March 19, 2011, HockeyPrimeTime.com Atlantic Division Notebook focusing on how Bryan McCabe is fitting in with the New York Rangers

Bryan McCabe is digging his new digs

Atlantic

Written by Denis Gorman

Saturday, March 19, 2011 16:30

For the first time in a long time, the former Florida Panthers captain is in a playoff race. The veteran defenseman is having little trouble fitting in on a team full of leaders. The scene playing out in front of Bryan McCabe was one he's starred in thousands of times in his NHL career. He was holding court in the crowded dressing room – this one, the New York Rangers’ – as a semicircle of reporters cross-examined him about the preceding game and, specifically, the power play. This time, though, McCabe didn't have to play the reluctant witness. He was relaxed, explaining why he and his team were successful in a 6-3 win over their suburban rivals, the Islanders. AROUND THE ATLANTIC His play was even praised by his coach after the game. “Caber made some good plays offensively and defensively,” offered John Tortorella. “Caber made some plays.” Yeah, you could say that. McCabe knocked the puck off of Michael Grabner’s stick midway through a Rangers power play in the second period, before headmanning the disc to Marian Gaborik. Gaborik lasered a shot past Al Montoya that gave the Rangers a 4-2 lead. With less than a minute remaining in the second and the Rangers skating 5-on-3, McCabe’s first goal as a Blueshirt increased the lead to 5-2. The Rangers finished the evening’s work with three power play strikes on five attempts. “We were just getting pucks through. Traffic is the key to success,” McCabe analyzed. "Shoot the puck with people in front and you will have success. The power play did a great job tonight. When you get a 5-on-3, you can just put teams away. It is always nice to score but I wouldn’t say I was feeling any pressure. Just winning games is all I care about. It is a tight race.” Being on a team in the midst of a playoff race seems to have rejuvenated McCabe. He has only been on four playoff teams in his 15-year career. McCabe recorded 10 goals, 26 points, was plus-six and had 70 penalty minutes in 51 playoff games with the Toronto Maple Leafs between the 2000-01 through 2003-04 playoff seasons. “You got to win every game,” McCabe said. “Obviously it’s what everyone plays for, to play in the playoffs and have a chance at the Stanley Cup. It’s a good place to be right now. Control our own fate here. Win some games and we’ll be all right.” Unlike his stints in Long Island, Vancouver, Chicago, Toronto and Florida, the 35-year old McCabe is not assigned to the top two pairs on Broadway. GM Glen Sather acquired McCabe at the trade deadline to bolster a power play that lacked a heavy, accurate point shot. He was partnered with Steve Eminger against the Islanders. McCabe has a goal, three assists, four points and is plus-three in eight games with the Rangers. He averages 16.05 of ice time in New York, compared to 21 minutes while in Florida. “(He’s) helped our power play. It’s a hard situation for Caber. He comes from a (situation in which he plays) 20-plus minutes (a game). He’s used to playing more,” Tortorella said in a pre-game media briefing late Tuesday afternoon. “We use our top four a lot of late here. We’re very comfortable with our top four. We feel they are better suited as far as the ice time. “The thing I love about Caber is that he’s handled himself very well. It’s hard for him to sit because he wants to compete. He wants to makes a difference. I just like the way he’s joined in with the club; how the boys react to him (and) how he reacts to them. (He) has helped our power play, gets his shot through which is the most important thing. (He’s) just a gamer. I just like his fit. The way we’re trying to play and what we’re trying to be as a team, I think he has a personality (that) matches it.” That includes on-and-off-ice leadership for a team that already has myriad leaders – Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Brandon Prust, Brian Boyle, Vinny Prospal, Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Martin Biron and Henrik Lundqvist. McCabe adds a veteran voice to a relatively young room. Late in Tuesday’s win, there was an extended skirmish involving multiple Rangers and Islanders. After referees Dave Jackson and Steve Kozari, and linesmen David Brisebois and Tony Sericolo, separated the wrestling opponents, McCabe spoke with the referees. “He’s a veteran guy. I’m not sure if he’s allowed over there. Maybe he just wanted to go over there,” Tortorella said after the game. “Again, I like the way he handled himself because he’s in a different role and it’s hard for him sometimes, as far as the role he’s been put in. “But he’s been with the team. I think that’s a key for a veteran guy, the amount of years he’s played, to want to play more. He’s just been with the team. That’s important for a new guy at the time of the year (we) are at. That’s a big plus for us.” Notes Elias Sports Bureau reported Tuesday that the New Jersey Devils had an unbelievable .888 winning percentage in the second half of the 2010-11 NHL season. The Devils trail Buffalo by six points for the last playoff spot in the East. … The Flyers announced that Chris Pronger will miss “3-to-4 weeks” after having surgery Tuesday on his broken right hand. …Sidney Crosby skated with the Penguins Monday and still had not reported having any setbacks after skating twice more during the week, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. … Jack Capuano lamented his team’s start, penalty killing and goaltending in Tuesday night’s loss to the Rangers, which Metro Newspaper in New York City suggested all but knocked the Islanders out of the playoff race. On Twitter: @HockeyPrimeTime and @DenisGorman Photos by Getty Images

Last Updated on Saturday, March 19, 2011 17:29

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