Friday, May 31, 2013

May 29, 2013, New York Rangers fire head coach John Tortorella news story for Metro Newspaper in NYC


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Metro.us▶ Sports▶ NHL
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By Denis Gorman
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Rangers GM Sather: John Tortorella ‘shocked’ by firing

Head coach John Tortorella has been fired by the Rangers. Credit: Getty Images

On breakup day, John Tortorella termed the 2013 season “a sideways step.”

That misstep cost Tortorella his job with the Rangers. The organization announced Wednesday afternoon the controversial head coach had been fired.

“I made the decision,” team president and general manager Glen Sather said in a 22-minute long conference call with reporters. “This is the decision I made.”

While Sather was evasive throughout the call, the executive noted he plans to have a coach hired by the June 30 draft. Already there is speculation former Buffalo head coach Lindy Ruff could be a candidate for the job. Other potential candidates may include Alain Vigneault, John Stevens, Ken Gernander, Guy Boucher, Paul Maurice and Dave Tippett.

“A lot of good candidates,” Sather said.

The mandate for the next coach was made clear by Sather: win the Cup.

Following a 2011-12 season in which the Rangers advanced to the Eastern Conference Final for the first time since the 1996-97 season, the 2013 team finished sixth with a 26-18-4 mark despite the acquisition of sniper Rick Nash to a team that included Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan Callahan and Brad Richards.

The Rangers qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs in the second-to-last game of the regular season. It took the Rangers seven games to beat the Capitals in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, including winning Games 6 and 7. The Rangers were eliminated by Boston in five games of the conference semifinals.

During Monday’s breakup day, Lundqvist termed the season “a step back” and was tepid when asked about his long-term future. Lundqvist is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. Sather said he planned on locking up Lundqvist “to a long-term contract.” Lundqvist is the second highest-paid goaltender in the NHL, behind Nashville’s Pekka Rinne (seven years, $49 million).

Sather denied that Lundqvist’s eyebrow-raising words played a role in the firing.

“We were very successful last year. This year, I thought out team played well. Did [the] team play up to our expectations? I don’t think so,” Sather said. “This year, we didn’t make [the Stanley Cup Final]. I think that’s what he’s referring to.

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“I felt this was a decision that had to be made going forward,” Sather said. Tellingly, he added “every coach has a shelf life.”

When pressed whether Tortorella’s grinding style did not match the skill set of this year’s team, Sather demurred, opting to say coaching is “a trying job,” but there wasn’t a “specific reason” for the dismissal.

“After the analytical work, this is the decision I made,” Sather said. “It wasn’t one specific thing.”

In 319 games spanning two stints as coach of the Rangers, Tortorella compiled a regular-season record of 171-118-1-29. His 410 regular-season wins are the most all time for an American. In 2004, as head coach of the Lightning, Tortorella won the Stanley Cup and the Jack Adams Award.

“John was a little bit shocked,” Sather said. “I can’t tell you how shocked he was, but I don’t think he was prepared for it.”

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.


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posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:25 AM

May 29, 2013, New York Yankees-New York Mets Subway Series game story for Metro Newspaepr in NYC


New York

Metro.us▶ Sports▶ MLB
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By Denis Gorman
Published:

 

 

 

Mets rally for win as Mariano Rivera blows save in ninth



For the first time in Mariano Rivera’s career he blew a save without recording an out. And it came against the Yankees’ intracity rivals.

Lucas Duda plated David Wright with the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth as the Mets rallied for a 2-1 win over the Yankees.

The Mets entered the ninth down 1-0 after a brilliant start by Hiroki Kuroda. But Daniel Murphy led off the inning with a double against Rivera. The Mets’ second baseman scored on Wright’s RBI single. Wright hustled to second on the throw home as Murphy scored. Duda finished off the rally with a solid single over Robinson Cano to right.

“They [have] to learn from this,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “That’s what it takes sometimes — a stinkin’ single to win a game. You don’t have to hit a ball in the seats all the time.”

The question going into the game was whether the Subway Series stage would be too big for Matt Harvey.

The right-hander answered the question with a resounding no.

Harvey was dominant in striking out 10 in eight innings. He yielded just six hits and one run but took a no decision.

“He threw a good game,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “He has command of four pitches.”

Lyle Overbay’s RBI single in the sixth which plated Brett Gardner was Harvey’s lone mistake. After watching the play unfold, the right-hander kicked the dirt on the pitchers’ mound.

“I don’t want to give up runs,” Harvey said. “It was a pitch I wanted [to take] back.”

Before the bottom of the ninth, it appeared as if Harvey was in line for his first loss of the season. Even with the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 hitters in the lineup coming to bat, the Mets trailed 1-0 and Rivera was taking the mound for what will most likely be his last Subway Series game at Citi Field.

Nine pitches later, Duda was being mobbed by his teammates while the Yankees (30-21) trudged off the field with their third loss in as many games.

“You can’t figure it out. There [are] no words to explain it right now,” Collins said. “I just hope it gets the lineup going. I just hope it gets everyone going a little bit where they realize, hey, look you don’t have to hit home runs to make a difference.”

For the second night in a row, Brett Gardner robbed Murphy of an extra-base hit in the sixth inning. In the series opener, Gardner’s leaping catch at the wall took away a home run from the Mets second baseman. Last night, the Yankees centerfielder leapt at the wall to take away what would have been an RBI double.

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Mets manager Terry Collins was in the locker room for the action in the ninth, as he was ejected three innings earlier. After Ruben Tejada was picked off at second to end the inning, he immediately began protesting the call to second base umpire Adrian Johnson. Initially, Johnson called Tejada safe, before changing the call without consulting another umpire. Collins interceded and was ejected from the game for his troubles. Collins, who was animated throughout the argument, kicked over the first base bag as he stormed off the field.

“I was not very happy with what happened. I’ve never seen [a call] changed like that,” Collins said. The manager later added Tejada “can’t get picked off.”

The Mets improved to 20-29 on the season and have won three in a row, including consecutive games against their intracity rivals. The Mets only managed seven hits off of starter Hiroki Kuroda (6-3) and relievers David Robertson and Rivera (0-1). It was the first blown save in 19 chances for Rivera this season.

“Our guy threw a good game, too,” Girardi said of Kuroda.

Ike Davis, who was dropped to eighth in the order, went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He received a mock cheer for making contact when he grounded out to Overbay to lead off the eighth.

The start of the game was delayed 91 minutes due to rain. Before the game started, the Mets honored by Rivera by having the future Hall of Famer throw out a ceremonial first pitch to former Mets closer John Franco.

Follow Mets beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.


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posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:21 AM

May 27, 2013, New York Yankees-New York Mets Subway Series game story for Metro Newspaper in NYC







New York

Metro.us▶ Sports▶ MLB
 
 
 
 
 
 
By Denis Gorman 
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Murphy, Niese lead Mets to 2-1 win over Yankees


Daniel Murphy spiked the bat as he ran up the first base line. When he reached the bag, the second baseman unleashed a primal scream.

Murphy’s RBI single in the bottom of the eighth plated Jordany Valdespin with the game-winning run in the
Mets’ 2-1 win over the Yankees in the first game of the Subway Series Monday night at Citi Field.

“Dan’s hit tonight meant something,” Mets manager Terry Collins said. “I know it’s the Yankees, and they’re used to playing in these games and all this stuff. For us, it’s a big win. The way we’ve been going, it’s huge for us. So a little emotion is involved. If they take offense to it, I don’t know what we’re going to do about it except play again [Tuesday].”

The Mets (19-29) have won consecutive games for the first time since May 16-17. The Yankees have lost two in a row.

“Two in a row,” David Wright said. “Got [Matt Harvey] going [Tuesday and maybe it gives] us some momentum.”

Murphy’s game-winning RBI broke a 1-1 deadlock. With two outs and runners on the corners, Murphy won a five-pitch at-bat against David Robertson (3-1) by slapping a cutter to centerfield that scored Jordany Valdespin.

“I was able to get a positive count,” Murphy said. “I got a pitch in the zone and centered it.”

That the Mets were in position to win the first of four Subway Series games this week in part to strong work from Wright and Jon Niese.

Wright’s solo home run to lead off the seventh tied the game at 1-1. He also tripled in the first and started an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play in the second, when the Yankees had the bases loaded.

“Big players make big plays,” Collins said. “That’s what he is. That’s why he’s the captain. It amazing how many times those guys come through for you when you need them.”

Even though Niese (3-5) did not earn a decision, he threw seven sterling innings, allowing just one run on eight hits while walking one. He struck out four.

The lone run Niese allowed was due to Mike Baxter misplaying Jayson Nix’s dying quail in the sixth inning. Baxter took a step back, then charged in and attempted to make a sliding catch. The ball landed short of his glove and rolled past Baxter, who had no shot to recover in time to get Brett Gardner at the plate. Gardner had led off the inning with a triple.

“He got outs when he had to,” Collins said. “He got us to where we needed to get. He didn’t let the game get out of control.”

Niese was matched by crosstown counterpart Phil Hughes (2-3), who scattered four hits and struck out six in seven innings.

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“It was a good outing for him,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “I thought he commanded the strike zone pretty well. I thought he used his off-speed pretty well tonight. It’s good to see. The last game, he gave us six innings, I believe it was. So it’s good to see him put a couple good ones back to back.”

He was aided by strong defensive play in the field, highlighted by Gardner robbing Murphy of a homer to end the bottom of the sixth inning.

“It’s pretty special,” Girardi said of Gardner’s catch. “It looked for awhile [like Gardner] was going to be the star of the game, with the triple and then taking away the home run. But it didn’t end up that way, unfortunately. Tremendous catch by [Gardner].”

The Yankees have lost two in a row, and coupled with Boston’s 9-3 win over the Phillies Monday night, they dropped to second in the AL East.

Brandon Lyon (2-2) threw a shutout eighth to earn the win. Bobby Parnell recorded his eighth save.

“I think he’s come of age, for sure,” Collins said of Parnell. “I think this is another big step for him to move forward in this role, which I think he’s obviously taken. I think he’s going to keep it and I think he’s going to be a good one for a long time.”

Follow Mets beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.


http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/mlb/2013/05/27/murphy-niese-lead-mets-to-2-1-win-over-yankees/

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 11:17 AM

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

May 29, 2013, New York Yankees-New York Mets Subway Series notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC


New York

Metro.us▶ Sports▶ MLB
 
 
 
 
 
 
By Denis Gorman
Published:

 

 

 

 

 

Mets Notebook: Jeff Wilpon not expecting World Series run

Jeff Wilpon doesn't expect the unlikely Subway Series World Series in 2013. Credit: Getty Images

Count Jeff Wilpon among those who do not believe there will be a third installment of the Subway Series this year.

During a pregame ceremony honoring Mariano Rivera, the Mets’ chief operating officer told the future Hall of Famer, “I wish we could see you in the World Series but I don’t think it will happen.”

Rivera responded, “You never know.”

The Mets entered the second of four Subway Series games this week in fourth place in the NL East with a 19-29 record. The Yankees are 30-20 and in second place in the AL East.

Wilpon and FDNY Commissioner Salvatore Cassano presented Rivera with a mounted nozzle from a fire hose and a mounted fire call box. Wilpon also asked Rivera to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Rain games

Both Mets manager Terry Collins and Yankees manager Joe Girardi were concerned about the heavy rains delaying Tuesday night’s nationally televised game.

It rained steadily for three and a half hours in the afternoon, and reports suggested the inclement weather could have continued into the night.

“I don’t think either manager wants to have a [situation where the game is restarted] or you’re not able to finish the game,” Girardi said in his pregame press conference. “We’ll have to see what the weather’s like. I’ve heard different scenarios, whether we could start it later than seven o’clock and we’ll be fine. I’ve also heard there [are] thundershowers [in the forecast]. I guess it’s one of those things where you look up at the sky and see if it’s raining.”

Collins was adamant MLB would not start the game, only to postpone it later.

“Due to the nature of the game, if this is going to be played, they’re going to go longer than three [innings],” Collins said. “The weather report as of right now, it looks like we’re going to be sitting here for awhile. Hopefully, maybe by eight it [breaks] up where [the game can be played].

“I know one thing: They’re not going to start this game in either case. It’s too big a game for both teams — look at the guys we [have] going — to think ‘Hey, let’s get three or four innings in, maybe five.’ I don’t think that will be the case.”

The game’s start ended up being delayed an hour and 40 minutes.

Parnell unavailable

Bobby Parnell was not available to pitch last night’s game. The Mets closer threw 20 pitches in Monday night’s 2-1 win over the Yankees.

“He thought he might need a day,” Collins said, adding “it would be a matchup thing” when asked who would close.

Yankee injuries

Girardi said Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis will play in Double-A Trenton today. Joba Chamberlain was activated from the DL. David Huff was designated for assignment in the corresponding roster move.

Follow Mets beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.


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posted by Denis P. Gorman at 9:43 AM

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

May 28, 2013, New York Yankees-New York Mets Subway Series notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC


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Metro.us▶ Sports▶ MLB
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By Denis Gorman
Published:

 

 

 

 

 

Mets Notebook: Joe Girardi praises Matt Harvey


Joe Girardi sends Hiroki Kuorda to the mound Tuesday night to face Mets phenom Matt Harvey. Credit: Getty Images

Matt Harvey has an admirer in Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

“Just watching him on TV, he’s impressive,” Girardi said of Harvey prior to the start of the Subway Series. Harvey will start today’s game against the Yankees at Citi Field.

The right-hander is 5-0 with a 1.93 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 70 innings this season. Dating back to last July, when he was called up from Triple-A, Harvey is 8-5 in 20 starts with a 2.30 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 129 1/3 innings.

“I actually watched his first start [a 3-1 win over the Diamondbacks in Arizona on July 26, 2012],” Girardi said. “I called my buddy — he’s a Mets fan — and I told him ‘You have something to be excited about.’ This kid’s got a great arm. He’s been impressive all year long. I’ve seen some of his games on TV. We’ll get a chance to see him in person.”

Girardi admitted he has dual purposes for watching Harvey’s starts.

“The first time I watched [him] was because I [am] a fan of the game and have interest in New York baseball since I live here,” Girardi said. “Now I watch games because I [knew] we were playing them fairly quickly. Usually teams we’re going to play, I try to tune into those games if I can.”

Mets like Ike … again

Could one base hit salvage Ike Davis’ season?

Davis’s two-run single in the bottom of the eighth Sunday night was the difference in the Mets’ 4-2 win over the Braves. Davis recorded two hits and a walk in four at-bats, and raised his batting average to .158.

“I think the one at-bat was huge,” manager Terry Collins said. “But the four at-bats was what I was impressed with. Much quieter in the batters’ box. Head, a lot less movement than he’s had in weeks. A whole different approach as far as body language, and he was relaxed for some reason.

“I just thought his whole approach was better. Certainly if there was a time for somebody to get a hit, last night was it.”

No longer shiny?

Has the Subway Series, now in its 17th year, lost its luster?

Not according to Girardi.

“I enjoy the series,” Girardi said. “It’s great for the city; it’s fun for the players. [It is] something different and obviously there’s emotion in it. Probably the game I remember the most was [the Yankees’ 9-8 win over the Mets at Yankee Stadium on June 12, 2009 when then-Mets second baseman Luis Castillo dropped Alex Rodriguez’s two-out, bottom of the ninth popup, and Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira scored the tying and winning runs]. … It was  a crazy night but I enjoyed it.”

Follow Mets beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.




http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/mlb/2013/05/27/mets-notebook-joe-girardi-praises-matt-harvey/

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 2:38 PM

May 28, 2013, New York Ragners breakup day news story for Metro Newspaper in NYC


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By Denis Gorman
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Richards big question mark on Rangers break-up day

The Rangers will have the offseason to determine whether they want to amnesty Brad Richards. Credit: Getty Images

Brad Richards was the primary target for the Rangers in free agency two years ago. The center may be targeted by the organization this summer for an altogether different reason.

“I signed for longer than a year-and-a-half,” Richards said when he met with reporters at the Rangers’ training facility yesterday for the final time in the 2013 season. “But I do understand what’s going on.”

Richards could be a candidate for an amnesty buyout this summer due to his play in the truncated 2013 season, the remaining term on his contract and the new collective bargaining agreement’s salary cap benefit recapture system.

The 33-year-old was a healthy scratch for Games 4 and 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Bruins. He finished the playoffs with one goal and a minus-3 rating in 10 playoff games, and had been dropped to a fourth line with Chris Kreider and Arron Asham midway through the Washington series.

“As I said when I took him out of the lineup, I was not coaching the proper way, playing him on the fourth line,” head coach John Tortorella said. “It just doesn’t work. But I also could not put him in front of other people because [at the time] other people were playing better.”

Richards’s lack of offensive production mirrored that of his team in the playoffs. The Rangers scored only 26 goals in 12 playoff games this spring. By comparison, Eastern Conference finalists Pittsburgh and Boston have scored 47 goals and 38 goals, respectively, in the first two rounds.

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“[We] didn’t create enough offense [in the playoffs],” captain Ryan Callahan said. “We didn’t do that enough.”

Even with the addition of Rick Nash, the Rangers finished the regular season with 126 goals in 48 games, an average of 2.62 goals per game. In 46 regular season games, Richards totaled 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points, and a plus-8 rating.

“It just wasn’t a good season,” Richards said.

And it may prove costly.

The new CBA has a clause which asserts a team will be on the hook for the remainder of a player’s contract, even if the player retires early. It is a mechanism to counteract the so-called back-diving contracts borne out of the CBA following the 2004-05 lockout. Those contracts paid players the majority of their salaries in the first few years.

Signed to a nine-year, $60 million free agent deal in July 2011, Richards has seven years and $36 million left on his deal, and is a $6.67 million cap hit through the 2019-20 season. He is scheduled to make $9 million next season.

The Rangers have $13.5 million in available cap room right now. By amnestying Richards, the Rangers would have $20.1 million in cap room, which would allow the organization to sign restricted free agents Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin and Mats Zuccarello to deals this summer, while freeing up money for unrestricted free agents Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan Callahan and Dan Girardi next year.

“I signed here to be a Ranger for a lot longer than a year-and-a-half,” Richards said. “So I hope to do that.”

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.


http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/nhl/2013/05/27/richards-big-question-mark-on-rangers-break-up-day/

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 2:32 PM

May 28, 2013, New York Rangers breakup day notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC


New York

Metro.us▶ Sports▶ NHL
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By Denis Gorman
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Rangers Notebook: Tortorella refuses to call season a failure

John Tortorella has a new team post-deadline. Credit: Getty Images

A season that began with Stanley Cup aspirations ended five games into a second-round series.

And while the knee-jerk reaction both inside and outside the organization might be to call the 2013 campaign a setback, head coach John Tortorella does not agree.

“I don’t buy it,” Tortorella said. “I don’t buy it. I won’t. There is some good things that happened. ”
During his final press conference of the season, Tortorella pointed to a number of reasons why the organization should feel good about the future.

“We played really well our last couple months [of the regular season] to get in [the playoffs]. [We] found a way to win a big series against Washington, and against Boston I thought we competed right to the end,” Tortorella said.

He also pointed to the play of Derek Brassard in Game 4 of the Bruins series, and John Moore’s play following the Apr. 3 trade deadline deal.

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“I don’t think we took a step backwards,” Tortorella said. “I think this is a sideways step.”

During the series against Boston, Tortorella cryptically hinted about adjustments needing to be made off the ice.

He clarified his viewpoint on Monday.

“I think one of the things, and it falls on my shoulders, is our team’s mindset going into another round, after both teams played an emotional Game 7 — Boston and the Rangers. I don’t think our mindset was ready for another series, and to the level you need to be at,” Tortorella said.

“That’s where I struggle with right now. I didn’t do a good enough job correcting and getting their mindset back to not only play at the level of Game 7 in the first round but get ready for round two, which is always going to be tougher.”

Why did the mindset level off between the first and second rounds?

“[I think] it’s an emotional thing,” Tortorella said. “You win the last two games of a first-round series, you play an emotional Game 7, you win it and within a couple days, you’re playing another series. It’s not a Game 7, it’s a Game 1. That’s what I’m talking about. I thought we did enough but as I watched us play, it wasn’t enough. As I told you all, the biggest part of my job is that — how you handle your top players to get them to play and that falls on my shoulders.”

Coming back?

To a man, the players who are free agents this summer spoke emphatically about wanting to return.
“I want to be here for sure,” Derek Stepan said. “They’ve treated me so nicely.”

Injury updates

Defensemen Marc Staal and Anton Stralman offered diagnoses of the injuries they suffered. Staal said he had a tear in the eye that was struck by a Kimmo Timonen shot and it forced him to “constantly” change “medications and eye drops.” He added the seriousness of the injury will force him to have to wear a visor in order “to protect the other eye.”

Stralman suffered facial fractures and a separated shoulder due to a Milan Lucic hit in Game 3. The defenseman said “the shoulder kept” him “out.” Had he received clearance to play, he would have had to wear a full-face shield.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.


http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/nhl/2013/05/27/rangers-notebook-tortorella-refuses-to-call-season-a-failure/

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 2:30 PM

May 23, 2013, Boston Bruins-New York Rangers Game 4 Eastern Conference Semifinal game story for Metro Newspaper in NYC


New York

Metro.us▶ Sports▶ NHL
 
 
 
 
 
 
By Denis Gorman
Published:

 

 

 

 

Rangers hold off elimination with Game 4 OT victory


The Rangers have Chris Kreider to thank for not having to wake up Friday to the end of their season.

Kreider’s goal 7:03 into overtime allowed the Rangers to continue their 2013 campaign following a 4-3 win over to the Bruins in Game 4 of the conference semifinals.

“It was definitely a team effort, especially on [the game-winning] goal,” Kreider said.

The 22-year-old left wing has six goals and three assists in 24 career playoff games, dating back to the 2012 postseason. He finished this season with two goals and an assist in 23 NHL regular-season games while shutting between the Rangers and the organization’s AHL affiliate in Hartford.

“I couldn’t be happier for [Kreider],” head coach John Tortorella said. “You guys [in the media] have been kicking my ass all around, all year long, for [not playing him] and he ends up stepping up and making a big play for us.”

The Rangers trail the best-of-seven 3-1. Game 5 is Saturday in Boston.

“We are very positive in the room and we knew we just had to win one game,” Dan Girardi said. “Now we have to go to Boston and try to win another one. We worked so hard to get the win. It’s one game out of the way and now we just have to prepare to get the second one.”

Entering the do-or-die game, Tortorella made drastic changes to the lineup as Micheal Haley and Kris Newbury replaced Arron Asham and Brad Richards in an attempt to add physicality and energy.

“They gave us some good shifts,” Tortorella said of the newly constructed fourth line. “I just needed another line. I need to get four lines involved. This is the way it went.”

The Rangers outhit Boston, 34-31, and collectively played with more of an edge than they had in the first three games.

“We tried to. We tried to get a forecheck. [Newbury’s] line did a great job buzzing and creating some energy for us,” Brian Boyle said. “There were spurts where it wasn’t there but we just hung in there.”

Still, they never led until Kreider’s game-winner.

Nathan Horton opened the scoring 4:39 into the second period with a power-play goal. Michael Del Zotto attempted to clear a David Krejci rebound, but the puck landed on Horton’s stick and the right wing, stationed at the bottom of the left faceoff circle, ripped a shot past Henrik Lundqvist (37 saves) as he moved to the near post.

Torey Krug’s power-play goal nearly three minutes later increased the lead to 2-0. With Del Zotto in the box for interference, Krug hammered a slap shot from inside the blue line for his third goal in four career playoff games — all in this series.

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Then the game began to get weird. Carl Hagelin halved the deficit a minute after Krug’s goal with a soft backhander that eluded Tuukka Rask, who had fallen down.

“It gave us life,” Tortorella said. “It’s funny how it works, huh?”

Derek Stepan tied the game at 2-2 1:15 into the third when he took the puck off of Zdeno Chara’s stick behind the Bruins’ net and tucked a wraparound into the cage.

Tyler Seguin gave the Bruins a 3-2 lead 8:06 into the third period with his first of the playoffs. As Ryan McDonagh’s penalty for goaltender interference ended, Seguin stuffed Dougie Hamilton’s rebound past Lundqvist.

The lead lasted for all of 1:54. Brian Boyle equalized with a power-play goal at the 10:00 mark of the third and the game remained tied until Kreider’s game-winner.

“We did show some character,” Lundqvist said. “It just turned around for us.”

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.




























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posted by Denis P. Gorman at 2:26 PM

Saturday, May 25, 2013

May 21, 2013, Boston Bruins-New York Rangers Eastern Conference Semifinal Game 3 game story for Metro Newspaper in NYC









New York

Metro.us▶ Sports▶ NHL
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By Denis Gorman
Published:

 

 

Bruins grab 3-0 lead on Rangers with late goal



The Rangers’ best effort in the Eastern Conference semifinals simply wasn’t good enough.

As a result, a season which began with expectations of playing meaningful games in June is one loss away from ending.

The Rangers trail the Bruins in the best-of-seven series 3-0 after dropping a 2-1 decision in Game 3 Tuesday night at the Garden. Game 4 is Thursday night.

At least one Ranger took it personally.

“I feel a lot of areas that I could have contributed more and that’s infuriating,” Brian Boyle said. “The biggest game of the year, [and] it just wasn’t enough.”

Daniel Paille’s goalmouth tap-in at 16:29 of the third was the game-winning goal. The sequence which led to Paille’s goal began with a Shawn Thornton shot that hit Henrik Lundqvist and popped behind the goaltender. The puck never crossed the goal line, but Lundqvist could not find it and Paille pounced on the loose rebound.

As the Bruins celebrated, Lundqvist stared up at the pinwheel ceiling, frustration etched on his face.

“We were in our own zone way too long, because I couldn’t win a freakin’ draw,” Boyle said. “We want to put them in their zone, get some offensive zone time that way. And it’s a lot of pressure for our [defense], and it’s a lot of zone time for them to try to create offense. Because I can’t win a freakin’ draw. Again, there’s another opportunity on Thursday to do a better job.”

Boyle was 4-for-21 in the faceoff circle during 19:41 of ice time last night.

The only reason the Rangers were in the game was due to the reigning Vezina winner. Lundqvist made 31 saves in the loss, including spectacular stops in the first period when he stoned Tyler Seguin on a breakaway after Anton Stralman was unable to keep the puck in at the Bruins’ blueline, and consecutive door-step saves on Jaromir Jagr.

“The season is on the line,” Lundqvist said. “You have to leave everything out there. Preparation and the effort have to be there, and we will see if it’s going to be enough. We definitely have to give everything right now, mentally and physically, and put it out there on Thursday.”

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Both of Boston’s goals came in the third period and both were directly attributable to the Bruins’ fourth line.
Johnny Boychuk tied the game at 1-1 3:10 into the period with his fourth goal of the playoffs following a shift in which grinding forwards Thornton, Paille and Gregory Campbell were able to keep the puck below the goal line. Paille and Campbell were credited with assists on the goal, while Thornton was part of a two-man screen, along with Campbell, which obstructed Lundqvist’s vision.

“It’s just the little things that we’re making mistakes on,” Dan Girardi said. “They are a very opportunistic team and they have really good players. They are making us pay.”

Taylor Pyatt opened the scoring 3:53 into the second by tipping Ryan McDonagh’s point shot past Tuukka Rask. Pyatt tied up Dougie Hamilton and Zdeno Chara in front of Rask as McDonagh ripped a shot from inside the blue line.

Pyatt’s goal marked the first time since the 2:55 mark of the third period of Game 1 the Rangers had a lead in the series.

They would get no more. The Rangers did not score on either of their two power plays and are 2-for-38 in the playoffs. The Rangers generated just 24 shots on goal, and attempted 60 shots. By comparison, Boston had 75 shot attempts.

“That’s where you establish all of your offense, off the forecheck,” Rick Nash said. “We haven’t been getting it consistently enough for a full 60 [minutes]. I think [the lack of offense] is a combination of the forecheck, special teams and not bearing down on our opportunities. The last game we had a bunch. Tonight we had a couple and we just didn’t bear down enough.”


http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/nhl/2013/05/21/bruins-grab-3-0-lead-on-rangers-with-late-goal/

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 9:07 PM

Friday, May 24, 2013

May 24, 2013, Boston Bruins-New York Rangers Game 4 Eastern Conference Semifinal game story for SportsXChange


Rangers stay alive with OT win

By Denis Gorman, The Sports Xchange | The SportsXchange – 13 hours ago

NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers are on life support.

They'll take it over the alternative.

Chris Kreider's goal 7:03 into overtime gave the Rangers a 4-3 overtime win over the Boston Bruins in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

"It felt good," Kreider said of the winner. "It is so surreal. It's not something that can be explained. It's just something that has to be felt. It was awesome and I'm just excited to give these guys an opportunity to play another game."

New York trails the best-of-seven series 3-1. Game 5 is Saturday afternoon at T.D. Garden.

"There is no negativity in the room," New York's Dan Girardi said. "We're not worrying about anything else that is going on. We are very positive in the room and we knew we just had to win one game. Now we have to go to Boston and try to win another one."

Carl Hagelin, Derek Stepan and Brian Boyle also scored for New York. Henrik Lundqvist stopped 37 of 40 shots.

"We did show some character," Lundqvist said. "We kind of lowered our shoulders a little bit and started playing our game. We're playing a really good team, but something you just need to feel like maybe you can get one good bounce, and then it just turned around for us. I thought we played really well the second half of the game."

 Nathan Horton, Torey Krug and Tyler Seguin also scored for Boston. Tuukka Rask made 28 saves for the Bruins.

Boston had leads of 1-0, 2-0 and 3-2. But New York led when it counted.

"I don't know if it's the momentum that shifted," Boston coach Claude Julien said. "We didn't play as well as we could have throughout the whole game."

Horton's power play goal put Boston up 1-0 4:39 into the second period. It was his fifth goal of the playoffs. King scored his third goal of the series 3:02 later.

Hagelin cut the lead to 2-1 at 8:39 when Rask fell down and could not reach the New York left winger's backhander from the slot.

"I just took a step to the side in what I think probably was a skate mark or something," Rask said. "My skate dug in, that's what it felt like. I lost my balance and the rest is history. "It happens to me twice a year in practice, maybe. Focus ... got to be more focused, I think. Just a tough mistake. It looks pretty bad on TV, I guess."

Stepan's unassisted goal 1:15 into the third tied the score at 2. The New York center stole the puck from Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara behind the Boston goal before shoving a wraparound past Rask. The goal was Stepan's fourth of the playoffs and second of the series.

"We are down by a goal going into the third and the talk is just to relax and play," Stepan said. "We've kind of got nothing to lose, and found a way to win a period."

Seguin put Boston up 3-2 with his first goal of the playoffs at 8:06 of the third.

Boyle drew New York even 1:54 later with a power play goal. It was New York's first power play goal in 13 opportunities in the series. The Rangers finished the game 1 for 4 on the power play and are 3 for 42 on the man advantage in 11 Stanley Cup playoff games this spring.

"I think we have to get more comfortable," Stepan said. "It's still not the way we would like it, but we have just got to find a way to score goals. It's a big part of the playoffs."

NOTES: Rangers center Brad Richards announced at Thursday's morning skate he was a healthy scratch for Game 4. "I'm just disappointed," Richards said. The New York center has been relegated to the fourth line since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Washington Capitals. He has averaged 10:47 of ice time in the series against the Bruins. Richards vowed to "work harder and try my best to never let this happen again." Richards and Tortorella have a long-term relationship dating to their time with the Tampa Bay Lightning. During his postgame press conference, Tortorella was adamant that he was not blaming Richards for New York entering the game in an 0-3 hole. "By no means is this a situation where I take him out and I'm blaming him," Tortorella said. "I'm playing Brad on the fourth line. He's playing seven or eight minutes and it's not good for him. It doesn't work playing Brad Richards that way, but I also feel some other guys have played better." ... This is the 10th time the Rangers and the Bruins have met in a Stanley Cup playoff series. The Bruins have a 6-3 series edge, but Boston has never swept New York in a best-of-seven. The Bruins beat the Rangers 2-0 in a two-game semifinal series in 1927 due to aggregate goal differential. Two years later, the Bruins swept the Rangers 2-0 in the Stanley Cup final. ...The Rangers will practice at their suburban facility at noon Friday before heading to Boston. ...The Bruins went 2 for 4 on the power play in Game 4.


http://sports.yahoo.com/news/rangers-stay-alive-ot-win-033046230--nhl.html

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 1:34 PM

Thursday, May 23, 2013

May 23, 2013, Boston Bruins-New York Rangers Game 4 Eastern Conference Semifinal notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC


New York

Metro.us▶ Sports▶ NHL
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
By Denis Gorman
Published:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rangers Notebook: Brad Richards healthy scratch for Game 4

Brad Richards has picked up his game as of late. Credit: Getty Images

Brad Richards will not play in Game 4 and he may never again play as a member of the Rangers.

Richards told reporters following the Rangers’ optional skate at the Garden Thursday morning that he was scratched for the win-or-go-home game.

“I’m just disappointed,” Richards said. “[I will] work harder and try my best to never let it happen again.”

Signed to a nine-year, $60 million free agent deal on July 2, 2011, Richards has not been the dynamic, top-line center the organization has long lusted after. In two years with the Rangers, Richards totaled 100 points (36 goals and 64 assists) in 128 games, and he finished the truncated 2013 season with 34 points (11 goals and 23 assists) in 46 games.

Following the trade deadline acquisition of Derick Brassard in April, Richards was ostensibly dropped to the third line. During the Capitals series, Richards was dropped to the fourth line with Arron Asham and Chris Kreider.

Richards recorded 147:10 of ice time, an average of 14:43 per game. In the first three games of the series against the Bruins, Richards had only been on the ice for 31:41.

“Yes,” Richards said, when asked if it was difficult to contribute offensively with the limited minutes. He has one goal and a minus-3 rating in 10 playoff games this spring.

Head coach John Tortorella, whom Richards won a Cup with in 2004 with the Lightning, has routinely said it is a mistake to judge the center solely by his stats. During the 2011-12 season, Tortorella pointed to Richards’s mentoring of the Rangers’ young players, most notably Michael Del Zotto, off the ice.

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However, on the ice, Richards never quite meshed with Marian Gaborik in 2011-12 or Rick Nash this year. His lack of production coupled with his contract and the organization’s salary cap status has led to rumors the Rangers may amnesty his contract this summer as per the new collective bargaining agreement.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly confirmed in an email to Metro New York that the Rangers have one more amnesty buyout available to them to use either this summer or next. The Rangers amnestied Wade Redden following the end of the lockout, and he subsequently signed a one-year deal with St. Louis. The Blues traded Redden to Boston at the trade deadline.

Should the Rangers amnesty Richards, the Rangers would have $20.2 million in salary cap room this summer, with Derek Stepan, Ryan McDonagh, Carl Hagelin and Mats Zuccarello all in line for restricted free agent contracts, while Ryane Clowe is an unrestricted free agent. Next summer, Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi and Henrik Lundqvist are all unrestricted free agents.

Injury updates …

» Clowe, Darroll Powe and Marc Staal all participated in the optional skate Thursday morning. Staal characterized himself as “status quo.” Roman Hamrlik replaced Anton Stralman in the lineup. Stralman left Game 3 after 12:25 of ice time spanning the first two periods following a thunderous check from Boston left wing Milan Lucic.

Game 4 will be Hamrlik’s first game action since the 4-2 win over Winnipeg on April 1.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.


http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/nhl/2013/05/23/rangers-notebook-brad-richards-healthy-scratch-for-game-4/

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 3:15 PM

May 21, 2013, Boston Bruins-New York Rangers Game 3 Eastern Conference Semifinal series game story for SportsXChange


Bruins open commanding 3-0 lead

By Denis Gorman, The Sports Xchange | The SportsXchange – Tue, May 21, 2013 11:40 PM EDT

NEW YORK -- One of the universal truths in the Stanley Cup playoffs is that the teams that receive secondary scoring are usually the ones that win games and series.

It is a axiom that the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers are experiencing firsthand with drastically different results.

Daniel Paille's goal with 3:31 left in regulation was the winner in the Bruins' 2-1 victory over the Rangers in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. The Bruins lead 3-0 in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Thursday night in New York.

"Every game is a tough game," Zdeno Chara said. "So we enjoy this win tonight and then get up and get ready for the next one."

Paille shoved a rebound of a Shawn Thornton popup past Henrik Lundqvist at 16:29 of the third period for the winner. Lundqvist made the initial save on Thornton's shot but lost track of the rebound and Michael Del Zotto was unable to pick up Paille cruising behind the net. Boston has received major contributions from its fourth line of Gregory Campbell, Paille and Thornton in the series. The trio has two goals and four assists.

"They were working hard," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. " They've scored some big goals for us in the playoffs. "We have confidence in that line."

Paille's goal was Boston's second of the period. Johnny Boychuk tied the score at 1 with a slap shot which eluded Lundqvist. Boychuk gathered a Paille pass at the blue line and ripped a rocket that the New York netminder did not see. Boychuk has goals in consecutive games,and has scored four in the playoffs.

"They are a good team at an important time of the year," New York captain Ryan Callahan said. "We knew they were going to push. I thought we had a pretty good third period, but we gave up (the tying and winnings goals) and we don't get one."

The two goals were Lundqvist's lone mistakes, as he stopped 33 of 35 shots.

Taylor Pyatt scored the only goal for the Rangers at 3:53 of the second period. Pyatt's second goal of the playoffs opened the scoring in Game 3. While tying up Dougie Hamilton and Chara in front of Rask, Pyatt tipped Ryan McDonagh's point shot.

"Well, we were down, but we weren't playing that poorly," Chara said. "So we needed to stay aggressive, try to tie the game, and we just wanted to get pucks to the net. We did that and we were rewarded."

But the Rangers were unable to expand their lead because of an inefficient power play (0 of 2 in the game and 2 of 38 in the playoffs) and Boston's defensive structure. New York was not able to get in front of Tuukka Rask, who had a relatively easy night for the third game in a row. Rask made 23 saves.

 "At times, we struggled to get through and when we got through we just didn't sustain our forecheck," John Tortorella said. "A team that is rolling their lines like they are, we need to have some time in their end zone. As the game went on, we were there less and less So it pops up on you. "It's pretty much a Catch-22. They kept on rolling and their fourth line scores a couple goals."

 NOTES: The Rangers-Bruins series was expected to be a war of attrition. Instead, one of the themes in the first two games was Boston's ability to use its speed effectively against the not-as-fleet-afoot Rangers. "Our transition game has been much better," Julien said. "Against the Rangers, you know you have to have a good transition game. You have less time to spend in your own end and I think our guys have understood that from the back end and the forwards. Our transition game has been better, no doubt, this round compared to the first (against the Toronto Maple Leafs)." ... Count Tortorella among Brad Richards' strongest backers. "He has made plays," Tortorella said when asked if he was surprised that Richards only has one point in nine playoff games. "He has made some plays along the way." ... After the Rangers' loss, home teams fell to 40-19 in the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs. "I think today's game, it's a lot different from back in the (1970's) where there was really a distinct advantage playing at home," Tortorella said. "I don't think there is but there must be. The records show it." ...The Original Six rivals have met nine previous times in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Even though the Bruins have won six of the nine series, Boston has never swept New York in a best-of-seven playoff series. ...The Bruins did not have a power play in the game. New York's only penalty was Derek Dorsett's rough of Brad Marchand at 7:42 of the first period, but that was offset by the Boston forward's matching penalty for a cross-check on the New York right winger.
































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posted by Denis P. Gorman at 3:12 PM

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

May 21, 2013, New York Rangers Game 3 Eastern Conference Semifinal notebook for Metro Newspaper in NYC


New York

Metro.us▶ Sports▶ NHL
 
 
 
 
 
 
By Denis Gorman 
Published:

 

 

 

 

 

Rangers Notebook: Girardi has earned trust of his coach

Dan Girardi struggled badly in Game 2. Credit: Getty Images

Sometimes, the best lessons are the ones that are self-taught.

Following an uncharacteristically subpar performance in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, in which Dan Girardi was on the ice for all five goals in the Rangers’ 5-2 loss, head coach John Tortorella opted not to have a meeting with the top pair defenseman.

“I didn’t even talk to him,” Tortorella said in his Tuesday morning press conference at the Garden in the hours prior to Game 3. “He’s going to play his best game.”

Long one of the Rangers’ leaders, Girardi has earned Tortorella’s confidence with his play and reliability.

“It depends on the person,” Tortorella said. “It depends where he is as a player, experience-wise. I don’t have to say one word to Dan Girardi. If that’s a John Moore, certainly we will try to help him along the way – maybe show him so tape, whatever it may be.

“With [Girardi], he’s one of the better defensemen in the National Hockey League that had a tough night. He knows it. He doesn’t need to hear it from any coach at all as far as what needs to be done.”

No need to hold serve?

The popular thinking is that the Rangers need to win the next two games at home to get back into the series.

Unsurprisingly, Tortorella dismissed the notion.

“I’m looking at this as one game,” Tortorella said, when asked about the prospects of the Rangers coming back from an 0-2 deficit for the second straight series. “We just want to win a game and crawl back in to make it a series. So all of the stuff as far as the history and what we did the last time, we’re not paying attention to it.

“We made corrections [at Monday’s practice in Greenburgh, N.Y.]. We felt we played a pretty good hockey game [Sunday afternoon]. It certainly wasn’t a 5-2 game. We want to win a game and we’ll see where we go.”

Powe, Staal updates

Darroll Powe and Marc Staal were part of a group of players that participated in the optional skate at the Garden Tuesday morning. Both Powe and Staal have not played since Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series against the Capitals.

As per organizational policy, the Rangers have not announced the reasons for their absence. Powe was elbowed in the head by Washington’s Joel Ward during Game 3 of that series when the Rangers center checked the Capitals right wing into the boards.

Staal has been sidelined with a potential reoccurrence of symptoms from the eye injury he suffered in the 4-2 win over the Flyers on March 5. The defenseman was struck near the eye by a Kimmo Timonen shot.

“Feel good. It’s good to be back on the ice, skating with the guys,” Powe said. “It’s a few days of skating. I felt pretty good. I’m just skating, working out and try to get back in the lineup. The goal is to get back as soon as I can.”

Staal was unavailable for comment.

Follow Rangers beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.


http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/nhl/2013/05/21/rangers-notebook-girardi-has-earned-trust-of-his-coach/

posted by Denis P. Gorman at 4:37 PM