Wednesday, April 22, 2009

April 22, 2009, New York Rangers offday story

US – Wednesday, April 22

Sean Avery, right, had three of the Rangers’ five second-period penalties in Game 3 on Monday.
Sean Avery, right, had three of the Rangers’ five second-period penalties in Game 3 on Monday.
Photo: Getty Images

Thinking outside the box

Rangers must clear up penalty problems to play with Capitals

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The Capitals, ranked second on the power play in the regular season, have scored four such goals in this series.


Sean Avery got the last punch. The Washington Capitals got the last laugh.

With 2:48 remaining in Monday night’s 4-0 pounding at the Garden, Rangers agitator Avery rammed into Caps’ goaltender Simeon Varlamov. Among those who came to the rookie netminder’s aid was Washington defenseman John Erskine, who was rewarded for his loyalty with a punch in the face from Avery.


Erskine kept his cool, Avery was ushered off with a 10-minute misconduct and two minutes for roughing and 73 seconds later former Rangers defenseman and fan whipping boy Tom Poti scored the game’s final goal.


“It was kind of like the first game. It was a parade to the box,” said Blueshirts defenseman Marc Staal. “I’m not sure if it was desperation, trying to get the lead back or what, but we’ve definitely got to stay out of the box.”


The Rangers have spent a great deal of time on the penalty kill in the first three games, having committed 19 infractions totaling 46 minutes compared to Washington’s 16 for 32. On Monday night, the Blueshirts committed nine penalties that totaled 26 minutes. Avery “led” the way with 18 PIMs.


Despite the lack of discipline, the Rangers still hold a 2-1 series edge heading into tonight’s Game 4. They know that lead will evaporate if it’s more the same.


“We can’t sit in the box,” forward Markus Nasland said. “We got away with it in the first game, but [being disciplined] is a big part of the momentum going either way.


John Tortorella was asked his opinion about the job referees Dave Jackson and Kelly Sutherland did on Monday. The outspoken Rangers’ coach did not mince words.


“Penalties were called. I am not sure what they were,” Tortorella said. “That really wasn’t an indicator of how we played. I am not going to whine about penalties. We stunk. Simple.”


DENIS GORMAN

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 7:08 PM