Battle Of Hudson

Just got home from Prudential Center. I am impressed, to say the very, very least.

I’ll post photos as soon as my buddy gets ’em to me.

Kevin Weekes will start against the Isles for NJD tonight. Sheldon Brookbank was placed on wavers.

The Bruins defested the Rangers 1-0 in a shootout. Poor Lundqvist.

Photos coming soon!

So far, there’s absolutely nothing doing in this game. If you’re a Blueshirts fan, what a waste so far. The offense is pathetic. They can’t even get shots on Boston backup Manny Fernandez. The power play is awful. How about just a freaking quality chance guys?

It’s clearly not working. Drury and Gomez continue to be wasted. If not for a highway robbery by Henrik Lundqvist on Marc Savard with an open net where King Henrik slid across and made an amazing glove stop, Boston would be ahead 1-0, which actually might have been enough considering that the Rangers have maybe 10 shots through half the game against Claude Julien’s improved Bruins who are playing great team D. Why was Julien fired again?

Brendan Shanahan can’t hit the net from 18 feet out. What’s he still doing on the power play?

At least Renney came to his senses and flipped Dubinsky with Betts.

This has been almost as boring as last nite’s Jackets-Sabres game.

Shots are 12-12 and no score with 6:26 left in the second.

Nigel Dawes again looks good.

Malik’s back in.

That’s about it.

Well, we’re back. After 40 minutes, still no score. The Rangers had a big 5-on-3 kill late in the stanza. Chara and Savard missed the net on one-timers and Michal Rozsival broke up a setup for a cutting Glen Murray and cleared the zone.

Both Fernandez and Lundqvist have each stopped 14 shots in what’s been a tightly contested battle with both team’s power plays fizzling out, combining to go 0-for-10 thus far.

One goal is probably going to do it given how it’s been played and how each netminder has looked.

Be back after.

The Rangers continued to drive their fans nuts with another baffling offensive display that was on par with Notre Dame.

They scored no goals in 65 total minutes against the Boston backup Fernandez who entered with a 5.00 GAA and sub-.800 save percentage. You can’t make it up.

And what’s worse? That despite playing a good third in which they outshot the Bruins 11-4 and out chanced their opponents at The Fleet Center, they couldn’t find the back of the net.

The best chance came off the stick of rookie Brandon Dubinsky, who despite less than nine minutes of ice-time (why???) was one of the best players and made a great individual effort to go around two Bruins and force Fernandez to make a tough stop on a backhand from in tight.

Each team finished 0-for-6 on the man-advantage as the penalty killing units thwarted them with diligent backchecking and solid goaltending.

The game wound up in OT. Despite Nigel Dawes logging his most time in an NHL game with over 16:00, he somehow didn’t see the ice in 4-on-4 along with Dubinsky. How is that even possible when once again the team’s veteran leading stars Jagr, Shanahan, Drury and Gomez hardly generated anything?

With apologies to Drury and Gomez who did try unlike the other two. It just wasn’t good enough to get as many shifts and over 20 minutes of ice.

Tom Renney is a good coach who’s very well spoken and usually has a good read on what went wrong in losses. But sometimes, the game decisions he makes can be baffling.

Such was the case in OT by not using the two kids and Petr Prucha who’s one of their faster and more effective forwards in 4-on-4.

Also, how are the lines going to have any semblance of chemistry when the coach continues to mix and match? It can’t work if you don’t give it a chance.

The Rangers missed the net 13 times (Jagr-2, Shanahan-2, Drury-1, Gomez-1).

They also missed twice not even testing Fernandez in a shootout with only Jagr’s stuff attempt coming close. Why was Shanahan even out there? He has no hands right now and looks washed up. It’s like expecting Britney Spears to stay sober and take responsibility.

It was fitting that he, Drury (wide) and Jagr would be the three guys who failed while Phil Kessel delivered in the Boston 1-0 shootout win.

See ya’ll next time.

Two more games and seven to get to The Rock. I will be heading their about 4:30-6:00, so I’ll try and get a few pictures off while I’m there.

This would be a pretty big win for New Jersey. Going to the Garden at 4-4 would be a lot more reassuring than going in 3-5. The Islanders are a hott team, but if you can stop Comrie-Guerin-Fedetenko, there’s not much past it. The Devils played the Isles well last season, taking 6 of 8 from the blue and orange and outscoring them only 17-14. Among Devils last year still with the team, Jamie Langenbrunner lead the team in scoring vs. NYI with 1-6-7 (He’s useless for another month), while Parise had 4-2-6, Elias 2-4-6 and Pandolfo 1-5-6. John Madden had four goals against the Isles last year. Marty shut out the Islanders 3 times, and beat them 6 times letting in 6 goals.

Devils can’t just play solid road periods, they have to beat it into the Isles heads that they are a hungry team and will not be stopped offensively. Push that “new” Devils philosiphy of offense early, go back to the D when necesary. Also, Marty must rebound. He’s gotta pitch a classic tonight.

Prediction: Not Quite…Devils 5, Islanders 3

Today’s Rangers vs Bruins game is being pushed up to 4 PM (Eastern time) today. Some team called the Boston Red Sox are playing at 8 PM, and I guess fans were unhappy with the conflict. (Sorry. Die hard Yankee fan.)

The only difference this really makes is that I might be able to catch the game. It was originally scheduled to be blacked out for the Buffalo game, but I’m not sure that’s the case now. I do have to work until 6 though, so I will provide a recap if I get to see it after I am done watching the recording.

I don’t have anything concrete, but I would expect Malik back in, Dawes still in and possibly Valiquette getting a start. The Rangers have a few tough games next week in New Jersey, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay. I would expect if Valiquette doesn’t start today, he’ll start Saturday the 27th when we play Toronto. Lundqvist could use a day off.

Back later on for a recap.

Here’s the complete wrap-up of the night in the NHL:

Pascal Lecaire got his 3rd shutout of the season as the Columbus Blue Jackets skated into Buffalo in front of a sold out, bloodthirsty, Michael Peca-not forgetting crowd, and shut out the Sabres 3-0. Peca scored his first as CBJ, and Rick Nash added one after earlier being denied on a penalty shot by Ryan Miller. The Jackets have gotten points in four of their first six, while Buffalo drops to 3-3.

Sidney Crosby scored the shootout winner as the Penguins defeated the Hurricanes 4-3 (3-2 in the SO). Petr Sykora netted 2 for Pittsburgh, while Danny Sabourin got his first NHL Victory, making 29 saves.

Two names Blackhawk fans hope they see in the 5th column of the scoresheet marked “Goal Scorer” for years to come, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews led the Hawks to a 5-3 win over Colorado. It was Kane’s first NHL goal, and the rookie added two assists to bring his point total to 1-6-7 in 7 games, while Toews added a goal, his 2nd of the year. Wolski, Svatos and Smyth scored for the Avs to tie it at 3 in the third, but Tuomo Ruutu got the game winner with 1:34 to go.

WATCHING THE HIGHLIGHTS: Draw-Jopping, er, Jaw Dropping goal from Toews. Top 5 of the year when it’s all said and done, mark it down.

Michael Cammalleri’s 8th gives the Kings a 4-2 win in Vancouver. Oh, who cares, I’m going to watch that Toews goal again on NHLTV. I suggest you do the same.

The Jackets-Sabres game was the most boring one I’ve seen this year. It took hockey back about half a century.

Columbus surprisingly beats Buffalo, 3-0 at the HSBC. Nash, Peca and Zherdev scored for CBJ. If the Jackets get scoresheets like that most of the year, they’ll be competitive. The Jackets have gotten points in 4 of their first 6. Buffalo falls to 3-3.

Pens and Canes tied at 3 in OT. Petr Sykora has 2 for the Penguins.

Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews have both scored for the Blackhawks, as they lead Colorado after 2 periods, 3-1. That’s Kane’s first NHL goal, while he also added an assist. Wojtek Wolski has the lone Avs goal. It’ll be interesting to see, with 3 games left before the junior send down deadline for the Hawks, if Kane will go back to London. 6 points in 7 games from an 18 year old with the burden of resurrecting a franchise? I’d say he’s earned his spot.

Kings and Canucks are scoreless in the first.

A recap coming at 1AM.

Here’s your night in hockey, planet pals…

As reported earlier by our various columnists, the Isles won 5-2 in Washington, the Devils fell to Philly 4-0, and the Rangers lost to Atlanta 5-3.

Marco Sturm scored twice as the Bruins won their home opener over the Lightning 4-1.

Nik Antropov scored the game winner with 28 seconds to play as the Maple Leafs squeezed by the Panthers 3-2.

Jason Spezza’s first of the year couldn’t have come at a better time, as it won the game for the Senators, 4-3 over Montreal. Spezza’s goal came with 6:45 to play. Dany Heatley added his 7th for Ottawa, and Nick Foligno of the Senators got his first National Hockey League goal.

Calgary came back from a 2-0 defecit to beat the Kings 4-3. Daymond Langkow scored two, including the game winner late in the second. Mike Cammalleri’s 7th and Anze Kopitar’s 4th buoyed the Kings’ totals.

Raffi Torres netted two, including the game winner, as Edmonton was too much for the Coyotes, 4-2. Peter Mueller scored his first NHL goal for the Yotes.

Datsyuk and Zetterburg have scored as the Wings are headed towards a 4-2 victory in San Jose.

Devils with a poor effort on the second of back-to-back nights, losing 4-0 at the WachOff Center. I’m not gonna knock Marty with the defense he has in front of him. What a piss-poor group this is. I never thought I’d be begging to get Colin White back. Martin and Rachunek awful. Vishnevski invisible. Mottau and Greene still green (pardon the pun) and Oduya is barely stabilizing his game at this point.

That said, what a game played by Martin Biron tonight. 38 saves from the Flyer goaltender, and terrific rebound control. The Devils rarely got a second chance shot, which brings up an odd point: The Devils AGAIN, dominated at periods of time. The Flyers couldn’t buy possesion on Park Place last night. It’s just one or two bad bounces, and away goes Sami Kapanen or another forward and the defense and Brodeur were just unable to handle it.

Let’s go around the league, check back at 1AM for a full recap, including attendance numbers at every rink because we know how much you love analyze those.

Marco Sturm and Mark Stuart each struck twice as the Bruins won their home opener over Tampa Bay, 5-1. The Bruins were the second to last team to open their building, the final one will happen in New Jersey’ largest city on October 27th. Unfortunately with the Red Sox still in action, the Bruins 4-2 mark has gone unnoticed in Beantown. But if Kevin Garnett doesn’t get it done with the Celtics, the spotlight will be on the black and gold once again.

Bill Guerin struck three times, his first three of the season, as the Islanders fought off a 3rd period comeback from Washington (That included Alex Ovechkin’s 4th) to win it 5-2. The Islanders are 4-2.

Check out our Ranger recap from Lenny for more on their 5-3 loss to Atlanta. Shanahan and Gomez struck late for NYR.

Nik Antropov scored with 28 seconds to go and the Leafs got off the schneid, defeating Florida 3-2. Jason Blake got his first of the year for Leaf Nation.

The Senators won a battle of two Canadian clubs, beating Montreal 4-3, and lookie here…Jason Spezza got the winner, his first goal of the season. In the “good for him” column, Nick Foligno got his first career goal. Dany Heatley (7th) and Wade Redden cashed in for Ottawa, as Guillame Latendresse, Michael Ryder and Alex Kovalev struck for Montreal.

Mike Cammalleri has goal #7 and the Kings have a 2-1 lead in Calgary. Kristian Huselius has the only Calgary goal, while Dustin Brown has the go-ahead for LA.

Edmonton and Phoenix just getting under way in the valley of the Sun.

Detroit and San Jose at 10:30.

Not a good game for the Rangers tonight. A few things from my point of view:

– I stand by the decision to sit Malik tonight. He needed a day off. The defense looked no better without him in it, but it was a necessary move. We’ll probably see him back in next game.

– Nigel Dawes is NHL ready. No questions asked.

– How in the world did Garnet Exelby get away with the charge on Prucha? And then he couldn’t man up and face someone? C’mon, if you’re going to play on the edge, expect to take some hits back. The hit was high, he left his skates and it was late. I don’t understand. The kneeing penatly was terrible as well. The officials let this game get out of hand.

– Lost in the whole game was Lundqvist’s play. The score was lopsided for most of the game, but he made some amazing saves.

– Give it up to Johan Hedberg. The Rangers are making mediocre goalies look amazing to start the year.

– Congrats to Girardi, first NHL goal. Congrats to Shanahan on his first, long overdue goal of the season. Good to see him stand up in a big way for Jagr. That is the kind of thing that will energize a team.

– There are 76 games left. We should not panic, but there should be a sense of urgency. The problem on defense needs to be addressed, and not with trading youth for Ed Jovanovski. Maybe a call up, Ivan Baranka or Liffiton looked good for Hartford, although I think Liffiton has to go through waivers. Jason Strudwick also didn’t look too bad when he was paired with Mara early in the year.

Let’s hope they rebound in a big way. And quickly. Saturday’s game will be blacked out for me most likely so I’ll check in at night. Goodnight.