January 30, 2013, Philadelphia Flyers-New York Rangers NHL regular season game story for Metro Newspaper in NYC
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Michael Del Zotto scored just 1:57 into the first period of the game.
The season is only six games old, but the Rangers authored their most complete performance of the season Tuesday night at the Garden.
But the Rangers’ 2-1 win over the Flyers at the Garden may be a pyrrhic
victory due to captain Ryan Callahan’s apparent arm injury. Callahan
left the ice cradling his left arm following a wrestling match with
Flyers center Max Talbot 4:42 into the third period and did not return.
The team did not have an update on Callahan after the game. He was replaced on the second line by Carl Hagelin.
“Try to use it as motivation, I guess,” Brian Boyle said. “It sucks when
he’s not out there. Obviously you know what he does. Try to motivate
yourself to pick up the slack for guys who go down.”
Callahan and Talbot paired off following a post-whistle scrum around
Henrik Lundqvist, in which the Flyers were jamming at the Vezina Trophy winner.
The Rangers cannot lose Callahan — the embodiment of head coach John
Tortorella’s self-sacrificing system — for an extended period of time.
Already there are questions about the team’s depth at forward following
the free agent departures of John Mitchell, Brandon Prust and Ruslan
Fedotenko, not to mention having to trade Artem Anisimov and Brandon Dubinsky to acquire Rick Nash.
“[Callahan was] protecting the goalie from him. It happens. I hope it’s
nothing crazy. It’s why he’s out there. He’s a leader. He will do
anything for his team. It’s unfortunate. Hopefully it’s nothing
serious,” Arron Asham said.
Prior to Callahan’s injury, the Rangers appeared to be the team many
thought would contend for the Stanley Cup. The Rangers have improved to
.500 (3-3-0) following consecutive wins. Callahan and Michael Del Zotto
scored goals for the Rangers, and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 26-of-27
shots. Callahan’s goal was his 200th NHL point. It came 11:31 into the
second period and was just the Rangers’ third goal in 24 power play
attempts this season.
“Our legs and our tempo of our game and our forecheck are starting to
come more consistently now. We can play in their end a lot more and it
keeps the defense fresh — and the forwards — and gives us good momentum.
We’ve been able to build on
that that,” Marc Staal said. “It’s great to get the lead and score
first. Last year we were big on getting the first one and we did it a
lot. We’re very comfortable playing with the lead and getting it was
huge in this game.”
Especially when the Rangers spent the better part of 11:46 of the third
period having to kill back-to-back-to-back penalties. Kimmo Timonen
scored the Flyers’ only goal during that stretch, a wrister from the slot that beat Lundqvist high to the glove side after 7:09 had elapsed.
Timonen’s goal was the lone blemish on a strong penalty-killing effort
from the Rangers, who killed five-of-six man advantages against,
including a 5-on-3 for 1:17 in the second period.
“[We were] just trying to stay in the shot lane, make sure they couldn’t
get through the seams,” Dan Girardi said. “That was a pretty big point
in the game. Killing [the penalties off] and trying to build off that
kill.”
The Rangers improved to .500 (3-3-0) following consecutive wins and have won three of their last four games.
“It’s going to take a week or two to get your timing, to get everything
going,” Asham said. “Hopefully we’re over that hump and we’re starting
to play some good hockey and hopefully it can continue.
“It’s going to take the guys a few games to feel comfortable and getting
their timing back. Right now we’ve done well. Hopefully we can
continue.”
Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1160834--rangers-beat-flyers-lose-callahan-to-injury
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 1:03 PM
