Battle Of Hudson

I’m killing two birds with one stone here. First, last night’s game against the Flyers.

– When the Rangers play 60 minutes of solid hockey, I don’t know what team can beat them. They played all of last night’s game with only a few mental gaffes. They won’t need to score more that two goals a game if they can be as mentally sharp in every other facet of the game like last night.

– Sean Avery is a legitimate spark plug. He didn’t have to fight anyone, but he did. It got the Garden rocking, gave the Rangers some passion and may have taken the uber physical Flyers off guard. Many people may not agree with the way he plays the game, myself sometimes included, but he brings a team together, whether they like it or not.

– The line combinations are finally working out. Who cares if the first line center isn’t making over 7 million dollars a year. If it works, Chris Drury can play on the third line the rest of the year.

Now for tonight’s game. I agree with IsleEnforcer, it should be one hell of a game. Passion will undoubtedly be running high tonight. Some info for tonight:

– It looks like King Henrik will be in net again. At this rate, Henrik’s next day off may be in June. He said he wanted to go, and Tom Renney has to like what he sees, so he’ll be in net.

– Jaromir Jagr will skate, despite playing through a sore hamstring. Should some unforeseen circumstance force him out of the lineup, Greg Moore is up from Hartford.

– Marek Malik will sit again tonight. At this point, why not try to trade him. Save the room on payroll and go with Jason Strudwick. He’s not a fancy defenseman, but teams just aren’t scoring on the Rangers right now, and Lundqvist as great as he is playing, doesn’t get all the credit. The defense is blocking shots, taking away passing lanes, playing physical and jumping into the play. It’s fun to watch.

– Not 100% sure, but you would have to think that Chris Simon is in for the Islanders. Could get a little more exciting than it is already if he is.

I have a soccer game tonight during the game, but I will watch after and chime in with my post game thoughts. Enjoy, this is hockey at its finest.

I will be at tonight’s game so my thoughts will be posted late tonight.

Just a few notes:

* Sean Bergenheim is out tonight, Ben Walter will take his place.
* Aaron Johnson injured his knee in practice and will be out 6 weeks. At the present time we are still awaiting a call up from Bridgeport.
* Rick Dipietro should be okay to play tonight.

The Islanders are coming off two emotional wins and the Rangers are coming off 2-0 shutout of the first place Flyers. As it stands right now, the Rangers moved a head of the Islanders last night for second place. Should be one hell of a game tonight.

Very few words. Just a blah game.

More later

Big game for the Devils tonight, back in front of the home crowd, let’s see if the scoring picks up again.

Enjoy it.

Rangers take on the first place Flyers tonight, and may immediately be at a disadvantage. Jaromir Jagr did not skate this morning, saying his groin was still sore from Saturday’s game. Greg Moore was recalled from Hartford and both he and Jagr will skate in the pregame warmups, just incase Jagr can’t go.

If Jagr plays, the lines are expected to be the same as Saturday, with Dubinsky between Jagr and Hossa, Gomez with Prucha and Shanahan and Drury with Avery and Dawes. Betts with Hollweg and Orr is also a lock.

If Jagr doesn’t play, those lines will be all kinds of jumbled. Honestly, I don’t know what I would expect. Maybe Prucha with Dubinsky and Shanahan. Maybe the lines just change order.

No matter what, Jason Strudwick will be back in the lineup, taking Marek Malik’s spot on defense. Malik is still nursing sore ribs and a sore back. If the defense plays well again without him, you have to wonder if there isn’t a team out there willing to take his salary on in a trade.

Also, Stephen Valiquette was supposedly going to start one of these back to back games, but Tom Renney said before the game that he would determine whether Henrik Lundqvist starts tomorrow night at the Islanders based on how he feels after tonight’s game.

Back with a recap later on tonight.

Matvichuk is off the Devs roster, but that could’ve happened already.

Now HockeyBuz is reporting that the Devils have waived Matvichuk.

Oh well, happy trails Richard.

Al Arbour stood behind the bench one last time [maybe] and the Islanders did not let him down as they upset the Pittsburgh Penguins with a come from behind win 3-2 at the Nassau Coliseum.

Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, Bobby Nystrom, Clark Gillies and Billy Smith were a part of the pregame ceremonies to help congratulate their mentor; Al Arbour achieve yet another milestone. Al Arbour has now coached 1500 games, the most for any coach in NHL history with one team.

It looked great before the game but started to get ugly as Pittsburgh was up 2-0 midway through the second period. Trent Hunter got the Isles on the board with his 3rd goal of the season.

As things started to look up, Rick Dipietro went down….with what could have been a serious eye injury as that no good piece of trash, Sidney Crosby, tried to lift the stick of an Islander defenseman and inadvertently stuck DP in the face through his mask. Dipietro was taken out of the game and sent to the hospital with what initially was reported as a “lacerated cornea.” Dipietro was replaced by Wade Dubieliewicz and Dubie held his own by making 7 saves.

As Arbour was the hero tonight, he would share the spotlight with one Miro Satan who scored the tying goal early in the third. Satan would catch an easy rebound to score his second of the game, and third of the season late in the third period. That goal would stand up as the Isles came out with one of the most important wins for them in this early season.

After the game the Islanders celebrated more by taking down Arbour’s 739 wins banner and replacing it with a 740 one. They also raised a 1500 banner as well and had a huge celebration on the ice.

With Dipietro’s health in doubt, the Rangers skate into the Coliesium on Tuesday….

NYR 2-1 NJ (SO)
NYR: Gomez (3), Prucha (SO Winner)
NJ: Brylin (2)
ATT: 18,200 (18,200)

PIT 2-3 NYI
PIT: Malone (3), Kennedy (1st NHL Goal)
NYI: Hunter (3), Satan (2,3[GW])
ATT: 16,234 (16,234)

TOR 3-2 MTL
TOR: Kaberle (5), Sundin (8), Stajan (4, GW)
MTL: Komisarek (1), Higgins (6)
ATT: 21,273 (21,273)

BOS 2-3 OTT
BOS: Kobasew (4, 5)
OTT: Fisher (4, 5 [GW]), Heatley (8)
ATT: 19,939 (19,153)

FLA 2-4 CAR
FLA: Bouwmeester (2), Zednik (6)
CAR: Cullen (4), Larose (3), Letowski (2, GW), Stillman (5)
ATT: 17,547 (18,730)

ATL 6-4 TB
ATL: Enstrom (2), Kovalchuk (10, 11, 12), Hossa (3), Dupuis (2, GW)
TB: O’Brien (1, 2), Ouelett (3), Richards (6)
ATT: 19,155 (19,500)

CGY 1-4 MIN
CGY: Iginla (9)
MIN: Rolston (7), Gaborik (3 [GW], 4), Radivojevic (1)
ATT: 18,568 (18,064)

CHI 3-2 STL
CHI: Byfuglien (1st NHL Goal), Sharp (4, 5 [GW])
STL: Perron (1st NHL Goal), Kariya (3)
ATT: 19,150 (19,150)

ANA 5-2 PHX
ANA: Schneider (1), Perry (7, 8), May (1, GW), Getzlaf (4)
PHX: Vrbata (4), Jovonovski (1)
ATT: 15,888 (17,799)

VAN 4-3 COL
VAN: D. Sedin (6, 7 [GW]), Morrison (5), Kesler (3)
COL: Finger (1st NHL Goal), Svatos (6, 7)
ATT: 18,007 (18,007)

SJ 3-1 LA
SJ: Pavelski (3), Roenick (4, GW, #499), Cheechoo (3)
LA: Stuart (2)
ATT: 18,118 (18,118)

http://njmg.typepad.com/devilsblog/2007/11/all-about-avery.html

Tom Gulitti did a great job conveying the wisdom of Sean Avery tonight.

Some points made:

-Avery called Clarkson “a bonehead minor leaguer” after the game and called Brodeur, “Marty the diver”, a reference to the goaltender’s first period diving penalty. “I don’t even know who this guy is, why am I talking to him,” Avery said of Clarkson. “We’re not friends. It’s not an (expletive) secret. We’re getting ready for a game and we go to war.”

First of all, anyone who saw Clarkie’s goal Friday night…has Avery ever scored a goal that nice? And why are you talking to him? I don’t know ass-job…you started the conversation! Do you have soap opera level amnesia?

Moving on…

-When asked if Brodeur said anything back to him, Avery said, “I can’t understand a word he says with his accent.”

C’mon Sean, is that Jersey twang Marty speaks in English with baffling you? Watch some Sopranos DVDs and you’ll figure it out.

So, what was David Clarkson’s response?

-Clarkson played it diplomatic. “We both kind of play the same way, hit hard and get in other guy’s face,” he said. “That’s how he is. He’s going to try to get under my skin before the game and other guys, just like I do.”

Aw Yeah, David’s a soulja. He’s smart enough to figure out that he’s pretty much Sean, but with, you know, an offensive game?

Hey, guess who else Sean decided to take on…

-Before one first period faceoff, Avery lined up across from Zach Parise and yapped in his ear for what seemed like an eternity. “I asked him to fight a couple of times,” Avery admitted. When an incredulous reporter questioned that he would challenge Parise, who has never had an NHL fight, Avery replied, “Is that his name?”

Yeah Sean, you saw the back of his jersey enough tonight…

Seriously, Sean…you joking about not knowing who Parise is…is that a thing? That’s like when Brian and Stewie from Family Guy called Scrubs unfunny at the Emmys.

THE ZACH’s response?

-Parise also said he ignored Avery. “He wanted to fight me,” he said. “He told me to, ‘make a statement.’ I just ignored him. It’s all about him. It’s too bad because he can be a pretty good player.”

Good boy Zach.

Aaah, it’s good to hate the Rag$ again!.

What a game by the Atlantic Division rivals. Equally good job by our Devils blogger, Steve, for the live blog action that he gave us tonight. Updates every minute is an impressive feat. I figured I’d jump in with a wrap up and thoughts while he’s icing down his fingers.

I was really impressed by how both teams played tonight. Both goaltenders deserve a lot of credit. Defense was stingy, offense got some chances, no player passed up a chance to throw a hit (even Captain Jagr threw one, although it may no have been the most legal) and we were treated to an overall great game.

Some thoughts to end the night:

Hossa, Prucha, Dawes. That was the shootout lineup for the Rangers. On a bench with Jagr, Gomez, Drury and Shanahan, that is who won the game for us tonight. I am not complaining, but those three players combined do not make what Gomez or Drury signed for this year.

Avery is back, and at the best time for the Rangers. He was a pest today, and that’s the missing piece for the Rangers. Someone to do the dirty work, bait some players into penalties and even set up a play or two.

With the mando-contracts given to Gomez and Drury, Brandon Dubinsky centered Jagr and Hossa. And he did it effectively. While Dubinsky isn’t a playmaker that will get Jagr 50 goals, I don’t have a problem with him there. It balances out the other two lines. It will take a few more games of effectiveness to fully convince me, but I liked what I saw today.

Patrick Elias was invisible for the most part tonight. Him and Sutter are not a good match, and I don’t know why. I respect Elias. His comeback from hepatitis is a great story and he is a talented player. You have to think that a move for him might be best right now, unless Sutter doesn’t last.

Great game. Great blogging. Rangers play again on Monday when they host Philadelphia on Vs. at 7 pm. Goodnight.