The Rout Is On

Starting for the Rangers -- Gomez centering Shanahan and Dawes. Girardi with Tyutin on D. The Isles have brought their B team, leaving many of their NHL players home. Dawes avoids a hit, then hits Aaron Johnson hard into the end boards. Second line -- Drury between Prucha and Straka. Malik and Rozsival on defense. Third line -- Betts, Callahan, Hossa. Strudwick and Staal on D. Fourth line -- Dubinsky with Orr an Hollweg. That makes Anisimov the scratch up front along with the injured Jagr and Avery, Pock and Mara down on D. Dawes hits Johnson again.

Rangers all over Isles early with 8-0 shot advantage in first three minutes. Isles get some action and a power play -- Lundqvist making the saves, but not looking too steady in the process. Girardi flattens Bergenheim in open ice, but Shanahan gets a slashing penalty. Rangers finally get a power play -- trying Rozsival on the left point with Straka on the right, almost set up an open net goal for Prucha (how did it not go in?). Pre-season and the fans are already yelling "Shoot!" on the power play -- and Jagr and Nylander aren't even out there!

Bergenheim outraces Rozsival to a loose puck and sweeps a backhander through Lundqvist -- lackluster D, lackluster goaltending. Tempers flare over Islander hitting Ranger defenseman after icing touch, but it settles down quickly. First period ends with the Rangers down 1-0 despite have myriad chances to score against an Islander team bereft of most of their top players.

Opening minute of second, shot gets through Lundqvist and sits behind in the crease. Rangers get power play seconds later -- need to ratchet their game up to regain control. Gomez splits D with deflected puck, backhander initially stopped, rolls in over MacDonald's back to tie the score. They nearly score again off ensuing face-off. Islander point shot sails in, but is negated by goalie interference. Hollweg hits Campoli -- called for high sticking, though it looks like his stick never came up. Rangers kill it off easily.

Shortly thereafter, Gomez down left wing, cross-ice to Shanahan on right wing, bullet top shelf puts Rangers up 2-1. Straka deflects Girardi shot, 3-1. Shanahan blasts another one in, 4-1. With the rout on, and my battery dying, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that the Isles are not going to overcome this 4-1 lead, not with Morrison in goal, and sign off until later... unless things explode with the Isles, not known to be the most sportsmanlike of competitors, getting frustrated -- and so it happens before I can even turn off my computer, Dubinsky takes on Johnson, rebounds from going down early to land some hard lefts that leave Johnson reeling.

Comments

[Matty]

You know ... that's a goal that Henrik normally saves ... Just seems that Henrik is not up to his normal "speed" .. like he's a bit slow to react is what I am seeing as opposed to when he's at the top of his game ...

A bit of temper from the players there near the end of the period ...

[Jeff L.]

Man, what the hell is going on with these guys? Most of 'em look like they'd rather be somewhere else, especially the vets. Shanny looks terrible, Malik looks nothin short of HORRID, Lundqvist still looks pretty much like shit. We can't even score a goal against the friggin Islanders, who aren't even skating their normal guys?? This is depressing.

[Matty]

2-0 Rangers ... Shanny with an amazing shot ...

Jeff, in all fairness, even before these two goals ... they were not looking as horrible as you described

[Matty]

I meant ... 2-1 Rangers

[Matty]

hmm, guessing that goaltenting change for the Isles isn't helping ...

3-1 Rangers ... Marty Straka scores!

[Ryan]

Shanahan sure has looked terrible.... haha

[lennynyr]

Dawes looking good, set Shanny up for 2 goals.

[Andrew A.]

Keep Dawes up! He's really meshing!

[Matty]

Perhaps Dawes realizes that he is extremely close to making this roster and being given significant ice time and it's now or never ... he's looked extremely good in this game as has Shanny and others ...

[lennynyr]

Dawes, Shanny and Gomez got chemistry. Let them stay together.

What's up with Avery? Is he hurt?

[Matty]

lennynyr

They say it's a leg injury of some sort but aren't being specific and say they are just being overly cautious

[Andrew A.]

Why isn't Jar playing?

[Andrew A.]

Jagr

[lennynyr]

That's Matty, maybe he hurt it chasing Paris Hilton! :)))

[lennynyr]

Jagr, I heard they want to rest his hip. Said he got a hip flexor.

[jason]

hip flexor... wont be playing tomorrow but should be fine for next week

[mr. marshal]

My Lines:

Hossa/Straka Drury Jagr
Dawes Gomez Shanahan
Prucha Dubinsky Avery
Callahan Betts Hollweg/Orr

Fedor Girardi
Staal Mara
Malik Rolly

Montoya the back up

[Andrew A.]

Good line up! Malik feels like a weak link... Hope Jags is 100%.

[czechthemout!!!]

i just have one question,how does malik still have a job here? The man is simply an inept dman who does not no how to play.

[Marge]

marshal

i really think callahan needs to be on a scoring line to be effective. that said, moving callahan off the fourth line means moving someone else down. in the end i think hossa has to be on the fourth line and that dubinsky and dawes just can't both fit unless someone gets injured.

[kovazub94]

Going home from the game. Sat 4 rows behind Rangers bench. Avery was sitting one row down in the next section. He left 5 minutes before the end of the second period before I had a chance to come over and wish him good luck. Maybe he got nervous because his place on the line with Shanny is not 100% guaranteed. Surprisingly, MSG had "Sweet Caroline" in the middle of the 3rd period. Also, the team made their victory salute in the center ice after the game. Shanny looked much better - the whole line did. Dubi played with energy and won his fight in the last minutes of the second. Straka was good yet again. The King is way off his royal form from the end of last season. That includes a gimme first goal and plenty in front of the goal rebounds. Defense was generally solid except for a few plays when they seemed to loose their positions. Girardi stood out again. I don't know where he was or what he did during summer but it definitely shows especially offensively.

[kovazub94]

Going home from the game. Sat 4 rows behind Rangers bench. Avery was sitting one row down in the next section. He left 5 minutes before the end of the second period before I had a chance to come over and wish him good luck. Maybe he got nervous because his place on the line with Shanny is not 100% guaranteed. Surprisingly, MSG had "Sweet Caroline" in the middle of the 3rd period. Also, the team made their victory salute in the center ice after the game. Shanny looked much better - the whole line did. Dubi played with energy and won his fight in the last minutes of the second. Straka was good yet again. The King is way off his royal form from the end of last season. That includes a gimme first goal and plenty in front of the goal rebounds. Defense was generally solid except for a few plays when they seemed to loose their positions. Girardi stood out again. I don't know where he was or what he did during summer but it definitely shows especially offensively.

[imitation]

it seems most want to downplay Dawes who was #3 star tonight. It amazes me the pro-kid crowd favor Dubinsky & have no problem sending Dawes down. Renney found a line tonight, all 3 got stars Shanhan , who looks much better on the right side especially with left hand shots feedng hm, Gomez , nice goal, & Dawes at least 3 good passes and was not out of place. Staal looked shaky, Dubinsky was half invisible.

[nyr1994ever]

Shanny would like to dedicate his performance tonight to the idiots who claimed he was "losing his touch"

[imitation]

nyr those are the vet haters who like to use the term mercenary.

[imitation]

czech were you at the game to make that statement on Malik?

[kovazub94]

I don't see anyone downplaying Dawes impact in these comments. Dubi was playing with Hollweg and Orr - enough said.

[ogie]

Will people stop fretting over the level of intensity in the play of some of the vetern players....PLEASE! It is pre-season, if Lundqvist went out there tonight and stood on his head to make every save and got hurt, you would all be bitching tommorow about how he should have taken it easy in pre-season. Most of the older guys who have their spot in the lineup locked in use the pre-season just to get their legs back under them. It is the young guys and guys on the lower lines that need to go 100% becasue they are the ones fighting for a job. So everyone before you post about lackluster play take a deep breath and repeat after me "IT IS JUST PRE SEASON...IT IS JUST PRE SEASON...IT IS JUST PRE SEASON...IT IS JUST PRE SEASON...IT IS JUST PRE SEASON...IT IS JUST PRE SEASON...IT IS JUST PRE SEASON...IT IS JUST PRE SEASON...IT IS JUST PRE SEASON...IT IS JUST PRE SEASON."

[JohnM]

At the game tonight. I agree on Dawes. He plays real well with Gomez and Shanny. Gomez and Shanny fit like a glove. THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PART OF THE RANGERS TONIGHT WAS THE OFFENS WAS BEING GENERATED IN THE CENTER OF THE OFFENSIVE ZONE. Very high percentage shots from the slot area . NOT MUCH WAS GENERATED FROM BEHIND THE NET OR THE SIDE BOARDS. A much welcome change. Stall is playing ok.Not great like Dawes and Dubinski or Callahan. Strudwick was ok also.Tyutin moved into the offense alot. STILL WAY TOO MUCH ROOM IN FRONT OF HENRIK. NO BODY CHECKING IN OUR SLOT.

my lines;

Straka-Dubinski-jagr
Dawes -Gomez-Shanahan
Callahan-Drury-Prucha
Avery-Betts- Orr/Hossa

Defense is a toss up but on pp it should be Tyutin-Mara-Pock- rotation

[baron34]

How can anybody diss Dubinsky when he was saddled with 2 boat anchors (Orr and Hollweg) and got limited time with the 4th line? (great move, "coach")

Dubi played well, made some real nice passes which of course weren't converted, and won his fight. What more can you ask of him from the 4th line?

Conversely, Betts can't pass to save his life. Quite a few times Callahan was open and Betts muffed the pass. Renney has got to get Betts off the 3rd line and put someone there who is a passer (Dubinsky).

Put Betts who can't pass with Orr & Hollweg who can't convert and you have a dream 4th line. Just go out and hit everything that moves.

[Jess]

You know it is getting really old when I come here and see the same people with the name calling.

Hiding behind screen names seems to give people courage and poor manners.

Grow up already and learn to be civil because we are not even at the start of the season and I just know that the namecallers will get worse as the season happens.

[oleosmirf]

Line Combos

To be honest im stumped, I can't really figure out what the lines will be this year, I just can't. Drury will center Jagr but who will the other wing be. Straka or Hossa. I would think Straka. Gomez and Shanny played very well together and Dawes was very impressive with them. But then what do you do with Avery and Hossa. Im going to say Avery is on that line. Prucha and Callahan will be the wingers but who is the center. I'm going to out on a limb and say Blair Betts centers the third line. Orr and Hollweg are going to be needed almost every game and they have both tried to contribute offensively as well instead of just running and hitting people. The first 2 defensive lines are set. Staal showed tonight that he needs a little more work before he becomes truly ready however he could possibly be on the team. Mara will be in the line-up because of his shot and pock and strudwick will alternate depending on the opponent. plus malik and tyutin will be spelled once in a while. Montoya could back-up but there is no need for that. Valiquette will be here unless the fact that he sliced his hand open becomes a factor.

My Guess

Straka-Drury-Jagr
Avery-Gomez-Shanahan
Prucha-Betts-Callahan
Hossa-Hollweg-Orr

Malik-Roszival
Tyutin-Girardi
Mara-Pock

Lundqvist
Valiquette

Healthy Scratches: Strudwick,Dawes,Dubinsky

Hartford: Anisimov, Staal, Montoya

[oleosmirf]

I feel the reason Dubi was on the 4th line is because thats what Renney envisions him for this season as a gritty 3rd-4th line center. To have him on a line with Jagr is ridiculous. I personaly believe that he should center the 3rd line but (IN RENNEY'S EYES) Betts has earned that right over Dubinsky to start the year. Most impressive players I saw tonight were Callahan, Dawes on offense and Girardi who played the best game out of everyone and Strudwick on defense. And people stop hating on Malik. If he is so bad then why in his time in new york does he always have one of the highest +/- on the team and he doesnt play the power play. All he has to do is stop trying to play goalie on the penalty kill and he'll be fine

[Inferno]

Dubi.

Just an FYI, at higher resolutions, the page gets totally screwed up when you embed the pics the way you do here. here, check out a screenshot from my browser...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v297/inferno272/desktop-1.jpg

[spkaceswild]

Hi Guys

Jess, lennynyr - you might remember me from NYT

I wanted to give my thoughts on the kids vs vets argument.

To defend those who argue for the kids to play, I believe their (and mine as well) dissatisfaction stems from a lack of trust when it comes to Sather & Co. The great purge of 2004 was either complete incompetence on Sather & Maloney's parts or a sham to begin with. And I say this having given them the benefit of the doubt at the trading deadline that year.

Whether you wanted a rebuild or not, that is what Sather promised the fans. The fact is not one kid has cracked the top two forward lines since then. That's either one pathetic rebuild or Sather never had any intention of truly rebuilding this team.

Teams a lot more talented than the Rangers have been able to incorporate youth into their lineup. And I don't mean the likes of Hollweg and Ortmeyer on the fourth line.

[oleosmirf]

spkaceswild

05-06 was really a rebuilding year expect jagr went nuts and lundqvist and prucha emerged everything went right for the rangers that year. jason ward, blair betts, ortmeyer, moore were playing on the third line. As for rookies not playing alot it goes back to the man who ruined the rangers, John Schmukler circa 1998

[spkaceswild]

Continuing...

I like Drury and Gomez, but the contracts Sather gave them are absolutely crazy. I don't agree with the arguments for these contracts such as 1) these were market prices and years and 2) these will be bargains down the line. Because Philly was stupid enought to give Briere his 7 yr 49 mill contract, we were obliged to do the same. Because Drury has intangibles, he's worth 5 years 35 mill?

You do NOT give a guy 7 mil a year for 5 years for scoring 70 points. And Gomez? Nice player, but 13 goals.

IMHO, these are Holik contracts (even worse). Holik - nice player - but paying him as if he was a superstar didn't make him one.

I think the main source of the disagreement between those who want to see kids play vs the vets is the perception of how close the NYR were to winning last year.

I simply don't believe we were close to beating the Sabres last year. I just don't buy that if we had gotten a few calls, we would've won. But for argument's sake, let's say we were. Did the Sabres win the Stanley Cup? No, they were beaten badly by the Sens who were then beaten by the Ducks. Too much focus was put on the Sabres series.

Since the great purge, Sather has made sure there are high priced vets to take up spots. Therefore, the three training camps since haven't really been competitive. When kids have had good training camps, they've gotten pats on the back and little else.

One of the biggest defenses of Sather's moves is once these vets retire or their contracts expire, then the kids will play. Sorry, I don't buy it. There will always be plenty of free agents for Sather to sign. The only example in three years of Sather giving a spot to a kid outright is Tyutin. That's not enough of a track record to make me believe he will give Shanahan's or Straka's spots to kids. I don't count 4th liners who play a handful of minutes.

[oleosmirf]

The Rangers will have at least 4 rookies on the opening day roster with 2 definates Girardi and Callahan. Montoya, Anisimov, Staal, Dubinsky, Dawes are all rookies too so there will be youth in New York just depends on how much ice-time they get

[oleosmirf]

Should the Rangers have signed Gomez at 7.3 mil no but if it wasnt for Drury the Rangers could have been Stanley Cup champions who knows. Drury has been a clutch player and winner everywhere he has played. He is a finisher something the Rangers lacked last year I would have resigned Nylander who came into his own during the playoffs but from what I understand he wouldnt sign for 3 years so. I would have much rather had Briere but thats a little greedy. The Rangers need a big-time offensive defenseman like Bryan McCabe. How many times when Jagr cycles around and passes to Malik and Roszival do they miss the net. McCabe has one of the best shots from the point in the game. and would take some of the focus off Jagr on the power play. The forwards are perfectly fine just a number 1 defenseman is something Sather needs to focus on come the deadline.

[spkaceswild]

Finally...

I realize I won't be very popular with these posts. I am a big fan and I hope we win the Cup this year.

There was also a perception from management (and apparently much of the fan base) that as long as Jagr was on the roster we'd have to surround him with vets and go for it. Some people are optimistic that once he's gone, this can change. Let me ask those who believe this, we just signed two 7 mil centers for at least the next 5 years. We're not going to have the same philosophy with them as we did with Jagr?

Dawes - just to echo the sentiments of others - unless you put him on one of the top two lines and keep him there, you might as well trade him. He's not making this (or any other) team based on defense. So if you don't think his offense translates to the NHL now, no sense in sending him back to Hartford.

Prucha - top two lines or nothing

Callahan - right now is fine for a third line that gets a regular shift. But if you kill your top two lines, his development is stunted on the third.

If you're looking to incorporate youth into the lineup, then it is smart to roll at least three lines. Right now on the NYR making the third line doesn't mean anything.

[spkaceswild]

oleosmirf

I certainly respect your opinion. We will have to agree to disagree.

This year's trade deadline scares me. If we are in fact going for it this year, and we have glaring weaknesses at the deadline, you're telling me Sather's not going to consider trades for vets?

If Sather and Co. finally realize that our top pairing of Malik and Roszival are awful (which is my opinion), is he going to call up Staal and Sauer to save the day (which they won't be able to do)? No, of course not, and he shouldn't with that in mind. But he also isn't going to say to himself that... okay, my bad, we're not good enough, sorry. He's going to do exacly what you said. And what is a #1 defenseman (or should we say the best available) going to cost?

Let me clarify something I posted earlier - it is always smart to roll at least three lines, not just when you want to incorporate youth.

[spkaceswild]

oleosmirf

I also can't agree with you when you say that if it wasn't for Drury, we could have been Cup champs.

First, there were several Sabres players we couldn't deal with, the biggest one being Miller.

Again, did the Sabres win the Cup?

Second, I can name several players on the Senators and the Ducks we wouldn't have been able to deal with.

[Dennis]

After last nights game....

Straka-Gomez-Jagr
Avery-Drury-Shanahan
Callahan-Dubinsky-Prucha
Hollweg-Betts-Hossa/Orr

Malik-Roszival
Tyutin-Girardi
Staal-Mara
Strudwick

[NCSteve]

Finally got the game on the satellite. Great second period with some pretty goals. Looks like Dawes put his stamp on the game, keeping himself alive for the final roster. (Can't imagine the Rangers would TRADE him just cause he wouldn't be on a top line. Ugh.) And it looks like it will be a versatile lineup with lines matching up against different opponents. Great position for the coaching staff. And with Gomez operating at a whole different level last night--wow! Great goal!

[PJ]

<

Straka-Drury-Jagr
Avery-Gomez-Shanahan
Prucha-Betts-Callahan
Hossa-Hollweg-Orr>>

If Brandon Dubinsky is not centering this third line it is a HUGE mistake. He is the real deal. Either Hossa or Orr and probably orr should be the healthy scratch here.

[lennynyr]

Why not Avery, Hossa, Betts, Orr and Hollweg as the 2007=08 version of the black aces. That would give both Dawes and Dubinsky jobs on the top three lines. Dawes with Shanny and Gomez and Dubi with Callahan and Prucha leaving Straka and Drury to play with Jagr.

[brian]

i hate the islanders....like you all fishticks suck.. and renney might hav found some chemistry tonight but lets not forget this wasnt there varsity team tonight...and it wasnt our full team either but we have more talent than they do...we can sit jagr and still have a lot of fire power....if they sit guerin who will score no more than 25 goals this season.....then thats prett much it..and comrie...

[lennynyr]

The more I think about it, the more I like the Black Ace concept.

Why? The waw Hollweg hits, he'll be all worn out later if he plays every game. Use Avery (speed), Hossa (size) and Betts (defensive game)for penalty killing and against teams that are more finesse than physical. Get Orr and Hollweg in there against the more physical teams.

With Dubi and Dawes in there, the Rangers have potentially three dangerous lines like the Sabres had last year. If one of them falters, there's Avery and Hossa ready to step in. Hope they are not needed. Concerneed about Avery's injury, didn't he have wrist problems too? Maybe good idea that he wasn't signed to a long term contract until we see what we got.

Will Renney do the Black Ace concept? I hope so.

Hope he reads this forum.

[imitation]

There's a possiblity Sather wii start the season & try to do it for a good part of it with less than 23 on the roster to save cap space, rather than have 3 rotating Black Aces.

[czechthemout!!!]

i think it was a travesty to play dubinsky with hollywood and orr! all you have to know about him is his willingness to stick up for his teamates,and the move he put on the islanders dman in the third period to realize that he should be centering the third line.There were many comments about some possible chemistry
that may have been found tonight with the dawes line.While i'am very pleased to see nigel finally have a standout game,we must remember that it was against the islanders b/c team.when dubinsky had his,it was against the devils mostly varsity team.

imitation-i was not at the game,but i did watch it.Malik was way outof position on the first goal,something dave maloney agrred with in between periods,and stood still without taking the body or even waving his stick on the second goal.He also was pushed of the puck at least 4or5 times by smaller ahl quality forwards.For the record,i actually was very happy with him after his first year here.I thought he was very solid,but there is no debying the fact that his game has gone dramaically down hill since.I also thought that staal did not have a very good game last night.But he is entitled to have one out of four bad games he is after all a rookie and should not be sent down.