After the Canadians went up 2-0 in the first period, I stopped posting on my favorite Ranger messageboard over at the HockeyRodent. I literally threw in the towel and proceeded to start the three loads of wash waiting for me in my basement laundryroom. The Rangers looked really slow in the first period. After playing 3 games in 4 days this week, a let down seemed to be in the cards.

Shame on me for being so hasty and writing them off after one period. This afternoon’s game brought me back to the HockeyBird Game last January at the Garden. The Rangers were down 5-0 to the Ottawa Senators and came back with four unanswered goals. They pulled to within a goal but lost that game.They went down fighting. 

Whereas earlier in this season (hell earlier in January) if the Rangers were down by a couplathree goals, it was almost a guaranteed loss. Lately, the Rangers they are finding ways to win.  Things are coming together. Icetime is being well managed across four lines. All the players, veterans included, are engaged and focused. They are being responsible with the puck. Maximum effort is being expended at crucial times.

The Rangers have become strong down the middle. Gomez is clicking with Jagr. Dubinsky has been a revelation and Chris Drury has come into his own on the third line with Dawes and Prucha. Blair Betts has been solid centering the fourth line as well as killing penalties all season.

In other words, everyone is doing their job and it’s about time. I remember hearing myself say in the past that the Rangers should conserve their energy for their playoff run. What’s the point of killing yourself early in the season? After all, what benefit do the Red Wings get by busting their ass and winning the President’s Trophy only to be eliminated by an eight place team in the first round? Then, when the Rangers are in the doldrums, I point to the Red Wings winning culture and asking why the Rangers can’t develop a winning culture. I guess you can’t have it both ways.

I prayed that Renney would keep Jagr off the ice at the end of the game.  The Rangers fought back to make it 4-3. This season Jagr has been a defensive liability with the puck late in games and has been too damn slow. This afternoon, that was not the case.  Jagr did no harm.  In fact, he was an assest. Straka got the tip in from Mara, assisted by Gomez but it was kept in by Jagr.

Shanahan has been hurting lately and Renney sat him today and played Callahan. Shanahan turned 39 on January 23 and clearly has slowed down. He needs to be rested for the stretch run. Ryan Callahan deserves another shot at the Big Show. He played well today. He brought his grit, energy and a willingness to go to the net. He was a shot in the arm last season. Let’s hope he can stay up, that Renney can keep rolling four lines and run with six defensemen.

Lastly, despite what a clearly biased panel of commentators on NBC said, Ryan Hollweg does not deserve to be suspended by the NHL. Was it a boarding penalty? Yes. But, Kostitsyn was in possession of the puck, he had his head down and he turned his back at the last minute. Hollweg didn’t leave his feet. Sure, he could have put on the breaks. The fact that he skated away from that check and was surprised at the Montreal retaliation is an indication to me that in his mind, Ryan thought he just simply made a hard check.

Mike Milbury, of all people, is the last person in the world to be part of a panel of commentators calling for Hollweg’s suspension. Afterall, Ryan didn’t go into the stands and beat someone with his shoe. He may be reckless but he isn’t “Mad”. This victory tastes all the more sweet because the Ranger’s got to show their stuff on NBC.

The Rangers won despite the usual ice tilting that goes on when they play in Canada and on National TV. I didn’t hear the NBC commentators heaping ebullient praise on the Rangers for this victory as they usually do for the other teams they televise. They make Barry Melrose look like Edward R Murrow.  Where is John Buccigross, anyway?

 

Posted under New York Rangers