March 9, 2011, New York Rangers West Coast swing advance story for Metro NYC Newspaper
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A few minutes after his four-goal effort led the Rangers to a 7-0 throttling of the Flyers, Ryan Callahan was asked what it meant that he and Brian Boyle were tied for the team lead with 20 goals.
A look of mock indignation came across Callahan’s face and he asked, “Are you saying I’m not a goal scorer?” to gales of laughter.
See what happens when a team wins consecutive games and in the process scores 11 goals?
As the Rangers head to Anaheim tonight and San Jose Saturda), they are a confident, albeit realistic group. The Rangers hold a two-point lead over eighth-seed Buffalo, have a three-point cushion over ninth-seed Carolina, while trailing sixth=seed Montreal by five points with 14 games left.
“I’m pretty sure all of the guys are aware where we stand in the standings,” Vinny Prospal said. “We just wanted to make sure that before we went out West we had a good game at home.”
“Of course when you win games you get confidence. I think this is a great boost before we head to California,” added Mats Zuccarello, who scored two goals Sunday. “It is a great feeling. I’m looking forward to our road trip.”
It would be almost impossible for the Rangers to play better than they did Sunday. The NHL's 11th-ranked offense (2.70 goals) improved to 11-0 in games in which they scored five or more goals. Twelve Rangers were plus-one or better against Philadelphia, guided by Ryan McDonagh who was plus-four. Eleven Rangers recorded at least one point, spearheaded by Callahan’s first five-point NHL performance.
It would be almost impossible for the Rangers to play better than they did Sunday. But what they can — and are expected to — do is play the no-frills game that has marked their campaign: Hit. Block shots. Battle along the boards. And have each other’s back. The Rangers got back to that in Friday’s 4-1 win in Ottawa, and they indeed outworked a Flyers team that seemed more interested in displaying their snarl to reporters than to an Atlantic Division rival. The Rangers threw 28 hits, blocked 20 shots and did not back down to Flyers. Brian Boyle fought heavyweight Jody Shelley in the first period after the Flyers enforcer steamrolled Matt Gilroy. Callahan praised Brandon Dubinsky for his second period decisive decision of Mike Richards, pointing out that the Flyers’ captain had “taken a couple runs at guys on that shift.” Marian Gaborik, who had missed six games with concussion symptoms, exchanged shoves with Kris Versteeg later in the second, leading to both getting two-minute minors for roughing. John Tortorella praised his sniper’s willingness to stand his ground.
“You guys get spooked about that. I’d like to see Gabby smoke him. I would. I think it would help our team. I think it would help him,” Tortorella said. “Everybody talks about ‘he may break his hand (or) this and these top players.’ I think big players need to do their own business, and I thought Gabby stuck in there. So that, you guys get too worked up about that stuff. It’s the game of hockey.”
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/797366--rangers-carry-momentum-out-west
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 12:21 PM
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