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New York Rangers Blogger •
In my quick preview last night, I posed several things I was looking forward to seeing. Let's see how that played out(my responses in italics).
- Can Chris Higgins make it two games in a row with a goal?
(Yes, Higgins scored for the second straight game on a nice feed from Matt Gilroy. It's clear that the schneid was affecting him mentally and that first goal broke the ice, because since then, he looks a completely different player).
- Will it be Reunited and it feels so good for Dubinsky-Gaborik-Prospal?
(while the line didn't score at even strength, Gabby got his on the power play, they looked dominant at times on the ice and Dubinsky was all over the place. Keep the trio together and see what they can do over a span of time).
- Can Steve Valiquette give the Rangers a quality effort like he did against Anaheim or with he play like the goalie who was pulled against San Jose?
(solid effort by Vally after a shaky start to get the win coupled with 28 blocked shots, no not a mispriont, from the defense. The goal by Comrie was so-so and the Bulin may have outplayed him to keep the game close, but Vally deserved the win)
- How will Lisin play returning from an injury and on a line with Drury and Callahan?
(Like Dubinsky, Callahan was all over the place, scoring a goal - his first in 11 games - and finishing his checks. This may have been his best game of the season. In addition, Drury also had a solid game, except for a give away in the neutral zone and Lisin looked ok, not great. Again, another trio that should remain later).
- Will the once potent power play wake up?
(a clear yes. Three goals in seven chances, much better puck and player movement as the team wasn't stagnant, evidenced by each skater interchanging with one oanther to create space and movement. Kotalik had the rifle from the point working and Gaborik was darting all over the place).
- Will Torts continue to increase Anisimov's ice time?
(no, Anisimov saw a drop of nearly five minutes of ice time but that may have been a function of how the game went and numbers of power plays by the Rangers. I wouldn't read too much into it as it may just be a one-time aberration)
- Can Michal Roszival actually prevent a forward from beating him to the puck and scoring?
(no glaring mistakes leading to goals, so that has to be taken as a positive. Scary how no glaring mistakes are viewed as a positive and not business as usual but Rosie did not have a pretty solid game).
- With no Dane Byers and likely no Donald Brashear, the Rangers will need to use their speed to create and get energy rather than having a banging fourth line do that, can they match Edmonton step for step?
(excellent puck movement, speed through neutral zone, crashing the net, forechecking etc to beat a so-so Edmonton team, who were without Horcoff and Souray. Hopefully Byers is back Saturday as the Rangers need him against Calgary as Aaron Voros is basically worthless and Brashear is always hurt or ineffective, excellent use of $1.4 million Glen in each of the next two years).
- Who will get the last laugh, Tom Renney and Edmonton or Torts and the Rangers?
(look at the final score. That said, Renney clearly was affected by seeing his old team, almost talking wistfully about his time there).
Going forward:
- Matt Gilroy isn't scoring, though he had an assist last night, but his defense has grown by leaps and bounds since the start of the year.
- Sean Avery, whose "sloppy seconds" comments set off an international incident goes back to Calgary for the first time since then. Avery, who played just 5:56 on the fourth line on Thursday, gets to finally see his arch-enemy Dion Phaneuf on the ice, hmm wonder what they will talk about?
- If no Byers or Brashear, can the Rangers match Calgary physically?
- With the Flames on a two-game win streak, can the Rangers slow their momentum and finish the short West Coast swing with a 2-1 record?
- Can Chris Higgins make it two games in a row with a goal?
(Yes, Higgins scored for the second straight game on a nice feed from Matt Gilroy. It's clear that the schneid was affecting him mentally and that first goal broke the ice, because since then, he looks a completely different player).
- Will it be Reunited and it feels so good for Dubinsky-Gaborik-Prospal?
(while the line didn't score at even strength, Gabby got his on the power play, they looked dominant at times on the ice and Dubinsky was all over the place. Keep the trio together and see what they can do over a span of time).
- Can Steve Valiquette give the Rangers a quality effort like he did against Anaheim or with he play like the goalie who was pulled against San Jose?
(solid effort by Vally after a shaky start to get the win coupled with 28 blocked shots, no not a mispriont, from the defense. The goal by Comrie was so-so and the Bulin may have outplayed him to keep the game close, but Vally deserved the win)
- How will Lisin play returning from an injury and on a line with Drury and Callahan?
(Like Dubinsky, Callahan was all over the place, scoring a goal - his first in 11 games - and finishing his checks. This may have been his best game of the season. In addition, Drury also had a solid game, except for a give away in the neutral zone and Lisin looked ok, not great. Again, another trio that should remain later).
- Will the once potent power play wake up?
(a clear yes. Three goals in seven chances, much better puck and player movement as the team wasn't stagnant, evidenced by each skater interchanging with one oanther to create space and movement. Kotalik had the rifle from the point working and Gaborik was darting all over the place).
- Will Torts continue to increase Anisimov's ice time?
(no, Anisimov saw a drop of nearly five minutes of ice time but that may have been a function of how the game went and numbers of power plays by the Rangers. I wouldn't read too much into it as it may just be a one-time aberration)
- Can Michal Roszival actually prevent a forward from beating him to the puck and scoring?
(no glaring mistakes leading to goals, so that has to be taken as a positive. Scary how no glaring mistakes are viewed as a positive and not business as usual but Rosie did not have a pretty solid game).
- With no Dane Byers and likely no Donald Brashear, the Rangers will need to use their speed to create and get energy rather than having a banging fourth line do that, can they match Edmonton step for step?
(excellent puck movement, speed through neutral zone, crashing the net, forechecking etc to beat a so-so Edmonton team, who were without Horcoff and Souray. Hopefully Byers is back Saturday as the Rangers need him against Calgary as Aaron Voros is basically worthless and Brashear is always hurt or ineffective, excellent use of $1.4 million Glen in each of the next two years).
- Who will get the last laugh, Tom Renney and Edmonton or Torts and the Rangers?
(look at the final score. That said, Renney clearly was affected by seeing his old team, almost talking wistfully about his time there).
Going forward:
- Matt Gilroy isn't scoring, though he had an assist last night, but his defense has grown by leaps and bounds since the start of the year.
- Sean Avery, whose "sloppy seconds" comments set off an international incident goes back to Calgary for the first time since then. Avery, who played just 5:56 on the fourth line on Thursday, gets to finally see his arch-enemy Dion Phaneuf on the ice, hmm wonder what they will talk about?
- If no Byers or Brashear, can the Rangers match Calgary physically?
- With the Flames on a two-game win streak, can the Rangers slow their momentum and finish the short West Coast swing with a 2-1 record?
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