Goal Line Report
Entries with the tag: Philadelphia+Flyers
Rangers Turn Table on Flyers With 3-2 Shootout Win
by Patrick Hoffman on 04/03/11 at 02:39 PM ET
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Almost a year ago, the Philadelphia Flyers defeated the New York Rangers in a shootout, sending their team into the playoffs and the Blueshirts home for the playoffs and off-season.
Today, the New York Rangers turned the tables on the Flyers and defeated the Broadstreet Bullies 3-2 in a shootout, giving them points 88 and 89 on the season. With the two points, the Blueshirts now find themselves in the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference with one more point than the Buffalo Sabres and three points more than the Carolina Hurricanes, who play each other this evening at 5:00 p.m.
Rangers’ forwards Erik Christensen and Wojtek Wolski, two guys who haven’t played great as of late, got the two shootout goals for the Blueshirts and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who made 32 saves on the afternoon, went two for two in the shootout in picking up his 34th win of the season.
It was a game in which the Blueshirts showed their mettle and played tough, blocked a lot of shots, were smart on the penalty kill and were not afraid to throw the pucks at Flyers’ netminder Sergei Bobrovsky. They played a typical road-style hockey game and in doing so, picked up their 24th road win of the season, tying the franchise record they set back in 1994.
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Tags: Boston+Boston+Bruins, Braydon+Coburn, Brian+Boyle, Bryan+McCabe, Buffalo+Sabres, Carolina+Hurricanes, Daniel+Carcillo, Erik+Christensen, Henrik+Lundqvist, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Ruslan+Fedotenko, Sergei+Bobrovsky, Wojtek+Wolski,
Pressure On in a Must Win Game
by Patrick Hoffman on 04/03/11 at 09:51 AM ET
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Losing two straight games will do that and the New York Rangers now find themselves in a must win situation in Philadelphia this afternoon against the Flyers.
The ninth place Carolina Hurricanes find themselves just one point behind the Blueshirts after beating the New York Islanders last night and look to be getting hot at the right time. On the other hand, you have the Rangers who are coming off a 6-2 loss at the hands of the New York Islanders and are now heading into two extremely tough games against the Flyers this afternoon and the Boston Bruins tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden.
This afternoon’s tilt will have a real playoff feeling and the Rangers will need to treat it as such. The Flyers have not been playing great of late but will be looking to improve their play heading into the first round of the playoffs.
If the Rangers want to have any kind of success this afternoon, one thing they will have to do is get their offense going again. The team has scored three goals in their last three games and have not done enough to generate the kind of offense that is needed to put the puck in the net.
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Tags: Boston+Bruins, Carolina+Hurricanes, Henrik+Lundqvist, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
A Wake Up Call
by Patrick Hoffman on 03/31/11 at 10:00 PM ET
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That is exactly what you can call the game between the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders tonight.
I had men’s league hockey tonight so I did not get to watch much of the game, so it was extremely disappointing to come home and see that the Blueshirts lost 6-2 to a team that is not contending for the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season. With that said, I am NOT taking anything away from the Islanders because they have come a long way in the last few months and have played some excellent hockey.
Based on reading the game reports, it appears that an Islanders’ 4-goal second period did the team in and put them behind the eight ball for the rest of the hockey game. What is even more concerning is the team’s recent struggles on offense as they only scored two goals tonight, none yesterday in a 1-0 shutout loss to the Buffalo Sabres and one in a 1-0 shutout win over the Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon.
This is not the time to be struggling to put the puck in the net. The team still has four games left to play and their not exactly easy opponents as they take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday afternoon, the Bruins next Monday night at Madison Square Garden, the Atlanta Thrashers next Thursday night at the Garden (the Rangers SHOULD win that one) and the New Jersey Devils next Saturday afternoon at the Garden.
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Tags: Atlanta+Thrashers, BOston+Bruins, Buffalo+Sabres, Carolina+Hurricanes, New+Jersey+Devils, New+York+Islanders, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
Not Quite The Effort That was Needed
by Patrick Hoffman on 03/31/11 at 07:40 AM ET
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These are the perfect words to describe the play of the New York Rangers in their 1-0 shutout loss to the Buffalo Sabres last night.
The Blueshirts had trouble generating any consistent offense, did not throw enough pucks on Sabres, netminder Jhonas Enroth, who was making the start in place of Ryan Miller, who had an upper buddy injury. Enroth made 23 saves in picking up his first career NHL shutout, and an important one at that.
With the loss, the Rangers dropped down to the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference while the Buffalo Sabres moved up to the seventh spot. The Hurricanes, currently ninth in the Conference, are just three points behind the Blueshirts, who are back in action tonight on Long Island for a tilt against the New York Islanders.
One player who did show up for the Blueshirts was Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist made 34 saves and gave everyone a scare late in the second period when he took a puck off the right knee. He would not comment on it too much after the game only to say that he wants to be ready for tomorrow night.
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Tags: Buffalo+Sabres, Carolina+Hurricanes, Henrik+Lundqvist, Jhonas+Enroth, New+York+Islanders, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
Goals A Plenty in Rangers’ 6-3 Win over the Canadiens
by Patrick Hoffman on 03/19/11 at 12:14 PM ET
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This may be hard to believe but the New York Rangers’ have won three straight home games by outscoring their opponents by a 19-6 margin.
The Rangers’ latest victim was the Montreal Canadiens in a 6-3 victory. The team scored five goals in the first period with five different goal scorers in Artem Anisimov, Dan Girardi, Ryan Callahan, Marian Gaborik, and Brian Boyle. Vinny Prospal scored the team’s sixth and final goal in the third period.
With the win, the Rangers hit the 80-point mark and remain four points up on the eighth place Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes, who had a huge OT win over the New York Islanders last night.
For a team that struggles with offense, they certainly know how to beat up on team’s when given the opportunity to do so. Last night, the team took advantage of a Montreal Canadiens’ team that played the night before against the Tampa Bay Lightning and a somewhat tired Carey Price, who was yanked after allowing the fifth Rangers’ goal. It certainly was not Price’s fault as he had no help out there.
The team also got a strong performance from goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who picked up his sixth consecutive 30-win season. With the 30th win, Lundqvist became the first goalie in NHL history to 30 or more games in his first six seasons in the league.
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Tags: Artem+Anisimov, Benoit+Pouliot, Brian+Boyle, Buffalo+Sabres, Carey+Price, Carolina+Hurricanes, Dan+Girardi, Evgeni+Malkin, Henrik+Lundqvist, Marian+Gaborik, Montreal+Canadiens, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Pittsburgh+Penguins, Ryan+Callahan, Sidney+Crosby, Vinny+Prospal, Washington+Capitals,
Rangers Just Need to Win
by Patrick Hoffman on 03/15/11 at 07:00 AM ET
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It sounds simple, right? Especially with the New York Islanders coming to Madison Square Garden tonight, right?
Wrong. The New York Rangers will be facing a much different New York Islanders hockey club tonight, one that has won a lot in the second half of the season and one that does not look like an AHL team anymore.
For the Rangers, the task is simple - just win baby. The team is currently eighth in the Eastern Conference with 76 points. The Buffalo Sabres also have 76 points and the Carolina Hurricanes are ninth in the conference with 72 points. Unfortunately for the Blueshirts, those teams are in action against each other tonight so one of them will definitely be coming away with the all-important two points.
The last time the Rangers were at home, they defeated the Philadelphia Flyers by a 7-0 score while getting four goals from Ryan Callahan. Tonight, the Blueshirts will be looking for the same kind of offense to get the crowd going and excited about the team’s playoff hopes.
For that to happen though, the Blueshirts will need to be careful against these hungry Islanders. The Islanders have gotten terrific play from the likes of John Tavares, Michael Grabner, Blake Comeau, Matt Moulson and goaltender Al Montoya. Yes, the Montoya that was drafted by the Rangers back in 2004.
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Tags: Brandon+Dubinsky, Brian+Boyle, Buffalo+Sabres, Carolina+Hurricanes, Derek+Stepan, Mats+Zuccarello, New+York+Islanders, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Ryan+Callahan, Vaclav+Prospal,
Stay The Course Against Anaheim
by Patrick Hoffman on 03/08/11 at 06:30 PM ET
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At this point of the NHL season, every single game matters if you are a team that is fighting for one of eight spots in either the Eastern or Western Conference.
This statement should hit home for the New York Rangers. Going into their game tomorrow night with the Anaheim Ducks, the team holds the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference with 74 points. This puts the team just two points in front of the eighth place Buffalo Sabres and three points in front of the ninth place Carolina Hurricanes.
With the Sabres playing tonight and the Hurricanes playing tomorrow night, a lot can change prior to the Rangers’ tilt with the Ducks tomorrow night. With that in mind, the goal should be the same: get two points at all costs.
The Blueshirts clearly played with that attitude on Friday night against the Ottawa Senators and Sunday afternoon against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Blueshirts went on to outscore the Senators and Flyers by a combined score of 11-1.
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Tags: Anaheim+Ducks, Buffalo+Sabres, Carolina+Hurricanes, Henrik+Lundqvist, Los+Angeles+Kings, Marian+Gaborik, New+York+Rangers, Ottawa+Senators, Philadelphia+Flyers, Ryan+Callahan,
Rangers Win By Playing Rangers’ hockey
by Patrick Hoffman on 03/06/11 at 03:52 PM ET
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In today’s 7-0 white-washing of the Philadelphia Flyers, the New York Rangers won by playing the kind of hockey that made them so successful earlier on in the season.
They forechecked, they hit, they blocked shots, they allowed their goaltender Henrik Lundqvist to see the puck, they cleared rebounds and they got timely goal scoring. Normally, this is a good recipe of success for any team in the NHL but for the ost part, this has been a big part of the Rangers’ identity when they have won games this season.
This afternoon’s Ranger of the game was easily Ryan Callahan. Callahan picked up his first career hat trick en route to a 4-goal and 5-point game for the Blueshirts. He drove hard to the net, used his quick release to beat Flyers’ netminder Brian Boucher and with his hard work, managed to crack the 20-goal mark.
The team also got solid performances out of Vaclav Prospal (2 assists), Mats Zuccarello (2 goals), Artem Anisimov (1 goal and 1 assist) and Lundqvist (24) saves, who picked up his league-leading ninth shutout of the season.
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Tags: Anaheim+Ducks, Artem+Anisimov, Brian+Boucher, Buffalo+Sabres, Buffalo+Sabres, Carolina+Hurricanes, Henrik+Lundqvist, Mats+Zuccarello, Minnesota+Wild, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Ryan+Callahan, San+Jose+Sharks, Tampa+Bay+Lightning, Vaclav+Prospal,
Rangers Continue to Get it Done on the Road
by Patrick Hoffman on 03/05/11 at 10:49 AM ET
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While the New York Rangers’ have struggled at home this season, there is no doubting that things have been quite the opposite for the team on the road this year.
Last night, the Rangers went into Ottawa and defeated the Senators by a score of 4-1 for their 20th road victory of the season. For the Blueshirts, they were obviously able to put the puck in the net, cash in on their chances, play smart defense and get great goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist, who made 28 saves on 29 shots to earn the No. 1 star of the game.
The team got goals from Vinny Prospal, Mats Zuccarello, Artem Anisimov, and Derek Stepan. These are players that the team needs to have score more and they were all able to come through last night, especially Prospal as he now has points in his last three games and has six points in his last six games as he looks to provide his team with improtant offense down the stretch.
This game showed that the Rangers can indeed get the important goals when they need to do. For example, after Zuccarello made it 2-0 in the second period, Anisimov went in and scored to make it 3-0 just 12 seconds later. The team never allowed the Senators to get back in the hockey game.
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Tags: Artem+Anisimov, Derek+Stepan, Henrik+Lundqvist, Mats+Zuccarello, New+York+Rangers, Ottawa+Senators, Philadelphia+Flyers, Vinny+Prospal,
WIN - Nothing Else Matters
by Patrick Hoffman on 03/04/11 at 01:00 PM ET
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This is how the New York Rangers should approach tonight’s game against the Ottawa Senators.
After dropping a 3-1 contest to the Minnesota Wild last night at Madison Square Garden, the Blueshirts now find themselves in the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference standings, just two points ahead of the ninth place Buffalo Sabres and three points in front of the tenth place Toronto Maple Leafs. With that in mind, the Rangers’ have once again forced themselves to be in a tough situation tonight in Ottawa.
The Senators have nothing to play for. They pretty much know that they are not going to make the playoffs this season and as such, have been playing extremely loose and have become a tough team to play against. The Senators’ victory last night over the Atlanta Thrashers is a perfect example of this.
The Rangers, on the other hand, can feel the pressure mounting as April gets closer and closer. Every single game they play from hear on out is important and the team cannot afford to be giving points away. The team has to go into Ottawa tonight with a “WIN” mentality and except nothing less.
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Tags: Atlanta+Thrashers, Buffalo+Sabres, Carolina+Hurricanes, Henrik+Lundqvist, Jose+Theodore, Minnesota+Wild, New+York+Rangers, Ottawa+Senators, Philadelphia+Flyers,
Rangers Set for Minnesota Wild
by Patrick Hoffman on 03/03/11 at 08:33 AM ET
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Once again, the New York Rangers head into tonight’s game with the Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden needing to come away with two points in order to separate themselves from the eighth and ninth seed in the Eastern Conference standings.
Unfortunately for the Blueshirts, both of those teams, the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres, play each other tonight so no matter what, someone is going to come away with two points and inch close to the Rangers. With that said, if the Blueshirts can come away with two points themselves, they will certainly be in better position and have a bit of insurance.
The Rangers need to come out and set the tone early. They need to throw the puck on net, finish their chances, protect the lead if they get one and do everything they possibly can to win a hockey game because if they cannot, they could be in trouble when they take on the Ottawa Senators tomorrow night in Ottawa and the Philadelphia Flyers at home on Sunday afternoon.
For the Rangers, it will be important that players such as Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Wojtek Wolski, Mats Zuccarello, Artem Anisimov, Brian Boyle and Vinny Prospal step up offensively. With Marian Gaborik still expected to be out of the lineup, these seem to be the guys that can put the puck in the net. Now, they need to do it on a consistent basis.
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Tags: Artem+Anisimov, Brandon+Dubinsky, Brian+Boyle, Buffalo+Sabres, Carolina+Hurricanes, Henrik+Lundqvist, Marian+Gaborik, Mats+Zuccarello, Minnesota+Wild, New+York+Rangers, Ottawa+Senators, Philadelphia+Flyers, Ryan+Callahan, Vinny+Prospal,
Gaborik Update: Disappointing 4-2 loss for the Rangers
by Patrick Hoffman on 02/20/11 at 03:23 PM ET
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Marian Gaborik Update: From NBC’s NHL Extra Twitter Account:
An update on Marian Gaborik from earlier today, he left the game with a concussion.
From Earlier: In a game in which the New York Rangers outshot the Philadelphia Flyers 39-24, the Blueshirts managed to lose the game 4-2 at Madison Square Garden this afternoon.
A lot of credit has to be given to Flyers’ netminder Brian Boucher. Boucher was on top of his game in making 37 saves and was especially big in the third period when he stopped 14 of 15 Ranger shots.
With that said, however, this game was once again a perfect example of how the Blueshirts still lack some finish to their game. In the third period, Rangers’ forward Artem Anisimov could not get his stick on a cross crease pass on what could have been an easy goal.
Overall, it wasn’t a terrible game for the Blueshirts. They put plenty of pressure in the Flyers’ zone, put plenty of pucks on net but just couldn’t get the goal that mattered in the third period.
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Tags: Artem+Anisimov, Atlanta+Thrashers, Brian+Boucher, Buffalo+Sabres, Carolina+Hurricanes, Marian+Gaborik, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Tampa+Bay+Lightning, Washington+Capitals,
An E-mail Interview with Flyers’ Beat Writer Stephen Whyno
by Patrick Hoffman on 02/20/11 at 12:17 PM ET
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Since the New York Rangers are playing the Philadelphia Flyers this afternoon, I figured now would be a good time to post an e-mail interview I conducted with Philadelphia Sports Daily Flyers’ beat writer Stephen Whyno.
Stephen was kind enough to take time out of his busy schedule to tell us about how he got into hockey, how he got into covering hockey and of course, his thoughts on this year’s Flyers hockey club.
PH: How did you get into hockey?
SW: I got into hockey because my parents raised me on it. I met Mike Emrick when I was 4 years old and have kept in touch with him since and only grown in my love of the game since.
PH: Growing up, who was your favorite team/player? Why?
SW: My favorite player was Mark Recchi, probably because I liked how he set guys up for goals so well and could also put the puck in the net.
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Tags: New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Philadelphia+Sports+Daily, Stephen+Whyno,
Where was the Offense?
by Patrick Hoffman on 02/19/11 at 10:13 AM ET
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In a game that the New York Rangers really needed to get two points to help keep pace in the Eastern Conference, they got none as the team was shutout 1-0 by the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center.
The Blueshirts only had 15 shots on Devils’ netminder Johan Hedberg. While Hedberg did make some good saves, many shots were not considered quality scoring chances and this is what hurt the Blueshirts.
As always, the Devils played a very aggressive game defensively. The Devils were able to capitalize when the Rangers’ turned over the puck in the offensive zone only to have Devils’ sniper Illya Kovalchuk go in and score on a breakaway to give his team a 1-0 lead and ultimately, the hockey game.
To me, it seemed like the only Ranger who played well last night was goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist was sharp from the get go and did everything he could to try and get his team two points in making 27 saves.
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Tags: Atlanta+Thrashers, Buffalo+Sabres, Carolina+Hurricanes, Henrik+Lundqvist, Johan+Hedberg, New+Jersey+Devils, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
Another Big Victory for the Blueshirts
by Patrick Hoffman on 02/18/11 at 08:00 AM ET
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Good morning folks. It was great to come home from hockey last night and see that the New York Rangers came away with a big 4-3 shootout victory over the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden.
Reading what beat writers had to say about the big two points, it was nice to see that guys like Ryan Callahan (1 goal and 1 assist), Marian Gaborik (1 goal) and Brandon Dubinsky (1 assist) all stepped up their games and played the way they should play in a playoff run: like the team’s best players.
It was also nice that Henrik Lundqvist picked up his 200th career victory. For someone who isn’t even 29 years old yet (will be in early March), it is quite impressive and also makes you wonder if that win total would be even higher if he were with a somewhat more talented hockey club. I guess that really does not matter so it’s great that our franchise netminder is getting the job done.
With the win, the team now has 66 points and is up four points over the eighth place Carolina Hurricanes and three points behind the sixth place Montreal Canadiens. The win was also important because the team still has two games to play in three days.
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Tags: Brandon+Dubinsky, Henrik+Lundqvist, John+Tortorella, Los+Angeles+Kings, Marian+Gaborik, Martin+Biron, New+Jersey+Devils, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Ryan+Callahan,
Three Big Games On Tap for the Blueshirts
by Patrick Hoffman on 02/16/11 at 09:02 AM ET
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After snapping a six-game winless streak on Sunday afternoon against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the New York Rangers are getting ready for three big games during the rest of the week against the Los Angeles Kings (tomorrow night at Madison Square Garden), New Jersey Devils (Friday night at the Prudential Center) and the Philadelphia Flyers (Sunday afternoon at the Garden).
For those counting, that is a crucial six points on the line for the Blueshirts and an opportunity to put a tighter hold on one of the top eight spots in the Eastern Conference. For the Rangers to go six for six, a few things will need to happen: the top nine forwards will need to build on their performance from Sunday afternoon, they cannot back down and they need to get strong goaltending whether it is from Henrik Lundqvist or Martin Biron.
Let’s look further into those three key details:
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Tags: Los+Angeles+Kings, New+Jersey+Devils, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
Rangers Power Play Clicks In Victory Over the Penguins
by Patrick Hoffman on 02/13/11 at 05:40 PM ET
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As our fearless leader Paul Kukla mentioned in my previous blog, I need to start writing about the New York Rangers needing to win now in order to get the team going.
This afternoon at Madison Square Garden, the Blueshirts did just that in a 5-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, snapping their six game winless strerak. The team was also able to get its power play as the team went three for five with the man advantage.
The game certainly did not start great for the Rangers as they found themselves 2-0 after the Penguins scored two goals on their first four shots. After Rangers’ head coach John Tortorella called a timeout, the team responded in a positive manner and exploded offensively.
The Blueshirts got goals from Brian Boyle, Ryan Callahan (2), Vinny Prospal and Artem Anisimov with Callahan, Prospal and Anisimov all connecting on the power play. It just goes to show you what a good power play can do to a hockey team as this afternoon, it certainly raised the level of the Rangers.
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Tags: Artem+Anisimov, Atlanta+Thrashers, Brian+Boyle, Carolina+Hurricanes, Henrik+Lundqvist, John+Tortorella, Los+Angeles+Kings, New+Jersey+Devils, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Pittsburgh+Penguins, Ryan+Callahan, Vinny+Prospal,
Rangers Missing the Playoffs: Can It Actually Happen?
by Patrick Hoffman on 02/08/11 at 12:00 PM ET
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This is the question that New York Rangers’ fans are asking themselves after a tough 3-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings at the Joe Louis Arena last night.
After working extremely hard to stay in the thick of the ever tight Eastern Conference playoff race, the team’s current five game winless streak has put them in the seventh spot in the conference. The Blueshirts are just four points in front of the eighth place Carolina Hurricanes and the Atlanta Thrashers.
The team is struggling to score the big goal, having trouble on the power play and not getting contributions from its scoring sniper, Marian Gaborik. All of these things lead to a much less potent Rangers’ hockey club and one that could very well find themselves golfing come April rather than competing for the Stanley Cup.
With regards to the team’s power play, the coaching staff needs to figure out a system that plays to the team’s strengths, which is working hard down lo and scoring the dirty goals. Instead, the team is electing to pass rather than shoot, giving the opponent a very easy read on the Rangers’ power play.
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Tags: Atlanta+Thrashers, Carolina+Hurricanes, Detroit+Red+Wings, Marian+Gaborik, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
Devils Playing Better
by Patrick Hoffman on 01/22/11 at 01:56 PM ET
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After just finishing watching the first period between the New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers, I have come away impressed by how much better the Devils are playing.
Both of their first period goals by Henrik Tallinder and Patrick Elias are the kind of goals that are needed to win hockey games. The goals came as a result of not be afraid to put the puck on net and also not being afraid to generate traffic in front of the net to make life difficult for Flyers’ netminder Brian Boucher.
This is exactly how the Devils have been playing during their current 4-0-1 streak. In that span, they have scored 20 goals and have allowed just 10, which are the kind of numbers that the Devils and their fans had gotten used to seeing over the last decade or so.
In the game this afternoon, which the Devils lead 2-0, the Devils are playing the same way they have in their previous five games and are outshooting and outworking their opponent to create chances, turnovers, and make plays. Again, all facets that have been part of the Devils’ identity for many, many seasons.
It will be interesting to see how the rest of the game pans out but if the Devils continue to play this way, there is no reason why the Devils cannot extend their streak to 5-0-1 in their last six games.
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Tags: New+Jersey+Devils, Philadelphia+Flyers,
Time to Start Going Goals
by Patrick Hoffman on 01/19/11 at 08:29 AM ET
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With the New York Rangers having dropped three of their last four games all by one goal, the time has come for the team to start putting the puck in the net at the right time.
The team will get the chance to do that tonight when they take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in an original six matchup at Madison Square Garden.
The Blueshirts need to come out and be offensive and aggressive for a full 60 minutes rather than just the last period of the hockey game, which was the case in back-to-back losses this weekend to the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers. Had the team played the way they did in the third period on both nights, we could easily be talking about a three game winning streak.
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Tags: Andrew+Gross, Artem+Anismov, Atlanta+Thrashers, Carolina+Hurricanes, Derek+Stepan, John+Tortorella, Marian+Gaborik, Mats+Zuccarello, Montreal+Canadiens, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Ranger+Rants, Ruslan+Fedotenko, Toronto+Maple+Leafs, Washington+Capitals, Wojtek+Wolski,
Third Goal Hard to Come By for the Blueshirts
by Patrick Hoffman on 01/17/11 at 12:22 PM ET
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For the second straight game, the New York Rangers had trouble getting the tying third goal in a 3-2 loss, this time to the Philadelphia Flyers.
Down 3-0 going into the third period, the team got goals from Wojtek Wolski and Derek Stepan before Flyers’ goaltender Brian Boucher and the rest of his hockey club shut the door and skated off the Madison Square Garden ice with two big points, handing the Blueshirts their second consecutive loss of the weekend.
The Blueshirts lack of offense is becoming a growing concern in 2011 as the team has yet to score more than two goals. One player that is really having trouble is Marian Gaborik.
Gaborik is not finishing his chances, is having trouble getting the puck to the net and is being made an example of by head coach John Tortorella, as the coach benched him for part of last night’s tilt with the Flyers.
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Tags: Brian+Boucher, Brian+Boyle, Derek+Stepan, Marian+Gaborik, Mats+Zuccarello, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Ruslan+Fedotenko, Sean+Avery, Toronto+Maple+Leafs, Wojtek+Wolski,
Rangers’ Line-up Update
by Patrick Hoffman on 01/16/11 at 05:23 PM ET
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According to New York Rangers’ web site beat writer Jim Cerny’s Twitter account, Rangers’ back-up goaltender Martin Biron will get the start tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers.
Considering that the Blueshirts have struggled against the Borad Street Bullies this season, starting Biron makes a lot of sense for tonight. He’s been a solid performer for the Rangers this season and it will be interesting to see how he plays against a tough and extremely talented team in the Philadelphia Flyers.
The move also makes sense because starting goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was constantly under siege last night in the team’s 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. Remember, if the team manages to clinch a playoff spot, they will want a rested and healthy Henrik Lundqvist between the pipes and a move like this one helps make that happen.
What are your thoughts folks? Think head coach John Tortorella is making the right move? How do you think Biron will perform against his former club?
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Tags: Henrik+Lundqvist, Jim+Cerny, Martin+Biron, Montreal+Canadiens, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Twitter,
Henrik Sticks Up For Himself in 3-2 Loss to the Canadiens
by Patrick Hoffman on 01/16/11 at 11:12 AM ET
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A National Hockey League goaltender can only take so much some times.
The perfect example of this is New York Rangers’ goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who threw some punches at Montreal Canadiens’ forward Max Pacioretty after Pacioretty crashed into Lundqvist in the second period. Lundqvist had clearly had enough as he was being bombarded by Canadiens’ shots (38 saves in the hockey game) and players.
Lundqvist’s punches manage to wake up his hockey club but it was too little too late as the Blueshirts fell to the Canadiens by a score of 3-2 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Rangers’ head coach John Tortorella said the following to Rangers’ web site beat writer Jim Cerny after the game regarding Lundqvist:
Tortorella had no issues with what his goalie did.
“I loved Hank doing that,” said Tortorella. “I loved his emotion.”
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Brandon+Dubinsky, Carey+Price, Henrik+Lundqvist, John+Tortorella, Montreal+Canadiens, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
Big Game On Tap for the Blueshirts in Montreal
by Patrick Hoffman on 01/15/11 at 04:06 PM ET
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Coming off a 1-0 shutout over the league leading Vancouver Canucks, expectations are going to be high tonight for the New York Rangers as they get set to take on the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal.
The team’s victory on Thursday night was a great display of terrific goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist, timely goal scoring from Wojtej Wolski, great defensive play and strong penalty killing. If the Blueshirts want to win tonight in front of a loud Montreal crowd, they will once again need those facets of the game to be in full display tonight.
According to Andrew Gross at Ranger Rants (The Record), the line combinations will be as follows:
The Rangers one lineup change from Thursday’s 1-0 win over the Canucks is Kris Newbury, 28, being inserted on the fourth line for right wing Dale Weise, 22. But Newbury, a natural center, will play in the middle with Sean Avery and captain Chris Drury, who moves to right wing. The other combos remain the same: Brandon Dubinsky-Artem Anisimov-Mats Zuccarello, Wojtek Wolski-Derek Stepan-Marian Gaborik, Ruslan Fedotenko-Brian Boyle-Brandon Prust, Marc Staal-Dan Girardi, Steve Eminger-Mike Sauer, Matt Gilroy-Ryan McDonagh.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Andrew+Gross, Bell+Centre, Carey+Price, Dale+Weise, Henrik+Lundqvist, Kris+Newbury, Montreal+Canadiens, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Ranger+Rants, The+Record,
Your thoughts on the Rangers’ game last night
by Patrick Hoffman on 01/14/11 at 08:26 AM ET
Comments (4)
It was nice to come home from playing hockey last night and see that the New York Rangers defeated the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 1-0.
Unfortunately for me, I did not get to watch any of the game so I cannot tell you who was great besides Rangers’ goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (30 saves), the team’s defense and newcome Wojtek Wolski, who picked up the team’s only goal.
Luckily for me, my sports editor at Patch.com and long-time Rangers’ fan Bob Birge was kind enough to include me on an e-mail list that featured a bunch of team notes from his point-of-view:
— Wolski becomes the 17th Rangers player credited with at least one game-winning goal, most in the NHL this season.
—- The Rangers lead the league in one-goal games with a record of 13-3-3.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Henrik+Lundqvist, Montreal+Canadiens, New+York+Rangers, Patch.com, Philadelphia+Flyers, Vancouver+Canucks,
A Salute to Brian Boucher
by Patrick Hoffman on 01/13/11 at 09:06 AM ET
Comments (2)
When Philadelphia Flyers’ goaltender Brian Boucher jumped into the NHL scene back during the 2000 season, he showed quite a bit of promise.
That season, he led the Flyers to within one game of the Stanley Cup Finals before bowing out to the New Jersey Devils. Yes folks, that was the same game that Devils’ defenseman Scott Stevens crushed Flyers’ superstar Eric Lindros.
After that glimpse of stardom, however, Boucher got off to a bad start in the 2000-01 season before losing the job to Roman Cechmanek (remember him?). He then had some so-so seasons with Phoenix Coyotes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks before returning the Flyers last season, where he helped the team beat the Devils in the first round of the playoffs before getting hurt in the second round and being replaced by Michael Leighton.
However, he we are in January 2011 and it appears that Boucher has stolen the show in Philly and is now the team’s No. 1 netminder. In 17 games this season, the 34-year-old netminder is 10-4-2 with 2.23 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. Not bad for someone that many thought couldn’t play a lot of games anymore, eh?
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Brian+Boucher, Philadelphia+Flyers,
Big Week Ahead for the Blueshirts
by Patrick Hoffman on 01/10/11 at 01:23 PM ET
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Sitting at 25-15-3, the New York Rangers find themselves sixth in the Eastern Conference with 53 points, just one point behind the fifth place Washington Capitals, three points behind the fourth place Pittsburgh Penguins and believe it or not, four points behind the Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia Flyers.
With that in mind, the Rangers have a tough eight points on the line this week with games against the Montreal Canadiens (2) Vancouver Canucks and Phildelphia Flyers. These teams are currently all playoff hockey clubs and will present a tough challenge for the injury-plagued Blueshirts.
In order to be successful this week and pick up some valuable points, the Rangers will need to do the following things in no particular order:
- Stay Healthy: With injuries to Ryan Callahan, Erik Christensen, Vinny Prospal and now Alex Frolov (out the remainder of the season), the team cannot afford any more injuries. Sure, the team has responded well to injur-adversity this season but right now, the focus should be getting everyone healthy prior to making a playoff run.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Alex+Frolov, Erick+Christensen, John+Tortorella, Montreal+Canadiens, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Ryan+Callahan, Vancouver+Canucks, Vinny+Prospal.+Henrik+Lundqvist.+Martin+Biron,
Rangers Get the Job Done on the Road Again/Lose Frolov for the Season
by Patrick Hoffman on 01/09/11 at 07:17 PM ET
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The New York Rangers continue to find ways to win on the road.
In their 15th road victory (league leader) of the season. the Blueshirts defeated the St. Louis Blues by a score of 2-1 by playing a perfect road game. The team got timely goals from Derek Stepan and Sean Avery, solid defense and excellent goaltending from back-up netminder Martin Biron (25 saves).
With that said however, it was reported today that the Rangers will be without forward Alex Frolov for the rest of the season with the following:
New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that Alex Frolov has suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, a second degree sprain of his medial collateral ligament and a medial meniscus tear in his right knee, and will undergo season-ending surgery.
I am not sure exactly what any of that is but it is obviously bad enough to keep Frolov out the rest of the season.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Alex+Frolov, Chris+Drury, Marian+Gaborik, Montreal+Canadies, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, St.+Louis+Blues, Vancouver+Canucks, Vinny+Prospal.+Ryan+Callahan,
Looking at a Few Players Who Need to Step Up
by Patrick Hoffman on 12/20/10 at 12:35 PM ET
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This is what the New York Rangers are faced with as they do not play a game until Thursday night at home against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Blueshirts’ had their three-game winning streak snapped on Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia when the Flyers beat them by a score of 4-1. The team did not play terribly but it is apparent that some players have a few things to work on before their next game.
- Michael Del Zotto
Del Zotto needs to get his defensive game in order. He has an abundance of offensive talent but since he is a defenseman, he should concentrate on making that part of his game better.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Erik+Christensen, Marian+Gaborik, Michael+Del+Zotto, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Tampa+Bay+Lightning,
Lots to Be Learned
by Patrick Hoffman on 12/18/10 at 07:36 PM ET
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When you have a second year 20-year-old defenseman who has a lot of talent and potential, you have to take the good and the bad.
That is what the New York Rangers are doing when it comes to defenseman Michael Del Zotto, who was a -3 in this afternoon’s 4-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.
He continues to be victimized in his own zone, he gives up the puck and defensively, he seems to find himself out of position more often than not. In today’s game against the Flyers, all of these weaknesses were present and it hurt the Blueshirts as they were beat by the best team in the Eastern Conference.
Obviously, the game was not all his fault as his teammates could not bail him out when he made a mistake. Hockey is a team game and more often than not, one cannot pin a loss on a specific individual.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Michael+Del+Zotto, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
Biggest Game of the Year?
by Patrick Hoffman on 12/18/10 at 10:43 AM ET
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It can be said that this afternoon’s game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers is by far and away one of the team’s biggest games this season.
With one of the Eastern Conference’s better records, the Blueshirts have been somewhat of a surprise this season. When team captain Chris Drury and sniper Marian Gaborik went down with the injuries on opening night at Madsion Square Garden, many thought that the team would go down in a hurry.
However, that did not happen and the team survived in fine fashion and finds themselves with a 20-13-1 record and a hold of the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference. Not bad for a team that does not have many superstars, eh?
Now, the team will have to do it again without Ryan Callahan for the next six to eight weeks and today’s game against the Flyers will be a good test to see what the Blueshirts are capable of. The team will need to stay out of the box, force the Flyers to shoot from the outside, clear out the front of the net and play a smart road game.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
Three In A Row and Looking for Four
by Patrick Hoffman on 12/17/10 at 08:37 AM ET
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With their 4-3 shootout victory over the Phoenix Coyotes last night at Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers have won three straight games and have improved their record to 20-13-1.
When one thinks about it, this is quite an accomplishment for a team that does not have many superstars or snipers and is getting it done the hard way. The Blueshirts are working hard, showing their grit and are making sacrifices night in and night out to pick up two points on a somewhat consistent basis.
These characteristics were present last night at MSG as the Blueshirts battled back from two goals down to force overtime and then a shootout, where Rangers’ forward Erik Christensen scored the winning goal and netminder Martin Biron (30 saves) went three-for-three en route to the victory.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Phoenix+Coyotes,
Two Points on the Line Against One of The League’s Best
by Patrick Hoffman on 12/15/10 at 08:16 AM ET
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If there was ever an opportunity for the New York Rangers to make a statement, tonight’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins would be it.
The Penguins are coming off a 12-game unbeaten streak where they played some of their best hockey in franchise history. Yes, the team lost it’s winning streak last night when the Philadelphia Flyers beat them 3-2 but that does not erase everything that the Penguins accomplished during their winning streak.
The Rangers simply need to take advantage of the fact that the Penguins are probably still a bit stung from last night’s loss to their arch-rivals and do everything they can to make it a two game losing streak for the home team. With that said, however, it is certainly not going to be an easy thing to accomplish.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Chris+Drury, John+Tortorella, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Phoenix+Coyotes, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
Blueshirts Week Ahead
by Patrick Hoffman on 12/13/10 at 08:00 AM ET
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At this point in the season, it is great to see that the New York Rangers are in the thick of the Eastern Conference early season playoff race and are getting solid performances spread throughout the season.
In this installment of “Blueshirts Week Ahead”, I’d like for you folks to keep an eye on several players as well as give you a look at who the team will be facing off against this week.
Players to Keep An Eye on
- Michael Del Zotto
It will be interesting to see how Del Zotto performs after being scratched last week in the team’s 5-3 win over the Ottawa Senators. Team head coach John Tortorella gave him a homework assignment to see how the club’s power play performed along with what he should be doing on defense.
Remember, Del Zotto is only in his second season and at the age of 20, still has a lot to learn.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Alex+Frolov, Michael+Del+Zotto, Michael+Sauer, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Phoenix+Coyotes, Pittsburgh+Penguins,
Ugly Game for the Blueshirts
by Patrick Hoffman on 11/05/10 at 10:00 AM ET
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Thus far in the early going, it’d be fair to say that the Rangers have taken advantage of struggling hockey clubs such as the Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils. The wins against these teams account for four of the club’s six wins.
I’m not saying that the wins were not well deserved but looking at last night’s game, it’s apparent that the Blueshirts had trouble with stiffer competition in the Broadstreet Bullies.
For the Rangers, it was an ugly hockey game. Even head coach John Tortorella agreed with my sentiment when talking to reporters after the game:
“It was just one of those games where you get all this hype about it and to me it was a (ugly) game,” said Rangers head coach John Tortorella. “I’m sure they don’t feel that way, they win it 4-1, but to me it was sloppy offensively. They didn’t have that many chances either.”
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: New+Jersey+Devils, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
Looking for Payback in Philly
by Patrick Hoffman on 11/04/10 at 01:24 PM ET
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Every New York Ranger fan remembers last April and not for a good reason.
Last April, the Philadelphia Flyers eliminated the Blueshirts from the playoffs by defeating them in a shootout. And yes, Olli Jokinen was the last Ranger to shoot.
Things are much different this time around as not only is Jokinen gone, but the Rangers have yet to play in a shootout this season as the team is getting timely goal scoring.
If the Rangers want to win this game, somebody other than Artem Anisimov, Ryan Callahan, and Brandon Dubinsky will have to put the puck in the net. It’d be great to have someone like Alex Frolov start scoring consistently because if he can get going, this offense may take off.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
Callahan and Dubinsky: True Blue Rangers
by Patrick Hoffman on 11/02/10 at 01:14 PM ET
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In what was a nail biter at Madison Square Garden last night, the New York Rangers defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks by a score of 3-2.
When talking about this game, besides goaltender Henrik Lundqvist of course, there are two key players to talk about: Ryan Callahan dna Brandon Dubinsky.
In last night’s tilt, Callahan picked up two assists and also blocked a few shots, threw several hits, killed penalties, played on the power play and more. He did everything for the Blueshirts.
He reminds me a bit of Adam Graves because like Graves did when he was a Blueshirt, Callahan never takes a shift off. He hustles, he goes to the net, he deflects shots, he pokes at rebounds, blocks shots, kills penalties, and more. He wears that Ranger jersey with pride and I hope that others will follow him.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Brandon+Dubinsky, Chicago+Blackhawks, New+Jersey+Devils, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Ryan+Callahan,
Looking for Fans Reactions To a Few Questions I have
by Patrick Hoffman on 07/23/10 at 08:00 AM ET
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Good morning folks. The dog days of summer really are here and as such, I want to help keep hockey on your minds.
As such, I would like to get your thoughts on the following questions:
- Will Kovalchuk still end up being a New Jersey Devil? Why or why not?
- Was the NHL right to reject the Kovalchuk contract? Why or why not?
- Does this whole Kovalchuk saga prove that the league could be headed for a lockout in the next few seasons? Why or why not?
- How will the Chicago Blackhawks be next season after losing several key players due to salary cap problems? Why?
- Where will UFA goaltender Marty Turco end up signing? Why? How about UFA netminder Jose Theodore?
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Chicago+Blackhawks, Illya+Kovalchuk, Jose+Theodore, Marty+Turco, Michael+Leighton, New+Jersey+Devils, NHL, Philadelphia+Flyers, Steve+Yzerman, Tampa+Bay+Lightning,
Second Period Thoughts
by Patrick Hoffman on 06/04/10 at 10:01 PM ET
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After two periods, it’s still 3-1 Flyers as they try to knot the series up at 2-2.
Here are some thoughts I had on the second period:
- Leighton is 5-0 at home in these playoffs. He’s one period away from making that 6-0 thanks to his terrific play between the pipes tonight.
- Speaking of home ice, the Flyers haven’t lost at the Wachovia Center since Game 3 in the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Boston Bruins.
- From @DanTencer: “Who are the guys in white jerseys and what have they done with the Hawks?”
- Understatement from Mike Emrick: “Dustin Byfuglien has not been the same presence he was in games 1 and 2”. I’m sure the team and its fans think the same thing.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Chicago+Blackhawks, NHL, Philadelphia+Flyers, Stanley+Cup+Playoffs,
First Period Thoughts
by Patrick Hoffman on 06/04/10 at 09:00 PM ET
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With the way the first period went, Paul may certainly be right with his 5-3 prediction.
Game 4 has certainly been a great one so far. Here are some of my thoughts after a first period which has the Flyers up 3-1 over the Blackhawks:
- How about that terrific Leighton blocker save on Toews in front of the net and then again on the wraparound? Leighton showed exceptional poise and did a great job in smothering the rebound.
- Got to admit - I was impressed with Richards’s goal. He made a great play to help turn the puck over and then slide a great low backhander through the wickets of Niemi. That’s the kind of leadership and offensive skill that Richards has shown throughout these playoffs.
- Ladd returns to the Hawks’ lineup and takes a penalty on his first shift. Talk about getting off on the wrong foot.
- Kopecky has to be feeling badly about that interference penalty, eh?
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Chicago+Blackhawks, NHL, Philadelphia+Flyers, Stanley+Cup+Playoffs,
Questions Before Tonight’s Game 4
by Patrick Hoffman on 06/04/10 at 10:30 AM ET
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Good morning folks. I hope that everyone has been enjoying the Cup Finals this year because I certainly have been.
We have seen it all in this series: hard hits, big saves, timely scoring, big defensive plays, shutdown hockey, offensive hockey, goaltending dual, etc. It’s all been there so let’s hope it stays for the remainder of the series.
With that in mind, I wanted your thoughts on tonight’s Game 4:
- Who will score the first goal in tonight’s game? Why do you think that is?
- When will big “Buff” return to form?
- Who do you think has been the better coach in this series? Why?
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Chicago+Blackhawks, Philadelphia+Flyers, Stanley+Cup+Playoffs,
Goals Galore - Something Ranger fans are not used to
by Patrick Hoffman on 05/30/10 at 01:33 PM ET
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If you’re a New York Rangers fan and you watched Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals last night between the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers, then you certainly enjoyed seeing something you did not see a lot of this season: goals!
Eleven goals were scored last night in front opf a raucous Chicago crowd and while it was run and gun and somewhat ugly hockey, it was extremely entertaining. That word certainly does not describe the Blueshirts.
If you’re GM Glen Sather (sorry), you have to look at the offensive depth these two clubs have and wonder if there is any way to make that happen in NY. Both of these clubs can throw out four lines every night and know that each line has a good chance to put the puck in the net.
Right now at least, the Rangers do not have that.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Chicago+Blackhawks, New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
What a Comeback
by Patrick Hoffman on 05/15/10 at 09:10 AM ET
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I for one am stunned that the Philadelphia Flyers managed to come back from a 3-0 series defecit to the Boston Bruins and make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they will take on the Montreal Canadiens. I was even more surprised that the Broadstreet Bullies came back to win the hockey game after being down three goals.
Great friend of the blog Russ Cohen had this to say in his most recent article for Sportsology.net:
I know that the Flyers are the third team to come back from a 3-0 deficit in a seven-game series but now it looks like they are the first to come back from a three-goal deficit in a Game 7 and if that’s the case, to me, it’s the greatest comeback in NHL history.
The Flyers have had a “never say die” attitude for the entire playoffs. I have covered a ton of games this season and they are reaching their peak at the right time. Goaltender Michael Leighton has come in and performed very well under tough circumstances. He hasn’t been stellar, but he’s been good.
Click here for more good stuff from my pal Russ.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Boston+Bruins, Philadelphia+Flyers, Stanley+Cup+Playoffs,
Rooting for the B’s
by Patrick Hoffman on 05/10/10 at 11:13 AM ET
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Seeing as how I went to college somewhat near Boston, MA (Stonehill College in N. Easton, MA), I have been rooting for the Bruins throughout these Stanley Cup playoffs.
Luckily for me, James Murphy, one of my favorite hockey writers, covers the B’s for NESN.com and he had the following to say regarding the keys to tonight’s big tilt:
1. Clear the traffic in front of the net
The five goals allowed by the Bruins in the 5-4 overtime loss in Game 4 was the most allowed by the B’s in the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs.
The reason for these tallies had nothign to do with bad goaltending but rather a sea of orange in front of goalie Tuukka Rask throughout the game. The Flyers forwards were allowed free passage to the net, and Rask took full responsibility for the showing despite being helpless at times.
Click here for more from my good pal Murph.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: Boston+Bruins, James+Murphy, NESN.com, Philadelphia+Flyers,
What they had to Say
by Patrick Hoffman on 04/12/10 at 12:57 PM ET
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From good friend of the blog Rick Carpiniello at Rangers Report:
DRURY:
“They were pretty good countering out turnovers. We just didn’t play enough in their zone.”
“Our inconstency throughout the year put us in this spot.”
“Obviously pretty disappointed, to lose in a shootout to get knocked out in the last game of the year. I feel really bad for Henrik … one of the best games I’ve ever seen him play and we don’t get much in the way of offense for him.”
Click here for more on what the rest of the team had to say after yesterday’s tough loss to the Flyers to end the team’s playoff hopes.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
At A Loss for Words
by Patrick Hoffman on 04/11/10 at 07:14 PM ET
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I really am. I know the league changed the rules a long time ago and should accept the fact that the Rangers’ season ended in a shootout.
Right now, however, it’s just tough to swallow. What’s also tough to fathom is why the season had to end on Olli Jokinen’s stick rather than say someone like Marian Gaborik or even Brandon Dubinsky. I now that Blueshirts head coach John Tortorella was probably playing the percentages with the players he selected but still, it’s rathermind boggling.
Other than that, the Rangers were outplayed the entire game and the only reason why this game went to a shootout was because of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who was fabulous. He should walk out of the arena with his head held high but because of the way the game played out, I doubt he will/did.
So now, a long offseason awaits. One has to wonder what general manager Glen Sather is thinking and I’m sure we won’t know that for quite some time.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
Ferrall’s Thoughts on Rangers vs. Flyers
by Patrick Hoffman on 04/11/10 at 09:46 AM ET
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With such a big game on tap for this afternnon between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, I decided to reach out to great friend of the blog, sports radio nut and hockey fanatic Scott Ferrall and get his thoughts on what should be a terrific afternoon tilt.
PH: What are you looking forward to the most regarding the Rangers vs. Flyers game this afternoon?
SF: The pressure and physical play in front of both nets. Loose pucks trickling through the crease that could make or break your season. I like that kind of intensity and the unknown of where the puck will end up. The corner battles should be terrific.
PH: What do the Rangers have to do to win the hockey game?
SF: Keep the puck in Philly’s end and put as many shots on goal as they’ve had in a game all year. Fire away at the Flyers weakness—their goaltending is soft and can be beaten easily.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers, Scott+Ferrall,
The Rangers and the 8th Seed
by Patrick Hoffman on 04/10/10 at 10:45 PM ET
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From good friend of the blog Andrew Gross at Ranger Rants:
Both the Bruins and Canadiens clinched playoff berths today - the Bruins with a 4-2 win over the Hurricanes thanks to three shorthanded goals and the Canadiens despite a 4-3 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs. That means the Rangers and Flyers are playing tomorrow for one playoff spot - win and you’re in, lose and go home.
The only variable between the teams is that the Flyers will earn a seventh seed with a victory while the Rangers can only squeeze in as the eighth seed, which would pair them with the top-seeded Capitals in the first round for the second straight season. Even if the Rangers tie the Canadiens in points and in victories, they went 1-2-1 against Montreal this season, which is the second tiebreaker.
Click here for more excellent work by Mr. Gross!
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
An Interview With Rangers Tribune Blogger
by Patrick Hoffman on 04/10/10 at 09:23 PM ET
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I figured now would be a good time as any to get some thoughts on tomorrow afternoon’s HUGE game against the Philadelphia Flyers:
PH: So, a few weeks ago did you think that the Rangers would be in this kind of position? Why or why not?
NM: After the loss to the Bruins, no way did I think we would even be close to the playoff race. I did not think this team had what it took to rebound from hitting rock bottom, but to my surprise, they have done that and some.
PH: Why were the Rangers able to defeat the Flyers last night at Madison Square Garden? What did the team do well?
NM: Determination and Desperation. That team is being powered by their adrenaline right now and whatever is being said in that locker room is working very well. They are playing inspired and with a common goal. When it comes to performing at the end of the season, the Rangers have always seemed to excell, in recent years anyway.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
It’s Up To You New York
by Patrick Hoffman on 04/10/10 at 11:00 AM ET
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It has come down to this folks: one game, one Sunday afternoon against the Philadelphia Flyers, in Philly, to play for a playoff spot. It’s simple: win and you’re in.
The New York Rangers took care of business last night in their final regular season game at the Garden with a 4-3 victory over the Broadstreet Bullies. Once again, the team did the little things and got contributions from everywhere, played solid defense and stood up for themselves, something that Blueshirt fans are definitely not used to seeing.
With the win, it really makes you wonder what the season would have been like if they played this way all season long? It was a total team effort that produced quality results.
The fourth line came through once again with great play from Jody Shelley, Brandon Prust and Artem Anisimov while big-game/clutch players Chris Drury and Marian Gaborik also came through for the boys in blue. As always, the team got solid goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist when they needed it.
Filed in: | Goal Line Report | Permalink
Tags: New+York+Rangers, Philadelphia+Flyers,
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