In this dry season, the Rangers haven't scored much through fancy passing and 30-plus shots a game.
Last night against Tampa, they continued to shoot, with one extra addition, they went to the net and stayed there.
"We talked about putting pucks on the net, but also having bodies there, having screens there, working the blue paint, getting the greasy goals. That's the way we are going to have to score," said coach Tom Renney.
Jaromir Jagr, who lost the handle on a breakaway in the second period, scored on a power play in the third with Brendan Shanahan screening goaltender Johan Holmqvist and Shanahan scored while battling two Tampa defenders 2:44 later with a man-advantage. Jagr, missing front teeth and sporting a swollen lip thanks to an errant puck, had a game-high six shots.
Chris Drury had assists on both, and won 15 of 22 faceoffs. Jagr also recorded an assist, and has 11 points in 11 games.
Shanahan, who assisted on Nigel Daews' third goal in three game that opened the scoring in the first period, raised his career totals to 629 goals and 670 assists for 1,299 points
And then there was Henrik Lundqvist, who denied Tampa's Vinny Prospal at least three times, and has allowed two goals or fewer in eight of his 11 starts. The lone tally las night was a Vinny Lecavalier penalty shot.
The celebration shouldn't last too long. The Rangers still have just 19 goals in 11 games, the lowest total in the league.
But the two power-play goals in seven chances represents a start, especially after ranking 24th in the league with a man up. And scoring just three goals overall in the three previous games.
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Next up, a day off tomorrow before regrouping Wednesday in advance of Thursday's visit by the Caps.
Enjoy....
Comments (36)
Why is Renney still giving Staal so little icetime? Actually he was giving him a lot more icetime in the fiest few games than last few.
Wow guys a few Blueshirts in front of the net to screen the goaltender and distract the opponents defensemen...what a novel idea Renny...
As to Staal... Renny might have noticed he is a "nice" defensemen who doesn't bring much to the dance... no blaring mistakes, but nothing to write home about either...he has taken 8 shots in 11 games and is a minus -2. The backline in total have taken 83 shots for a total of 12 points (4 goals 8 asists), collectively they are a minus -8. Staal has to do better... less than a shot on goal per game?... never mind about points. I too cetainly realize he doesn't get the ice time the others do, but he has to be bold.
The Rangers won tonite I am gleeful, but cautious...if we don't get more offense from the backline...we are not going anywhere. Ever notice when the Rangers are moving the puck around well in a 5 on 5 situation down low the opponents are all down low too? No one is assigned to the D men up top... the opponent plays one man high, to cover both... because there is little threat of a shot or any power from the Blueshirt backline.
By the way Rosi and Malik have 27 shots and 9 points.... the strongest of the weak backline (and I should mention spend likely more time with Jagr on the ice). Girardi and Tuytin have 36 shots and 2 points, each a goal. Mara 9 shots and a point in 9 games. Staal has to show more...
Christopher,
you sound like a pretty intelligent guy...
Staal is 20 years old!!!
Lets give him time, I think they are doing the perfect thing with him. He is playing about 12 minutes a night, he gets to play in some key situations.
I think he has played terrific defensively and if this team had scored on half on the golden opportunities it has had so far this season, he would be a PLUS player like everyone else would be.
How can you fault him for being a MINUS 2 when he is on a team that has had such a problem scoring goals?
It was a great night at the Garden last night, I know most of the people who come to complain on this blog don't actually go to the games, so thought I would just tell you. I am not saying if you don't go to the games you are not a real fan but.....well, yes I am actually...
Last night the King should have had another shutout, the penalty shot call for Lecavalier was complete B.S.
Another night where we completely dominated in shots on goal and puck possession. A lot of posts and crossbars.
Big night coming Thursday, lets post our first back to back wins, get closer to .500 and get goin here boys!
Seeing Rangers in front of the net all game long is a sight for sore eyes. Seeing Dawes get an "Adam Graves" type tip in is also something we need to see more of.
It was also fantastic to see Betts get a breakaway (although he was foiled before he got the shot off), and holy cow does anyone remember how Hollweg skated the puck from his own blue line and then blew by the defense for a tricky shot on goal?
When these 3rd & 4th liners find the space to make those types of moves, it creates room for the heavy hitters to work.
I'm really excited to see how this home stand plays out.
You guys need more then me out there. This team plays the trap. Should of got Pandolpho not Gomez.
who instead of Gomez?
I think there should be a rule.
You cannot be a troll unless you know how to spell.
If you give the young kids a chance to play and grow you never know what you have. If Hossa and Straka did not get hurt would Nigel be up here?
It is about time the Rangers give the young talent some playing time. And not 8 minutes either. Get Hossa off the 1st line and put Prucha there.
I can see if they called a penalty against Malik on the Lecavalier breakaway, but a penalty shot ?
Hossa was good on the PK !
414,
how many times do you feel you need to remind everyone that if there weren't injuries Dawes wouldn't be here? You said it 37 times.
If Wally Pipp didn't get hurt, Gehrig wouldn't have played either.
Hossa played really well last night from what I saw, he is actually only 11 months older than Prucha.
Betcha didn't know that?
Effigy,
there was absolutely no way it was a penalty shot.
When they showed the replay on the scoreboard we freaked. But, there was this feeling that Henrik would stop any penalty shot, Vinny made a nice move.
The rules have changed, we all know it. The rule with the penalty shot these days is pretty much "if the player would've had a better shot if he was not touched, then the penalty shot is awarded."
Since the Rangers defender had his stick on Lecavaliers hands, thats gonna get the call from the ref.
Henrik is incredible in those situations, but he cant be blamed, because the move that Vincent Lecavalier put on him was awesome.
Hossa may never be more than talent wasted, but when he plays hard. he is a force on the boards and in front of the net. He plays physically and is smart with the puck. Unfortunately, he can't finish consistently.
Every hockey player makes dumb passes and mistakes. Anyone who has ever played the game understands that. Malek and Rozy do everything asked of them. It isn't their fault that they are being asked to be a number one D pair when they are really a strong number two (some of you will wonder if this is a double entoundre)
Mara is another hard working guy who cares. He isn't gifted with
the most talent, but he's the kind of player you go to war with; ditto Strudwick.
Renney is a Torre clone; loyal to his stars and conservative in strategy. A good coach, but not a guy who will win the cup here.
Too bad we let Tortarella get away. He's too independent for the likes of Sather. When the new owners in Tampa dump Torts and Jay Feaster (the GM), the Rangers should grab him.
The post-game with Jags was the first time I've seen the fire in his eyes this year. Maybe, with Shanny's help, they will wake up this amazing athlete.
I have been posting on Rangers blogs for years.
I guarantee you, there was not one person who clamored to keep Tortorella when we let him go.
And if you think that Torterella wouldn't overplay the stars here guess again.
Minutes on the ice last night for T.B.
Lecavalier: 23:58
Richards: 24:02
St Louis: 25:22
The Lightning absolutely generated nothing offensively all night. So, how did Tortorella change things up? Did he bench one of his stars to try and get his point across like everyone here accuses Renney of not doing?
No, Tortorella played his stars even more. So, this theory that if Tortorella was coach, he would play the kids more is complete B.S.
Additionally regarding Tortorella....
how many people would have come on this blog and just bitched all day if Jan Hlavac and Jason Ward totaled 30 minutes of ice time between the two of them like they did for the Lightning last night?
You come on our blog ONE MORE TIME and I will ruin this blog daily....
Consider yourself warned!
jd
who are u talking to?
ah yes because grown ups threaten blogs. Get a life you failure
Jimbo,
Going out and signing big names doesn't work out. . There are young talent in Hartford that deserve a chance to play. Revis and Harris on the Jets are rookies and played well the other day for a dismal team. Joba and Hughes were great for the Yanks. Can't keep going out and saying wow he is a big splash for us. The Rangers could of signed Drury and kept Cullen as a 2nd line center. I guess he was too good for Sather.
So yeah I will keep saying it. Hossa is a 3rd liner and doesn't belong on the 1st line. The Rangers need scoring on the 1st line.
Young kids bring hunger and enthhusiasm to a locker room
Do you honestly recall any other time in recent Ranger history where we had so many young players playing with this team?
Cullen is older than Gomez, there is another by the way for ya....
Sect 414,
you are still complaining about Dawes not playing even when he is playing.
We all love Dawes, the kid is here to stay.
BE HAPPY
Sect 414 do you think we should trad Jagr for some soul glow?
I was thinking more for a toaster and free checking @ the Rock!
All my fault. For I destroy the Isles blog, so enjoy!
Renney shows no confidence in Staal, and it will likely result in Staal losing confidence in himself.
"It was also fantastic to see Betts get a breakaway (although he was foiled before he got the shot off), and holy cow does anyone remember how Hollweg skated the puck from his own blue line and then blew by the defense for a tricky shot on goal?
When these 3rd & 4th liners find the space to make those types of moves, it creates room for the heavy hitters to work. "
now imagine it was Moore and Korpikoski instead of Betts and Hollweg and likely those 2 plays would result in goals.
Is this place ever going to change for the better? Mostly a bunch of opinionated holier than thou types complaining/arguing to see who has the bigger “stick”. Has anyone ever noticed that the next guy to post something knows more than the last? Thankfully there are a few people around here posting common, well thought out, yet debatable conversational pieces to utilize this blog for what it is. But their efforts are lost to back and forth bickering with the inability to come to the common agreement, simply to disagree. Why are things like this? Does it take too much pride to admit a conversational defeat? Having to admit stupidity if only for a moment seems more difficult than it should be.
Sharing an opinion is one thing. To remark to the intelligence of the poster instead of the comment itself is more childish than that guy posting under 5 different names talking to himself all day.
I’ve noticed a lot of the regulars are not here everyday anymore. Could the problem be you?
Ok, hockey talk time;
Dawes, could it be that the New York Rangers have the sleeper superstar rookie in the mist of a break out season? Could the New York Rangers who are playing one of the youngest teams in the league, and it’s youngest I think in my life time, be ready to right this ship with Drury and Jagr performance last night? There really is a ton of things to be excited about.
Spector (I also hate Eeklund) finally got around to commenting on the Edmonton, Rangers rumors. Who goes, who comes. Are they really worth the time and energy of debate? Discussing a Jagr trade… ???
THRASHERS SHOPPING FOR HELP.
ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION: Craig Custance reported Monday Thrashers GM Don Waddell has been working the phones of late both in search of a new head coach as well as seeking depth for his club. Waddell admits speaking to "nine general managers". Custance notes the Thrashers need help both at center and on the blueline. Waddell also said he's been in touch with Marian Hossa's new agent, Ritch Winter.
Spector's Note: As noted above the Thrashers have been following the Oilers lately so something might be brewing there. Don't expect Hossa to be part of any deal this early in the season unless the talented forward tells Waddell he plans to test next summer's UFA market. Until that happens, Hossa won't be shopped.
trade me for Kozlov
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Jim Matheson reported Monday Atlanta Thrashers Director of Player Personnel Mark Dobson has been following the Oilers three times in recent weeks, leading Matheson to speculate if something's up. Matheson observes the Oilers need a puckmoving defenceman among other things. Matheson also reported Oilers veteran blueliner Dck Tarnstrom, signed by the club to a one-year, $2 million contract, may be the odd man out on the team's blueline has been a healthy scratch in two of the club's last three games despite the fact the Oilers top two defencemen, Sheldon Souray and Joni Pitkanen, are out with injuries. Youngsters Tom Gilbert and Denis Grebeshkov have been seeing more ice time leading to the reduction of Tarnstrom's. Matheson noted the Thrashers following the Oilers and suggested the NY Rangers might also have interest as they're believed seeking an offensive d-man.
Spector's Note: Hat tip to Serge St Onge for the first link. The Thrashers desperately need more blueline depth, and Tarnstrom's salary would be more affordable for the Rangers than Ed Jovanovski's or Derek Morris', although they'd still have to move over $2 million to comfortably afford it.
we don't need Tarnstrom and we don't need more offensive defensemen, we got plenty.
Last Cup Lightning-2004
Last Cup Rangers-1994
Tortorella-1 Renney-0
If they didn't let Khabibulin get away, they had the team to repeat.
Vinny L.-Marty St L-Vinny P. better than any line the Rangers have. Deserve the ice time because they deliver. Check the stats.
Hlavic was on our number one line with Nedved and Dvorak; not saying he's a star, but he has talent; Ward is a hard-working grinder and a good guy in the locker room.
Check the Red Wing stats for ice time for their top line; ditto the Flyers; most good teams ride their stars.
if you have people trolling on your boards its once again two of you coming over after a win and starting stuff...where are they during the losses or the millions of dollars not scoring..but it is one or two rag posters..so i do not want to hear its our fault it is your fans again..i apologize to the real fans who blog but why bother us unless you want to talk about hockey
have a good day
As should the Rangers
The Lightning could not generate one iota of offense last night.
Why did Tortorella continue to keep sending his stars out there if they weren't getting it done?
I thought the theory around here is, if your stars aren't producing, you sit them down and make them pay for it, or is this only the case if you are Tom Renney?
Here ya go, we are the best defensive team in the NHL and when the puck starts going in, we will be the best team in the NHL.
Yeah, I said it, and I believe it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMD5Cs3Gag0
best defensive teams:
Columbus
Ottawa
hmmmmm.