Well, complete and utter domination of the defending stanley cup champions certainly is a step in the right direction, but with a game against the Penguins in 4 days one has to wonder if the trend of play well against good teams, play like crap against poor teams will continue.? Of course the Penguins record doesnt really show them as a poor team, but the fact of the matter is, they simply are not a good team, they just beat up on the Flyers and us to get their points.? Seriouslythey have 4 wins against the Flyers, and 2 wins against us, out of their remaining 13 games they have a grand total of 10 points, hardly impressive.? The problem with them is that we take them sooooooo much for granted that we always seem to dig ourselves a hole and play like crap for 60 minutes.
Getting back to the dismanteling we just witnessed I have to say I was completely and utterly impressed with the 3rd line.? This is the second straight game where they have just dominated the puck posession end of things when they are on the ice, and its done with nothing more or less than very hard work and determination.? Marcel Hossa, who I have been very much against, has played very well, but the question is, are we going to be demanding his head for the next 19 games, or does he show some consistency?? For now, that line looks like a helluva find, as they continue to keep the opposing top lines off the score sheet, and generate chances of their own (with a goal to boot!).
The top 2 lines both got on the score sheet tonight, which isnt surprising, but what IS surprising is that 2 goals were scored off of redirections from point shots/shotpasses.? You really have to love the point men actually doing something with the puck (SHOOOOT!!!) rather than just play hot potato for 30 seconds.? Give the forwards some credit, they really helped out the D, and the D helped out the forwards in their zone too, pinching at just the right time, and generating chances of their own.? Btw, if Marek Malik never attempts another drop pass again, it will be too soon.? The guy needs to stop doing that crap, period, I hated it when Kondratiev did it last year, and I still hate it when Malik does it.? Drop passes, NEVER WORK when you are trying to get out of your own zone.
Finally we must talk about Henrik Lundqvist.? Henrik was a rock tonight.? Getting his first shutout of the season against the defending champs, and making at least 4 spectacular saves.? Henrik has been “in the zone” since giving up the softie against the Devils, and thats really helped the Rangers win, and stay in games they werent playing particularly well in.? I would ride Henrik till the next back to back game (against Buffalo).? Let Weekes play at home against the Sabres, or if you want, let him play in Buffalo on 12/1 but dont let the guy rot on the bench, its important to keep both goalies fresh.
Rangers 3 Stars Of The Game:
1)Hossa-Betts-Ward.? The entire 3rd line was flat out dominant today.? They controlled the puck, they cycled, they rushed, they backchecked, they killed penalties, they did it all, including scoring the winning goal in the first period.
2)Henrik Lundqvist.? First shutout of the year, and has only given up 1 goal in his last 2 games.? This will certainly help move his bloated GAA and SV% back to respectabilty following his early season struggles.
3)Jaromir Jagr.? The captain was great with the puck, but still looked sluggish at times.? Still though, hard to argue with 2 goals right?
-Inferno