showed a pulse. 
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Russian stars shine as Devils-Caps split road ‘series’

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Derek

In a weekend that sometimes seemed like it doubled as the KHL All-Star game, the Devils and Caps played two interesting games over the last forty-eight hours, with the Devils winning a 3-2 penalty-fest on Thursday after Ilya Kovalchuk decided it with a five-on-three bomb (after another talented Russian, Andrei Loikotonov tied it earlier in the third), then the Caps retaliating with four straight third-period goals to break open a 1-1 tie this afternoon with Alex Ovechkin harkening back to his glory days with a hat trick in a four-point game.

Although I wasn’t surprised and kind of expected a split out of these two games, the special teams continues to be alarming for the Devils.  Even if the PP is apparently ranked in the top ten, that rank is inflated by an insane amount of 5-on-3 goals (five so far), and hasn’t looked particuarly good most of the time with a one-man advantage.  Our insistence on starting Kovalchuk on the right side of the ice and having him circle back around to the point or the left side doesn’t help, as he never seems to be in prime one-timer position.  The one time he was on Thursday night – voila – he scored.  However, the PK is an even bigger concern right now giving up multiple goals in multiple games.  Ever since the Islander roasted the PK twice, the man disadvantage has been leaking goals left and right and is one of the worst in the league right now.

Even Pete DeBoer doing the right thing and restoring Mark Fayne to the lineup at last after Henrik Tallinder‘s dreadful Thursday game didn’t help.  Ironically most of Ovechkin’s goals came with the Fayne-Anton Volchenkov pairing on the ice, starting with the opening goal in the second period which came after a defensive breakdown left Mike Ribiero open in the slot.  Fayne creeped toward Ribiero, who dished off to Ovechkin for one of his patented one-timer goals from just outside the left faceoff circle.  After Kovalchuk retaliated with a patented snipe job in the final minute of the second period, Ovechkin scored again early in the third period, using Volchenkov as a screen and firing a hard wrister that trickled through Johan Hedberg.

Though the game was only at 2-1 at that point, it started to get the feel of one that could get out of hand very quickly a la the Pittsburgh game a few weeks back, or the Isles game a couple weeks ago.  Ironically both of those games were 5-1 losses, as this one would prove to be.  Washington’s third goal – and the only one without Ovechkin being a factor – came when miscommunication between Hedberg and Andy Greene led to a Hedberg puck handling snafu behind the net, and Eric Fehr took advantage and put it into an open net for a shorthanded goal against.  Predictably, our powerless play did nothing to help the cause.

With the score now at 3-1, the penalties started coming left and right, and so too did the PP goals against.  Ovechkin got his hat trick with yet another one-timer off the left circle in front of Volchenkov again.  Amazingly, Volchenkov’s managed to avoid being sat in our game of ‘merry-go-round’ on defense, despite his role as a PK specialist and our PK stinking up the joint really since last April.  Perhaps too, the fact we have been rotating guys on defense is starting to hurt more than help with guys being put into different roles and having different partners on an almost daily basis, other than the Greene-Adam Larsson pairing which has been constant.  Then again Larsson didn’t have a great game either with two penalties and at least one horrendous pass in the first period.

Overall scoring’s been an issue too, with just thirteen goals in the Devils’ last six games.  Now that the David Clarkson hot streak has officially ended with no points in his last four games and just one goal in his last six, they need to start getting more from guys like Travis Zajac (three goals and two assists in eighteen games this year).  If it weren’t for his big playoffs last Spring, I’d seriously be wondering if the guy was a legit top six forward, considering he had a 13-goal, 44-point season two years ago playing every game and this year his sticks have been in the deep freeze.  Kovalchuk’s been doing his part but he can’t do it alone, especially if the Devils are going to allow multiple PP goals per game.  Bobby Butler‘s two-point game a couple weeks ago remains his only production for the Devils in ten games, as he’s been stuck on the fourth line most nights.

Yes, re-acquiring Alexei Ponikarovsky helps offset the loss of Danius Zubrus – to a point, but they still need to replace the fifty-plus goals that walked out the door when Zach Parise left and Petr Sykora wasn’t offered a contract.  With our questionable forward depth, losing Zubrus and Ryan Carter in recent games hasn’t helped, although the one positive that’s come out of it is the last two games by Loikotonov, who has surely opened some eyes with a key goal Thursday off a faceoff win, and an assist this afternoon on Kovy’s goal.

Still, they need to find some scoring and fix the leaky PK soon.  Not to mention stop this senseless merry-go-round on D that’s benefitting nobody.  In this shortened season, first place can turn into eighth place – or ninth – in no time at all.  Especially with the compressed schedule.

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Christian Thomas recalled

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Derek
In a surprising move, the Rangers announced that they’ve recalled Christian Thomas. The 20-year old son of former NHLer Steve Thomas is in his first full pro year. In 52 games with the Connecticut Whale (AHL), the 2010 second round pick’s tallied 13 goals and 11 assists for 24 points under Ken Gernander. 
He debuted with the Whale last year- getting into five games and registering two points (1-1-2). The Toronto native isn’t the biggest. Listed at 5-9, 170 Thomas has some skill which the Blueshirts hope can provide a boost. It’ll be interesting to see how a Canadian kid performs under the microscope. He’ll make his NHL debut at Montreal on Hockey Night In Canada. That’s a dream come true for any Canadian. 
It’ll be interesting to see how John Tortorella uses Thomas. With the team minus Rick Nash, offense has been limited. The continued struggles of Brad Richards have severely hurt the Rangers. Until the former Conn Smythe winner gets straightened out, the onus will continue to be on the top line of Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin and leading goalscorer Marian Gaborik. 
Tortorella must find the right combinations. Ryan Callahan scored his fourth the other night. He played with Jeff Halpern and J.T. Miller. Captain Cally might be better suited with Richards. If anyone can get him going, it’s our team leader. Perhaps he can rub off. 
The club also could be without Mike Del Zotto. Del Zotto left Thursday’s game after taking a hit in the third period. The club has also recalled Steve Eminger, who was serving a 10-day conditioning stint. Del Zotto isn’t sure if he’ll be able to go. Even with his defensive deficiencies, it’d still be a big loss. He is the team’s best offensive defenseman who logs important minutes. Anton Stralman should see increased action.
With Nash unable to travel to Montreal, speculation continues to grow that he suffered a concussion. The Rangers aren’t exactly helping matters with their CIA approach. They’re also minus Darroll Powe, who remains out with a concussion. Powe is sorely missed due to his speed, forechecking ability and penalty killing acumen. 
The Rangers need a big game in a place they don’t fare well. Considering how lackluster they were in that MSG snooze fest, we’ll see if they can return the favor at the Bell Centre. 
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The Sad Tale Of Rick DiPietro

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Derek

It looks like the end for Rick DiPietro on Long Island. The former 2000 first overall pick was placed on waivers by the Islanders today.

It’s expected that the 31-year old veteran netminder will be assigned to Bridgeport (AHL). The Islanders are likely to recall Kevin Poulin. Poulin appeared in six games last year- posting a 2-4-0 record with a 3.04 goals against average (GAA) and .907 save percentage. In 31 appearances this year with the Sound Tigers, the 22-year old’s 15-13-3 with a 3.16 GAA and .903 save percentage.

If it is finally over for DiPietro, it’s a sad conclusion to his Islander career. When former general manager Mike Milbury took him with the No.1 selection in ’00, it set in motion the plan to trade former No.1 pick Roberto Luongo. Luongo was eventually moved with Olli Jokinen to the Panthers in exchange for Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha. A deal that is frowned upon despite the Isles returning to the playoffs.

Ironically, Luongo never made the postseason in the Sunshine state. Instead, he had to wait until an even more perplexing five player deal with the Canucks that sent Todd Bertuzzi the other way to become successful. However, Islander fans always reflect back and wonder if had they kept Luongo, Milbury could’ve selected either Dany Heatley or Marian Gaborik. It’s hard to predict what would’ve happened for a franchise that hasn’t advanced past the first round since ’93.

Contrary to popular belief, DiPietro hasn’t been awful on the Island. When healthy, he’s been a capable No.1 goalie who guided the team to two postseason appearances. After posting a career high 30 wins in 63 games in ’05-06, club owner Charles Wang signed DP to a 15-year, $67.5 million extension. A contract that became the butt of jokes around the hockey world.

DiPietro delivered in his first year of the rich deal. He put together his best season- posting a 32-19-9 record with a 2.58 GAA, .919 save percentage and five shutouts. That included success against rival Henrik Lundqvist along with a first round showing. Even though they were ousted, DP was on the verge of becoming a star.

Unfortunately, injuries doomed him. It started with him missing the final seven games of the ’06-07 regular season and the first game against Buffalo due to what was termed ‘headaches.’ Having already suffered one concussion and a sprained knee, DiPietro became injury prone. He still returned the following year and appeared in 63 games- winning 26 games while recording three shutouts. However, he was forced to have season ending hip surgery. An injury which was mishandled by the Islander organization.

The Islanders brought DiPietro back too soon in ’08-09 and paid a hefty price. After returning in October the same year, he had a knee injury. Amazingly, he only missed two games. The club who made DP their franchise player didn’t use caution. Instead, they threw him into the fire and watched their goalie suffer another injury. He eventually needed knee surgery, missing 27 games. The Isles didn’t learn their lesson. They allowed him to return and it resulted in a swollen right knee costing DiPietro the final 41 games of the season.

The rest reads like a broken record. DiPietro had two more surgeries, including on his left knee following missing the final 22 games of ’09-10. Even after all the setbacks, a determined DP still came back wanting to earn his money. He just had terrible luck. A concussion limited him to 26 games in ’10-11, which sadly is the most he’s appeared in since ’07-08.

Current Islander GM Garth Snow acquired Evgeni Nabokov to supplant DiPietro as their No.1 goalie. Following just eight appearances last year, DP made only three starts in 2013 before the organization pulled the plug. He lost all three games.

If ever there was a sad tale of an athlete who won’t give up, it’s DiPietro. He is a competitor. With the Isles finally waiving him, the growing question is will they buy him out. It would prove costly for Wang, who’s a prideful man who doesn’t like to admit to mistakes. He bought out Alexei Yashin. The Islanders would still have to pay him.

Even as a rival fan, I feel sorry for DP. All he wanted to do was play the game he loves. Instead, injuries have derailed his career. We may never see him in the NHL again.

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