April 8, 2009, Montreal Canadiens-New York Rangers game story for Metro (NY) Newspaper
Rangers inch closer to clinching playoyff spot
Rangers 3, Canadiens 1
NHL.
It is not terra firma.
The Rangers playoff hopes, though, are not dangling over the cliff’s edge, either.
In the 80th game of the season, the Rangers put together the kind of effort that has been lacking for much of the season. As a result, Tuesday night’s closer-than-it-indicates 3-1 win over Montreal combined with the Panthers’ 2-1 loss in Philadelphia, the Rangers are a win away from clinching a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season. The Rangers host the Flyers Thursday night and travel to Philly for the season finale Sunday afternoon.
“It was a big night for us. Going into this game we knew we had to win,” said Henrik Lundqvist, following a 24 save effort. “ I think we played a really solid game; very aggressive. We played smart. We didn’t lose pucks, didn’t have errors. Against Montreal, if you lose pucks on the blueline, they are a really tough team. They come fast. They have a couple really good shooters. We did a great job.”
As per usual, the work started with Ryan Callahan and Sean Avery, both of whom pressured the Canadiens on the forecheck.
In particular, Callahan was a one-team wrecking crew. In 13:39 of ice time, he used his speed to force turnovers, threw four hits, had five shots on goal and assisted on Chris Drury’s game opening and game sealing goals. For good measure, prior to the game, Callahan was awarded the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award as voted on by the fans.
“It’s pretty obvious why he gets it,” Drury said. “Everything he does for this team: His preparation, how hard he plays every night, hitting, blocking shots, career year in goals…He just had a great year from start to finish. I know everyone in here is real happy for him, real proud of him.”
The Eastern Conference seventh-seed Canadiens were without defensemen Andrei Markov and New York City native Mathieu Schneider, both of whom who were injured in Saturday’s 6-2 win in Toronto. Markov’s 64 points (12 goals, 52 assists) is tied with countryman Alex Kovalev for the team lead. Since coming from Atlanta prior to the trade deadline, Schneider has four goals and 12 assists and had solidified a power play that had sputtered for most of the season. Speculation persists that Schneider is out for the season while Markov will miss three weeks.
Without two of their top defensemen, the remaining Canadiens blueliners spent much of the evening being run over by the Rangers. Scoreless midway through the first, Callahan and Drury collective effort on the forecheck forced Long Island native Mike Komisarek into coughing up the puck along the goal line. Callahan screened an awful Carey Price—who left Shaquille O’Neal sized rebounds all night—and Drury beat the Habs’ netminder stick side
“I thought (Callahan) and Chris were outstanding tonight,” said John Tortorella. “I thought Chris Drury really tried to lead tonight. I thought after he scored the goal, it just allows you to feel better about yourself.”
Montreal tied the game on a Mathieu Dandenault backhander 3:32 later. That was all they got, though, as they spent most of the night pinned in their end due to the Rangers forecheck. Canadiens GM and coach Bob Gainey,
“We played from behind. I thought our first period was fine. For a road game, we got into the game well, but in the second period, the Rangers took control of the play—where it was happening, the number of shots on net (and) the scoring chances. We’re not the only desperate team in the game tonight and I think we showed that,” said Gainey.
Nik Antropov broke the tie with his game-winner 2:37 into the second period. Price and rookie right win Matt D’Agostini tried to play the puck behind the net as Avery bore down on the forecheck. No. 16 caused a turnover and a diving Antropov directed the puck into the net.
Almost seven minutes later, the Callahan-Drury-Naslund line combined to put the game out of reach. Callahan forced a Komisarek turnover at the blueline and sped up the boards while Montreal’s franchise blueliner had a grasp of his stick. It looked as if Callahan kicked the puck to Naslund. The veteran left wing took a shot that Price couldn’t control and Drury put home the rebound.
“He plays hard-nosed. The first one, he’s battling, forechecking down low with me and creates the turnover. On the second one, he made a great read by not touching the puck; kind of just taking the man and letting me pick up the puck, and Nazzy and I go in on a two-on-one.”
Callahan said that the team did not know about Florida’s loss until “(they) threw it up (on the scoreboard) with 10 seconds left in the game, or whatever it was. That was the first we saw of it.”
RANGERS NOTES:
Coupled with Florida’s 2-1 loss in Philadelphia, the Rangers are now two points ahead of the Panthers. Both organizations have two games left on their schedules; Florida plays in Atlanta Thursday night and hosts Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals on Saturday. The Rangers have a home-and-home with Philadelphia.
Third year right wing Ryan Callahan was awarded the 2008-09 Steven McDonald Award prior to the game. Along with career highs in goals (21), assists (17) and points (38,) Callahan leads the Rangers and is fourth in the league with 257 hits. Named after lifelong Rangers fan and NYPD officer Steven McDonald, the award honors the player whose effort goes “above and beyond the call of duty.”
Aaron Voros was scratched for the Rangers. Gainey sat enforcer Georges Laraque, LW Gregory Stewart, Sergei Kostitsyn, Schneider and Markov.
Following Monday night’s 3-2 loss to Ottawa, the Canadiens decided not to have an early skate. They stayed overnight and flew to Boston this morning.
According to a Canadian Press report, Commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters that until Las Vegas remedies its arena situation, the NHL will not “seriously” consider the city as a viable market to relocate an existing franchise. Las Vegas will host the next three NHL awards ceremonies.
According to reports in La Presse and RDS, Habs legend Serge Savard said that if the Canadiens are for sale, he is “ready to do the deal.” Savard, who played 14 of his 16 years with the Habs, won eight cups with the team.
New Jersey native Jim Dowd announced his retirement on NHL Live Tuesday afternoon. A 17 year veteran, Dowd played for the Devils (where he was part of the 1995 Cup Championship team), Canucks, Flames, Islanders, Oilers, Wild, Canadiens, Blackhawks, Avalanche and Flyers in his career.
Three things we saw last night:
1 A little bit of everything: Ryan Callahan has been the most consistent skater the Rangers have had this season. Callahan played his game, doing all the little things. He threw the body, assisted on two Chris Drury goals and finished plus-two.
2 Price is wrong: Montreal goaltender Carey Price had 38 saves but was sloppy. Price went down too early, played the puck at the wrong times, turned the puck over and was often out of position. The Rangers put 41 shots on goal, compared to just 23 by the Habs.
3 In the standings: The Rangers (41-30-9) have 91 points with two games—a home and home with the Flyers—left to play. The Blueshirts are in eighth place, one point behind Montreal. All they have to do to clinch a playoff berth is to win out. Florida needs to win their final two games (Thursday in Atlanta and hosting Washington in the season finale Saturday) and hope for help.
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 10:49 AM
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