Breaking down the goals from Game 4

The Rangers lost a frustrating game to the Ottawa Senators tonight, 3-2 in overtime.  It was frustrating because the Rangers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead (on two power play goals no less), and then allowed Ottawa to control the play and eventually claw their way back before Kyle Turris ended the game 2:42 into the extra frame.

1-0 Rangers

• The Rangers jumped out to an early lead, just :49 seconds into the game.  Brad Richards won an offensive zone face-off and was able to gain position in the slot.  Marian Gaborik worked the puck off the wall and hit Richards for a nice chance.  Craig Anderson seemed to get handcuffed by the shot and sent a juicy rebound to the weak side.  Anton Stralman jumped up and snapped a shot past Anderson from the slot.  This goal served as a reminder of being able to establish possession in the offensive zone off the draw when your team has the man-advantage.

2-0 Rangers

• The Rangers struck again on the power play just 6 minutes later.  Dan Girardi was able to keep an Ottawa clearing attempt in the zone and made a nifty little behind the back pass to Brad Richards which opened up the ice on the far side.  Richards put a hard, low shot on Anderson, which created a rebound and ensuing scramble in front.  Marian Gaborik had a couple of whacks at the rebound, which eventually found its way onto Ryan Callahan’s stick for an easy tap in.  Good net front presence by the Captain, and solid work by Gaborik staying diligent on the scramble in front. Read more »

Opponent’s scouting report: Craig Anderson

Last week, the Senators looked like a lock for the 7th seed in the East.  So, stupid me decided to preview Craig Anderson as if the Sens weren’t about to go on a three game skid and end up in 8th, and the first round opponent for the Rangers.  Since Anderson will be the guy the Rangers have to solve, we are going to give this bad boy a little bump since it doesn’t seem like many of you guys saw it.

If you didn’t see it the first time, that’s a bad blog reader.  If you did, give it another look and let me know how intimidated you are by Anderson and his 7-3-1 record, 1.87 GAA/.941 SV% and his 2 shutouts (career numbers) against the Rangers. (here’s a hint…I’m not at all intimidated).  Onto the post…

The surprising Ottawa Senators, who many analysts had pegged for a lottery pick this year, find themselves pretty well locked into the 7th spot in the East and a date with the division rival Boston Bruins in the first round back in the playoffs and awaiting a date with the Rangers in the first round.   No small part of Ottawa’s equation this season has been the play of goaltender Craig Anderson.

Anderson has gone through plenty of ups and downs in his career, first traded by Chicago to Florida and working as a backup with the Panthers before signing a 2-year deal in Colorado.  He had a stellar first season in Denver, leading the Av’s to a playoff birth.

His second season did not go nearly as well, and he found himself in Ottawa at the trade deadline last season.  He subsequently signed a 4 year/12.75 million extension last March. Let’s breakdown Anderson’s game, usual categories apply.  General style, strengths, weaknesses, and how the Rangers should approach the matchup.

General style

If you have been reading this series regularly, you know I am all about disclosing my personal feelings about each of these tenders before entering into the analysis.  So, its only fair to tell you I strongly dislike Craig Anderson’s playing style.  For my money he is the worst starting goalie in the NHL.  I will try to remain as impartial as possible while breaking Anderson down, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Anderson lies, stylistically speaking, somewhere between Roberto Luongo and Tim Thomas.  He is a relatively big goalie (6ft 2in, 180, with big equipment), and utilizes his size well.  His style sees a combination of a large amount of pure blocking with acrobatics and very little technical foundation.  It is a bizarre mixture for sure, and in the right defensive system can produce results.

There is an unqualified concept in hockey known as the “big save” or the “momentum changing” save.  There are no modern stats (that I’ve been able to track down anyway) that can quantify the effect of this type of play, but it seems to be something of Anderson’s forte.  He is pretty much a lock to possess a G.A.A. north of 2.50 each year, but he has a knack for making the right save at the right time. Read more »

Game 63: Rangers vs. Florida

Update 9:30pm: With the regulation loss, and Buffalo/Carolina each getting at least a point, the Rangers have dropped to 7th place in the East (8th if Buffalo wins), just 2 points ahead of Carolina.

If there was ever a crucial game for the Rangers, this would be it. The Rangers sit 2 points ahead of Florida for 6th in the conference, but Florida has 2 games in hand. They also sit just 1, I’ll even spell it out for you, ONE, point out of 9th place.

They need this game, no if, ands, or buts about it. Not only do they need this win, but they need it in regulation. Buffalo (#8) faces Carolina (#9) tonight as well. Should the Rangers lose, and Buffalo wins, the Rangers drop to the #8 seed. If Carolina wins, the Rangers drop to the #7 seed. I’m not going to run all the scenarios, but I hope this illustrates the urgency behind this game.

The Panthers website is reporting that Vokoun will be a game time decision tonight. Not like that matters, Craig Anderson is a very capable backup, and has given the Rangers some problems in net.

More later.

Update 6:15pm: Now that the game gets nearer, I’ll move this up to the first post on the page, ahead of the Whitney/Kunitz trade.

None of the beat reporters have lines up, and it looks like Torts isn’t going to disclose that information until game time.

My guess is that he will be using the same lines as last night, maybe inserting Mark Bell somewhere.

Tomas Vokoun has an inner ear infection, and it looks like Craig Anderson will get the start tonight.

Update 6:35pm: Reitz/Sjostrom out, Mara/Voros in.

Update 7:10pm: They aren’t even going to review that? Well, I guess if Torts isn’t arguing, it’s no goal.

Update 7:14pm: Well, the Rangers have been generating some good chances early on, including that no goal by Dubinsky. Let’s see if they keep this up.

Update 7:17pm: What a save by Hank. Wow.

Update 7:22pm: That’s what happens when you drive to the net. Nice play by Callahan to get the puck out of the zone, nice pass by Kalinin to Gomez, nice job by Naslund to get the loose puck into the net. 1-0 Rangers. Naslund from Gomez and Kalinin.

Update 7:30pm: So that’s what Glen Sather looks like…

Update 7:36pm: Denis Potvin is in the house, on the 30th anniversary of his hit on Nilsson.

Update 7:39pm: The Rangers are getting a lot of good shots on net. Craig Anderson is standing on his head.

Update 7:43pm: Phantom call on Rozsival to end the period. 1-0, end of 1.

Update 8:03pm: Even the penalty is more aggressive under this new system. They are certainly much more fun to watch.

Update 8:04pm: Wow. Craig Anderson just made an absurd save. He is single-handedly keeping the Panthers in this game.

Update 8:20pm: The PP will take some time to get used to the adjustments. Micheletti said it best, it’s not natural yet to rotate around. It will take time.

Update 8:30pm: Lift the puck please. That’s twice.

Update 8:35pm: Hit the net please. Disregard, deflected by Anderson.

Update 8:54pm: Dubinsky and Staal are the ice time leaders for forwards/defense through 2 periods. Good to know Torts trusts the sophomores.

Update 8:59pm: Nice passing play on the PP, nice save by Anderson. I think the Rangers would need a 5-on-2 to score a goal though.

Update 9:03pm: Oh come on Gomez. How do you not bury that? It was an empty net and the puck was on your stick. What the hell man?

Update 9:07pm: The Rangers are looking real tired right now.

Update 9:09pm: Ouch. Zednik just took a slap shot off the neck. This man and his neck, he’s just unlucky.

Update 9:10pm: Oh man, it was a McCabe shot too. That has to hurt.

Update 9:12pm: Crap. Booth slides it through Hank’s legs. Hank wants that one back. 1-1. Booth from Weiss and Ballard.

Update 9:16pm: Someone blew an assignment. Horton was left wide open. 2-1 Panthers. Horton from Zednik and McCabe. The Rangers need a goal, and they probably won’t get it.

Update 9:21pm: It was Gomez that blew the assignment. So he couldn’t score and blew that assignment. That’s a 2 goal swing courtesy of one player.

Update 9:22pm: And the FIRE SATHER chant rains down from the heavens (the Blue Seats).

Update 9:30pm: Another Ranger loss. This one in regulation. I’ll put the updated standings at the top of the post.