Battle Of Hudson

At some point with your offense struggling, you have to make changes. Part of the reason John Tortorella has succeeded this season was because he’s been able to push the right buttons. Even if I haven’t always agreed with every decision, more often than not the fiery coach has gotten his team to respond.

Here the Rangers are again facing adversity against a better quality opponent than the first two rounds. Wednesday’s Game Five could decide who wins this Battle Of Hudson and advances to play for the Stanley Cup. How Tortorella handles it could impact whether they win or lose. It’s still up to the players to perform. Big pieces Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik, Ryan Callahan and Derek Stepan have been ineffective at even strength. In fact, only Callahan’s scored and that was into an open net. At least Richards has helped set up important power play goals, including his clean win that led to Dan Girardi’s Game Three decider. And Callahan did have a hand in Chris Kreider’s insurance marker over the weekend.

However, the Rangers haven’t gotten consistent play against their blood rival, who’s had the better of the play five on five by winning the battles in the corners and neutral zone to control the series. The lifeless first periods are getting redundant. It’s a recipe for disaster. If they can’t summon up the energy to bring it at the start of Game Five with an amped up Garden, perhaps they should throw in the towel. I’m not suggesting our team will give up easily. But this trend can’t continue if they want to win the franchise’s fifth championship.

It still has a chance to be very special. The Blueshirts look like they need some changes. Tortorella has often changed it up when things aren’t working. Look at the success Pete DeBoer had yesterday by splitting up Zach Parise (2 goals, assist) and Ilya Kovalchuk (assist) while inserting Jacob Josefson (9 faceoff wins). I don’t think you’ll find many Ranger fans who think our top line should stay intact. Gaborik has been forced to the perimeter and Richards and Hagelin aren’t doing enough. When right, the trio is an excellent cycling line that creates chances and finishes. But they clearly need a change.

My suggestion is to bump up Kreider, who’s size, skill and strength would give Richards and Gaborik more time and space. By flipping Hagelin and Kreider, it might give a boost to our key players. Callahan can play with almost anyone as can Stepan, who also had success with Gaborik earlier this season. With Brian Boyle clearly not 100 percent, it puts more of an emphasis on the top two lines to perform. Boyle also can use help. And I don’t mean by sticking stonehands Mike Rupp on it to goon it up. Encouraging is that Brandon Prust will return, giving Tortorella another physical forward he trusts. I still believe Artem Anisimov is miscast on the fourth line. He has nine or 10 points. Not two. Play him.

Ruslan Fedotenko has been one of the club’s most consistent workers. He has a wealth of big game experience stemming from two Cups, including ’04 when he was a hero under Tortorella in Tampa Bay. Our coach needs to mix and match. Even John Mitchell has been effective in spurts, like that great shift he had to help set up Kreider’s third of the series. One thing about Tort. He’s never locked in when it comes to lines. Adjusting on the fly is something his players are accustomed to.

Changing it up won’t bother them. Especially if Brandon Dubinsky returns.

For much of last night, I had a prior engagement. Anytime you honor a fallen friend on an anniversary, it’s more important than cheering your team. Even if it’s Game Four of the Conference Finals. The Rangers had a golden opportunity to seize control of the series against their archrival. Instead, they saw their collective shadow by mailing it in.

My brother and I caught the first few minutes on the radio in time to hear Kenny Albert call Devil immortal Bryce Salvador’s third goal. A guy who had none all season now is suddenly the Devils’ most consistent player. At that point, we could tell that our team had no life. They weren’t going to win. The 4-1 loss was all too predictable. So, for a third consecutive series, it’s 2-2 going back to MSG for a pivotal Game Five. If only by now they realized that these Devils aren’t the Sens or Caps. A repeat of yesterday could spell doom.

Following our tribute on the two-year anniversary of Lindzay’s death, we joined friends at Applebee’s in time for the fateful third period. I guess that was all you needed to see considering what transpired. From the terrible lack of discipline that led to Zach Parise’s power play goal to the goon tactics they tried, it was embarrassing. Whether I agree with the call on Mike Rupp for what seemed like a good hit doesn’t matter. His shove or punch of Martin Brodeur depending on what side you’re on was unacceptable. Even worse was Stu Bickel roughing up adversary Ryan Carter.

The game was already lost thanks to Derek Stepan’s high stick and Henrik Lundqvist, who was unable to control a rebound from Parise while Ryan Callahan stood and watched. Hardly the kind of leadership we’ve come to expect from our captain, who also didn’t register a hit. Rupp’s antics following a strong shift in which he got one of the few good chances on Brodeur, erased any hopes of a comeback. Even if they can’t score most nights, the one thing about these Blueshirts is their resiliency. Was it any surprise that following two mystifying Carl Hagelin minors, Ruslan Fedotenko snapped Brodeur’s shutout when his routine wrister alluded the future Hall Of Famer?

Despite being severely outplayed for the third time in four games, John Tortorella’s club didn’t quit. The coach pulled his goalie with over two minutes left. And before Parise’s bunt somehow hit the open net for his second, Dan Girardi nearly made it interesting. It probably would’ve been too late anyway to save face for such a dismal effort. How to explain? If it’s true that the Devils did the same thing to the Rangers 18 years ago facing the daunting prospect of trailing 3-1, then it’s also true that it doesn’t mean a whole lot this time. That team was different, boasting firepower in its arsenal to come back from 3-2 and an 0-2 Game Six deficit. Does anyone think our popgun offense can do the same if they don’t win tomorrow?

We’ve seen enough to conclude that it’s the top seeded Blueshirts who are very lucky to be tied headed back to Manhattan for Game Five. And they were pretty fortunate against Washington in that one thanks to Brad Richards, whose line has been invisible. Has anyone seen Marian Gaborik? Enough excuses for Hagelin too even if he’s not a natural finisher. No goals in the postseason should find him on a different line with more impressive newcomer Chris Kreider replacing the Swede. Speaking of Kreider, he’s the only forward who’s done anything, scoring three of the club’s nine goals. It’s his size, speed and strength that the Devils can’t handle.

Perhaps the Blueshirts get another player with similar elements back in Brandon Dubinsky for tomorrow. Dubinsky practiced again for the third day in four and felt better but left it up to Tortorella, who got outcoached last night. Even if his latest screaming match with an incensed DeBoer has gotten most of the ink, someone has to explain to me why Artem Anisimov remains glued to the bench. Arty shouldn’t be buried behind Rupp or John Mitchell. He has size and the strength to help the forecheck. You know. The one that’s been the identity of this team over the idiocy we got Monday. It’s getting pucks deep and recovering them. Then cycling like they did during the second half of Game Three. The same formula that worked in Game One and had similar results during the second period of Game Two.

It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out who the better team has been. The Devils have outplayed the Rangers five on five due to superior speed, size and grit. They’ve had the puck more often as the Rangers’ eight giveaways suggested. We’ll cut Mike Del Zotto some slak. It’s very difficult when you lose a grandparent. Granted. His blatant turnovers led directly to Parise setting up Travis Zajac for the game-winner. Another giveaway nearly led to a third goal before Tortorella sat him down. To his credit, Del Zotto came back and competed by going hard to the net on Fedotenko’s goal and mixing it up with Alexei Ponikarovsky with 12 seconds left. That kind of edge has been missing.

Is it good that the Rangers were physically engaged in garbage time? Sure. You don’t want to give off the message that you’re done. However, the silly penalties and total undiscipline is un-Ranger like. It also won’t work against the Devils. Why else did Brodeur joke with Parise in the postgame? The coaches also took the high road, which is expected. It’s not about them but about the players on the ice. Right now, advantage Devils.

The Rangers have some soul searching to do. Either find their game by 8 PM tomorrow or it could be a bitter end to a very good season. It’s up to them.

Brandon Prust was suspended yesterday for tonight’s Game Four for his elbow to the back of Anton Volchenkov’s head. The right call by Brendan Shanahan even if some of our fans act like babies due to the inconsistency.

I can’t speak for Larry Brooks or others on whether Dainius Zubrus’ elbow to Anton Stralman was suspendable. I still haven’t seen it or the Zach Parise hit on Mike Del Zotto. What I will say is that it’s time to let it go. Plenty of teams would love to be in our position. A win would put us up 3-1 in the best-of-seven Conference Final against our top rival.

Leave the complaints to John Tortorella, who was very unsatisfied yesterday. The most important thing is that the Rangers have a great opportunity here to make it easier on themselves. They have this uncanny habit of not playing up to par with a chance to lead 3-1. The Devils aren’t Ottawa or Washington. It’s not advisable to mail it in. They must come with their best effort if they want to a shot to wrap it up back at The Garden Wednesday.

With Pete DeBoer splitting up Zach Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk, it puts more pressure on Tortorella to choose who he wants Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi against. Both lines should be equally difficult to handle. Marc Staal and Mike Del Zotto will have the added responsibility throughout the game.

Many think Prust’s loss isn’t a big deal but they couldn’t be more wrong. Brandon plays an important role as a physical, grinding forward who can penalty kill and log key minutes. Stu Bickel won’t get many shifts, which is why Tortorella better give increased responsibilities to Artem Anisimov and Ruslan Fedotenko. Both play each end and are good forecheckers. If they’re not with Brian Boyle, that might not bode well.

Mike Rupp is trying hard but still has a penchant for taking bad penalties. I get that Tort wants to use him against David Clarkson. But doesn’t it make more sense to have two guys who can skate and help Boyle’s line offensively?

I won’t see much of the game due to our friends honoring the two-year memory of a close friend. Priorities. I’ll have my phone for text updates and then catch some of it when we head to Applebee’s.

I’m sure Hasan will have plenty to say later.

Some gamesmanship finally has entered this third round series. If the Devils and Rangers aren’t going to mix it up physically with so much on the line, leave it to the coaches to continue their war of words. There’s no love lost between John Tortorella and Pete DeBoer, who exchanged barbs following a fight filled match on Mar.19 in their final regular season meeting at MSG.

During the second period of the Blueshirts’ 3-0 Game Three win yesterday, Brandon Prust got away with an elbow to the back of Devil defenseman Anton Volchenkov’s head. Afterwards, a furious DeBoer charged, “Headhunting. Plain and simple.” Not surprisingly, Tortorella fired back.

“Prust has played probably 300-plus games without any hearing, anything going on with him. He’s probably one of the most honest players. I look at Zubrus’ elbow to Stralman. I look at Parise launching himself at Del Zotto. Maybe if our players stayed down on the ice, we’ll get something.”

DeBoer replied, “Comical.” While I agree with the first part, figure Prust to get at least a game similar to the Flyers’ Claude Giroux last round when he elbowed Zubrus, who also returned like Volchenkov did Saturday. The gritty energizer had a hearing earlier today with League Deputy Brendan Shanahan to determine if he’ll be suspended for Game Four. In the event he doesn’t play, healthy scratch Stu Bickel practiced on the fourth line. It looks like he could replace Prust for tomorrow.

I’m not sure what Tortorella was referring to on Zach Parise, who by all accounts is a clean player much like our captain Ryan Callahan. I remember seeing a play where one of our guys got nailed but felt they didn’t leave their feet. Parise finishes every check like Callahan. As for Zubrus, he tends to play chippy. So maybe he did elbow Anton Stralman. The refs never pick up everything. If they did, Prust would’ve been given a major and been ejected. Luckily, Volchenkov is okay.

The bigger contention from Tortorella was that the Devils are setting illegal picks to set up Ilya Kovalchuk on their power play. This is accurate. They’ve gotten away with at least three. Zubrus and Travis Zajac have done it. Usually, the stripes catch the guilty party. However, the same thing happened last round against Washington. Perhaps they’re not focusing on the interference as much as they should be.

It looks like the coaches will continue to war the rest of the way. Will the players follow suit?

Look for changes tomorrow when the Eastern Conference Final resumes. Unsatisfied with his team’s lack of production during yesterday’s 3-0 loss in Game Three, Devil coach Pete DeBoer has changed his lines. With the Devils facing the prospect of falling behind 3-1 to the Rangers, they’ll sport a new lineup Monday at The Rock.

That’ll include the addition of Jacob Josefson, who will make his playoff debut after missing the first two rounds due to a broken wrist. The bigger news is who Josefson will replace in grizzled vet Petr Sykora. The 35-year old former ’00 Cup winner will sit out for the first time all season. A surprising move but perhaps one that can spark New Jersey. The second-year Devil takes Sykora’s spot on the third line. It’ll be interesting to see what he brings.

For Sykora, he has been held without a point thus far in the Battle Of Hudson. However, he’s not the only one struggling. Buddy Patrik Elias has also failed to get untracked. Part of DeBoer’s new lines will be Elias moving up to the second line with Ilya Kovalchuk and Adam Henrique. Kovalchuk, who has just a power play goal in the series, will return to his more familiar left wing with Elias and Henrique. Meanwhile, Dainius Zubrus has been elevated to the top line with Travis Zajac and Zach Parise, who also doesn’t have a goal.

On paper, it looks good. Zubrus can provide size and strength while Henrique is skilled enough to get Elias and Kovalchuk going. Josefson will center Alexei Ponikarovsky and David Clarkson. The only line that remains intact is the fourth line of Ryan Carter, Stephen Gionta and Steve Bernier, which ironically has been the Devils’ most effective at even strength- helping turn around Game Two.

Devil Changes

Zubrus-Zajac-Parise
Kovalchuk-Henrique-Elias
Ponikarovsky-Josefson-Clarkson
Carter-Gionta-Bernier

Despite another Devil onslaught, Henrik Lundqvist was cool as can be. The unflappable 30-year old Ranger netminder backed up his Vezina and Hart nominations with a scintillating performance to steal Game Three today from New Jersey. Lundqvist was much busier than the first two games, repelling all 36 shots in blanking the Devils 3-0 at The Rock.

Nothing seems to bother him. Not the constant buzzing by Pete DeBoer’s all out attack that tilted the ice until John Tortorella used a timeout early in the second period. Nine periods have been played between the blood rivals and the Devils have controlled at least six. So, they should be winning. Unfortunately, they’ve run into a brick wall in net for the Rangers. Lundqvist has dealt with a maze of red and black in front but remains unfazed by the challenge. One such opportunity saw a Bryce Salvador shot with Zach Parise leaping to screen but the best Blueshirt just held his ground to stop the puck.

There were plenty of other dangerous opportunities for the Devils to break through. Oh. They dominated again in the first, outshooting the Rangers 11-5 and outchancing them by a country mile. It didn’t matter. The scoreboard didn’t change due to the stellar play of King Henrik. He faced at least half a dozen odd-man rushes including the Devils’ best Ilya Kovalchuk, who made the right move and had him dead to rights, only to watch a sliding Lundqvist get his glove on it. There also was Parise who came in two-on-one but some hustle from Marc Staal made it a routine save with Lundqvist sticking it aside.

The Devils came and came as if they benefited more from the extra day off while it appeared most of Lundqvist’s teammates forgot to set their alarm clocks. If not for him bailing them out along with more defensive prowess from Ryan McDonagh, it could’ve been over. Instead of trailing by three or four, the Rangers breathed easier. Apparently, they forgot to battle the first couple of shifts in period two, prompting Tortorella to call timeout and yell at his bench.

Afterwards, the rest of the team finally awakened and played the Devils more even. There wasn’t any scoring in the second but it was the most exciting period due to the Hudson rivals trading chances. Something Tortorella alluded to during an in-game interview with NBC’s Pierre McGuire. He made sure to point out that if his club didn’t establish a forecheck, they had no chance. It was that one-sided for twenty-two and a half minutes.
The much discussed coach changed it up by flipping Chris Kreider with Carl Hagelin in addition to reinserting Steve Eminger for Stu Bickel. He also tried Mike Rupp with Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust but they were just not clicking. Eventually, Ruslan Fedotenko supplanted Rupp in the decisive third.

If you loved goaltending, then you enjoyed Lundqvist’s denial on Kovalchuk and Martin Brodeur’s stone job on Ryan Callahan, who had a gaping net until Marty’s second acrobatic backhand glove stop of the series. Jaw dropping stuff from a legend defying his age which has been too played up. He’s 10 years older than his opposite No.30 who is hoping 30 is the key number along with many Garden Faithful. The contrast in style makes for an intriguing match-up with Brodeur more unconventional with his stand-up and then challenge while Lundqvist is more back in his net looking to outthink shooters.

Both goalies have had strong series. Brodeur was at his best in Game Two with an acrobatic kick out that made the highlight reel and Lundqvist with his assortment of denials amidst chaos. In this one, Henrik was needed to steal the game and take home ice back. So, he faced 26 shots through two stopping the Devils in their tracks. Not easy even if you look at his history against Marty. This is the Conference Finals and these Devils pressure and pressure until you cough up the puck. They’re bigger, stronger and more aggressive. It won’t change Monday or for the rest of the series.

While Lundqvist did his part also sliding across to make a beautiful glove stop on Kovalchuk during one of the Devils’ five power plays, he got plenty of help from a penalty kill that was diligent enough to keep Jersey’s team off the board. It was McDonagh blocking shots along with Marc Staal and Dan Girardi while gritty soldiers like Boyle and Prust made hustle plays to get the puck out.  Prust who ironically got away with a cheapshot elbow on Anton Volchenkov in the second that drew the ire of the fans. Inexplicably, it was missed. Probably a major. Prust will be probably have at least the next game off. He also made contact with Brodeur, playing more engaged. Unless you’re a Devil worshipper that is.

The Rangers again had success on the power play. A sore spot during this run has suddenly done damage, scoring in all three games. On just their second chance, Brad Richards won a faceoff clean right to a pinching Girardi who rifled one past Brodeur. It was his third of the playoffs. Such a play is something we’re not used to. The Rangers normally struggle to win key draws on the man-advantage. But during that one, they won three in a row.
The goal was followed up almost immediately by a great forecheck started by fourth liner John Mitchell, who waited long enough for a chance before dumping the puck to Derek Stepan. Before you knew it, there was McDonagh firing a shot off Kreider’s stick for the big second goal. By no means was it over with 12-plus minutes left and the Devils pushed back immediately with some close calls including Peter Harrold’s try that went off Lundqvist’s best friend, the crossbar.

Sometimes, you’re lucky. Brodeur had the same help earlier when Hagelin found Richards who rang it off the bar. But we’re talking about two great goalies who more often than not, will make the clutch save. Fortunately for the Rangers, they had the King.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Brian Boyle, NYR (tremendous defensively, gritty performance, assist)
2nd Star-Ryan McDonagh, NYR (a monster defensively plus a helper)
1st Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (36 saves incl. 26/26 thru 2, 2nd SHO of series-3rd in 2012 playoffs)

Note: Ryan Callahan scored into an open net with over two minutes left.

The Rangers have gotten here without one of their top six forwards. Tomorrow, they’ll try to rebound from a disappointing performance in Game Two in which they were outhustled and outmuscled. The sixth Battle Of Hudson will continue without Brandon Dubinsky, who practiced today for the first time since his leg injury knocked him out of the first round. Or as the Rangers term it, “lower body.” 

What probably gets lost in a forgettable season for Dubinsky is that he’s still an important piece to the puzzle. Even in a year where he couldn’t score into an ocean, the gritty Alaskan does other things well which help the team win. It would be arrogant to ignore the size and strength he adds to an undersized lineup. Especially against a bigger, stronger opponent whose all out attack is getting to the Blueshirts no matter what John Tortorella says. Truth is I wasn’t very confident going into this match-up for two reasons.

1.The Devils style- They’re no longer a team that sits back. Instead, pressing the attack while taking away the walls. Something the Flyers couldn’t handle.

2.Fourteen Games- Let’s face it. Our club has grinded it out all year. The wear and tear from an 82-game schedule along with going seven versus Ottawa and Washington isn’t the best recipe for success. Especially against an opponent who dismissed the Flyers with ease and got extra rest. The Devils already proved that losing Game One doesn’t matter.

The Rangers can’t afford a repeat. The good news is our team won’t quit like a battered Philly team did. They’re better equipped for the Devils due to Henrik Lundqvist and a blueline anchored by Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi and Marc Staal. All three log take on big responsibilities with McDonagh and Girardi matched up against the Devils’ top line of Zach Parise, Travis Zajac and Ilya Kovalchuk. Despite a strong response Wednesday, they’ve yet to score at even strength. In fact, outside of Kovalchuk’s rocket for a power play goal, you didn’t notice him. If only it were that simple.

The Blueshirts have their work cut out due to the Devils’ balance. It wasn’t the top two lines that did the damage but the supporting cast which features Calder candidate Adam Henrique, David Clarkson and Ryan Carter, who were the keys to New Jersey evening the best-of-seven Conference Final. Considering that our D must focus on continuing to limit the top line along with Patrik Elias’ line that features Petr Sykora and banger Dainius Zubrus, it’s a tall task. Thus far, it’s the Devils who are winning the battles along the boards, finishing checks and forcing mistakes. Their style has wreaked havoc, often pinning us in for long stretches.

If the Rangers want to beat their archrival, they must turn the tables. The Devils can be forechecked. But not when they’ve outplayed us for four of the first six periods. We still saw what happened when they pushed back with a dominant third to pull out Game One and a strong second that had them up a goal before Marian Gaborik dogged it. It still was harsh for Tortorella to punish his top scorer due to how paper thin our offense is. With Ryan Callahan a shell of himself, it’s amazing they’ve won nine games. It’s basically been Brad Richards, Chris Kreider and Gaborik following Brian Boyle’s concussion. He’s not the same which further complicates things. Derek Stepan has done it in spurts but only has one goal. His line has been our best this series with Kreider creating issues for the Devils defensively.

You can’t expect a 21-year old rookie fresh out of college to carry the burden. That falls on our leaders. Gaborik must be much better beginning tomorrow along with Richards and Callahan. Carl Hagelin also was quiet the other night and still hasn’t scored. With Tortorella playing games with Artem Anisimov despite the big Russian being one of our most consistent players, they definitely miss Dubinsky, who always seems to rise to the occasion against the Devils. He plays with emotion and gets underneath the skin of Game Two hero Clarkson. Our coach is trying Mike Rupp with Boyle and Anisimov in Game Three. The same Rupp who hasn’t registered a point and has been under utilized. It reeks of desperation.

Is there any question that the Rangers couldn’t use Dubinsky, who is a presence in all three zones? When he’s not scoring, Dubinsky still is solid defensively and can force turnovers and start counters that lead to scoring chances. He also is effective on the forecheck and would allow our team to control the action more. Aside from being a deterrent, he’s a good player. With Brandon Prust banged up, the Devils have nobody to worry about. We’re easier to play against. So while everyone pines for Mats Zuccarello who didn’t practice again, it’s Dubinsky’s size that’s more essential against the toughest opponent we’ve faced.

Without him, it’ll be a hard series to win.