Rangers Turn One Over on the Island

Pop quiz: Why was the Rangers' four-game win streak snapped on Long Island last night? a) They were tired from playing three games in four nights against a team playing only its fourth game in more than two weeks. b) Their defense doesn't hold up when they get into a run and gun game. c) They couldn't seal the deal on the power play and then gave the Isles a chance to (and they did). d) Sean Avery giveth, Sean Avery taketh away, and Sean Avery giveth some more (unfortunately to the wrong team). Or e) All of the above.

The correct answer of course is e) all of the above. Having to take on the Devils, Flyers, and Isles in four nights is tough enough, especially with the Isles well rested, but slogging through another 0-0/1-0 game for two periods, the Rangers appeared to have nothing left in the tank. Still, they got a shot of adrenaline when they answered the Isles' early third period goal with Paul Mara's goal and then dominated a full two-minute power play and continuation of play after its expiration.

When they were set to go back on the power play, though, Avery started a scrum that ended with the referees evening out the calls. Hockey 101 -- you're getting the power play, just skate away. Discipline. Instead, Avery (having looked over his shoulder and knowing full well what was going on) ran Trent Hunter with a high elbow, causing a scrum. With Petr Prucha locked with Andy Sutton (the player who was going to be penalized for taking Prucha down), Avery came in again with facial. Prucha got the penalty, but Avery committed it.

So instead of a power play, the teams were four on four, then four on three when an errant high stick landed Dan Girardi in the box. The Rangers were unable to extend their lead to a game-sealing 3-1 on their power play, shooting wide from the point four times. The Isles on the other hand were not going to let their opportunity pass. Momentum having shifted back to them after their power play goal, they scored again less than two minutes later when Avery completed his second perfect pass to Miro Satan -- this time, unchallenged by a Ranger defense that was caught out of position by the turnover, Satan scored the game winner.

The Ranger defense, having withstood an energetic Islander attack for two periods by falling back onto their perfect five-man system (plus great goaltending), wilted in the third period when they tried to run and gun with their hosts. Having gotten only four shots on goal through the first 35 minutes of play (none for a span of more than 17 minutes and only one during a stretch of more than 21 minutes spanning the first two periods), the Rangers gunned 26 the rest of the way, 17 in the third period alone. But without the backchecking support from pressing forwards, they gave up 15 to the counterattacking Islanders.

Girardi has been an early season stalwart on defense. But he was part of all three goals against. The Isles scored early in the third period when he committed an unforced turnover along the boards and then failed to cover Hunter, who was open for a bullet of a shot top shelf. He took the penalty that allowed the Isles to tie the score at 2-2. And he, along with his defense partner Tyutin, was caught out of position when Avery's turnover opened up the ice for Satan's game winner. The other day, Girardi and Colton Orr, sitting to Jaromir Jagr's right, were kidding around, practicing interview cliches while reporters gathered around Jagr waiting for him to speak. This time, Girardi should count himself lucky not to have had to answer questions about this game.

Avery, meanwhile, would probably have liked to enforce his "rule" that reporters who criticize players have to show up at practice the next day to answer for themselves. But having been bashed after the Philly game in one of the local papers, his performance against the Isles doesn't leave him with much by way of his own defense -- and that despite his nice pass to Mara to set up his goal. And he knew it too -- you could see him cursing himself out after Satan's goal went in. Avery always takes on the blame for team losses -- this time, he has a case, at least in part.

The big question heading into tomorrow night's Garden tilt against the Penguins is who will be in net for the Rangers. Even the Amazing Lundqvist could not possibly have stopped any of those three goals against, He was otherwise good in the crease, but he may very well need a break. But against the high-scoring Pens? Maybe not the best time to test out rusty Steve Valiquette. Saturday night against the high-scoring Leafs in the Hall of Fame game? Ditto, especially with a fews days' break ensuing. Next week in one of the back to back games in New Jersey or Philly should be the tester for Valliquette.

Game reports: Daily News, Journal News, Newsday, Times, Post, AP, and NYR.com -- Islander point of view in the Daily News, Newsday, and NYI.com (written by our buddy Jason Lockhart, whose favorite all-time player is Martin Straka). Notes from before the game in the reporters' blogs -- Blueshirts Blog and Rangers Report. Interesting anecdote about Straka in Rangers Report. More on the game from Newsday and USA Today. New York Sun on Marc Staal. Toronto Star on Bobby Sanguinetti, who is Prospect Park's prospect of the month.

Comments

[ant]

You know somebody needs to ask Nolan or one of the asslanders this question:Thats a beatiful thing you do with sticks after the game really original how did you ever came up with it?

[ant]

PS i was at the game atleast 5 rangers fans got kicked out i guess thats the only wya they can balance out the fans because atleast 70% of the fans were blueshirts

[David]

Noticed Sheldon Souray has been on IR since early October with a Shoulder Seperation, we dodged another bullit (as with Peca) on that one.

[Cuch]

The Sabres pulled the same bullshit with the sticks last year two when they were eliminated by Ottawa in the conference finals. It made me sick. Here was a team lucky to survive the Rangers and then got shown who was boss by the Sens and stood there saluting their fans with a tradition they learned in NY.

[MAKO]

Ant - you are soooooooo right. I was yelling at the TV what a bunch of unoriginal punks they are for doing the Rangers salute.

Well last nights game was a heart breaker. I didnt want to read anything, write anything or talk about last nights game, but here I am. Unfortunately, you have to give it to the them, they played a good game but with all that rest of course they would have. Rangers played Philthy, Devs and the Ises in 4 days (me wonders if the schedule is set up that way on purpose LOL) Rangers played well with them, got a little sloppy but recovered and UGH I hate to say it - but if Avery would have cleared that puck - Satan would have never scored. I took phenominal goals (with our D watching them skate them in circles) to beat The King. Um, like I said a few days ago? Is Gomez playing for the Rangers? Because he did a fine job last night giving away the puck 70% of the night...

Till Pittsburgh -- ugh that is going to be a tough one.

[brian]

if anyone who wants to come see the resident pres and vice pres all in one package ill be at the pens game tommorow night section 55 ..lundqvist jersey on and all...:) happy hockey everyone, i cant stand mario part 2 aka sidney winey crosby

[rangerbill94]

While Avery may have made the pass to Satan, I believe that two Rangers were already out of the zone looking for the outlet pass. Renney's Rule was broken. I think ALL 5 Isles were in our zone.

Also, on the 5 on 3. Maybe they got all out of position, but Rozsival was the only guy in front of the net, trying to cover two guys! Were the Rangers playing a 2-1? I don't have TiVo, so I can't go back and look at it.

All these thing are opportunities to learn. Yes, they were tired by the third period, all the more reason to score early and often. The fishies played an energy game and prevented us from getting time and space. We played well, but it looked to me that we pressed right at the end looking for the go ahead goal and left the zone too early. I think Renney made a mistake after the Isles second goal. He needed to call a time our and get the running around stopped. Toward the end we got away from our game. Maybe Avery was too pumped up. But Renney needed to get control.

[Godot]

Rangerbill, I agree a well timed time out might have helped this team regain its composure, on the other hand, there were long stretches when they seemed to be playing out of the system, and one has to believe this was addressed between periods 1 & 2 and 2 & 3. In the end, there was breakdown--the more they got hemmed in their own zone, the harder they had to work, the harder they had to work, the more tired they got.

So many of the mistakes (Avery's play, Gomez's attempt to pass backward after clearing the D for a decent breakaway, Gerardi's high stick) were mental ones. Not surprising, not an excuse, just an observation.

I haven't heard much about the flu bug that a few members of the team had, but fighting even low grade flus could have furthered tuckered out an already tired team.

I hope the non-ice session today helps the team get some of its energy back. Red bulls all around!

G

[Matty who is looking for her happy place, and failing :(]

What disappointed me about last night's game, besides the loss ... DUH ... was the fact that they got away from their game which has proven to get them wins ... they simply cannot play a back and forth run and gun game, at least not until they start scoring consistently ...

It's good they go right back to the Garden for a game tomorrow, but the Pens go from looking incredible to looking mediocre on any given night so who knows what team we will get tomorrow ...

Henrik does need a break and I would've preferred him sit out last night's game just because it was a back to back affair ...

You know what else annoyed me about the game last night? VS showing the Islanders saluting their fans at their blue line when on Monday they CUT AWAY from the Rangers saluting the MSG crowd at Center Ice ... typical ...

I was bummed that Girardi was on the ice for all the GAA ... he seemed extremely upset on one of the goals, can't remember if it was the first or the 2nd ... He can't be expected to be excellent all 82 games so I am not concerned but he is one of my favorites ...

and OMG how many times was Dubinsky ROBBED? The has GOT to score sooner rather than later ...

[GEORGE]

BRIAN,It would be fun to visit with a great RANGER fan like you,but its hard for me to do because I live on the west coast,did manage to get there to see that 4game homestand last winter.GO RANGERS /HOSSA/MALIK/ DAWES/.This team will win a lot of games this season despite all the complaining I read on this web site./GO RANGERS/

[pghas]

Girardi was not on the ice for all 3 goals against, he was in the box for the tying goal....

Nobody can play a run and gun game and be successful in the nHL today - there's just too much offensive talent and it's spread fairly evenly around the league. Yeah, the Rangers have offensive talent, but it's not like they're the 1984 Oilers playing against Winnipeg every night. If you look at the teams that have success, they all play a stellar defensive game in all zones and then have lots of players who can - and do - strike quickly and convert enough opportunities when they arise (think Ottawa, Anaheim, Detroit). Heck, I don't even think Ottawa has anywhere near the caliber of goaltending that the Rangers do, but their defense corps is better overall and they have a line of guys that have been playing together and racking up points for years. That's why I think the Rangers will end up being such a nasty team to play - they'll hover around 5 games above .500, stay right in the thick of the race, and then somewhere around game 40 all of these guys who can score boatloads will stop squeezing their sticks and have learned to play together. When that happens, you can forget it. Only Ottawa will be able to compete, maybe Carolina, in the East.

[ivrydov]

You can analyze the loss anyway you want, surely the accidental stick penalty on Girardi was a killer, but the fact remains, the Rangers if they can't score more than two goals a game, are not going to pile up many victories. This is the NHL -- the goals the Isles scored were the result of skill, no one could have stopped them. Four-man attacks are the way to manufacture goals but as in the case of Mara, if he misses, and there's a big rebound you can pay on the other side. How much do you want to do that particularly if you don't have a big-time offensive defenceman with wheels? I can't criticize any individual players on this loss, but why is it that everytime I see the puck going to Gomez, I think this is going to be a screwup?

[Chris]

I still don't get the call on Prucha, if it was Averys fault you don't think that the refs would have known him enough to call him for a penalty??

I said it last night we were tired, but the Refs certainly didn't help us and the resulting 4on4-4on3 killed us.

[pghas]

"I can't criticize any individual players on this loss, but why is it that everytime I see the puck going to Gomez, I think this is going to be a screwup?"

I have no idea. Gomez has points in each of his last four games. Those don't happen by pure luck. He's obviously starting to do some things correctly. Given the other individuals involved, Gomez seems like the easiest target for our offensive woes, and not because of any merit. But his play has definitely picked up and not in the least because he's finally been put with linemates who are willing and able to jump in and play at his speed and in his element. He and Jagr were like oil and water. Each of them have distinct sttyles that have made them great players in this league for many years. Trying to pair them up and expecting them to change those styles is not a way to get the most out of any of them.

[Jason]

Prucha didn't get a penalty for the scrum, he got a penalty for holding suttons stick and sutton got a penalty for interference. There were no penalties for the scrum. I was sitting right next to the ranger penalty box and thats what happened. Prucha asked the ref why he got a penalty and the ref showed him putting his arms together agaisnt his side with suttons stick in between

[oleosmirf says keep Gomez and Jagr seperated!]

jason

so why was it a delayed penalty...

[paulf]

phgas, my problem with Gomez so far is how little he creates and how careless he hsa been with the puck. Last night Comrie created several great chances with his vision, which is what I would have expected gomez to do for us. Now, he's only been on the team a short time, so I have no doubt he will get better, but he more than anyone else has failed to live up to his potential on the scoring front. A guy with his pedigree should be creating more chances game in and game out.

Bt there are still far too many guys on this team that are not scoring. It's not just a couple of guys. Hossa and Dubinsky, Prucha, Shanahan, Gomez, even Avery and Betts are far below their prior levels.

[oleosmirf says keep Gomez and Jagr seperated!]

my problem isn't with Gomez it is with management Gomez is payed 7.3 mil and will ultimately give us just a little bit more production as Cullen. To think that he will get more than 50-60 points is a HUGE stretch. Look for 20 goals and 40 assists as the ceiling for Gomez.

[Colton Orr & Sean Avery !!! Errr !!! The Power !!!!! BUT IM FRUSTRATED !!! ERRness]

Shanny called out the Refs last season for there treatment of Jagr. Now that the refs know they cant screw Jags, they go to the next best thing, Jagr jr., Jags own house mate. Pruchs been head hunted, charged, boarded, clotheslined (if i even spelt that right?) and etc. And no calls for our little hero. The refs screwed NYR last night, and there letting every team destroy Pruchs without a call, they throw dirty hits at him, but noooo, no call. Its pathetic, and makes me sick that they would treat a player like that.

Pruchs gets charged and head hunted by Exelby - no call, next night he gets hit in the corner by some Bruin, except it was a punch to the friggin face - no call, he gets clotheslined (still dont know if i spelt that right) - no call. Im starting to wonder here. And your not gonna like me when i wonder !!!

Dubi needs a goal, he was robbed to many times. And once again, were making decent goaltenders look like HOF'ers.

[joeymole]

that was a tough loss. despite some good play i thought rangers looked a bit flustered by the islanders. so many turnovers gave the islanders added confidence and chances. really thought the rangers would break out of the offensive drought with more than 2 goals. seemed like the momentum really swung when rangers couldn't go up 3-1 with a power play goal. i think this team has to learn how to put teams away, again.

and the versus coverage, could it get any worse??!! the camera shots were awful. more of the same from versus, hope they get better as the season goes on. maybe they can watch some telecasts on canadian channels (and msg). so they can see how a game is shot. ok, enough whining about versus.

[Colton Orr & Sean Avery !!! Errr !!! The Power !!!!! BUT IM FRUSTRATED !!! ERRness]

My lines for tomorrow night...

Hossa - Dubinsky - Jagr
Shanahan - Gomez - Prucha
Dawes - Drury - Avery
Orr - Betts - Hollweg

I dont know why we have Aves with Gomer, it should be Shanny.

[Colton Orr & Sean Avery !!! Errr !!! The Power !!!!! BUT IM FRUSTRATED !!! ERRness]

It could have been 2 - 0 NYR, but the broadcast went out. But Doc was saying that Hossa nearly scored a goal that just didnt go over the line. From a great play started by Jagr. To bad. I dont wanna think about last nights game, cause WE GOT SCREWED BY THE STUPID REFS. Hopefully we win tomorrow night, and then next night, and the next and next and next. I want another winning streak.

[Colton Orr & Sean Avery !!! Errr !!! The Power !!!!! BUT IM FRUSTRATED !!! ERRness]

Seriously, the VErses camera man, must have took about 20 different sets of drugs, cause he was flopping around like a dying fish. The puck goes left, his camera goes right, during gameplay, you'd get a shot of a stupid Islander huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf, instead of the friggin GAME !!!! Morons, jsut morons. Forget Engblom, that retard looking guy, does he have eyes?? cause all i see are black dots. He's one creepy lookning guy, why couldnt Edso do the game with doc instead, errrr.

[Cuch]

Somebody mentioned earlier that they actually saw this game. All I saw was Versus losing the feed and showing me shots of DiPietro's face while the play was still going at the other end of the rink. I don't ever recall seeing a penalty that was taken, I have to assume both teams played clean games and the officiating was terrible last night because I don't remember Versus ever showing me a call.

[rangerbill94]

oleo

"To think that he will get more than 50-60 points is a HUGE stretch. Look for 20 goals and 40 assists as the ceiling for Gomez." Oleo, that adds up to 60 points! So how is it a HUGE stretch if you agree with you claim that it won't happen? Typo?

[LI Joe]

rangerbill - I think he is saying he'll get 60 pts max and that's not worth the $.

[alan]

My DVR blanked out for some reason right after the second period, and I missed the rest of the game. Oh well, good timing, I guess. Avery's performance bordered on disgraceful, and I didn't even see his gaffe in the third. Amazing how important he seems to be. Looked like have may have been doing the do with Mary Kate AND Ashley the night before!! (Maybe with Lance Armstrong too, ugh....not that there's anything wrong with that!)

I've always ranted about how overrated I thought Gomez is, but now I find myself defending him. His speed will be invaluable come playoff time.

[Chris]

"jason

so why was it a delayed penalty..."

We have a winner!!!
Thats what i was saying the whole time, it was a make up call 100%.

[Bob Merchant]

I'm usually a little juvenile at the end of a game. When we are about to drop a game into the loss column, I never give the other team the satisfaction that I watch them celebrate. I click off the TV with 1-2 seconds left.
I was appalled to see Ant's post on top. I had no idea the fishsticks would hijack our ritual. I think it is tasteless and just so damn unoriginal to steal a signature closing of the NY Rangers.
What next, do the play Sweet Caroline in the dressing room?
Hey, if you want to be a Ranger that badly, ask for a trade to the Blueshirts.
I'm disgusted!

[brian]

i posted here about a week ago the islanders were doing the stick salute after the al arbour night thing, they line up at the blueline..just another gimmick, the only difference is the islanders salute all of 7 people , where as our troops sallute 19000 strong every night...

[brian]

i love on demand on nyr.com all te interviews are amazing..

[brian]

they have an interview with hank and vally that is phenomenal.. valley knows and loves his role with the team, he says very very very mature with his situation...hell i bac up hank for half mill...

[lennynyr]

I'd back up HL for half a mil. Heard they offered the job to Jess but he wouldn't do it for less than 2 mil.

[Matty who is looking for her happy place, and failing :(]

Lenny,

I'm thinking the Rangers would pay you to stay AWAY from Henrik ;))

[lennynyr]

LOL Matty. Did Jess put you up to this?? :))

[Matty who has found her happy place :D]

LOL Matty. Did Jess put you up to this?? :))

He most certainly did not Lenny, I can come up with wittier stuff than him all on my own ;))

[lennynyr]

Matty, he's going to be disappointed to hear that. Jess is half as witty as you!! LMAO!!

[rangerbill94]

LI Joe

Gomez has averaged 64 points/season. Is somebody telling me that 4 points makes that kind of difference? No, the point is oleo didn't want Gomez signed or doesn't like him or "he a Devil". Is Gomez worth $7MM? I don't know, but somebody who pays out salaries for the NY Rangers thinks so, and that's all that counts. He is a very talented, high energy, skilled player and will have 5-8 more years with us. Where do you think salaries will be in 5 years? Gomez by then may be viewed as a bargin or he may end up a bust. I don't think he'll be a bust and I think he will be a very productive player for many years.

Let me also point out that Gomez and Mike York were always compaired to each other in their first two years. The put up similar numbers as I recall. As players figured out what Gomez was all about, his production and contibutions increased. Mike York on the other hand, and don't misunderstand I liked Mike and was not happy when he got traded, Mike never developed into what Gomez is. I think Gomer is a very unique player and as soon as his linemates begin to anticipate what he will do, look out. We have a far more potent offensive team (even though right now that is in question) than the Devils had. So I expect his point totals to go up, I'd say by as much as 15-20 points per season.

[Rob]

Lets see who they are goin to salute when they are in 10th at the end of the year, fishsticks.

LETS GO RANGERS

[LI Joe]

rangerbill - I'm not saying I agreed with him I was just giving my interpretation of what he was saying. I'm certainly not going to throw Gomez or Drury under the bus. I think Gomez with some combo of Cally Prucha Avery is a solid line. I guess on the other hand with the teams devotion to d (which I think is a good idea) points for individual players will be down. I always thought we signed the 2 centers for big occasions especially the playoffs. I'd take either over a guy like Atl's Hossa even if Hossa outscores them by 20 - points in the regular season.

[rangerbill94]

LI Joe, great point regarding Hossa. I'm not convinced yet that Renney's system will reduce scoring. Based on our current performance, I know I'm leaving myself open to criticsm, scoring is off, however we played this sytsem last year, especially the end of the season and scoring was not impacted. We are not playing a "trap", Renney simply does not want us outnumbered. Outnumbered is what got us beat last night.

[I]

G..."I haven't heard much about the flu bug that a few members of the team had, but fighting even low grade flus could have furthered tuckered out an already tired team."

Wow, is that called positive spin & is there any basis in fact on that statement besides two guys had flu symptoms about a week ago? ....are you sure it wasn't global warming? Maybe the moon was in the 7th house. They got beat for a few reasons,like the final score. it's not something needed to stretch to find excuses for. On to the next game.

[Voodoo11]

Anyone see the article on Colton Orr being the next "bachelor"? Pretty funny.

[Voodoo11]

Anyone see the article on Colton Orr being the next "bachelor"? Pretty funny.

[nyr1994ever]

Wait a minute? The fishsticks did the Rangers Salute? You gotta be kidding me. Btw, did anyone hear that Colton Orr got an invitation to be on the Bachelor? Ahaha

[ANT]

Whe is this show gong to air

[Andrea]

Hey BB fans! I'm not sure if we're allowed to this, but Dubi, you've got my address if you want to fine me or charge me for advertising. I've unexpectedly got an extra ticket for Thursday's game vs Jordan Staal and the former-Calder-nominee Penguins.

It's SEC 426, $30 and I don't charge a handling fee or anything :-)

You don't have to sit up there with me—although we're a FUN section!!! Get in and find your friends! But if you're interested, please drop me a note with NYR in the subject line, so I know to open it pronto :-)

[Andrea]

DUH! E-mail: NYRfanAG@aol.com

Come see the Original Fan Salute....

[Jess]

Uh folks

I do not know how to break this to you guys but the Ranger saluting the fans was not invented by the Rangers so can we stop going nutso about it.

I have seen junior teams do it for over a decade so if we want to get silly then should we say the Rangers stole from a bunch of kids?

Avery

Energy guys like Avery, like Hollweg and others will every once in a while have brain farts. It is the price you pay for subbing heart for talent BUT at the same time those heart players will help you steal games that you have no business winning.

At the same time, I do not blame Avery for the loss because while he hurt the team he did not cause the loss by himself, he had some help.

Hindsight

The beauty of hindsight is that you can look back and do like I am about which is second guess Renney.

One of his biggest jobs has to be to motivate the team when they are dead tired like they were. In last night's case then he should have given Vally the start and rested Henrik.

When you go with your back up many times teams will play harder because the backup has the toughest job on the team and is normally also one of the most popular guys in the locker room.

The defense "might" have played hard for Vally to support him.

The other reasons why to have played Vally last night (in my book):

The Pens are more a threat to the Rangers than the Fishies and have more weapons that you need Henrik for.

There is no way (out of respect for Messier) that you play Vally on Saturday since that one is the Hall of Fame game. Rangers owe it to Messier to play their best on the eve of his induction.

Oh and Dubi gets 2 minutes for bad typo as Bobby Sanguinetti is the "Dean Prentice Prospect of the Month".

I give that writer in the Toronto Star a ticket to the minors for his failure to do his homework on Sanguinetti as if any read what I wrote about Bobby then I keyed on the disrespect he gets for his defensive play.

It is just like Leetch, everyone remembers his offensive skills but Leetch was one heck of a defender in his prime.

[LI Joe]

Jess - I think The King will play both remaining games this week. After Toronto there are 3 days off. I'm guessing he'll rest either vs Philly on the road as part of 3 in 4 days or one of the 2 games in Fla. Then at Atl and 1 of the 2 in Minn or Colorado. And 1 of the 1st 3 games in January. These later 2 starts would seem to be no brainers as they are against the west.