February 5, 2010, Washington Capitals-New York Rangers game story for Metro NYC Newspaper
Published 04:11, February the 5th, 2010
UnCapped
Five Rangers goals not enough to keep Washington from its 12th straight win
John Tortorella sat at the dais, angry and exasperated.
For almost three hours, he had the best seat in the house and watched his team play his brand of hockey. The Rangers scored goals, they forechecked, they moved the puck. The power play was lethal. They looked like a legitimate contender.
Except for one infinitesimal detail.
The Rangers lost.
“Plug one hole and a couple others spring up. Mainly our discipline,” Tortorella spat after the Rangers’ 6-5 loss to NHL-leading Washington at the Garden Thursday night.
The Rangers came into last night’s match with the NHL’s fourth-ranked penalty kill and had been a perfect 16-for-16 during their three game road trip to Phoenix, Denver and Los Angeles. They finished the game fifth in the league on the PK. Allowing three goals on nine power plays will do that.
“We just got to stay out of the box. You give those guys that many chances on the power play, it’s going to come back to bite you,” Ryan Callahan said. “They’re just a good power play. They could have one power play and they can score on it. When you take that many, they’re going to get one or two.”
Added Tortorella, “You can’t sit in the box that much and we did tonight.”
The penalties—which Tortorella described as “some of the calls by the refs were phantom calls and some were undisciplined penalties by us”—overshadowed the Rangers best power play performance of the season. The Rangers torched the Caps for four goals on six power plays.
“Four power play goals and you still lose a hockey game. That’s the way it’s been going here,” Tortorella said.
Prior to last night, the Capitals came into the match having won 11 straight by an aggregate 52-22. Alternately, the Rangers were 3-8 in their last 11 games and had been outscored 33-24. A primary reason for Washington’s success during the stretch has been the production of the top line of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Knuble. The trio combined for 46 points in the win streak. Last night the threesome totaled 10 points. Ovechkin finished with two goals and an assist. His 38 goals and 80 points lead the NHL. Knuble had a goal and an assist. Backstrom had a five point night with a goal and four assists.
“I thought Alex was going to get one or two great chances to score in the third period because he was having one of those games. But it was Backstrom who was having one of those games as well that did the damage,” said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau.
Boyd Gordon and Tom Poti also recorded goals for Washington. The Rangers got two markers from Vinny Prospal, and one each from Callahan, Olli Jokinen and Brandon Dubinsky.
The Rangers next game is Saturday night at the Garden against cross-river rival New Jersey. With 24 games left on the schedule, the Rangers are one of eight teams battling for the final three playoff slots in the Eastern Conference. At 25-26-7, the Rangers are 10th in the East with 57 points, but are only two points out of the seventh and eighth spots.
So for all of the Rangers’ struggles this season, they are still very much alive for a playoff berth.
“It’s not dispiriting. It’s tough when you put up that many goals and we don’t come away with a win. But at the end of the day, (you) take away we played great five-on-five. Our power play played great,” said Callahan.
NOTES:
Newly acquired Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust made their Rangers’ MSG debuts last night. Jokinen scored a goal and added an assist, but took three minor penalties in 16:39. Prust threw a hit in 5:10.
Tortorella would not talk about Jokinen. However the free-agent center to be spoke about his new coach and what he expects.
“You have to play hard. Whoever plays hard, plays. He is a very positive guy. Obviously, I don’t know him that much but he won the Cup. A very respectful guy and a good coach,” analyzed Jokinen
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Last night’s match marked the fourth time the Rangers scored five goals in a game. The season high was eight goals in their January 19 home win over Tampa Bay.
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Aaron Voros and Donald Brashear were scratched by the Rangers. Washington scratched Karl Alzner, Quintin Laing and suspended Mike Green.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Wednesday night that defenseman Mike Komisarek will have to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. The shoulder was initially injured in a 2008 fight with Boston forward Milan Lucic. Komisarek was then a Montreal Canadien. The injury cost Komisarek 16 games.
Signed to a four year, $22.5 million free agent deal over the summer in an attempt to provide a physical presence on the Toronto blueline, Komisarek only played in 34 games this season, totaling four assists and 40 penalty minutes.
The loss of Komisarek is another blow to Team USA. Komisarek is the second American defenseman this week to pull out of the Olympics due to injury. The Devils’ Paul Martin announced Monday that his slow-healing broken arm will keep him from playing for Team USA in Vancouver. Anaheim defenseman Ryan Whitney and Carolina defenseman Tim Gleason have been tabbed to replace Komisarek and Martin.
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Hicks Sports Group announced yesterday that it had “retained Galatioto Sports Partners” in an attempt to find potential investors or potential buyers for the Dallas Stars. Along with the Stars, Hicks Sports Group had owned Major League Baseball’s Texas Rangers before they were sold to Chuck Greenberg late last month. It has been reported that Tom Hicks, who headed HSG, defaulted on a loan totaling $525 million.
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posted by Denis P. Gorman at 2:44 PM
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