March 25, 2010, Islanders-Rangers game story Metro NY Newspaper
Published 08:04, March the 25th, 2010
Gaborik, Rangers blank Isles
Rangers 5, Islanders 0
Should the New York Rangers qualify for the playoffs, what transpired at the Garden last night could be viewed as a jumping off point.
For 60 minutes the Rangers collectively decided to not allow the Islanders to touch the puck. They attacked smartly and continuously. They drew penalties and stood up for each other.
In dominating the Islanders 5-0, the Rangers played as they haven’t for much of the season, with a sense of urgency.
Even with the win, the Rangers are still 10th in the East, five points behind eighth-seeded Boston and trail ninth-seed Atlanta by two points. Boston, Atlanta and the Rangers play tonight. Boston hosts Tampa Bay while Atlanta welcomes Toronto. The Rangers will be in Newark tonight to conclude the season series with the Devils.
“They should feel good about themselves. They played well. They deserved to win. They should feel good about themselves,” John Tortorella said about his team’s performance. He then warned that his team should prepare for a tougher go of it against the Devils. “The biggest thing for us (last night) was that we had the puck. It’s going to be more difficult (today). No offense to the Islanders but the (New) Jersey Devils are a better hockey club. They’re better defensively; they’re a better puck control team.”
At their optional skate in the morning, the Islanders acknowledged that the Rangers would be desperate after losing three in a row. However acknowledgement and response are dissimilar acts. At least they were last night. The Rangers led 3-0 after the first period thanks to markers from Artem Anisimov (11th), Marian Gaborik (38th) and Michael Del Zotto (9th). Gaborik added his 39th of the season in spectacular fashion midway through the third period, beating Dwayne Roloson (39 saves) with a breakaway backhander. Dan Girardi’s power play strike with 3:41 remaining was ended the scoring. In all, 11 Rangers finished plus-one or better and 10 Rangers recorded at least one point
The Rangers hope that Gaborik, after putting on a display of his all-world skills, is completely healthy for the final nine games of the season. With his two goals last night, Gaborik is fourth in the NHL, six behind co-leaders Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby.
“He skated, he skated. Something that has been a little bit inconsistent after the Olympics. He was really skating right from the get-go,” Tortorella said. The coach later expounded that he can quickly determine how his star performs. “You can tell and you can tell the other way, too. You could tell right away. The key thing is his skating. His legs were moving. That’s something that has been inconsistent since the Olympic break.”
Gaborik’s last multi-goal game came on Jan. 31 in Colorado, where he recorded a hat trick. He had only scored two goals in the Rangers’ eight games following the Games prior to last night. When asked if last night was the best he has felt physically since the Olympics, Gaborik said “yeah” and that he “felt good.”
Tortorella has long advocated the best defense is for a team to possess the puck. The coach’s logic is that it is difficult for an opponent to score if they don’t have the puck. It is an inarguable theory. However, the Rangers’ implementation of Tortorella’s concept has been spotty at best this season. Against their suburban rivals, the Rangers applied the system to perfection, having outshot the Islanders 44-27, including a jaw-dropping 17-3 second period margin.
Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves to earn his third shutout of the season and the 23rd of his career.
NOTES:
Call it hubris. Call it self-delusion. Call is ultimate confidence.
Whatever your definition, the New York Rangers firmly believe that when the playoffs begin in three weeks, they will be participating. That they trail eighth-seed Boston by five points with nine games remaining in the season seems to be an annoying irrelevancy to the group.
Still, this was a collection of athletes who swore that they would possess “a Game 7” mentality against the Bruins on Sunday. Instead, the Rangers came out with absolutely no vigor in the 2-1 nationally televised loss in Boston.
Throughout the campaign, Tortorella has lauded his players as people. And did so again yesterday in a truncated pre-game press conference.
“You can make that determination,” Tortorella said, when asked if the 2009 Rangers were the right people. “I believe they are. Yes, I believe they are.”
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That the Islanders will miss the playoffs for the third spring in row is not a surprise. What has been a pleasant revelation in Uniondale has been the development of the young talent that the organization has stockpiled. Islanders Coach Scott Gordon believes that the organization’s decision to grow from within will pay dividends in upcoming seasons.
“Even though we haven’t dramatically changed our lineup, we’ve been able to get better as a team with primarily the same lineup and the development of some of our younger players, namely (defensemen) Jack Hillen and Andy MacDonald. Obviously adding John (Tavares with) the first pick overall,” Gordon said following the Islanders’ optional skate in the morning. Gordon did note the off-season acquisitions of goaltenders Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron, and left wing Matt Moulson. “The biggest thing is that we’ve been able to do it with our own players and not have to go outside the organization.
“Now we’re at a point where we have some contracts that will expire and decisions will be made on those players. But there will be some room in our lineup to add some players. When it’s all said and done, these two years will have a big impact on our future.”
*
Perhaps no player benefitted more from the Olympic Break than Tavares. The No. 1 overall pick had only scored one goal in the Isles’ final 14 games before the Vancouver Games. In the 10 games after the Olympics prior to last night, Tavares has scored four goals and five assists for nine points.
“Coming back from the break, I tried to approach it (differently)…be a little more positive (and) keep working,” Tavares said before the game. “You work hard (as) an offensive guy and to contribute in a big way is always nice.”
*
Last night’s telecast was in 3D. According to MSG, it was the first hockey telecast in that format. The Rangers held a viewing party at The Theatre, which included appearances by former players Mark Messier, Adam Graves, Ron Dugay, Nick Fotiu, Ron Greschner and Dan Blackburn.
*
Brian Boyle and Aaron Voros were scratched by the Rangers. The Islanders’ scratches were Rob Schremp, Jeff Tambellini, MacDonald and Doug Weight. Schremp and Weight were lost for the season with a torn meniscus and a torn rotator cuff and labrum, respectively.
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Dating back to last Friday’s 5-4 overtime loss in Anaheim, the Islanders have been shutout for 145:43.
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The Rangers will have an optional skate at the Rock this morning.
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posted by Denis P. Gorman at 10:49 AM
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