NEW YORK – The New York Rangers are riding the hot goaltending of Henrik Lundqvist in their Eastern Conference Finals series with the New Jersey Devils. Lundqvist has pitched two shutouts this series, both 3-0 wins and both featuring third period scoring that accounted for all goals.
Asked if his goalie’s own standards were being exceeded Rangers head coach John Tortorella was succinct.
“Our goaltender is growing and growing as a player and a person,” he said.
But it is not only Tortorella’s goalie driving the club to success this post season. The defensive corps has set themselves up as big contributors to the offense.
“Goals are tough to come by throughout the Playoffs here. And if you’re getting some from your back end, I think we’re 1-2 there right now. Danny (Girardi) with three game winners it’s certainly helping,” Tortorella said on practice day. “We’re hoping to get other guys going, but until then that’s part of the offense. That’s a big part of the offense in the National Hockey League.”
Girardi has scored three goals this post season and all three have been game winners, including two in this series.
Heading into game four on Monday night the Rangers will be without the services of Brandon Prust who was suspended by the NHL for contact with the head of an opposing player.
Before the penalty was handed down by Brendan Shanahan of the NHL Tortorella defended his player.
“Prust has played probably 300-plus games without any hearing, anything going on with him. He’s probably one of the most honest players,” Tortorella said.
He was vocal in looking at opposition hits on his own players.
“I look at Zubrus’ elbow to Stralman. I look at Parise launching himself at Del Zotto. Maybe if our players stayed down on the ice, we’ll get something. We tell our players don’t stay down on the ice. Get up. I hope – I’ll leave it at that,” Tortorella added.
“Picking on the power play, set plays, picking on the power play. If we want to start discussing officials with the media, I have a long list here. That’s a set play by Jersey. Picking so we can’t get to Kovalchuk to block a shot.”
Brian Boyle was asked about the comments from Tortorella about getting up from a hit.
“I don’t think – I mean, we’re going to get hit hard, especially during the Playoffs,” Boyle said. “You don’t want to – when a guy hits you, you don’t want to fall, you don’t want to budge. And if you do, you get up and here’s the puck. The next time you try to go through him.”
“That’s how we play. I think that’s for the most part how hockey’s played,” he added.
Rangers centerman Brian Boyle was asked earlier about Prust and the hit and the potential for a suspension.
“It’s been huge for us. I think he does a lot of grunt work. He does a lot of heavy lifting. And he’s been hitting it really hard. He’s really done it the right way, I think. Not a dirty player by any means. He’s done a lot for us,” Boyle said of his teammate. “He stands up to guys a lot bigger than him and heavier than him. And we played a lot the last couple of years together. It’s been a lot of fun.”
Regardless of the defense of Prust he will sit for game in Newark Monday night.
Rangers rookie Chris Kreider has remained a major topic of discussion for most press meetings for Tortorella and the media.
“He’s instinctive. The puck follows him. I think his legs get him where he wants to be as far as getting to pucks. And we’re not doing a lot of teaching and a lot of structure with him. It’s just the wrong time. There’s enough things going through his head where we just want him to play. He’s had some breakdowns away from the puck. Those are things we’ve tried to teach a little bit but not too much,” Tortorella said of his rookie. “But this is instinctive. He’s an instinctive player. We’re just trying to let him go.”
So. the Rangers head to game four in Newark with a possible chip on their shoulder and a point to prove to themselves, their fans and the NHL.
Contact LM.Davis@prohockeynews.com
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