Valiquette Seeing Red

Steve Valiquette had the Rangers' top line on his side, but he lost 5-1 to the Red Team, looking weak in giving up penalty shot goals to Martin Straka and Artem Anisimov and three late scrambling goals in front. Petr Prucha scored two more goals during that stretch. Chemical reactions may be the order of the day for the Drury and Gomez units, but energy is what has driven the Red Team to two wins, starting with the three gnats buzzing around their top line -- Prucha, Straka, and Ryan Callahan. These guys never quit working. Artem Anisimov got some time with them in various combinations and was outstanding, maybe the second best player on the ice after Prucha.

Mike Sauer provided the energy on defense, playing a very active role in every zone. Marek Malik was once again cool as a cucumber and routinely effective. Andrew Hutchinson, Malik's partner, is good when he controls the puck, not so good when the guy coming in one him controls the puck. He and Tom Pock seem like the exact same player, although Pock seems more creative in the offensive zone. The Blue Team got lackluster defense from Rozsival, Baranka, Pock, Corey Potter, and Clayton Barthel.

The Blue Team didn't lack for scoring chances with Gomez and Jagr continuing to look good together. They scored a gorgeous goal. Hossa carried the puck up to the blue line and dished to Jagr. Jagr dropped to Gomez and went to the net. Gomez passed across to Jagr, who rifled a high shot for his team's only goal. They made some other plays, but couldn't score. Matt Zaba, who looked like Charlotte material during the practice session preceding the scrimmage, was good during the game, especially in stopping a couple of penalty shots.

Not much on the interview front today, but we will be back late tonight or early tomorrow with Tom Renney's take on the day as well as some of Sean Avery's always interesting insights. Until then, take advantage of what looks like a nice Saturday afternoon after a rainy morning. If you must stay home and look at your computer screen, here is a short video clip of a Ranger drill from this morning [5.4 MB].

Comments

[laurie]

Czech, I have to disagree with you about Dubinsky dominating the AHL last year. Callahan most definitely did, and from the first game I saw him play in Hartford (in January) it was obvious he was a level above the rest of the players there. Of any of the other games I saw last season, the only other player to stand out in such a way was Dawes. Dubinsky had shifts where he'd dominate, but never for an entire game or stretch of games the way Cally did.

Glad to hear my two favorite prospects (Anisimov and Sauer) are doing well. Thanks for the updates Dubi. Now it's off to Manhattan to enjoy the beautiful weather and pick up our season tickets! At long last, it's hockey season!

[CML]

WOW, is Sauer HUGE compared to Straka!!

[Jess]

Folks

If you are going to disagree on things then please be civil about it.

After all we are Ranger fans not those lower life forms from Long Island.

[sheabot9000]

amen to that Jess. though i feel dubinsky will be a ranger soon, he needs to follow the example of callahan and throw himself into every situation. when he played those six games last year, he just did not wow me. Callahan wowed me from the moment he stepped out on the ice. he did this, i feel, because of the raw passion he pocesses and exudes. when i see dubinskiy, i don;t see passion.

[scinoc]

The back-up goaltending situation is a source for concern.

[Phill]

czechthemout,

Cuch has replied to you about your gripe with the Jagr line being in for the last minute with the following:

"For about the 9 millionth time: The reason the Jagr line was out there for the last faceoff in Buffalo in game 5 was because Tuytin had iced the puck with 30 seconds to go so he couldn't change lines."

I'm sorry, but what part of that don't you understand? It is not Renney's, Jagr's, Sather's, God's, or insert-name here's fault. It was Tyutin's. He iced it. NHL rule states you can't change lines if you ice the puck, thus, Jagr's line was forced to stay on.

Regardless, even if Jagr's line wasn't out there, who would you want there anyways?

[Marge]

scinoc,

I'm with you on the backup goaltending.

That reminds me: It seems damn near certain Montoya's going to be traded. Should we expect that to happen soon, or do the Rangers want to show him off with some NHL experience first?

[Colton Orrrrrrr said Knock you Out, Your gonna get Knocked Ooooout]

Lol Valley seeing red, thats a good one. That Jagr goal sounds nice, and Artie sounds like he's doing good. Err i kinda want Cally to play center so Hoss can play with Jags and Gomer, but then again i would love to see Artie center Prucha and Callahan. I dont know, i just cant wait to see some live action hockey this thursday. By the way if no one knows this, the Season preview is gonna be on the 21st 6 p.m. right before NYR vs NJD.

[imitation]

Sounds like Prucha, Callihan, & Straka have the chemistry to create havoc, & Prucha continues to show he can score. Renney is obviously not starting from scratch. It seems like he knows his opening 4 lines already. Jagr/Gomez/Hossa, Shanahan/Drury/Avery, Prucha/Callihan/Straka, Hollweg/Betts/Orr.

[Lynkx]

Yea, Those lines are very intriguing, and I love the 4th "Basher" line

[amos]

id actually like to see some more scoring potential on the fourth line. sure theyd bust heads, but surely orr and hollweg arent playing 82 games each. so who gets to platoon with them?

[Matty]

I do not see how is a certainty that Montoya is going to be traded ...

[Jess]

Marge

While I too agree with you about backup goaltending being a concern, there is nothing so far that indicates that the Rangers are giving up on Montoya and looking to trade him.

To be honest I would rather have the green Montoya or the slightly less green Vally.

Matty

Sorry but I think you missed more licking around here.

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[brian]

straka is one of the most hard working hockey players ive ever seen, ecklund is reporting that esche could sign with the rangers to back up hank

[czechthemout!!!]

phil-what about my reply did you not understand?whle it is true that tyutin iced the puck,it is also true that jagr nylander can not play defense of any kind if their life depended on it.therefore they should have not seen the ice the last 1:30.as far as who i would have put out their at the end,i would have put out my three best dfensive forwards they were orts,betts,and cullen.then you would not have been stuck with someone like nylander at the end who is not good at taking faceoffs.in fact phill,if you go back and listen to the post game news conference,renney himself said that he goofed by putting jagr's line out there on the last shift of the game.the bottom line is that renney is a poor in game coach.many have forgotten the many blunders you all were screaming about last year.but i have not,and while i will reserve judgemnet about him this year until i see what happens,i do remain very skeptical about wheather or not he is a stanley cup quality coach.

laurie-i beg to differ on your opinion on dubinsky.during his time with callahan and byers he was as dominant as callahan was.who do you thinnk set callahan up for so many of those goals?

[Marge]

1) All indications are that Montoya is going to be a starting goalie in the NHL.
2) Lundqvist is a proven quantity.
3) Montoya's not that much younger than Lundqvist, so, barring a major breakdown in Lundqvist, he's blocked in the Ranger organization.

With all those points in mind, I see it as a virtual certainty Montoya will be traded. I think Glen's just looking at when and how he can get the most value. I'd love to see Montoya given a shot as Hank's backup, but I feel like sitting for 70 games (plus or minus depending on injuries and bad performances) isn't going to do him any good.

[czechthemout!!!]

dubi-to adress what you said about dawes being disallusioned with what has happened here.i can forsee this happening with alot of other prospects who have strong camps,prove that they belong,and are forced to go down and play in the ahl becuase there is a vet who should not be there standing in their way.while it is fine to go down and play in the ahl for one year,it is NOT fine to do it 2 years in a row when you know that you are better than what is ahead of you.to prove my point about what happens here i will bet anyone that no matter how well mike sauer plays in camp this year he will NOT make the team no matter what.just watch the pre season games,renney will give him less ice time the better he plays,and then will use the garden line of "he is just not ready yet"in order to give that stiff malik his undsereved spot.so far from what i've read here and on other blogs,it seems that sauer has played extremely well,maybe even the best of all the dmen in camp.let's hope i'm wrong and that renney gives a spot to players who truly deserve them ahead of vets only because they are vets.

[Jess]

Marge

You seem to be missing the growing trend in the NHL where teams will carry 2 guys who are quality starting goalies.

What happens if Lundqvist injures a knee or suffers a concussion? No offense but lose Henrik and kiss all hopes and dreams of a good season good bye.

You do not move a goalie unless you have no other option anymore because goalies are quick to get hurt these days.