Courtesy of the Rangers:
NEW YORK RANGERS POST-GAME NOTES
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, Game Two
April 15, 2011 – New York Rangers 0, Washington Capitals 2
Click here for the Official Game Summary.
Click here for the Official Event Summary.
* The Rangers were defeated by the Washington Capitals, 2-0, tonight at Verizon Center, in Game Two of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals matchup. The Capitals lead the series 2-0.
* New York has begun a best-of-seven series with an overtime loss in Game One and a regulation loss in Game Two only once before, in the first round of the 1996 playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens. The Rangers won that series, 4-2.
* The Blueshirts were credited with 38 hits in the contest, including 18 hits in the first period. Ruslan Fedotenko led the team and tied for the game-high with six hits. During the regular season, the Rangers led the league with 2,333 hits and Fedotenko ranked fifth on the team with 150 hits.
* Dan Girardi was credited with four hits and a game-high, four blocked shots, and led all skaters with 23:41 of ice time.
* Brandon Prust registered four hits, all in the first period, and now leads the team and is tied for fourth in the NHL with nine hits in the playoffs.
* Henrik Lundqvist made 16 saves in net, and is now 0-2 with a 1.76 goals against average and a .922 save percentage in two playoff games. He has now appeared in 28 consecutive games, and has started in each of the Rangers last 31 playoff contests.
* Marian Gaborik tied for the team with four shots on goal, registered four hits and led all forwards with 23:18 of ice time.
* The Blueshirts’ practice schedule for tomorrow, Apr. 16, is 1:00 p.m. at the MSG Training Center.
* The Rangers will return to action when they face-off against the Washington Capitals on Sunday, Apr. 17, at Madison Square Garden (3:00 p.m.), in Game Three of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals match-up. The game will be televised live on NBC, and can be heard on 1050 ESPN Radio and newyorkrangers.com.
132 Comments
FIRE SATHER, if you ask me…
Pay your Debts Greg. Ya deadbeat!
Fire Mucklenney!
Let’s Go Black Hawks!
I miss the Uncle Glennie and Clutchmobile posts, especially after a loss. :(
Where’s Izzy?
Nothing to do with anything … I love that Metro PCS commercial where the guy goes, “Holy Shishkebob!”
Is that Ben Kinglsey behind the Hawks bench??
Izzy Bizzy?
Orr:
Congratulations on recognizing the obvious with the rest of us- that Avery played well. You’re coming along now.
Next logical baby step? Player who played well in Game 2 just might have played well in Game 1. Replacing an invisible player with one who plays well just might have helped the team in a one-goal game.
Hope these leaps of logic didn’t strain your groins or anything.
Chicago is in the game! 2-1 Van now…
I fell asleep during the first period, early. I had a dream where the rangers lost 6-2. Woke up with one minute left in the third. Somewhat similar result.
Least amount of ice time tonight: The Captain
Rhode, give it a rest with the Avery stuff, you’re just making yourself look dumb.
But, don’t forget to pray to him before you go to bed. For he is God!
Ugh! That’s a killer. 13 seconds left…
Nucks up 3-1 after 2.
Can’t anyone wearing the blue, red & white score a goal? Does anyone out there have any magic healing powers to mend Callahan’s leg? How long before Henrik asks to be traded due to lack of support? Tune in next year for the answer to those and other questions. Oh, and FIRE SATHER!!!!!!!!
Mr Miyagi could probably do it, but he’s dead.
Orr:
No joke. Bash any of the Ranger slackers and stumblebums you want.
But every time you start running down any player that actually gives a damn and plays a gutsy game, I’m going to call you on your boring Hate and hockey ignorance. Get used to it.
Avery was arguably the best Ranger tonight and if that doesn’t say something about the Rangers and their 2-0 games plight I don’t know what does.
You’re an Avery troll. It’s becoming clear with each moronic post.
Please, anybody here who thinks Avery would have helped us win Game 1, please say so.
That should be the new poll :P
Not counting King and maybe Boyle, he was atleast our most noticeable. And yes, that’s a really bad sign.
Sweet Home Chicago!
“Please, anybody here who thinks Avery would have helped us win Game 1, please say so.”
I already told you (factually) the Rangers are up 2-0 if Avery played in Game 1. What more do you need?
I thought that was sarcasm…...
Dubi has been terrible. Step softer than 2 ply. EC needs a heart transplant. I counted way mire than 1 hit by Avery. I wish the rest if the team played with Avery’s passion. Say what you will about Ave’s lack of shot or that he goes offsides or makes silly horizontal passes in his own zone….but #16 certainly plays the game with gusto.
Orr:
Don’t worry, I’m patient. I’m going to sit here with you all night and help you through this.
You’re going to try a comment without the A-word. It’ll be hard. But, you’ll do it. And I’ll praise you.
Then you’ll try another and find it easier. I’ll praise you more. Soon, you’ll be hating some other lousy Ranger performer and feeling like a new man.
Let’s begin.
Avery playing would have been better than Avery not playing. He is not a game breaker though. I think Torts (Sather) has misused Avery since he was first obtained. They killed his loyalty/desire from the first two seasons. After Sather’s “Arbitration” he was never the same.
Every little bit helps. But it only helps a little bit…
Eddie, can’t argue there…good post.
“I thought that was sarcasm…”
Did you see any quotes?
Stalberg Scores for Chicago.
3-2 now…
I agree that if Avery played in game 1 the same as he did tonight, we are all singing a different tune.
But really, all of this is getting stupid. Can we all agree that (1) Avery doesn’t win/lose games alone but (2) Avery is certainly a top 12 forward on this roster? Because we’re wasting a lot of time on this while no one is going out and searching for Anisimov.
C’mon, Olga…you too? You think Torts is to blame for Avery’s demise? Avery has to take blame himself too…
I don’t agree that you win game 1 and last night with Aves in the lineup…that is ridiculous logic
hey all, im at the airport in Moscow, connecting to Israel in 2-3 hours. missed the game obviously, looks like i shouldnt regret it. was it bad, really bad, or atrocious?
Please, anybody here who thinks Avery would have helped us win Game 1, please say so.
————————-
you never know :)
Mister Delaware:
I agree with your reasonable position on this.
But if the A-Word Hatefest kicks up again, it’s going to be denounced as foolishness.
If the Hawks win its free Stan Mikita’s donuts for everyone! Go Hawks! And FIRE SATHER!
Avery definitely is a top 12 player on this roster. But, no, we don’t win game 1 with him in the lineup.
If hehad a goal, and a few assists tonight, you’d have an argument. But, nobody scored tonight, and a defenseman has the only goal for us. So, we’re still 0-2.
Nobody can change that.
Game on!
“I don’t agree that you win game 1 and last night with Aves in the lineup…that is ridiculous logic”
Of course it is and I trust most people here picked up on that. But its borderline necessary parody when countering people who have anything beyond “jesus christ, atleast one skater showed up tonight” when it comes to our post-Game 2 analysis. No, of course he doesn’t win games on his own. Yes, we obviously would have had a better chance had he dressed for Game 1. Those last two sentences are pretty obvious.
I read this blog all the time, but have never before posted. However, I feel the need to chime in on the Avery situation. I am in the camp that truly feels that Avery would not have made a significant difference in game 1, and despite him providing some energy, really didn’t make much of a difference in game 2. The current Avery is a shadow of the old Avery, he is a far cry from the player that made a difference in the playoffs series of the past. The thing holding the Rangers back in this series is most definitely not a lack of grinding, or grit(things that Avery brings, but also things that the rest of the Rangers already have in spades), but a lack of true forward talent upfront. I know it has been oft repeated, but Gaborik simply isn’t an Ovechkin, Kovalchuk or Datsyuk type, guys who create their own shots through either dynamic puckhandling ability, e.g. the aforementioned Kovalchuk and Datsyuk, or speed and strength like Ovechkin. Gaborik needs fairly good service to get him in the puck in situations where he can score. Now I don’t wanna sound like I am simply clamoring to have a top line center added to this team in the off-season, I don’t think we should break the bank to sign Richards, cause I truly believe that players like Anisimov and Stepan have the talent to breakthrough and claim that spot.
Well anyway, that’s my two cents.
Will get Carp’d in a moment, I’m sure….but can’t read you all now…. see you tomorrow….TA!
All I have to say about that is asphinctersayswhat.
I think Sather is to blame more than Torts. He stiffed Avery on arbitration which drove Avery to free agency and Dallas. Sather only took him back because he only had to pay half of Avery’s salary. I could just hear the “I told you I wouldn’t Pay” from Sather. I can also hear the “You pay for half, you only get half” from Avery. I think Torts nutted Avery from being the wild card he was to a neutered house cat that he is now.
They ruined him and killed his style.
“Avery definitely is a top 12 player on this roster.”
That’s what I said. And if you agree, ever arguing against him being in the lineup is dumb.
“If hehad a goal, and a few assists tonight, you’d have an argument. But, nobody scored tonight, and a defenseman has the only goal for us. So, we’re still 0-2.
Nobody can change that.”
Also correct, but this isn’t binary, and as such there are levels of effort. And Avery is top 5 out of 21 in terms of this series to date and deserves credit for that.
Car Wrap! Sedin scores- which one? I dunno
4-2 Nucks
Andrew, if you read this blog all the time, you know I wicky…:) welcome…..nice post, despite some comments :) sigh.
the rangers, for all of their lack of skill, need to play inspired, passionate, hard hitting hockey…this is avery’s greatest asset…..i still think that we can win this series…..huge game on sunday.
Rhode Island Ranger –
Wrong dude. No hater here. Before the series started I agreed with others that said they’d feel bad for him if he didn’t play.
I also said I thought he would play and although I didn’t state it beforehand I would have played him in game 1. I did however say it before game 2.
I have questioned his priorities in the past.
Maybe you can write a “Hockey by Dummie” book for us. :P
That’s well and good, Andrew, and I don’t disagree. But a blog that made a living over 6 months praising most every stride by Prust has to recognize that Avery was most of our energy tonight. To not do so is hypocritical.
Ugh. ta.
Hawks comeing back! A man named Smith gets his second of the night. 4-3
sorry andrew – but that cliche about the rangers have grit in spades, and therefore do not need what avry brings, aint holding up this series..this team isnt playing gritty at all right now…
Arguing against him being in the lineup isn’t necessarily dumb. He’s an inconsistent player, always has been. If he’s not providing much, and you want to get MZA in there, you have to take someone out, and that person most likely is Avery.
Tonight, he played well. We’ll see if he could continue that in game 3. That being said, he isn’t the be-all end-all of this team. Whether he’s in the lineup or not, doesn’t make much of a significant difference, in my opinion. Same with MZA, EC, Wolski, etc. They’re all inconsistent guys.
nice move by Sedin… hard to root for Vancouver even if it means pain for Olga’s team..so I rooting for the Hawks regardless…GO KANE GO!
I would say that he was good, but most of our energy? Hard to say, I thought that whole line of Boyle, Prust and Avery were pretty solid and provided way more energy, as well as scoring chances that the top two lines. I find it hard to single out Avery as being the best player on the ice for the team tonight, simply because there were large stretches in which nobody was very good.
Oh glory glory New York Rangers!
GO NUCKS!
dont count out the comeback kids
Olga:
Agree with your take on Sather mishandling #16. Torts also can’t stomach the idea that an aggressive provocateur like Avery has to be given some latitude in his creative mayhem, maybe even guided with praise and encouragement instead of public shaming over minor penalties.
Other coaches and organizations (past and present) have utilized players like him much more effectively. Conn Smythe and Shero and Cherry and dozens of others would have managed him more productively.
I’m just hoping the falsification of his valuable playoff contributions around here will stop.
Orr, name the top 4 players we had tonight. No cop outs, just spell out the top 4. I’ll spot you Henrik.
Rangers in six. You guys are better, and most of you predicted it.
i am not all that sold on MZA anymore…..EC, i mean ec, should not be on this team next year, and dubi is a shell of his former self this series…i have to think something is physically wrong with him…..Prospal, Prust, Boyle, fed tank, and avery are playing well…..we are not getting any breaks from the refs…and no lucky bounces on the ice…..win on sunday and its a brand new series…
I like our chances better than the Blackhawks. Vancouver is really good.
Now THAT was Hockey!
Hawks lost but what a finish!
Can we change the subject? Even I (who supports Avery all the time) am getting sick of this
We got a do or die game ahead… focus on that
Also, Eddiex3, we’ll get the bounces and win on Sunday convincingly enough that we’re either even or plus for the series in terms of GF/GA.
Nucks win!!
RIR – MrD …..i think we are in agreement
Delaware, if you’re trying to get me to say Avery, you’re too late.
I’ve already mentioned that Aves was one of the better players, if not the best on the ice aboot five times now.
I’ve also said that he should be in the lineup over MZA.
But, as I’ve said, it doesn’t matter if he’s in the lineup in game 1, they still lose. That’s all I’m saying.
No name Nuevirth is taking Lundqvist to the shed for a belt slap on the rear.
...and should the rangers get up 4-1 on sunday…late in the game…someone needs to give ovie, semen, and backstrom a couple of nice chops to the ankles…2 minutes in the box will be worth it….its playoff hockey and we need to get a little dirty…
“But, as I’ve said, it doesn’t matter if he’s in the lineup in game 1, they still lose. That’s all I’m saying.”
Thats as silly as saying they’d win if he were out there. “He was one of our best skaters tonight but I’m certain he wouldn’t have had any effect in an overtime game.” C’mon. Maybe he would have, even more likely he wouldn’t have, but acting like its definitive is stupid.
Yes, Neuvirth is winning the series for the Caps, what with all those spectacular saves hes made on the Rangers numerous glorious chances in this series.
(sarcasm.)
hey caps fan…go play with your own rear…
RIR- it’s only a partial agreement. Avery is not the Avery he was when he got to NY the first time. THAT Avery would have made a significant difference in game 1 and 2.
tis a shame, that the rangers went AWOL to open the 2nd period. This caps team is beatable. One shift at a time, one game at a time….hold serve until game 7…then hank wins a 1-0 thriller and we move on…
I’m totally playing with my own rear right now. What fun this is!!!
Avery doesn’t provide offense, that is what I’m basing my opinion on.
Yeah, anything can happen, but if I’m a betting man, then I say he doesn’t, and they still lose.
If you say otherwise, hopefully you didn’t put a lot of money on that bet :P
As crappy a coach as Renney was he knew exactly how to use Avery
Torts is saying the right things….no need to panic….you have to win 4 games….our turn begins sunday
Dubi is minus 3 right?
cccp – case in point…..was after the ilast slander game at the garden…rangers won easily and Avery does a facewash late in the game…gets 2 for roughing…and torts sits him for the next 5 games or so…why?....stupid penalty sure…but the game was over….old school flyer and bruin hockey praised that sort of behavior…this isnt volleyball…you are allowed to get nasty and dirty
“Avery doesn’t provide offense, that is what I’m basing my opinion on.”
Avery was part of our best prolonged shift and part of more decent offensive shifts, percentage wise, than most of our roster. And, again, its relative. He’s not tasked with generating scoring on the Canucks, he’s tasked with generating scoring on this Rangers team and, as of right now, he’s (sadly) one of our better options. That’s the only point. Right now, Avery is clearly one of our better players, independent of what that says about the rest of the team or whatever.
And also, we’d be up 2-0 if Avery had played Game 1. Obvious.
..should read…”the last islander game…
dubi must be hurt….he has not done ANYTHING positive these last 2 games…for that matter, neither has stepan….nor AA….nor ec….staal needs the hyperbolic chamber come sunday’s game…he is completely out of gas…
A few good shifts, which led to what?? Nothing.
Still shutout. Doesn’t matter in the end. They’re not scoring.
I’m not talking aboot good shifts, I’m talking aboot results.
I’m not taking anything away from him. He played good, I can’t stress that enough. But, nobody is scoring, this game, last game, that’s all there is to it. So, it wouldn’t make a difference.
But, we can go on forever, and it’s getting insanely boring. So, we’ll just have to agree to disagree, obviously.
I thought McD played will a lot of poise, penalty aside.
Did you guys see the t shirts some of the canucks fans were wearing they said “hawks suck nucks”...LMFAO!!
our team will be better when the 3Gs are gone!
I warned you guys about the caps vowels…and I’d take laich on our team in a heartbeat!
I’d love to see a line of WW newbury gabby the next game.
I got ridiculed for saying this in the middle of the season, but the fact is Dubi makes avery look like a selke winner, dubi really is THAT bad defencively.
I wonder if torts (after the mcdonut penalty) is even handed is his accountability (it’s rhetorical folks, we all know he isn’t)
It really is a shame that Prust doesn’t have an “A” on his sweater by now!
I told you guys this was NOT a good match up for us in the playoff (this is not the same caps team from a couple years ago or the same team from the first part of this season)...I still REALLY REALLY hope I am wrong!
Mama
Laurel much (LMFAO!!)???
Meet the newest New York Ranger…Brad Richards….......
eddie x 3
excellent point here my friend, just excellent!
“this isnt volleyball…you are allowed to get nasty and dirty”
The losses are actually my fault. I have posted on both the go time threads and during the games (I never do that) and I have worn Ranger apparel on both game days (I never do that)!
I’m sorry all!
At least we aren’t still having an avery debate (who I thought played very well tonight).
Meet the newest New York Ranger….Kevin Bieksa….....
and I should have used my hattie against the caps
“the fact is Dubi makes avery look like a selke winner”
Even speaking hyperbolically that’s ridiculous
Rangers in 6, LGR!!!
dde
sadly it isn’t. Dubi is HORRIBLE defencively!
Not sure how you can type that Dubi isn’t HORRIBLE defencively with a straight face.
Did any of you see the guy sitting behind the hawks bench with enough gold chains around his neck to make mr T blush?
wicky – this series, dubi is also horrible in the offensive zone….putrid…..
I like the guys torts put on the ice for the last shift!
dubi did throw some hits tonight…but he is doing nothing when he has the puck…maybe he had money on the caps…
nucks had 47 hits in game one and 45 in game two, NICE!!
Dubi’s used in defensive situations that Avery would never even sniff.
Is he Datsyuk no, Does he fugg up at times yeah, who doesn’t. Far from horrible. Just my opinion.
He plays 2 min/gm sh to Avery’s 0
wick – yes nice endgame scrum…after all, it aint volleyball, now is it? :)
yep, he did throw a few. He has size and offencive skill, too bad he is such a head case!
dde – sadly, tho, dubi is playing disinterested hockey…and that is not his normal MO….i wonder what is up with him…very strange if you ask me..
dde
I could be wrong here, but I thought in his first stint here avery played some PK. Dubi hasn’t played a lot of PK prior to this year (I don;t think he had anyhow) and more lack of options for torts after boyle, prust, cally, feds…....
IMHO
Not saying he’s having a good series by any means.
But, you guys didn’t see that extended scrum where Dubi came out of the pack with the puck got it to the puck to the point for some feeble shot.
eddie
I actually think he has mostly played disinterested hockey over his tenure with us!! Extremely streaky IMO and the only real consistent time he had was the beginning of this season. He has clearly showed he is the sidekick to cally and not vice versa. Like I said, definitely offencively talented and has size and physical ability.
dde
he has had his moments….
Maybe his leg is still hurt or he just misses his snookums. who knows.
PK min per game
Boyle 1:56
Drury 1:54
Dubi 1:52
Prust 1:48
Feds :48
Like I said during the game, this is how Dublowsky has played in the playoffs in his short career.
I was hoping for more from him, but I’m not surprised that he’s been so non-existent. He’s another one of those guys that disappears in the playoffs.
Not gonna go far without him doing his job, along with Butt-Chin.
It’s hard to look forward to these games at this point. Very disappointing opening to the playoffs, not just because we’re down 0-2, but because so many of our go to guys continue to do nothing for us. Frustrating!
wick – I am in your camp on Dubi…
NYR
now, just come over to the dark side of the force about eminger. LOL!!
what the hell happened between JR and brooks!
avery played well so the bottom line is avery has been misused.. i love it. the guy had a nice 11 minutes throw him a parade.
the rangers played ranger hockey but they are scoring hadnicapped. dubi is doing nothing….
anismov ditto and that does not help..
stay the course and play harder and tougher… that is there only option… they need forwaqrds with skill and mccabe needs to be gone after this season, they need a PP quarterback who can skate somewhat…...........
did someone say avery has been misused??
He’s also playing with a rookie C
sure
Isn’t Dubi playing a defensive role against Ovie?
I have a feeling when NYR gets eliminated from the playoffs, unlike last year when we threw around the word “elite” for aboot a month, we’ll be throwing around the name”avery” for a month.
Something to look forward to, or not…..
I think he is a nice player overall, but would probably be a 5 to 8 forward on most teams and not a legitimate pk option on most teams. On our team he his counted on as a top 3 forward and relied upon heavily defencively…i’m just saying.
Who knows, maybe he’d be more of an offensive threat playing with experienced/talented wingers or center.
I could see him breaking 30+ goals on other teams, if he played all 82 games.
conversely, the 3rd line guys of the caps would probably be in our top 6, at least 2 of the 3. IMO
orr
i agree with you on that.
did you hear the vs announcer calling the nucks game when the hawks were on the pp and gave up a shorthanded chance to kesler in the 2nd say the hawks players must have been looking at girls instead of kesler??? LMFAO
i think it was engblom
FIRE HOLLAND!!!
night assens andLGR!!!
Signs you’re fighting a losing battle, #334:
When Orr is being by far the more reasonable one in an argument about irrational hatred of a single player.
many of the knuckleheaqds are complaining about avery’s minutes for a change. the guy cycled fairly well and hit the body. Parade tommorrow for sean doing his job for 11 minutes what a star in the making….
they need stepan, aa, dubi, to pick it up.
gabby pick it up is a given….
man they miss callahan, they just do not have enough guys who can skate and get a shot off…......
Wick, Orr- right on about dubinsky. I had said before game 1 that he would probably be invisible unless he scored while we had a decent lead. And I stand by what I said before this series- any non rookie who doesn’t show up for these playoffs needs to get a one way ticket out of town. And that’s not a “trade everyone” thing. That’s just a hey the important part about the playoffs is the experience and evaluation for these guys thing. From what we’ve seen of Dubinsky so far in his career is a lack of consistency and a lack of stepping up in a big spot. Same way we’ve seen poor defensive work out of Girardi and old legs attached to Drury and Mccabe having a negative effect.