Sat NYR 3, Bruins 2
Sun NYR 3, Devils 1
Woh.
Are you as stunned as I am? This weekend the New York Rangers treated us to some of the hardest working and hardest hitting hockey we've seen all season; all this without Marian Gaborik, Vinny Prospal and Chris Drury, all out on injured reserve.
We may now be witness to the realization of the Utopian John Tortorella system and the kids are listening while the overpaid watch on the sidelines. With these kind of results, what is a coach to do when your injured are feeling better? Play Gaborik, sit Prospal & Drury? I'm just sayin....
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| Ryan Callahan has been kicking ass the last 3 games |
Tonight's win against the NJ Devils at home makes for three wins in a row (4-2-1) erasing earlier worries that we couldn't be a playoff contender. I know, I know, it's too early to even go there, but our weekend warriors pounded our opponents - the Bruins Saturday night (Official recap
here) and tonight against the NJ Devils (Official recap
here). On both occasions, the Rangers outworked our opponents, played aggressive forechecking two-way hockey for 60-minutes each game (Yeah, really!). It makes everyone believe for a moment or two or three (wins) -- they are united and they know what they need to do. Even Micky Rozsival played solid hockey (with the exception of that Kovalchuk goal in the 3rd period tonight).
I couldn't be more thrilled and we'll get to more on the games after this Kovie update:
Kovalchuck, in the first season of a 15-year, $100 million deal, returned tonight to New Jersey's lineup against the Rangers a night after he was benched by coach John MacLean for undisclosed reasons. The NJ Devils proceeded to lose to Buffalo 6-1.
Okay, so let's back up and read that again.
Trouble in paradise NJ Devil's GM Louie Laminated? Karma catching up to you 'ya salary cap dodger?' Did the bionic $100 million dollar man have words with Devil's coach McLean before the game? Perhaps Kovie is blaming everyone else around him for the Devils slumping season -- or perhaps the rest of the team is pissed that he was paid circles around what they're making? I simply love this. This is picturesque. This will continue to be a problem for the Devils. So much Devils talk for a Rangers blog, but this small digression absolutely has everything to do with the Ranger
s...
...because we won tonight. Even more than that, we controlled them tonight.
Kovalchuk back in the lineup had ZERO effect on the game, with the exception of his one goal. NY's Ryan Callahan played Kovie man-to-man much of the game, and very effectively at that, and the Blueshirts shut them down. Not until the last four minutes did we see a threatening force attacking the Rangers goal and waking up a hibernating Henrik Lundqvist. The only redeeming force on the Devils side tonight was Mahhh'ty Brodeur in goal. That's it. He prevented numerous Rangers scoring opportunities, but our boys never let up and never stopped believing. Pound the net, push forward and shoot...and shoot....and shoot..... "Gooooaaaal......."
Those last 30 seconds of defensive hockey were awesome. Thrilling, adrenaline inducing and proud moments for a fan.
The King Henrik is back with Prince Biron at his side.
Last night against Boston and tonight against the Devils are the perfect examples that we have finally left the days of the Jaromir Jagr perimeter-hockey system - or simply, the 'play the outside and look for the perfect shot' system. Even Rozsival & Dubinsky seem to be moving toward the net with more frequency. We have now entered 'dirty goal heaven' where you shoot no-matter-what and dig and grind your way in. It also appears that Tortorella's message of 'stick up for your own' is having an effect on the boys, as there haven't been many hesitations on our end to stick up for a player that might have been wronged. Yes - there were a couple of clean hits that we retaliated against (i.e. Sean Avery/Boston) but it sent the right message to not f*ck with us and keep the game fast and clean. But most importantly, we are seeing the results of "LET YOUTH BE SERVED" a bold statement made by coach John Tortorella in the off-season. We are seeing just that and these kids want it and are earning it. Amen.
We all acknowledge it's early in the season - the Rangers sit in 6th place in the Eastern Conference (NJ is 15th) but it is this crucial time that a team develops the chemistry necessary to pound through another 75 or more season games together.
Things are looking up for this young Rangers team and, for the moment, we are proud fans and proud devotees of this very special Original Six franchise.
Let's Go Rangers and see you Wednesday against The Thrashers.
tdr
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| Always A Favorite Picture of Mine....he he eh eh MAAHHHHH-TY |
