Betts Out
Just when things were going so well, Blair Betts will miss 2 to 3 weeks of playing time. Betts underwent minor foot surgery and he will be replaced in tonights lineup by Ryan “Hollywood” Hollweg. All this according to the Rangers Report and Sam Weinman. This is not good news folks, Betts is one of the most underrated centers in the league and the line definitely drops a few notches with him out.
Also Sam Weinman reports that contrary to what Steve and I hoped for, Stephen Valiquette will start in goal tonight against the Flyers. You can’t really argue Vally’s productivity against the Flyers but you can question whether it’s the right time to sit Henrik.
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Tags: Betts, Eric Rothman, Valiquette
4 Responses
Michael March 21st at 5:46 pm
To be honest, I think starting Vally is the right move tonight. He OWNS Philly as we’ve seen all year, and I think Tom Renney is sending a message to the rest of the team. Yes, they’ve won two games in a row against division rivals, but now isn’t the time to get complacent and we’ve seen that with this team on numerous occasions earlier in the year after big wins. With Vally in the lineup, the rest of the team knows that they have to step it up a notch because they don’t have quite as much wiggle room as they do when Hank is in goal.
Glad to see Hollweg back in the lineup as well; I think he should’ve played tonight regardless whether Betts was injured or not because when you play the Flyers, you need as much toughness as you can get. So what if this limits the 4th line offensively, the first three lines need to carry the load on that end of the ice anyway and have been doing so lately.
Now if only Strudsy could get back in there, the rock band would be complete.
Michael March 21st at 5:54 pm
To clarify: I understand that Betts is an important PK and a good defensive center.
Sean Avery can step right into Betts’ position on that PK unit and the team won’t miss a beat. Avery is quicker than Betts, more physical, and has better skills with the puck.
Yes, the 4th line will miss Betts but the 4th line hasn’t been getting as many minutes lately anyway. As I said before, you need Hollweg and Orr against a desperate, physical Flyers team and to be honest, I wouldn’t have minded seeing Strudwick play ahead of Sjostrom (for this game only) on that 4th line.
Inferno March 21st at 8:56 pm
didnt agree with starting vally tonight before the game, and it really looked like he was a backup in this one.
Henrik should have started. Hes had a ton of rest with all these long ass off periods, and hes been sharp. absolutely no reason to have Vally in net today, unless you seriously buy the hype that the Flyers cant beat him.
I love Vally as a backup, but lets not go crazy, hes a backup. Nothing more. and with a chance to get within 2 minuscule points of first place in the division, there is no excuse for Henrik not being in there tonight.
With that said, awesome 3rd period by the Rangers, they played a helluva last 8 minutes, and showed some serious heart in picking up the single point.
Michael March 21st at 9:26 pm
That was a strange game. Sam and Joe said it perfectly; it wasn’t usual Rangers-Flyers hockey, there wasn’t much hitting, no fights, not much physical play, whatever.
The Rangers picked up a key point and Philly got the win they really needed. Nothing Vally could’ve done really on either goal, can’t expect to stop a breakaway and Briere’s wraparound went off Girardi’s stick.
Definitely satisfied with the point here and was impressed with the Rangers’ “bounce-back ability”.