November 24, 2009, Columbus Blue Jackets-New York Rangers game story for Metro NY Newspaper

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US – Tuesday, November 24

Published 06:09, November the 24th, 2009

7th Heaven

Rangers' flurry of seven-straight goals floors Jackets

For a month the Rangers had been cross-examined about their lack of goal scoring.


For a month, they had promised that it was just under the surface, just waiting to break out.


Last night, against a presumed-to-be budding Western Conference power, the bubbling finally morphed into a volcanic eruption.


The Rangers’ 7-4 thrashing of Columbus Monday night may or may not have been a return to early season form, but it was much needed, if only for their psyche. Over the previous 14 games, opponents had outscored the Rangers (12-10-1) 46-33. Not coincidentally, the Rangers were 4-9-1 in that stretch.


Last night’s outburst was well-timed as the Rangers prepare for a three game road trip. They will visit the Panthers on Wednesday, the much-improved Lightning on Friday and take on the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Penguins Saturday night.


“It showed tonight that if we keep at it, (goals will) come in bunches,” said Ryan Callahan. “Every (game, we believe we) have the capability to score. It’s nice to get a breakout game like this.”


Nine Rangers recorded a point. Marian Gaborik had four points—two goals and two assists—and is now tied with San Jose sniper Dany Heatley for the league lead in goals with 18. Rookie center Artem Anisimov finished with three points (goal and two assists). P.A. Parenteau and Chris Higgins had two assists each, while Sean Avery scored two goals. Avery’s first goal—a power play stuff in at 6:12 into the second—was his first in 16 games.


“I think it’s certainly important. It will help guys loosen up on the stick and relax. Saying that, it should be a challenge for us to push harder and keep scoring. It’s one game. Realistically, if we don’t do this on a consistent basis, we’re not going to win too many games,” Avery said.


Columbus’ grind line of Derek MacKenzie, Jared Boll and Raffi Torres scored the first two goals of the game by playing a simple forecheck and cycle game. MacKenzie snapped a shot over Henrik Lundqvist at 5:38 of the first. Boll’s one-timer 4:07 later doubled the Blue Jackets’ lead to 2-0


Following Boll’s goal, John Tortorella called timeout to, according to multiple Rangers, reassure the team that the game was still in hand. Following the timeout, the Rangers scored seven uninterrupted goals in a span of 21:18 between the first and second periods.


Gaborik cut the lead in half, finishing off a pretty give-and-go from Higgins with a quick snapper that beat Steve Mason high. Anisimov’s deflection of a Wade Redden point shot tied the game at two. Anisimov’s goal was the first in 212:19 that was recorded by a Ranger who wasn’t Gaborik or Vinny Prospal. Michael Del Zotto finished a brilliant individual rush with a bullet that froze Mason and gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish. Avery and Gaborik scored three goals in a span of 1:21 in the second to push the advantage to 6-2. Matt Gilroy’s third of the season increased the lead to 7-2.


The across-the-board scoring was a theme that Tortorella had been harping on, along with developing stability in all facets. He was pleased with the effort but cautioned that more work needs to be done.


“When you’re going through a tough time, as we are right now, you just need to stay with it. You just have to try to stay within the concept and play the right way. I thought our guys played well,” Tortorella said. “We still have a quite a bit of work to do to try to gain some consistency within our game.”


Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves. Mason, the reigning Calder Trophy winner, allowed four goals on 18 shots before being pulled at 6:12 of the second period. Mason was replaced by Mathieu Garon, who stopped 12 of 15 shots. Kristian Huselius and Jakub Voracek scored meaningless third period goals for the Blue Jackets.


NOTES:


The match marked the return of Fedor Tyutin to Broadway. Tyutin, who had played for the Rangers for four seasons, was traded to Columbus (12-7-3) in the summer in the summer of 2008 with Christian Backman for Nik Zherdev and Dan Fritsche. Needing a power play quarterback, the Rangers signed Wade Redden to a six-year, $39 million contract. The Rangers traded Fritsche to Minnesota in January for defense Erik Reitz, and did not tender a contract to Zherdev following an oft-invisible 2008-09 campaign in which he recorded 58 points (23 goals and 35 assists).


“I think everything happens for a reason. No regrets or complaints,” Tyutin said a couple hours before the game, while being greeted by a multitude of Rangers and MSG employees. He finished the night -2 with one shot and a hit.



*

Newly inducted Hall of Famer Brian Leetch was at the Garden for the game.

Denis Gorman


http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/24/12/0937-82/index.xml

November 23, 2009, Alanta Falcons' offensive line woes sidebar for the Atlanta Journal Constitution

Long day for Falcons ‘O' line

By Denis Gorman

For the AJC

7:11 p.m. Sunday, November 22, 2009

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—The sarcasm hung in the air.

“So if [the offensive line] would have played better, we would have won?" Falcons right tackle Tyson Clabo asked after Sunday's 34-31 overtime loss to the New York Giants. "Basic analogy. I’ll give you that."

Matched up against the Giants’ revolving door of pass rushers, the Falcons' offensive front struggled for most of the afternoon. In a word, the Giants' rush was relentless.

“They have the most number of good pass rushers that we’ve seen," Clabo said. "No matter who comes in, they can rush the passer and it creates problems. You never get a break, never get a breather."

Matt Ryan was sacked twice for a loss of six yards, but that doesn’t adequately illustrate the effectiveness of the Giants’ rush. Consistently pressured, Ryan was often either forced to throw before he was ready or had to scramble out of trouble. Ryan finished with 26 completions in 46 attempts for 268 yards and two touchdowns.

Earlier in the week, New York defensive end Justin Tuck suggested the Giants' bye week would produce a return to form of the team's defense.

“The week off allowed everyone to get healthy. I like being at full force,” said Tuck, who also had high praise for the Falcons’ power running game. “They run the ball very well. Very well. I think (Michael) Turner has 4.9 yards per carry.”

But with Turner (high ankle sprain) and Jerious Norwood (right hip flexor) out, the Giants came calling on Ryan, who was hit of total of eight times by Michael Boley, Osi Umenyiora, Mathias Kiwanuka, Barry Cofield and Tuck. Boley and Tuck also had a sack each.

“Those guys have their ears pinned back. They’re always coming off the ball,” Clabo said.

The line play did improve late in the second half, allowing Ryan time to find targets in New York's suspect secondary. In the second half, Ryan completed 20 of 35 passes for 217 yards and two scores.

The Falcons scored 17 points in the final 16:57 spanning the third and fourth quarters to tie the game at 31-31. Ryan threw both of his touchdown passes, one to Eric Weems and the other to Tony Gonzalez, in the rally.

Afterward, the question of ‘What if?’ permeated the Falcons’ locker room.

“There were some things in the first half that we wish we could have back,” center Todd McClure said.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-falcons/long-day-for-falcons-209637.html

November 23, 2009, Atlanta Falcons secondary torched sidebar for the Atlanta Journal Constitution

Manning has record day against Falcons' secondary

By Denis Gorman

For the AJC

6:24 p.m. Sunday, November 22, 2009

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.—Brent Grimes’ voice was barely a whisper.

But no megaphone was needed to convey his disappointment.

“The big plays, they hurt us today.,” Grimes said Sunday after the Falcons’ 34-31 overtime loss to the Giants.

The Falcons (5-5) were repeatedly burned by what had been a struggling Giants’ (6-4) offense. Save for a first-quarter sack and an interception by Grimes, the Falcons were unable to pressure Eli Manning into mistakes. Manning and his receivers took full advantage of good pass protection and the NFL’s 28th ranked pass defense. The Giants’ quarterback completed 25-of-39 passes for 384 yards and three touchdowns in his best game of the season.

New York’s receivers (Mario Manningham, Hakeem Nicks, Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon) combined for 16 caches for 286 yards, an average of 17.87 yards per catch. Tight end Kevin Boss finished with five receptions for 76 yards and two touchdowns.

“We did spread the ball around a lot today,” said Nicks. “Everybody had an opportunity to make plays today.”

The Falcons’ pass defense has been a season-long talking point. Nothing happened in the Meadowlands to change that.

“We gave up a lot of passing yards. That’s very obvious," coach Mike Smith said. "Way too many passing yards and again. It’s team defense, it’s not just the secondary. We cannot give up those types of yards in the passing game and expect to have the success that we want to have.”

“The Giants came out with a great game plan," safety Eric Coleman said. "They executed well. Just give credit to them. They did a great job today."

The Giants’ vertical game was a particular issue. The Falcons, who had given up 42 plays of more than 20 yards, allowed the Giants’ seven of those plays, which led to 24 points, including Lawrence Tynes’ game-winning 36-yard field goal in overtime.

“No team can give up big plays like that and expect to win,” said Grimes.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-falcons/manning-has-record-day-209510.html

November 20, 2009, New York Giants advance piece for Atlanta Journal Constitution

Giants' season a tale of two extremes

By Denis Gorman

For the AJC

12:00 a.m. Friday, November 20, 2009

Tom Coughlin had been asked about the significance of his New York Giants re-establishing its dominance at home.

Coughlin stood at the podium and spat out a response that was to the point.

“We need to win a game.”

On Sunday, the Giants (5-4) get a chance to do just that when they host the Falcons at 1 p.m. New York has lost four in a row, is one game back of Dallas by in the NFC East race and trails the Falcons for the final playoff slot in the conference.

The Giants are coming off their bye week. Historically, the Giants have lost 15 of the 20 games following a regular-season bye, including three of five during Coughlin’s tenure as coach.

The 2009 season has been a contradiction. New York ranks 10th in total offense with averages of 25.8 points per game, 377.7 yards per game, 238.8 passing yards per game and 138.9 rushing yards per game. The 2009 edition’s offensive statistics are comparable to last year’s team that finished third in the NFL in total offense (26.7 PPG, 355.9 YPG, 198.6 PYPG, and 157.4 RYPG).

In winning their first five games, the Giants outscored their opponent by an aggregate 151-71 (scoring 30.2 per game) while committing only five turnovers (three fumbles, two interceptions) and totaled 2,087 yards of offense. But during the four-game losing streak, they have averaged 20.3 points per game, have turned the ball over 10 times (four fumbles, six interceptions) and have gained only 1,362 yards.

A glaring issue during the slide has been the play of the offensive line, which has allowed 12 sacks for minus-66 yards. Contrast that to the first five games where they yielded only three sacks for minus-27. Moreover, Eli Manning, never fleet afoot, often had to throw off his wrong foot while backpedaling from pass rushers in losses to New Orleans, Arizona, Philadelphia and San Diego.

Manning, in his midweek meeting with the media, chose to look at the season’s final seven games as an “opportunity.”

“Seven games left. We have to play well, and it starts this week with Atlanta, getting back to winning and having some fun,” Manning said. “It starts this week.”

Left guard Rich Seubert seconded his quarterback.

“We’re worried about this week. The past you can’t change it; just look to improve it,” he said.

The offense is not the only component that has struggled. For a franchise whose DNA is encoded in defense, with the names Andy Robustelli, Sam Huff, Lawrence Taylor, Carl Banks and Michael Strahan demanding exalted status in the organization’s lore, the 2009 Giants rank 21st in total defense, allowing 22.7 points per game.

The Giants gave up an average of 33.3 points per game in their past four games. Compare that to the 14.2 per game yielded in the first five games. A close inspection reveals that the Giants have allowed 23 pass completions of more than 20 yards and 24 rushes of more than 10 yards. Of those plays, 16 catches and nine rushes came during the losing streak.

A shorthanded unit for most of the season, the defense should be almost whole Sunday with an increased role for outside linebacker Michael Boley and the possible return of cornerback Aaron Ross.

Boley, a former Falcon, signed a five-year, $25 million free-agent deal with New York in the off-season. Among the league’s best cornerbacks, Ross has not played a down this season while recuperating from a hamstring injury.

Coughlin seemed to hint that Boley will spend Sunday afternoon alternating between pressuring Matt Ryan and covering Tony Gonzalez, saying that “the speed at the position and the ability to adjust,” were among the chief attributes that Boley provides. “The ability to not only cover, but in pressure package he does get the chance to rush.

“He doesn’t just get matched up on the tight end.”

Coughlin would not show his hand regarding Ross’ availability for Sunday. Ross said he is unsure if he’ll start or be used in nickel or dime packages.

“I really have no idea. Right now they are working me in and just trying to see how my leg holds up. I have no idea if I’m going to be a nickel or a dime. I really don’t know. I’m just waiting for them to call No.31 out there,” said Ross.

The cornerback said he was able to use the time away to study potential matchups.

“There were a lot of things I was able to pick up mentally since I wasn’t out there physically,” Ross said.

On Sunday, the Giants, like Ross, hope they can begin to apply those lessons.

http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-falcons/giants-season-a-tale-206125.html

November 18, 2009, Washington Capitals-New York Rangers game story for Metro (NY) Newspaper

US – Wednesday, November 18

Published 05:54, November the 18th, 2009

Alex is Great in comeback

Capitals 4, Rangers 2

The NHL’s version of John Dillinger returned with guns blazing last night.


But it was the rest of the Caps’ gang that made sure the Rangers left Madison Square Garden with holes—in their game.


The undermanned Rangers were outclassed once again, this time by Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals, 4-2, Tuesday night. The Rangers who have lost five of eight and have lost 9 of 13 overall, have home games Saturday against Florida and Monday versus Columbus before going on a three game in four night road trip.


What they will remember is that they were beaten by Washington’s grinders, while not getting scoring from their role players.


“Our biggest weakness is that we aren’t getting any secondary scoring. We just aren’t creating enough with our secondary scoring” said John Tortorella. The Caps got goals from Brooks Laich, Matt Bradley and Brian Pothier. Bradley’s semi-breakaway in which he held off Matt Gilroy was the game-winner. Pothier sealed the game with an empty-netter with 17 seconds left. “Obviously, the scoring hasn’t been consistent. The forechecking and the secondary scoring has been a problem. We can’t get one or two goals and expect to win hockey games.”


Despite missing six games (Washington won four of the six games. Their only losses were at the hands of the Devils; both games were at The Prudential Center), Ovechkin lead the league in shots on goal with 86, was tied with LA’s Anze Kopitar and San Jose’s Dany Heatley for the league lead in goals with 14 and was tied for fourth in the league with 23 points.


After the Caps’ early skate, Bruce Boudreau said, that, “Unless something negative happens this afternoon and I don’t get the OK from (head trainer Greg Smith), then I think he will be playing.”


That was not what the struggling Rangers needed to hear. Ovechkin has tormented the Rangers throughout his four year career. He had 10 goals and eight assists for 18 points in 17 regular season games against the Rangers prior to last night.


Boudreau intimated that Ovechkin enjoys being the guy that is alternately disdained and feared by opposing fanbases. Outside of Pittsburgh, there may be no city where he is more loathed than in New York, where he is booed every time he touches the puck.

The Rangers fans hatred of Ovechkin was birthed during last year’s first round series, in which the reigning Hart Trophy winner scored three goals and assisted in four others in eliminating the seventh-seeded Rangers in seven games.


Seven months did little to dissipate the abhorrence, which grew when Ovechkin tied the game at one with a power play bullet that knocked Henrik Lundqvist’s water bottle from its perch on top of the cage.

Said Ovechkin of his first goal since a 4-3 overtime loss to the Islanders on October 30, “It's always nice when you get hurt and you come back and you score in the first period on your first shot. You feel pretty good about yourself. After that I feel pretty cool. I was not afraid to take some hits and go battle.”

“I didn’t see it,” said Lundqvist, who was screened on the play. Lundqvist stopped 22 of 25 shots on the night. “He's good finding the holes. It was a good shot.


“You saw a couple times during the game what kind of player he is. He's really physical and played well, I think. I still think when (he's on top of his game he'll) have more puck. But he still hurt us with the one power play go, so I can't say too much.”

The Ranger who did talking on and off the ice was Marian Gaborik. Gaborik scored both Rangers goals and, afterwards, expressed his beliefs on what must happen in order for the team’s fortunes to improve.


“We battled hard. We just have to get sharp,” said Gaborik. “It’s got to turn around eventually. We have to capitalize and score on those hard working and grinding plays like we did. Our five-on-five play is fine. We just have to (cut down) on taking penalties and go from there.”


Gaborik scored the game’s first goal 1:16 into the first by shoveling a rebound of a deflection under Semyon Varlamov. His power play marker at 11:37 of the third tied the game at two. Varlamov finished with 18 saves.


NOTES:


Former Ranger Brendan Shanahan announced his retirement yesterday.


“I would like to thank my family and all of the friends who have helped me achieve and maintain my childhood dream of playing in the National Hockey League. I am enormously grateful to all of my coaches and teammates I've had the privilege of learning from and playing along side of, throughout my career. While I always dreamed of playing in the NHL, I can't honestly say that I would have ever imagined that I'd be this fortunate and blessed. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has helped me fulfill this dream,” Shanahan said in a statement released by the league.


In 21 years, Shanahan recorded 656 goals, 698 assists, 1,354 points, and 2,489 penalty minutes in 1,524 games. He won three Cups with the Red Wings. Shanahan also skated for the Devils, Blues and Whalers.


Goaltender and Rangers’ PA rep Steve Valiquette was noticeably stunned when told of the news. “I didn’t think he was going to retire. I don’t know how to answer that. I have to be honest. I thought he was going to come back and play.” Added Sean Avery, while walking into the Rangers’ dressing room, “He’s the best.”


Shanahan, who had been active participant within the NHLPA and was a flashpoint in working with the league to make changes to the game during his playing career, could be considered for the PA’s vacant Executive Director position.


“Shanny is a leader, through and through. His leadership will be valuable in any capacity that he ends up working after hockey. He’s either going to be a general manager some day or, like I said, he could work for the NHLPA,” said Valiquette. “He can do many things to influence hockey. He’ll do something great in hockey, you’ll see.”


*


Aaron Voros bloodied Bradley in a first period light-heavyweight fight.


*

Legendary Rangers goaltender and Hall-of-Famer Eddie Giacomin received a standing ovation when introduced to the crowd during a second period commercial break.

Denis Gorman

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/18/11/5412-82/index.xml

November 13, 2009, Atlanta Thrashers-New York Rangers game story for Metro (NY) Newspaper

US – Friday, November 13

Updated 07:30, November the 13th, 2009

Kovalchuk

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Rangers’ skid continues

A closer look

Penalties too much to overcome; Three things we saw Thursday night at the Garden:

1 Sleep walking — The Rangers first game in four days was a 60-minute display of lethargy. The Blueshirts lacked legs and the Thrashers cashed in on two power-play goals, including Ilya Kovalchuk’s go-ahead goal at 17:41 in the second.

2 Back from injury — The best forgotten player in the league just might be Kovalchuk, who had a goal and two assists. The free agent to be spent the his first night back after missing three weeks with a broken foot tormenting the Rangers with his heavy, accurate shot and sharp passes.

3 Missing stars — The Rangers outshout the Thrashers, 36-27, but without playmakers Chris Drury and Brandon Dubinsky, the quality of shots diminished. Even so, Marian Gaborik continued his superb season. The winger had a goal an assist and even killed a couple penalties.

The themes were simple.


A complete effort and eliminate penalties.


“We have to stay out of the box. If we played the way we played in the third in the first two periods, there is no question the outcome of the game,” Ryan Callahan said after the Rangers dropped a 5-3 decision to the Thrashers at the Garden Thursday night. Rich Peverley and Ilya Kovalchuk, in his first game after missing three weeks with a broken foot, each had three points (goal and two assists each). Prized rookie Evander Kane finished with a goal and an assist. Johan Hedberg turned away 33 of 36 shots.


The match was the Rangers’ first since completing a Western Canadian swing Saturday night by dropping a 3-1 loss against old friend Nigel Dawes and the Flames. The Rangers will be in Ottawa Saturday afternoon, and the next home game is a nationally televised affair with Washington Tuesday night. According to a report on NHL.com, the Eastern Conference co-leaders may have Alexander Ovechkin back in the lineup after missing almost two weeks with a shoulder injury.


The Rangers will need far better efforts against the much-improved Senators and the Capitals than they’ve shown recently. In the last dozen games, including last night, the Rangers are 4-7-1.


John Tortorella was displeased with the Rangers’ start after four days off. Colby Armstrong’s game-opening goal 19 seconds in came after he and Kane skated past Michael Del Zotto and Wade Redden in the offensive zone.


“We were bad defensively. I thought we were slow. I thought we were slow in reacting. First shift of the game, it’s a two-on-two and both skaters skated past our ‘D.’ We were slow,” said Tortorella.


“They’re a fast team. They move the puck well,” noted Callahan. He did not use the off days as an excuse, saying, “We had been playing a lot of hockey, so the four days off should have help us.”


“With the time off, we came out a little slow,” added Matt Gilroy.


By the end of the second, Atlanta had a 4-2 lead, thanks to power play strikes from Peverley (his eighth), Kovalchuk (10th), and an even strength marker from Kane (his fourth) in the period. Atlanta finished the night 2-for-5 with the man advantage.


Kovalchuk and Kane scored in a 35 second span to put the Thrashers up 4-2 after Marian Gaborik had tied the game with a power play one-timer with 4:32 left in the period.


Maxim Afinogenov potted his fourth of the season at 19:47 of the third with an empty netter.


Henrik Lundqvist was in nets for the first time since last Tuesday’s 4-1 loss in Vancouver. Lundqvist had sat out the Rangers’ 4-2 win over the Oilers last Wednesday and Saturday night’s loss. Lundqvist admitted to some rust in his first game action in nine days.


“I can feel that I haven’t played in a while, and to start the game giving up a goal right away was tough. They didn’t have that many shots, but they got pretty big scoring chances,” Lundqvist said of his 22 save effort. “I could feel I made some technical mistakes. It is something that I have to work on.”


Artem Anisimov’s even strength goal at 4:08 of the first period tied the game at one. It was hit fourth of the season.




NOTES:


The Rangers were without centers Chris Drury (concussion) and Brandon Dubinsky (broken hand). Enforcer Donald Brashear played in his 1,000th NHL game. He finished with 3:28 of ice time and engaged Atlanta’s Eric Boulton in a spirited heavyweight bout in the first.

METRO/DENIS GORMAN

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/13/05/2903-82/index.xml

November 12, 2009, Anaheim Ducks-New Jersey Devils game story for Metro (NY) Newspaper

US – Thursday, November 12

Updated 06:52, November the 12th, 2009

Zach Parise netted a goal and an assist.

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Burnin’ up, Devils win 6th straight

A closer look

1 Closing it out early —There was less than 20 seconds left in the second period and the Devils were in the middle of killing their fourth penalty in two periods. Colin White forced a turnover in the defensive zone and Jamie Langenbrunner hit Parise with a pass up the middle. Parise skated in, deked Jonas Hiller and jammed the puck in with 12.7 seconds to increase the Devils’ lead to 3-1.

2 Go-ahead goal — Andy Greene hit David Clarkson with a home run pass through the middle of the Ducks’ defense midway through the second in a 1-1 game. Clarkson took the pass in the neutral zone and bore down on Hiller, the Ducks’ netminder. Clarkson used a beautiful toe drag to shake off a backchecking Anaheim defenseman before ripping the go-ahead goal past Hiller.

3 On the board first — Langenbrunner’s deflection of a Greene faceoff slapper 38 seconds in gave the Devils a 1-0 lead. It’s a welcome sight for a team that has had to play comeback during the winning streak.

His team had just dismantled a preseason Western Conference favorite and won their sixth game in a row. Some coaches may have been content. Jacques Lemaire was pleased but not satisfied.


“I think in some aspects of the game, we’re getting better. (But) not all of it. Not yet,” Lemaire said about his team’s improvement after their thoroughly dominant 3-1 win over the Ducks Wednesday night.


The Devils are now tied with Pittsburgh for the Atlantic Division lead with 24 points and trail Washington by two points for the top spot in the conference. The Devils begin a stretch where they play four of their next five games on the road, starting tonight in Pittsburgh. The Devils have won all eight road games this season.


“You need a lot of things. I think the guys believe they can be successful. They believe they can do it. We’re playing as a team, more and more,” was Lemaire’s analysis of his team’s mindset.


Jamie Langenbrunner, Andy Greene and Zach Parise had two points each, while David Clarkson scored the game-winning goal in spectacular fashion. Tied at one midway through the second period, Greene—who had two assists—sprung Clarkson for a breakaway with a pass up the middle. The Devils’ burgeoning power forward carried the puck into the offensive zone, held off a back-checking Anaheim defenseman with a beautiful toe drag before beating Jonas Hiller (22 saves on 25 shots) high to the glove side. The goal was Clarkson’s fifth of the season, three behind team-leading Parise.


While his teammates took turns ribbing Clarkson for his “men’s league move,” Lemaire was concerned about the three minor penalties he took—two trips and a too many men on the ice (the Devils committed that infraction twice).


“The three penalties,” Lemaire said when asked about was more noteworthy about Clarkson’s evening. “Why? Because I like the guys to be disciplined. I like the guys to play for the team—which he does, all the time. He’s going to get some penalties; they could be accidental. The one that I really didn’t like was when he jumped on the ice and got the puck, when Zach just came in front of him. That’s the one I didn’t like. But on the other hand, when you like at it, you say, ‘His goal was a huge goal.’”


Parise’s short-handed goal with 12.7 seconds remaining in the second ended any thoughts of an Anaheim comeback. Colin White forced a turnover at the Devils’ line and Langenbrunner’s tape-to-tape pass found a streaking Parise, who deked Hiller before jamming the puck under the Ducks’ goaltender to increase the Devils’ lead to 3-1.


“It was a good play by Whitey to jump up and hold the blueline,” Parise said. “We caught them a little flat-footed and get a little breakaway.”


“You see Zach’s goal. It was hard work and kept banging at it and it went in,” Clarkson added.


The Devils had won five in a row going into last night’s match. However, the Devils had trailed in its wins over Washington, the Islanders and Ottawa. Greene and Langenbrunner made sure that wasn’t going to be the case against the Ducks. Langenbrunner’s deflection of a Greene offensive zone faceoff slapper 38 seconds in gave the Devils a 1-0 lead.


Corey Perry’s 12th goal of the season tied the game at one 2:25 into the second period. It was a display of why Anaheim’s trio of Bobby Ryan, Perry and Ryan Getzlaf may be the league’s best young line. Ryan circled behind Martin Brodeur’s cage and threw a cross-crease pass. Three Devils were tied up with Getzlaf, which allowed Perry to sneak in uncovered for the stuff-in. It was the lone blemish for an otherwise solid night for Brodeur, who stopped 31 shots.





NOTES:


It was fitting that on the night the Devils honored its 2003 Stanley Cup Championship winning team that Anaheim—the franchise that the Devils topped in seven games to win its third Cup—was the opponent. It was even more fitting that Scott Niedermayer was in the house.


Niedermayer was an integral part of the Devils’ three Cups, his smooth all-around game that perfectly meshed with Scott Stevens’ intimidation and Ken Daneyko’s grit on the blueline. There has not been any drop off in his game now that he’s patrolling the blueline in Anaheim, where he won his fourth Cup in 2007. At 36, Niedermayer is still among the league’s pre-eminent defensemen and a viable candidate to be named captain of the 2010 Canadian Men’s Olympic Hockey team.


“Alright, can’t complain,” was the future Hall of Famer’s typically understated response when asked how he was doing following the Ducks’ early skate at The Rock yesterday.


For those who were expecting an on-ice reunion of the Niedermayer brothers, last night’s match was somewhat of a disappointment as Devils’ center Rob Niedermayer was out due to an “upper body injury.” Rob was part of the Ducks’ shutdown checking line in 2007.


Scott is happy that his brother found a home with the organization that he once played for.


“He’s happy, so that’s good,” said the Ducks’ defenseman. “I thought it’d be good for him. Great organization that wins more than its share of games. He’s playing alright, so that’s good, too.”


Rob, who is typically the Devils’ third line center, has seven points (two goals, five assists) in 13 games. Scott noted, while not naming franchises, said that there were other NHL franchises along with international teams that were interested in Rob.


*


It was also a homecoming of sorts for Ducks enforcer George Parros. Parros, who went to Delbarton High School in Morris County, New Jersey, said, “I’ve got some friends here, (but) this year is not the case. My family all moved to the West Coast. It’s still a little bit of a reunion, but not as many as the last time.”


The Ducks have struggled in the early season, with a 6-8-2 record. Parros, among the league’s top heavyweights, thought that the Ducks have turned a corner with wins in three of its last five games.


“Not so bad, ups and downs. We’d have liked to start a little better, but hopefully we’re on the right track with a couple wins (and) we’ll keep it going,” said Parros following the Ducks’ early skate.


*

David Clarkson was among a group of six Devils who flew up Monday to see GM Lou Lamoriello inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Along with Clarkson, who grew up in Mimico, a suburb of Toronto, Brodeur, Langenbrunner, Parise, White and Jay Pandolfo made the trip.


“It was different in the fact that class was amazing. To be there was pretty special. To be there and to meet some of the people I met, I started sweating. It was very special,” Clarkson said.


*

Brodeur was unhappy, but not unsurprised, that NHL GM’s voted to keep the trapezoid behind the net. There had been cries to have the lines eliminated in the aftermath of severe injuries to players across the league in puck races—the most notable of which was then-Canadiens’ forward Tom Kostopoulos driving Toronto defenseman Mike Van Ryn into the end boards during a Leafs’ 6-3 win at the Air Canada Center last November. Kostopoulos was suspended for three games. Van Ryn suffered a concussion, a broken nose and a broken hand.

“It’s too bad,” Brodeur said after the Devils’ early skate. “I thought it was pretty obvious for everybody. When you’re not able to control what players are able to do, you chip in as a goalie and move the puck. The hits are still going to be there, but the amount could be lesser, especially around the net. It’s a tough spot for players to get out of the way.

“It would have been nice. I have a few more years left, would (have liked) to roam around. It’s alright. I’ll stay in there. Maybe it’ll extend my career,” he added.

*
Defenseman Matt Corrente was called up from AHL Lowell but not in the lineup, as he was a scratch. Brian Rolston was not in the Devils’ lineup and coach Jacques Lemaire would not go into specifics. Rolston is expected to play tonight in Pittsburgh. Patrik Elias will also play tonight; it will be his first set of back-to-back games since returning to the team following off-season surgeries.

*

The Devils killed six Anaheim power plays last night, which earned high praise from Lemaire.

“Tonight had to be our best penalty kill of the year, so far. We were good. We were really good,” the coach said.

DENIS GORMAN

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/12/06/2031-82/index.xml

November 5, 2009, Washington Capitals-New Jersey Devils game story for Metro (NY) Newspaper

US – Friday, November 6

Published 09:26, November the 5th, 2009

Devils gamble pays off

Devils 3, Capitals 2

Jacques Lemaire spent the better part of the evening gambling.


It paid off after Lemaire hit on 8, 18 and 19.


Put together in the third period, the trio of Nicklas Bergfors, Travis Zajac and Zach Parise combined for five points to lead the Devils to a 3-2 win over the Caps in a monotonous match at The Prudential Center last night. The Devils’ next game is Friday night at The Rock against the Islanders.


Bergfors scored twice on the power play—ripping a drive over Semyon Varlamov with 8:40 left to give the Devils their first lead of the game at 2-1. The Swede tipped a Zajac slapper four minutes later to increase the Devils’ lead to 3-1. Bergfors has four goals this season. Zajac finished with two assists and Parise had one.


“We ended up playing pretty good as a line in the third,” Zajac said. “We’re a cycling line that likes to do give-and-goes down low. Bergie is a pretty smart player, he gets in the holes and showed tonight with two goals.”


Lemaire explained why he put the threesome together, saying that, “I tried changing the lines (to) get them maybe to do a little better.”


In the second act of Lemaire’s Excellent New Jersey Adventure, his charges are a statistical anomaly. Offensively, they are 26th in the league with a 2.33 goals per game average. Defensively, the Devils are sixth in the league with a 2.33 GAA. Simply, while they don’t score much, they don’t allow the opposition to score. Caps’ defenseman Mike Green acknowledged that the Devils are among the teams that make it difficult for him to play his 21st Century Paul Coffey style.


“That goes back to balance; when I can go, what team we’re playing against. I’m very aware of when I can (rush the puck),” Green said following the Caps’ early skate.


Green was unaware of Rolston and, as a result, the Devils’ left wing in his 15th NHL season tied the game at one early in the second period. Rolston, Rob Niedermayer and Jamie Langenbrunner combined for a heavy forecheck and cycle game, pinning the Caps in their own end for 30 seconds. Rolston completed the line’s grinding shift by banking a pass off of the Caps’ Norris Trophy candidate defenseman’s skate and the puck squirted under Varlamov.


“It was a big goal. Jamie knocked a guy down in the corner and I got it. We both actually went to the net. I went around it. I was actually trying to feed Jamie up front and it was a fortunate goal off the defenseman,” Rolston explained. “It was big. We were down 1-0. If they get another it’s an uphill battle.”


The Caps were missing franchise cornerstone Alex Ovechkin, who was injured in Sunday afternoon’s 5-4 overtime home loss to Columbus. The Capitals and their superstar are being secretive, terming the back-to-back Hart Trophy winner’s malady as “an upper-body injury.” The Capitals called up Mathieu Perreault from AHL Hershey on Tuesday to fill out the lineup.


While Perreault was a healthy body, it was going to be an impossibility for the Capitals to adequately replace Ovechkin. He had played in 338 of 342 regular season games in his five year career before last night, with career totals of 233 goals and 443 points. Ovechkin was particularly potent against the Devils, recording six goals and 11 assists for 17 points in 12 games.


“It’ll be difficult. Ovie is a great player on our team, but we still have a lot of great players who can step up and play a role. We’re going to lose a lot of offense from Ovie, but we don’t have problems scoring goals. It’s been our defense,” Green said about playing without the league’s premier goal-scorer before the game.


Tyler Sloan gave the Caps a 1-0 with 2:50 left in the first with a shot that beat Martin Brodeur high. It was Sloan’s first goal of the season and his second career goal. Perreault and Chris Clark assisted on the goal. The assist was Perreault’s first NHL point. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Perreault is the 47th player to record his first NHL point on a goal scored against Martin Brodeur. The last to do so was New York Rangers’ defenseman Matt Gilroy on October 5—a game that the Devils lost, 3-2.


Tomas Fleischmann’s even strength slap shot with 1:37 left in the third was the game’s final goal.


NOTES:


The win was only New Jersey’s second victory at home this season. The other occurred on October 17, when the Devils beat Carolina, 2-0.


*

Patrik Elias met with reporters following the early skate. He called the half-hour skate “good” but noted that his leg was “still sore.” Elias has missed the entire season recovering from three off-season surgeries, one on his hip and two on his groin. It is believed that Elias will debut either Friday night at home against the Islanders or Saturday in Ottawa.



*


Defenseman Johnny Oduya did not play due to what the Devils called a “lower body injury.” The injury also caused him to sit out Saturday afternoon’s 2-1 shootout win in Tampa Bay.


*


The announced attendance was13,498. That number appeared to be off by 4,000 as there were swaths of empty seats throughout the arena.

Denis Gorman

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/05/15/2601-82/index.xml

Nov. 2, 2009, Boston Bruins-New York Rangers game story for Metro NY newspaper

US – Monday, November 2

Published 06:54, November the 2nd, 2009

Killer of the B's

Lundqvist shuts out Boston

Sunday’s Bruins-Rangers matinee was more graffiti than Monet, yes it was.


This was hard work and nastiness and grit. Or, as Brian Boyle put it in non-PC terms, “it’s a man’s game.”


In a renewal of hostilities between the two Original Six rivals, the Rangers beat the Bruins, 1-0, at the Garden. The Rangers are now 9-5-1, good for 19 points and second in the Atlantic, trailing league-leading Pittsburgh by three points. Boston fell to 6-6-1.


Marian Gaborik scored the game’s lone goal, a wicked snapshot past Tim Thomas with 4:09 left in the second. Henrik Lundqvist notched his 150th NHL win and his 21st NHL shutout by stopping 29 Bruins shots.


But yesterday’s win was more than the Rangers’ stars carrying the day. Ryan Callahan, Michael Del Zotto and Christopher Higgins brought a physical edge to lead the Rangers’ workmanlike effort.


The Rangers finished October by losing five out of six, averaging 2.8 goals per game while allowing an even four goals against. During that stretch, John Tortorella repeatedly expressed concern about a lack of production from those whose job descriptions is to consistently put the puck in the net. Higgins did not score a goal in the month; Callahan last scored on October 12; Brandon Dubinsky had gone six games without lighting the lamp, while Chris Drury was goalless in five. None of the quartet recorded a point against Boston, but their work ethic against Boston was a key component to the win.


“It needed to be a patient, grinding type game. Cally…I thought Higgins had a real good game in the grinding part of it. We found a way to score a goal and we found a way to win,” Tortorella said. “I’m not sure how much offense was in his (Higgins’) game but it certainly stuck out how hard he played. That’s why he got on the ice in the last minute of the game, because of how he grinded: Blocking shots, killing penalties. I thought he forechecked well, holding onto pucks. He did some good wall work. If he continues going there, he’s going to get his chances. He played well. Those guys who are getting 14, 15, 16 minutes, have to grind. I thought we got that, Higgy included, and a few other people along the way.


“We almost tried to dumb it down a little bit and simply play up the wall and grind with them. Eventually that’s the way is going to be played; they force you to play that way. We said let’s join in with them. I thought we did a really good job,” Tortorella added.


After injuring his knee late in last Monday’s 5-2 win over Phoenix, Gaborik sat out losses on Long Island (3-1) on Wednesday and Minnesota (3-2) on Friday. The Rangers’ $37.5 million dollar man skated gingerly during warm-ups before deciding to play. He said that he decided “halfway through the warm-up” to play, although he termed himself at “probably 70, 75 percent.”


He looked completely healthy on his goal. Gaborik took a picturesque Vinny Prospal pass and used Boston’s Blake Wheeler as a screen as he ripped a bullet that Thomas never saw. The goal was Thomas’ lone mistake in a 22 save performance.


It was a killer. Lundqvist, in his best performance of the season, was otherworldly, especially in the third period. The Bruins had what amounted to a four-minute power play early in the period. Boston pressured an exhausted Rangers PK, but couldn’t solve Lundqvist, who stopped 547-goal scorer Mark Recchi on the door step and again with 45 seconds remaining.


“The key there was to be patient. It was good for me. I didn’t see him at first,” said Lundqvist. “This will definitely help us.”


The two points the Rangers earned were very important as the team will be on the road for the rest of the week, visiting Vancouver on Tuesday, touring Glen Sather’s and Mark Messier’s Edmonton stamping grounds on Thursday and in Calgary Saturday Night for Hockey Night In Canada. The next home game is the 12th against the Ilya Kovalchuk-less Thrashers.



NOTES:


Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the in-game debut of the goalie mask. Following an intentional wrist shot to the face from fellow Hall of Famer and Ranger Andy Bathgate that bloodied his face, legendary Montreal Canadiens goaltender came back onto the ice with a mask. To commemorate the day, Henrik Lundqvist and Steve Valiquette had special masks made. Lundqvist was going to wear the new mask but decided after the warm up to go back to his regular mask
*


Bathgate, Gilles Villemure and Mike Richter were in attendance for yesterday’s matinee. Bathgate and Richter received standing ovations when shown on the video board.

*

P.A. Parenteau was sent down to AHL Hartford Saturday night.

Denis Gorman

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/11/02/12/5432-82/index.xml