Game 11: Lightning at Rangers
2012-2013 Records: Tampa (6-4-0), Rangers (5-5-0)
NYR Leading Scorer: Marian Gaborik (6-3-9) and Brad Richards (2-7-9)
TBL Leading Scorer: Steve Stamkos (7-10-17)
NYR Goaltender: Henrik Lundqvist (9 GP, 2.61 GAA, .907 SV%)
TBL Goaltender: Mathieu Garon (2 GP, 2.03 GAA, .939 SV%)
Rangers Lines:
From practice courtesy of Andrew Gross:
Taylor Pyatt-Brad Richards-Marian Gaborik
Carl Hagelin-Derek Stepan-Rick Nash
Chris Kreider-J.T. Miller-Ryan Callahan
Arron Asham-Jeff Halpern-Darroll Powe
Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Marc Staal-Anton Stralman
Michael Del Zotto-Matt Gilroy
Henrik Lundqvist
Probable Scratches/Injuries: Mike Sauer (concussion), Brian Boyle (healthy), Steve Eminger (healthy), Stu Bickel (healthy)
Preview:
What a difference a week makes. The Lightning stormed into the season beating teams with conviction, scoring 5,6,7 goals a game. Then the Rangers came into town and forced them to play a more honest game, beating them 3-2. Since that loss, Tampa has dropped games to Philly and Jersey.
As I said last week, Guy Boucher has the Lightning running a 1-3-1 forecheck, which can be an aggressive forecheck or a neutral zone trap depending on the puck’s location, the score, how much time is left on the clock, etc. Tampa also utilizes a 1-3-1 power play, which creates four triangles to pass around and take one-timer shots. This system forces the defense to focus on the middle players causing the PK to miss coverages. When they’re on, it’s a deadly powerplay.
Still, the Rangers showed everyone that when they play their game on their terms, they can beat anyone. If the Rangers are going to start stringing together wins, they need to continue to play hard-nosed hockey, get offensive balance and stay disciplined. Consistency matters.
Crazy Thought: More power play goals would be sweet.
Opposition Blog: Bolts By The Bay
Broadcast Info: MSG 7:30p
Torts Post Game Interview vs. Isles:
I thought this was a good interview. He had some good insights about the team. Worth a watch…
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Posted by: The Suit, on 02-10-2013 at 2:30 pm in Game Thread | Comments (50)
Boyle a scratch? Any chance Boyle and or Eminger/Bickel get traded for a depth forward and a draft pick? I dont see Boyle staying on the team just to be a scratch. And it would free up cap space.
If the team excels without Boyle and he’s out of the line up long term I wouldn’t be surprised to see them explore trade options toward the end of the year but his value is minimal. Maybe a 3rd (like they gave up for him) and the benefit of moving 1.8 off the books. You don’t get much for depth, defensive forwards, especially ones in prolonged scoring slumps. That said, I think Torts has a lot of respect for Boyle so will try and give him another shot at least.
Except if you are Gustaud and get a 1st round ppick.
Boyle < Gaustaud. But I don't think the Rangers can trade Boyle considering how thin they are at forward.
Eminger and Bickel have no trade value, so I doubt they get moved.
Really wish I could watch this game. Hoping my hotel room has the channel.
Invest in a sling box. It got me through college and the last 4 years of living in Pennsylvania without having to purchase any of the sports packages. You can watch whatever is on your home tv on your laptop, iPad, or smartphone as long as you have an Internet connection.
It’s not really worth it for me at this point. I’m traveling for work, I only miss 4-5 games a year.
Torts sucks. He should be fired!
He even changed the practices because the players asked him to. What kinda of good coach does that?
One with a cup and one who brought the Rangers to within two games of the Stanley cup final last year after being an annual 6-8th seed playoff team.
I sense slight sarcasm here…
Boyle hasn’t been his best this year, but neither has a lot of the Blueshirts. I don’t agree with his benching after all he has given to the team the last couple of years. He should be in the lineup tonight.
Torts said Boyle will be back in the lineup. He didn’t play him tonight because he felt the boys played well last game. Miller is in his spot now, might as well keep the kid there after scoring two goals.
Boyle was sent a message, and the team responded with its best game of the year. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
I was thinking more along the line of scratching Halpern, his play hasn’t really impressed me? Am I missing something?
Halpern started slow but has been getting better as the season wears on. He’s starting to win face offs and play solid defense, which is what he was brought on to do.
Boyle’s been good for us, but he’s slowly producing less and less. Respect only goes so far in a business. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s moved.
People’ve been saying this for a while: eventually one of our prospects is gonna come along and take his spot. For now, that seems to be that case.
Boyle’s been mainly used as a defensive zone FO guy (30% OZ start after a whistle, so he hasn’t really been given a chance to score.
That said, if the Rangers were ever relying on Boyle to score, then they were flawed.
We’ve been saying this for two years now: When Boyle is a 4th line guy, then the Rangers are ready to compete for a Cup.
I take it the Rangers scored early?
Yup Nash drew like the whole team again, fired on from high slot, deflected off a Lightning player.
I didn’t see the goal. Why did Sam and Joe say Hagelin scored his 2nd?
Thought Hagelin may have tipped it, but tough to tell from replay
Nice. I’ll take any kind of early lead here.
That power play looked pretty good even though no score. More movement than I’ve seen all year
Yea. I like Stralmania on the PP. Walks the line well. Distributes well and he’s a right handed shot. Just need to finish.
“Just needs to finish.”
I feel like we’ve been saying that a lot lately.
I like Cally’s goal. I do that every shootout in NHL 13
Indeed. And credit Powe too for forcing the puck carrier to rush the pass.
Powe already showing why people will forget about Prust.
Yea…I’m awful at that game. Can’t score to save my life.
Seems like Torts is always angry. He didnt look happy 2 minutes after Cally scored
From what I’m gathering, the Rangers have been sloppy defensively. Torts won’t like that.
Stralmania has been good and Hobey been steady too!
The recent emergence of Gilroy has been an unexpected surprise. Hopefully he can keep it up.
Anyone see the stats from the Edm CBJ game. Ex Rangers property outshot the entire EDM team and they still lost.
Ouch. Rough game then.
Tampa scores, Rangers inept powerplay gives Tampa life. Too bad you can’t bench a powerplay unit.
Good puck movement at least?
The first power play looked great. Then the normal mediocre can’t get the puck in the zone power play followed. Is that not the definition of frustrating.
So the standard inconsistencies then? Par for the course. Infuriating.
Has anyone seen NASH? he has been almost invisible with Stepan as his center
Except for that time when he made Hedman look like Bickel?
Nash – Step – Hagelin have been great tonight. Between the three of them they have 3 goals and 13 shots on net. Not sure what game you’re watching.
Too much Scotty…
Maybe David Clarkson can give the Ranger PP some pointers.
Clarkson is very underrated. Kid is pretty good. Can’t deny those totals.
Arron friggan Asham. Nice goal, right over the glove…
One of those signings that was either going to end as poorly as Donald Brashear or work out as great as Ruslan Fedotenko. Looks to be the latter in the early going.
So I guess that Hagelin-Stepan-Nash line appears to be doing just fine.
Breaking up the Nash, Gabby Richards line is paying off. Although I think Keider would be a better fit with Richards and Gabby then Pyatt, who is more of a banger crasher. The Rangers are next up against the Bruins. Have they lost too much of their toughest to stand up to them? Or will their speed keep Boston on their heels?