February 1, 2013, Pittsburgh Penguins-New York Rangers notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC
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It does not matter to head coach John Tortorella whether his team
is playing 48 games, 82 games, or is in the preseason, regular season or
postseason.
What is relevant to the coach is that his team is fundamentally sound in
all aspects. The 2011-12 Rangers were, and as a result finished with
the best record in the Eastern Conference and advanced to the Eastern
Conference final for the first time since 1996-97.
But trends do not automatically carry over from one year to the next.
And what Tortorella has seen over the first two weeks of the truncated
campaign is a team that is still learning the rudiments.
“I think the team that handles the details, situational play within the
game, handle those kind of things more consistently is going to be a
team that wins more consistently. That’s what we’re trying to get to as
quickly as possible,” Tortorella said prior to Thursday night’s Garden
match against the Penguins. “Situational play is huge in winning or
losing hockey games. Situational play comes to the forefront in the
third period.”
The task becomes decidedly more arduous without Ryan Callahan,
who the organization announced Wednesday will miss the next 10-to-14
days with a shoulder subluxation. Callahan suffered the injury during a
third period wrestling match with the Flyers’ Max Talbot in the Rangers’
2-1 win Tuesday night.
One player Tortorella pointed to as being key in picking up the slack in
Callahan’s absence is Jeff Halpern. Signed to a one-year, $700,000 UFA
deal last July, Halpern has been one of the better faceoff men and
penalty killers throughout his 12-year career with Washington, Dallas,
Tampa Bay, Los Angeles and Montreal.
“Faceoffs [are] going to be an important part of his game, penalty
killing,” Tortorella said. “With Ryan Callahan [out], he’s going to have
to handle some situational play in the third period.
“I think he’s a cerebral player who can help us in a lot of different
situations when he gets his game turned on. He gave us some good minutes
the other night.”
NHL notes ...
» Matt Gilroy and Stu Bickel dressed last night. Steve
Eminger was scratched while Callahan and Chris Kreider (bone chip in his
right ankle) were as well, due to injuries.
» Before last night’s game against the Devils at the
Prudential Center, the Islanders announced defenseman Brian Strait
agreed to a three-year contract. The Islanders signed Strait off waivers
from the Penguins on Jan. 18. Also, the Devils activated center Adam
Henrique. He has been out since a 5-4 overtime loss to the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Penguins on Nov. 25, 2012, due to surgery to
repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb.
» Pittsburgh signed left wing Zach Boychuk off waivers
yesterday. The Hurricanes had put Boychuk on wavers Wednesday with the
expectation he would clear and subsequently be sent to AHL Charlotte.
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/1161028--rangers-notebook-tortorella-frustrated-with-team-s-fundamentals
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 4:25 PM
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