Live Blog 3/18 vs. Penguins

Well the ten game stretch begins tonight at home against Pittsburgh. Time to forget Florida and focus on the Pens and getting two points. I’ll be paying close attention to the defense and how the return of Malik changes things around. Also, I want to see this offense slow things down and not get into a track meet with Pitt. And maybe a power play goal would be nice too. Let’s get it on…

7:08 pm: Strudwick is a healthy scratch. Steve must be so happy. Good physical play by Dawes to start things off.

7:11 pm: Nice defensive play by Straka to keep the puck in the zone and generate a shot. Quick pace to the start of this one.

7:13 pm: Dawes is all over the place. Almost puts one in off a Conklin miscue and a great defensive hustle play to get back and poke check.

7:15 pm: Avery wide open net and Conklin with an incredible diving stick save. Conklin looks lost out there, got to take advantage right there.

7:17 pm: Penguins go on power play. Great play by Malik to save a goal; shocking to realize how much a guy like Malik has been missed these past few games. First stoppage of a very fast paced first period.

7:21 pm: Nice penalty kill by the Rangers. Only two shots allowed but Staal limped off after a block he took off the foot.

7:23 pm: Avery GOAL! Beautiful pass by Jagr after he skates hard to bring it back into the zone. Great quick wrister to put the Rangers up 1-0. Avery 9 goals in last 15 games, a product of the chemistry this first line seems to have.

7:25 pm: Callahan GOAL! Great defensive play to cause turnover. Drury shot, long rebound, Callahan puts it in. Rangers lead 2-0.

7:30 pm: Rangers are controlling the tempo just like I asked them to do. Henrik is playing well, hasn’t had to make a fantastic save yet but thats a good thing. Only guy I’m concerned with is Backman, he looks clueless out there; keep an eye on him.

7:35 pm: Rangers playing very physical. Great defense from Malik and Tyutin. Great relentless offense by Dawes and Callahan.

End of 1st Period: Rangers lead 2-0. Good period by Henrik and the defense, although they got a little lackadaisical there at the end. Forcheck has been solid, a different tone than the two games in Florida. Dawes and Callahan have looked excellent.

8:00 pm: Rangers get caught in a bad change and Ruutu capitalizes on a break away. Rangers 2-1. Not a good way to start out the second period.

8:02 pm: Here we go. Jordan Staal rebound goal after a bad handoff by Henrik. Renney calls a time out, this team has lost all its focus in the first three minutes of this period. Tie game 2-2.

8:05 pm: Sjostrom GOAL! Rangers lead 3-2. Rangers come out of the time out and capitalize off a Pens mistake. Three goals in the last five minutes, this one has become a shootout.

8:10 pm: Penguins offense is generating opportunity much like the Rangers did in the first period. Some little shoving matches are starting as the intensity is rising. Rangers need to regain control of the puck and start hitting people like they were in the first. Avery and Malone get 2 minutes each for unsportsmanlike conduct.

8:15 pm: Penalty called on Dupuis. Rangers go on the power play. Rangers defense has been sloppy and have given up to many turnovers this period. They cannot give up a shorthanded opportunity.

8:16 pm: Lucky break for the Pens, puck goes off the post and than wedged in Conklin’s pad.

8:25 pm: Plenty of opportunities to put one in, just can’t squeak it by Conklin. Straka has played very well so far. Big save by Henrik on a Malone breakaway. Another turnover by Avery gives way to the odd man rush.

8:29 pm: Rangers get a power play. Gomez draws the tripping call on J. Staal. Gomez and Dawes have been a nice combo tonight. Rangers 0/1 on PP tonight so far.

End of Second Period: Rangers got away with a sloppy period, lead 3-2. Too many turnovers in the defensive zone allowing for odd man rushes by Pens. This is gonna be a barn burner of a third period.

9:00 pm: Slower start to the third period. Drury had a nice shot from the point that almost got by Conklin. This is the pace I would like to see for the rest of the period.

9:02 pm: Avery GOAL! Put back off a rebound, great patience to put it in, his second of the game. Rangers 4-2.

9:09 pm: Game has become very physical, already half way through the period. Rangers seem to play more engaged hockey when they are on the brink of getting into brawls, it’s good to see.

9:11 pm: Straka GOAL! Great job by Drury to get the puck to the net and find Straka wide open. The Drury, Callahan, Straka line has been dominant tonight. Rangers lead 5-2.

9:24 pm: It’s not over yet but it’s pretty darn close. If the Rangers hang on it will be the fourth win in six games against the Pens this year.

Final: Rangers win 5-2.  Great job of overcoming a sloppy second period to pick up two points against the Pens.  Definitely a nice sign of this teams ability to bounce back.  A completely different feel to this one than in the two games in Florida.  100th win for Henrik, he had a very solid game.  My three stars go to; 1) Avery 2) Callahan 3) Straka with honorable mentions to Henrik and Dawes.  HUGE win, way to start off the final ten games of the season.