October 27, 2009, Phoenix Coyotes-New York Rangers game story for Metro (NY) Newspaper

US – Tuesday, October 27

Gaborik gashes PHX

5 Rangers / 2 Phoenix

What we saw last night at MSG:

1 Mr. October — Another night, another all-everything game from Marian Gaborik. The Slovakian right wing was thoroughly dominant, recording two goals and an assist. Gaborik is tied with LA’s Anze Kopitar for the league lead in goals with 10.

2 Sidekick — Vinny Prospal was Robin to Gaborik’s Batman. Perhaps one of the most underrated free-agent signees, the center finished with a goal and two assists.

3 Keeping the door open — Ilya Bryzgalov was pulled for ex-Ranger Jason LaBarbera after Gaborik’s second goal put the Blueshirts up 4-0 in the second. Phoenix immediately took away the neutral zone after the goalie swap and began to implement a successful forecheck. It led to two goals to cut the lead in half at the second intermission. The Coyotes failed to capitalize, though, on three third-period power plays.

Gaborik Photo: GETTY IMAGES

There were less than eight minutes remaining in the third period when Enver Lisin formally introduced himself to the worshipers that populate 2 Penn Plaza on a nightly basis.


Lisin sprinted into the offensive zone and fired a bullet from the right faceoff circle that froze Jason LaBarbera for the final goal in the Rangers’ 5-2 win over Phoenix Monday night at The Garden.


A little more than 20 minutes after the Rangers’ 55-out-of-60 minute effort, the third-year Russian right wing was surrounded by cameras and notepads, all wanting to know about his two point night. So were his coaches and teammates.



“Lease is a talented player and he is getting better and better at the other part of the game,” Tortorella said of Lisin, who was acquired in a July 13 trade with Phoenix for one-time Ranger prospect Lauri Korpikowski. “He is certainly showing a willingness to hit, to get hit, to make a play. There is some upside there.”


It doesn’t hurt that Lisin is skating on the Rangers’ top line with Marian Gaborik and Vinny Prospal. The trio combined for eight points (four goals, four assists) and was plus-3. Perhaps one of the most underrated signings of the free-agency period, Prospal finished with a goal, two assists, three points on four shots in 14:24 of ice time.


“I think he has done very well with two creative players,” Tortorella added.


Gaborik was thoroughly dominant, recording two goals and an assist, before leaving late in the third with a lower body injury. He is tied with LA’s Anze Kopitar for the league lead in goals with 10 and trails the Kings’ star forward by three points for the overall league. The right wing limped off the ice. Tortorella said that the decision was made to shut the right wing down because “the game was in hand,” and he had not spoken with the trainers about Gaborik’s status.


“It’s nothing related to my groin or hip or torso. We’ll see how everything is in the morning. I collided with one of their players, but it’s nothing major. It happened with about five minutes left and the game was pretty much over,” Gaborik said.


The Rangers jumped out to a 4-0 lead midway in the first 27:14 thanks to goals by Artem Anisimov, Gaborik and Prospal.. Following Gaborik’s second of the game, a laser from under the left faceoff circle, Phoenix pulled starter Ilya Bryzgalov (four goals allowed on 11 shots) for Jason LaBarbera (one goal allowed on 13 shots). The Coyotes also tightened up in the neutral zone, forced turnovers and implemented a successful forecheck which led to goals from Ed Jovanovski and Vernon Fiddler which cut the Rangers’ lead to 4-2 after two.


“We had a little bit of a let down there and they got two on us there,” said Ryan Callahan, who threw four hits and blocked four shots in 18:51 of his usual Tasmanian Devil style of play.


Before the start of the third, television cameras showed Tortorella and assistant coach Mike Sullivan on the bench before the players came out. When asked what Tortorella had told the team, Callahan said, “He said ‘we know what we need to do’ and that was just go out there and limit their chances.”


It is fair to wonder if the Rangers are a legitimate contender or if they are something less, after improving to 7-3-1. In seven October games against potential playoff teams, the Rangers are 3-3-1, including going 0-2-1 last week against San Jose, New Jersey and Montreal. During that losing streak, the Sharks, Devils and Canadiens outscored the Rangers 16-9. The Rangers will cap off the month by traveling to Long Island on Wednesday and Minnesota on Friday.

DENIS GORMAN

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/27/04/1023-82/index.xml

October 23, 2009, New Jersey Devils-New York Rangers game story for Metro (NY) Newspaper

US – Friday, October 23

Devils drop Rangers, stay perfect on the road

Devils 4, Rangers 2

Two minutes were left in the third period and Ryan Callahan had a partial breakaway, bearing down on Marty Brodeur.


Delicious anticipation in the Garden immediately morphed into calamity a microsecond later.


Colin White dove and poke-checked the puck from behind off Callahan’s stick and it trickled behind the net.


White’s desperation lunge was the pivotal play in the Devils’ 4-2 win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden Thursday night to stay unblemished on the road.


“I think it was a huge play. There was no doubt when a guy comes in like this and the score is tight, you never know what is going to happen with the shot,” said Jacques Lemaire, who termed the victory a “huge win.”


“I was scared again because we gave up a breakaway,” was White’s analysis of his game-saving play. “I saw that it was Callahan. I was trying to get back and I knew he was a (right-handed) shot, so he was probably going to bring the puck to that side. It was desperation...It was just…a little luck involved, too.”



Dainius Zubrus’ slow-rolling deflection of a bouncing Zach Parise shot in the third period was the game-winner. Parise’s empty netter at 19:41 was icing on Brodeur’s cake. Brodeur (29 saves on 31 shots) beat Henrik Lundqvist (21 on 25) in a regular season regulation game for the first time.


The Rangers’ next game is Saturday night in Montreal. They will finish the month by hosting Phoenix Monday night, renewing their blood feud with the suburban Islanders on Nassau County Wednesday night and visiting Marian Gaborik’s former stamping grounds Friday night. The possibility still exists that the Rangers could finish the month with 20 or more points. The team record for points in a season was 112 in 1993-94.


But before the Rangers can start having Stanley Cup dreams, aspects of the team’s game must be altered according to John Tortorella.


“We may change some things around. After a game like that, I am not sure what the combinations are going to be,” offered Tortorella about the lines following the Rangers’ second loss in four days. “We need some help elsewhere. (Christopher Higgins) needs to get going. Cally needs to get going. (Chris Drury) is a guy that is working but he is coming up empty. In my mind, he is in a little bit situation than the other two. He is more involved. We need to get something there. We will see where we go with it.”


Tortorella was not at all pleased with the Rangers’ start. New Jersey led 2-0 after the initial 20 minutes due to the Devils going to the front of the net and the Rangers’ inability to pick up a forward or to win a battle. Zach Parise’s partial breakaway at 13:49 opened the scoring. The Devils’ sniper snapped a shot that beat Lundqvist high. Nicklas Bergfors doubled the Devs’ advantage at 15:10 with his first goal of the season.


“The first two goals we had our people back (and) they just skate by us. We had our defensemen back, we just let them skate behind us. We just misread the play,” said Tortorella, who singled out Dan Girardi for criticism.


In an attempt to spring a forward, the Rangers repeatedly attempted home run passes through the neutral zone. That was due to the Devils putting forth perfect exhibition of Jacques Lemaire hockey, taking away room to skate in the neutral zone. One the few times they were able to penetrate, the Devils collapsed around Marty Brodeur to eliminate shooting lanes.


Ales Kotalik and the Rangers’ stretch play generated two second period goals. Marian Gaborik shoveled an Ales Kotalik feed under Brodeur for a power play tally that cut the Devils’ lead to 2-1. Kotalik’s breakaway goal at 14:25 tied the game at two.



NOTES:


Rangers’ legends Mark Messier and Mike Richter, and Detroit Red Wings executive Jim Devellano were honored Wednesday at Gotham Hall with the Lester Patrick Award for outstanding contributions to hockey in the United States.

*

Rangers’ enforcer Donald Brashear did not play last night due to soreness.

*
Parise finished with two goals and three points.

*
For those who anticipated a rekindling of the Sean and Marty Love In, they left mostly disappointed. They only came into close quarters once, a goalmouth scramble that led to face washes and headlocks. For the most part, save for a spirited bout with Mottau 5:26 into the first, Avery was a non-factor last night only recording one hit and finishing minus-1 in 14:38.


Denis Gorman



http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/23/17/0537-82/index.xml

October 20,2009, San Jose Sharks-New York Rangers game story for Metro (NY) Newspaper

US – Tuesday, October 20

Updated 09:37, October the 20th, 2009

Sharks’ sharp shooters light up Valiquette

Dany Heatley

What we saw last night at MSG ...

1 Snipers —San Jose’s scoring forwards dominated the Rangers and backup netminder Steve Valiquette. Devon Setoguchi potted two goals and Dany Heatley added another. Valiquette gave up five goals on 18 shots before getting pulled.

2 Blueshirts can’t hold — The Rangers scored two goals in the first 8:34. San Jose exploded for four goals in a span of 19:54 between the first and second periods.

3 Killing themselves — The Rangers committed four early penalties in a span of 28:33, which led to two power-play goals.

Doug Wilson pursed his lips together and a knowing smirk spread across his face.


The San Jose Sharks’ general manager had been asked to compare Dany Heatley’s first period crease-crashing goal to the style of goals the 2008-09 version scored.


“You get the (goal) at the right time,” the San Jose GM said..


A little more than an hour later, John Tortorella lamented a negative aspect of his team’s game and threatened punishment if changes are not enacted.


“We have some things to work on. The first two periods, we weren’t as bad as the score was at that point in time. We put ourselves in penalty problems,” said Tortorella after the Rangers were outclassed, 7-3, by Western Conference contender San Jose Monday night at the Garden in every conceivable fashion. The Rangers next game is a home date with the Devils Thursday night. “I guess if guys don’t stop taking them, then they’re going to have to lose some ice time along the way. That has to stop. The only hammer we have as coaches is ice time.”


Tortorella had been concerned about the Rangers’ penchant for taking penalties. It finally came back to bite his charges last night. In all, the Rangers took seven penalties, including four in a span 28:33 between the first and second, two of which the Sharks cashed in.


“We have been talking about this for some time,” Vinny Prospal said in a silent locker room after the embarrassment was complete. “If you look at their personnel, this is a team that has a lot of skilled players that capitalize on the power plays and that is what happened.”


No kidding. Ten Sharks recorded a power play point; 13 Sharks finished with at least one point. Patrick Marleau finished with a goal and two assists. Devon Setoguchi potted two goals. Dany Heatley, Brad Staubitz, Jed Ortmeyer and Long Island native Ryan Vesce added markers. Jason Demers also had two assists. Douglas Murray, Heatley, Setoguchi, Joe Thornton, Dan Boyle, Kent Huskins, Jody Shelley and Benn Ferriero each had a helper.


Following the Sharks’ early skate at the Garden, Marleau said the Sharks needed “to come out to stronger starts and we haven’t been able to do that. It’s a matter of being ready for the game right from the drop of the puck. It’s time for us to step up and start of strong right from the start of the game.”


The Rangers had a 2-0 lead in the first eight and a half minutes, due to a Chris Drury deflection and a Michael Del Zotto power-play goal. Then the Rangers began taking penalties and San Jose exploded for six goals in 36:42 spanning the three periods. Five of the goals were charged to Stephen Valiquette, who only made 13 saves and was pulled for Henrik Lundqvist after the second period. Lundqvist yielded two third-period goals on 12 shots.


“I understand (why I was pulled). I am definitely angry and upset. I was part of the team not winning the hockey game and keeping our streak going. At the end of the night, I feel responsible,” Valiquette said.


He repeatedly criticized himself for allowing Staubitz’s first period 2-on-1 goal that cut the Rangers’ lead to 2-1, and was absolutely baffled as to what happened on Heatley’s tying goal.


“The second goal…I don’t even know how that puck ended up in the net. I don’t know,” the Rangers’ backup netminder said. “How did that second one (go in)? He dribbled it. Something happened.”


Something happened, all right. And now, for the first time in the 2009-10 campaign, the Rangers have to face adversity. And if they don't pop right back up, they'll be forced to face Tortorella's wrath.

DENIS GORMAN

http://www.ny.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/20/07/2949-82/index.xml

October 14, 2009, Los Angeles Kings-New York Rangers game story for Metro (NY) Newspaper

US – Thursday, October 15

Marc Staal

Photo: getty images

King me: Gaborik, Rangers win 6th straight

Rangers 4, Kings 2

What we saw last night at MSG ...

1 Gaborik’s monster goal — Marian Gaborik is fast becoming the Rangers’ most dominant young scorer since Rod Gilbert in the ’60s. With the Rangers desperately holding onto a 3-2 lead early in the third, Gaborik controlled a pass that was behind him, skated into the Los Angeles zone and whipped a wicked wrister from the right faceoff dot that beat Erik Ersberg to put the game on ice.

2 Powerful — One of the Rangers’ primary flaws last season was an impotent power play. They improved to 9-for-34 on the man-advantage after two first period goals last night. Their
26 percent conversion rate ranks in the top 10.

3 Worth the time — John Tortorella said fourth-line center Brian Boyle “was worth teaching here.” Indeed. Boyle put the Rangers up 3-1 in the second. Denis Gorman

When the Rangers agreed to terms with Marian Gaborik on July 1, the announcement was met with raised eyebrows and snickers. The consensus was that Glen Sather overpaid for an injury-prone forward.


And while seven matches into the 82-game marathon is a microcosmic sample size, Gaborik has begun to pay dividends for the Rangers.


Gaborik’s spectacular third period goal gave the Rangers a 4-2 win over the Kings at the Garden Wednesday night. It was the Rangers’ sixth win in a row following an opening night loss in Pittsburgh. The Rangers will be in Toronto on Saturday for a Hockey Night in Canada encounter. The next home game is Monday night when the Rangers host Western Conference contender San Jose.


The Rangers lead the NHL with 28 goals scored. Gaborik has six goals—all in third periods— and 11 points. He has recorded a point in every game this season.


Gaborik is the kind of dominant young scoring forward that the Rangers had not had since Rod Gilbert back in the '60s. With the Rangers desperately holding onto a 3-2 lead 4:22 into the third, Gaborik controlled a Vinny Prospal pass that was behind him while managing to stay on-side. He skated down the boards and whipped a wicked wrister from the right faceoff dot that beat Erik Ersberg for the game-clinching goal.


Afterward, the platitudes flowed from both rooms..


“That goal was world class and it came at the right time. That is what a world class player does. They step up at the right time,” said Henrik Lundqvist, who had a pretty good night in his own right, stopping 34 of 36 shots.


“That’s where the game breakers make it, huh?” offered Rangers coach John Tortorella. “That was just a great shot. Third period is crunch time and he makes another big play tonight. He’s that guy you that you need to make a big play at a key time. Early in the season he has done that for us.”


“He has already done that a bunch of nights this year. He gets the ones around the net (and) banging in rebounds. He gets those big goals,” Chris Drury said.


“The Rangers have a dynamic team. That goal that Gaborik scored is a world class kind of goal,” marveled Kings head coach Terry Murray. “You give those great players a little bit of space to make plays and they make it happen.


Early, it was the Vinny Prospal Show. Prospal, who was signed to one-year deal in August, tallied two power-play goals in the first. His first was the 200th goal of his NHL career. Prospal’s goals were sandwiched around a Ryan Smyth tip at 4:21 into the first, which tied the game at one.


Tortorella praised Brian Boyle in the pregame, saying that the fourth line center “has improved. He has improved in all facets of his game. We’re still kind of figuring where he fits as we go through, but I think he’s worth teaching here. He’s certainly improved.”


It must have been kismet as Boyle recorded his first goal of the season with a second period wrister that pinballed off of LA netminder Erik Ersberg and the post, to push the Rangers’ lead to 3-1.


But as has been the case in the last two games, the Rangers struggled during the second. Following Boyle’s goal, the Kings took a page out of the Rangers’ book. Los Angeles clogged the neutral zone and the Rangers did not have a shot for more than 10 minutes. Defensively, the Rangers were unable to clear the puck, allowing Los Angeles to pepper Lundqvist for 14 shots. However, Lundqvist only yielded Michal Handzus’ power-play deflection during the barrage.

DENIS GORMAN

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/15/06/0451-82/index.xml

October 13, 2009, Toronto Maple Leafs-New York Rangers game story for Metro (NY) Newspaper

US – Tuesday, October 13

Callahan, left, will meet the Leafs again on Saturday.

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Rangers roll Leafs

Blueshirts with 5th straight in a blowout

What we saw last night at MSG

1 Streaking — This season’s Rangers are beating the teams they are supposed to beat. What adds to the excitement of their fifth straight win is the fact it came less than 24 hours after the Blueshirts beat up on the league’s premiere teams, the Ducks. There’s no letdown with this unit so far.



2 Getting defensive — Last season, Rangers’ defensemen combined for 25 goals. While complimentary of their work in their own zone, John Tortorella lamented the lack of offense from the back end and vowed that would change in 2009-10. It has. Through six games, the Rangers have seven goals from their defensemen—including tallies from Wade Redden and Dan Girardi last night.


3 Lifeless Leafs — Toronto added toughness in the offseason by signing players such as Colton Orr, but this is one sorry team right now.

The difference is palpable.


A one-goal lead going into a third period one year ago would have meant a Rangers team that played not to lose instead of skating for a win.


This year, the Rangers are content to press the issue. And it has paid dividends.


In every conceivable fashion, the Rangers outclassed Original Six rival Toronto in a 7-2 laugher at the Garden Monday night. The last time the Rangers scored seven goals in a game was April 1, 2007, in Toronto (coincidentally enough a 7-2 win). Last night’s win comes 24 hours after the Rangers shut out one of the premier teams in the Western Conference, Anaheim, 3-0. The Rangers’ next game is Wednesday night at MSG against Los Angeles.


The Rangers got across-the-board scoring. Defensemen Dan Girardi scored twice, and Wade Redden recorded his first goal of the season. Upfront, Sean Avery (two), Ryan Callahan and Marian Gaborik (one each) added tallies.


Holding a 3-2 lead after the first 40 minutes, John Tortorella’s charges came out flying in the third and peppered Toronto goaltender Vesa Toskala for four goals. Toskala, who has become a whipping boy in Toronto for the Leafs’ ineptitude, only stopped 26 of 33 shots.


After losing in Pittsburgh, 3-2, on Opening Night, the Rangers have won five in a row and are tied with the Penguins atop the Atlantic Division. Avery pointed to the Rangers’ new philosophy as a reason for the team’s success.


“I think a lot has to do with the way we play. Because we get on the forecheck and we are relentless on the puck, it makes a big difference in our game,” Avery said. “We have a lot of guys that can skate and a lot of guys that fit into the system and a lot of guys that are playing within the system. When you have all those ingredients, it is a pretty good recipe.”


The biggest positive for the Rangers in the very early season has been the play of the defensive corps. In 2008-09, Rangers’ defensemen totaled 25 goals. Through six games this year, the Rangers have six goals from their defensemen. The Rangers’ defense corps combined for three goals, two assists and was plus-eight.


“It is the play away from the puck that is going to create all the offense. Our ‘D’ has really bought into standing up in that neutral zone and, when they get an opportunity, joining the rush,” John Tortorella said afterward. “If you are going to win consistently in this league, we need to get scoring all the way through and we have been stressing that with our ‘D.’ Danny (Girardi) scores (on) a slap shot (in the second period), right through him.”


It certainly did not hurt that last night’s opponent was the Bay Street Buffoons. When he officially took the reins in Toronto last November, GM Brian Burke boasted that the Leafs would play with “pugnacity, testosterone, truculence and belligerence.”


In the offseason, Burke added to Toronto’s muscle by signing free agents Colton Orr, Mike Komisarek, Francois Beauchemin, and trading for Garnet Exelby. But, other than trading for former Boston sniper Phil Kessel, there is precious little firepower. The Leafs are 0-4-1 and all too often appear to be more interested developing its self-esteem by winning fights instead of hockey games.


“After the second period, I felt real good about our chances, real good about how we were playing. We were back to competing but (made) the elementary mistake of not moving the puck quickly. They turned it into a forecheck chance and it ended up in our net. We got really scrambled after that, like an unconfident team would. We’ve got to find a way to regroup here,” lamented Leafs coach Ron Wilson. Wilson, who will coach the American Olympic Team in the 2010 Vancouver Games.


“[The Rangers] are a strong team. They’ve got speed. Their young defensemen really move the puck. Just about everybody up front was playing disciplined, getting the puck in and forechecking. You are seeing the influence Tortorella has on the team, the relentless work ethic they have right now.”

DENIS GORMAN

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/13/07/2934-82/index.xml

New York Rangers-New Jersey Devils game story for Metro NY Newspaper

US – Tuesday, October 6

Bad blood fuels Blueshirts over Devils

Rangers 3, Devils 2

There is a proverb that suggests you always hurt the one you love.


For the Rangers and Devils, the adage changes to you always hurt the one you hate.


The first Rangers-Devils clash of the new NHL campaign had requisite amount of meanness. The cross-river rivals spent last night exchanging dirty looks, offering less-than-pleasant analysis of the other and punches.


In the end, a rivalry renowned for its heroes and villains on both sides—Messier, Richter, Graves, Matteau; Stevens, Brodeur, Niedermayer, Lemieux—added two young names to the roll call:


Matt Gilroy and Michael Del Zotto.


The rookie defensemen combined three points—including Gilroy’s game-winner, the first of his NHL career—in the Rangers’ 3-2 win at the Prudential Center. The Rangers improved to 2-1-0, while the Devils fell to 0-2.


Del Zotto, the Rangers’ first round pick a year ago, finished with two points (a goal and an assist) in 11:42 of ice time. Gilroy’s first NHL goal broke a 2-2 tie with 2:10 left in the second. Ales Kotalik’s power-play slapper in the first was the other Rangers’ goal.


One of overriding storylines for the Rangers this season has been and will continue to be the development of Del Zotto and Gilroy. Following the pre-game skate, John Tortorella explained why he benched both in the latter part of Saturday’s win over the Ottawa by saying, “We just weren’t playing them, period. We thought the back-to-back situation, they were struggling.”


While cautioning that “there will be bumps in the road,” Tortorella was pleased with how Gilroy and Del Zotto played.


“The two kids got their first goal(s) early. It’s baptism by fire and they handled the minutes tonight. They played well,” said Tortorella, who, despite noting that his charges “grinded one out,” wasn’t completely happy with the effort.


His first public meltdown of the 2009-10 season came 100 seconds into the first period. The emotional head coach erupted after witnessing Rob Niedermayer beat Henrik Lundqvist with a wrist shot from the slot for the game’s first goal at 1:21, following Jay Pandolfo outworking Chris Higgins along the half boards. Tortorella, who had warned his team following Saturday night’s 5-2 win over Ottawa that they “need to button up some things along the way here. We are giving away too many chances against,” called a time-out 33 seconds later and was seen screaming and animatedly gesturing at his team.


“I just saw us watching people play. Off the rush, we watched people go to the net, we watched them rotate out of the corners, we watched them go to the net again, we absolutely got beat out of the corner without any effort at all,” Tortorella said. “I was just shocked at how we were playing in our own end zone.”


If Tortorella’s team shocked its coach, then Jacques Lemaire’s charges may be depressing theirs. The Devils’ power play could use, well, some power and some play. The Devils fell to 2-for-10 in two games with the man-advantage. Travis Zajac scored the lone power-play goal with a wrister that beat Lundqvist (25 saves on 27 shots) glove side. It goes hand-in-hand that the Devils have lost both games. In the so-called “new NHL,” it is imperative that a team with Cup-aspirations be able to score consistently on the PP.


“There was progress. No, it was not enough. There are a lot of thing that have to go well for a team to win. First of all, everyone has to be on the same page. We talked about (that) last game, having long shifts. It was a lot better today. We only had one and (the Rangers) scored on it,” said Lemaire. “After being on the same page and being together, it is to be sharp. I just feel right now that we lack a bit of confidence. I can say that because I see the top players, they do make a lot of plays but (can) make more plays. Chances, sometimes we miss.”


Should the Devils continue to struggle, do general manager Lou Lamoriello and Lemaire ask Brendan Shanahan to return? Shanahan, the 22-year veteran, was “non-rostered” before the game. He is still on the Devils’ cap after mutually agreeing with management to leave the team last week.

Denis Gorman

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/10/06/10/4532-82/index.xml

New Yokr Mets wrap-up story with game elements for Metro NY Newspaper

US – Tuesday, October 6

Close the book and burn it

Mets' miserable 2009 comes to a close with 4-0 win over Astros

In every possible way, the final day of the 2009 Mets’ season was the antithesis of its 2007 and 2008 predecessors.


Unlike the dreary pall that enveloped Flushing on those days, Sunday’s season finale was graced with an awe-inspiring Indian Summer Day.


Where there was drama, tension and angst at Shea Stadium, there was a congenial atmosphere at Citi Field.


Most importantly, where the Mets had win-and-they’re-in scenarios the last two seasons, they played for professional pride yesterday.


The Mets’ 4-0 win over the Astros was one final game in a nadir of a season that had unofficially ended in mid-July. The announced crowd saved its loudest cheers for highlights of Giants’ touchdowns shown on the JumboTron.


Starter Nelson Figueroa threw a complete game four-hit shutout to finish 2009 with a 3-8 record. The Brooklyn native struck out seven and lowered his ERA to 4.09. Wilton Lopez (0-2) was cuffed around Flushing for four runs—three earned—on six hits in five innings.


Luis Castillo, David Wright and Josh Thole each drove in a run—the other Mets’ run was unearned. Angel Pagan scored twice, while Carlos Beltran and Jeremy Reed each scored once.


After the game, Jerry Manuel and the players recognized that the necessarily long and perhaps bloody job of reconstructing the Mets will begin today.


“We have to be very productive this offseason and decide the direction of where we’re headed. There are some things that I probably have to make sure are addressed in spring training in going forward, and get ready to win a championship. I really believe we can do that,” said a subdued Manuel after the game.


“There are some things that have to be done,” added Carlos Beltran. “I think we need a little bit more pitching; starting lineup, maybe another bat. But I believe the organization and Omar will do whatever it takes.”


While no one from the organization has come forth to say publicly that personnel changes will be made, it has been speculated that Manuel may have new faces on his coaching staff in 2010. It is believed that third base coach Razor Shines may be among the casualties. During the season, the base paths were among the in-game maladies for the Mets. Shines was oft-criticized for sending runners at the wrong time and the Mets led the league in having runners thrown out at home.


While not going into specifics, Manuel said that the organization would “address (the coaching situation today) and have some kind of announcement.”


Manuel suggested that he would “tweak” aspects of his managerial style and how the Mets play. In particular, he talked about the Mets’ situational hitting as an area that would be modified.


“That would be a part of the tweaking process. In going forward is really address situation hitting to a degree that (a hitter) has full understanding of what he has to do in those situations,” the manager said.


Among the organization’s most important players, Beltran summed up the disappointing campaign and vowed that there will not be a repeat performance in 2010.


“Honestly, it was a tough year for us as a team, as an organization. Hopefully next year, (there will) be a lot of good things for us,” the centerfielder said. “What can I say? Tough year for us. Coming out of spring training, we were thinking that we were able to accomplish our goals: win our division, go to the playoffs and maybe win the (World Series). It didn’t happen. Next year will be a different year.”

Denis Gorman

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

US – Tuesday, October 6

It was a long year for Carlos Beltran and the Mets.

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Worst may not be over

Mets’ 2009 train wreck could carry into next season

Blame the injuries. Blame the shirtless tirades from management. Blame the curse of a new ballpark.

Blame whoever or whatever you like. David Wright, though, simply blames the performance.

“It’s different. We put ourselves in this position. We played poorly, we had our injuries and this is what happens when those things come together. Obviously it’s not fun being in this position, but it’s the position we put ourselves in,” Wright said shortly before the Mets’ season wrapped up with a 70-92 record on Sunday. “There are not too many positives you can take away from this. You just have this feeling and don’t want to feel it again.”

Wright may not see the positives, but manager Jerry Manuel is at least trying to see the light. While Mets players spent more than 1,480 days on the disabled list — more than any other major league team — according to STATS LLC., Manuel got a taste of the team’s young talent.

“They can be pieces, but they can’t [be in the everyday lineup] at the same time,” Manuel said.

“They have to come up, fill their little role here and there, just keep the game in play.”

With marginal talent in the young crop, that will leave the same core of players to carry this team in 2010. That could leave a 37-year-old Carlos Delgado, an aging Carlos Beltran and an overhyped Jose Reyes to carry the load in 2010. That group hasn’t produced a World Series appearance yet, so going back to it could mean more doom and gloom for the Mets next year.

Gary Sheffield hinted last month that the team could use some new chemistry — it just depends who is out there.

“It’s a matter if a guy wants to be here or not,” Sheffield said.

If they talk to ex-Met Ryan Church or watched the miseries from management in ’09, the overwhelming decision for free agents may be to stay far, far away.

DENIS GORMAN

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