NEW YORK, NY – The New York Rangers have a host of problems but the offense is one of the most crucial this season. The offense is so anemic that the team’s goaltenders need to pitch shutouts every night just to have a chance of winning.
Photo by Lewis Bleiman
After a dismal stretch of games, including a heartless loss to their rivals, the New York Islanders, the Rangers played like an overpaid group of underachievers from the top to the bottom of the roster. Losing is one thing but lack of effort and an apparent lack of interest is more than any fan should have to contend with, especially when one sees the likes of the Florida Panthers and Atlanta Thrashers coming in with good, young teams full of piss and vinegar and giving it their all on the ice.
On the back end of the home and home series with the Islanders, the Rangers managed a 5-spot on the scoreboard to beat the Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum. The 5-2 victory was more a loss by the Isles than a win by the Rangers, but a win was a win.
Days later, as the snow was burying the eastern seaboard, the Rangers matched up with the Philadelphia Flyers, a team in even worse shape than their New York rivals.
The contest was yet another in a string of games where the Blueshirts were only capable of notching two goals. Artem Anisimov picked up what was eventually the game winner at the 4:46 mark of the second period. Chris Drury picked up the Rangers first goal. Drury has been motivated on the ice ever since coming back from a concussion.
Photo by Lewis Bleiman
Chris Pronger tied the score for the Flyers on the power play late in the first period.
As usual, goalie Henrik Lundqvist faced a barrage of shots stopping 35 of 36 shots on his way to the road win.
The win was at the expense of the Flyers who have fallen on difficult times even after the change made behind the bench. Since an early season hot streak the Flyers have been in freefall in the division race.
Two nights later the Rangers headed to North Carolina to face the Hurricanes in Raleigh. Again, Lundqvist needed to be stellar in net but on this night there was some life in the club’s top line. Out of the doghouse came Wade Redden and Ales Kotalik, both of whom had been benched a week earlier.
Against the ‘Canes, Marian Gaborik picked up his league-leading 25th goal of the season. The off-season acquisition has paid off for the Rangers but Gaborik accounts for a quarter of the team’s goals this season, an unacceptable imbalance.
Photo by Lewis Bleiman
Brandon Dubinsky picked up the game winner early in the third off assists from Gaborik and Vinny Prospal.
Not surprisingly those three wins have instilled a bit of confidence in the Rangers resulting in a bit more enthusiasm for their work ethic. Following the victory over the Hurricanes, New York returned home for a tilt with the Florida Panthers, a team that has given the Rangers no respect this season.
Against the Panthers, the Rangers picked up four goals including a short-handed tally by Gaborik, his 26th of the season. The goal was created at center ice by Drury who stole the puck at the center ice dot, was tripped up but was able to nudge the puck ahead to a streaking Gaborik who buried a shot through the five-hole of Panthers goaltender Tomas Vokoun.
Photo by Lewis Bleiman
The win for Lundqvist was the 158th of his career, good for 5th on the Rangers all-time list.
Perhaps the stink from the last few weeks has been shed and this club can build on the streak heading into the New Year.
Contact lm.davis@prohockeynews.com
Contact the photographer at lewis.bleiman@prohockeynews.com
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