Live Blog - Game 1: Rangers @ Lightning

PRE-GAME: It’s been five months, but New York Rangers hockey (and the NYRangerscast) is back!  I’m running on very little rest right now, seeing as I don’t think I slept for more than a half an hour at a time last night.  It’s just hard to contain my excitement.

After an off-season face lift, we get our first real look at Zherdev, Naslund, Redden and Kalinin.  I’m most excited to see Nik the Great and most curious to see how Redden responds after a sub-par pre-season.

My one prediction for this year: Brandon Dubinsky is going to be a monster.  Whether or not that’s going out on a limb is questionable, but if last year was a revelation for the rookie, this year will be a breakout.

Zipay’s reporting that contrary to the thought yesterday, Petr Prucha will indeed play today.  It’s the right move, especially because Prucha is one of the few actual Czechs on the team this year.  Prior to the news coming out, Larry Brooks had a this to say about the prospect of Pru sitting.  Larry…tell us what you really think!

So here we go.  Rangers/Lightning, Game 1 of the NHL season kicking off in Prague! Let’s kick it off in style!

Update 12:05 p.m.: John Amirante move over…listen to the pipes on this woman!

Update 12:11 p.m.: Can someone turn Joe’s mic on?

Update 12:13 p.m.: Great couple saves by Lundqvist after Kalinin gets muscled off by Lecavalier.

Update 12:16 p.m.: Rangers looking real quick to start the game.

Update 12:21 p.m.: Well Lundqvist certainly looks ready to go. The defense…well that’s a different story.

Update 12:28 p.m.: Nice rush up the ice by Gomez.  A bit of a strange way to start off the season if you ask me.  There just seems to be a lack of atmosphere in Prague with no real rooting interest.

Update 12:31 p.m.: Good work there by the first line to create a couple of nice opportunities.  Now the Rangers with their first power play of the year.  Let’s erase the memories of last year…

Update 12:40 p.m.: Hooking call on Kalinin.  The Rangers defense is looking very, very shaky right now.

Update 12:41 p.m.: Big opportunity for Drury there.  It would have been only fitting for the captain to score there, seeing as Jags lit the lamp first in the last two seasons.

Update 12:44 p.m. End of 1st: Very eh period there.  It doesn’t really have the feel of a season opener.  The Rangers look a lot more north-south then the last couple of years (which we expected), but I’d like to see some more quality shots.  Lundqvist looks great, but the defense is forcing him to have to look that good.

And can MSG get there act together here.  First Joe, then Al.  Anybody bring a backup microphone abroad??

Update 1:05 p.m.: That was a great looking power play.  Fantastic puck movement and a couple of great chances.  Mike Smith and Henrik Lundqvist have been the best two players on the ice today.

Update 1:12 p.m.: Girardi takes a bad penalty on the power play, but you have to give St. Louis credit.  He made that happen with his speed.  The power play for the Rangers is noticeably better so far.  It’s early, yes, but the puck movement and shooting is distinctly different from last season.

Update 1:15 p.m.: If the power play looks good, the penalty kill may be even better.  It’s picking up right where it left off.

Update 1:20 p.m.: Another PP attempt for the Rangers.  It’s about time to cash in one of the chances…

Update 1:23 p.m.: Interesting choice by Renney to roll three forward lines on the power play.  

Update 1:29 p.m.: Another power play for the Rangers after Drury gets interfered with.  Gomez is flying right now.

Update 1:33 p.m.: OH! What a move by Naslund, but again nothing to show for it.  This is eerily reminiscent of last season, when the Rangers would dominate and still go into the third tied or down one.

Update 1:37 p.m.: GOAL! That line deserved to get it.  They’ve looked great the whole game.  Great pass by Gomez, great shot by Naslund.  

Update 1:39 p.m. End of 2nd: Great period by the Rangers there.  They looked very quick and dominated in the offensive zone.  Mike Smith’s been great so far, but the first line, which looks better and better with every shift, was able to break through.

MSG has to be longing for the USA at this point.  The technical difficulties are getting laughable.

Update 1:59 p.m.:  Bad break there for Mike Smith.  Girardi absolutely ripped that one and Smith took it in the arm.  You have to give him a lot of credit for staying in the game and making another fantastic save later in the sequence.

Update 2:04 p.m.: Wow what a goal by St. Louis.  He’s been flying all game.  Kalinin beat on the outside and then a bad angle shot beats Lundqvist.  1-1.

Update 2:07 p.m.: Great hardworking shift by the third line draws a penalty.  

Update 2:11 p.m.: This lack of scoring with the man advantage today is laughable.  The power play looks great, but the finishing just isn’t there.

Update 2:17 p.m.: What a save by Lundqvist on the rookie Stamkos! But Kalinin is making a real case to by Marek Malik’s replacement, getting burned again on the outside.  

Update 2:22 p.m.: Gary Roberts with the high stick on Dubinsky.  Seventh time’s a charm?

Update 2:25 p.m.: GOAL! DUBI DUBI DU! Perfect shot by #17.  It’s a power play goal!

Update 2:27 p.m.: Drury takes a penalty in the offensive zone.  With three and a half minutes to go this might be the game.

Update 2:33 p.m. 2-1 RANGERS WIN!: Well that’s a wrap folks. Very, very solid first game for the Rangers.  Were there mistakes? Sure.  Was there sloppy play at times? Sure.  Was there a lack of scoring? Absolutely.  But there were a lot of good flashes in there.  Lundqvist looked to be in mid-season form already, which is a big relief following that pre-season he had.  The first line, and especially Scott Gomez, looked phenomenal and already look to have the chemistry the Rangers first line lacked for the firs half of the year last year.  And the team looked to be a whole lot quicker than they were last year.

Things certainly need to tighten up, especially the defense, but there was a lot of good to take out of the win.