Live Blog – Game 2: Lightning @ Rangers
PRE-GAME: There were a lot of things to like about yesterday’s game. We’re there aspects of the Rangers game that needed to be better? Of course. But that’s to be expected early on, especially from a team that was playing almost exclusively split-squad games throughout pre-season. At this early point in the season it’s all about picking up the points and developing an identity. What I’d like to see today is a couple of power play goals and some tighter defensive play.
Update 12:06 p.m.: Apparently they don’t have more than one singer in the Czech Republic. That’s fine with me. I could listen to this woman all day.
Update 12:19 p.m.: Another good penalty kill highlighted by a great defensive play by Girardi on Prospal.
Update 12:20 p.m.: And there’s the first fight of the young season. Aaorn Voros taking on Ryan Malone. Lasted all of 3 seconds, but good to see from the new Ranger.
Update 12:25 p.m.: This first line looks like a real keeper already. They’re transition from defense to attack is very impressive.
Update 12:26 p.m.: This just hit me…why is Michael Rozsival still wearing #3??? Is he waiting until it’s officially retired for Howell in February to change it?
Update 12:29 p.m.: Well how ’bout that…Mr. Betts flashing the outside speed.
Update 12:34 p.m.: Great pressure there by the Rangers draws a penalty. Zherdev with a beautiful dipsy doodle to the inside and Naslund is again flying.
Update 12:43 p.m.: Adam Hall tips a shot from the point that trickles through Lundqvist. Lighting up 1-0 despite being badly outplayed again.
Update 12:45 p.m. END OF 1ST: The Rangers dominated play that period, but just couldn’t finished. It’s encouraging that the opportunities are there, but they need to start putting some in.
Update 1:09 p.m.: GOAL! Wade Redden with a beautiful power play goal. Naslund with an absolutely perfect pass. Great looking PP and they were able to cash in. 1-1.
Update 1:14 p.m.: The Rangers are outshooting Tampa 24-3 right now and it’s not even that close. Absolutely dominant right now.
Update 1:24 p.m.: GOAL! Wow. Wow. Wow. That’s the only word that comes to mind. This team is dominating like we haven’t seen in a long time. An absolutely phenomenal shift by the fourth line. They kept the puck in the zone during a line change and Gomez put one in! Unbelievable right now.
Update 1:32 p.m.: Power play Tampa after a Rozsival penalty. Even with the domination the Rangers are only up 1. They need to kill this off.
Update 1:37 p.m. END OF 2ND: When Glen Sather made the decision to change the dynamic of the team this off-season, that period was EXACTLY what he had in mind. The Rangers thoroughly dominated that period with a combination of speed and relentless attack. Olaf Kolzig, who always plays the Rangers tough, is the only reason this game isn’t 7 or 8 -1 right now. Very impressive.
Update 2:01 p.m.: Nice chance for Betts and Voros on a 2-on-1. Renney wanted more production from the fourth line this year. They haven’t finished, but they’ve gotten their chances.
Update 2:09 p.m.: Another great PK for the Rangers, although they did get away with a Redden giveaway. They’ll go right back on the penalty kill now with Dawes taking an offensive zone penalty.
Update 2:15 p.m.: Good kill and then Drury draws a power play. Rangers now 8-for-8 on the PK so far this year.
Update 2:23 p.m.: This team is so fast right now that I almost have a hard time seeing the players. The counter attack of Scott Gomez and the first line rivals the best in the league.
Update 2:28 p.m.: Just when it was getting a little hairy the rookie takes an offensive zone penalty.
Update 2:30 p.m. 2-1 FINAL! RANGERS WIN!: Well that got a little too close for comfort at the end there, but the Rangers held on for a win. These two games were extremely impressive from a lot of standpoints for the team. They looked exactly like the team that management said they wanted…fast, relentless, defensively responsible, four rolling lines, puck moving power play that shoots the puck, etc. Sure both games were only 2-1 wins, but I’m not too worried about the offense coming. The opportunities are there and Smith and Kolzig were phenomenal in the two games.
So four out of four possible points for the Rangers on the trip and a team that looks to already have the chemistry last year’s team lacked for a lot of last year. There’s a lot to be excited about if you’re a Ranger fan.
Don’t forget, Eric and I will be back with our first podcast of the season tomorrow! Give us a call at 347-410-9093 or shoot us an email at hosts@nyrangerscast.com if you want to get your thoughts in before tomorrow’s show.
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Tags: Live Blog, Steven Gelbs
27 Responses
Gabbi R. October 5th at 11:11 am
her hair scares me…
Gabbi R. October 5th at 11:24 am
That’s Voros’ way of saying to the Lightning “Don’t F*ck with my goalie.”
he’s a much better 34 than the one we had last year, but still no Sean Avery.
Gabbi R. October 5th at 11:27 am
agreed
but quick question…
who’s the center on the third line of Callahan, Prucha and Korpikoski?
Steven Gelbs October 5th at 11:28 am
Korpikoski
Gabbi R. October 5th at 11:35 am
okay, thanks.
and about Roszival still wearing three, the Rangers are going to “honour” it, but it’s not going to be retired. Same with Bathgate, so technically the only one being retired is Graves.
And I think goaltending is keeping us in the game.
High sticking penalty on the Lightning, let’s see what this PP can do.
Steven Gelbs October 5th at 11:38 am
Gabbi,
From the people I’ve talked to, they are indeed retiring Bathgate and Howell. I’ve been told they were originally going to simply honor it, but changed their minds. I’ll look into it.
Gabbi R. October 5th at 11:42 am
hmm…
that’s interesting.
and Zherdev gave Dawes a nice pass when he saw he was wide open infront of the net.
Rangers also outshooting the Lightning 14-2, but still nothing on the board to show for it.
Gabbi R. October 5th at 11:44 am
UGH!
One goal on three shots.
a bad roll-in on Lundqvist’s part.
Gabbi R. October 5th at 12:12 pm
RANGERS GOAL!
PP by Redden
Betts got elbowed and no call.
Gabbi R. October 5th at 12:17 pm
complete and TOTAL domination.
Let’s see Melrose pop a blood vessel in his forehead from screaming at his team…
Gabbi R. October 5th at 12:25 pm
GOALLL!
GOMEZ!
2-1 Rangers, who threw about 10 shots in those two minutes.
Ooh,
Drury SOO close on that rebound!
Gabbi R. October 5th at 12:42 pm
That last period was stellar.
Now if only we can get every period of every game to be like that…
Inferno October 5th at 12:42 pm
Fast, relentless on the puck, incredibly aggressive, always 5 back in the defensive zone, constant pressure on the puck carrier, sticks in the lane, charge the net, look for rebounds, not too much overpassing, skilled, defenseman that get involved offensively, forwards that get involved defensively….
Guys….this is the Rangers team I have wanted for SO long now…
adampasz October 5th at 1:02 pm
I can only echo what everyone else is saying. After watching nearly every game last year, I’m hard pressed to think of more than a handful of games where they played with as much passion and intensity as what they’ve showed so far in this game. Obviously the season is still young, and there are still some rough edges defensively that need to be worked through, but this is a very good sign for the season.
It’s great to see Naslund and Redden get it going early. Nothing will help them acclimate to NY like scoring some goals.
Gabbi R. October 5th at 1:07 pm
have to kill this one…
staalsy in the box for interference.
Gabbi R. October 5th at 1:11 pm
killed.
but then AH!
another penalty!?
is this going to be like that Montreal-Boston game in 1979 that allowed the Habs to go to the finals?!
TBL time out.
this is annoying me.
tampa is down by one and on the PP. Praying we can get things going like it was last period.
Shots: Rangers 36 Lightning: 16
Gabbi R. October 5th at 1:16 pm
killed another one.
rangers go on the power play
malone going off for tripping (I believe)
Gabbi R. October 5th at 1:19 pm
Rangers penalty, apparently
Roszival.
Pfft.
Gabbi R. October 5th at 1:28 pm
Stamkos in the box for hooking.
ouch for tampa
Henry October 5th at 1:30 pm
You know, if the season ended today, we’d have the President’s Trophy. Ha Ha.
Gabbi R. October 5th at 1:34 pm
Rangers jussssssssssssssssst barely scraped passed.
great 1st and 2nd periods, then third period was definately evenly played.
So what have we gotten out of this trip to Europe?
-an 8-1 slaughter of Bern which lets the Rangers have confidence in scoring.
-a 4-3 victory with a 20 seconds left goal by Ryan Callahan to show we can deliver in the clutch.
-the Victoria Cup.
-a sense of team.
-four points and a 2-0 record.
now to MSG on Friday versus Chicago, who are sort of similar to Tampa.
UB BULL October 5th at 10:47 pm
Just think if the season ended today the Rangers would have home ice through out the playoffs.
francesco October 6th at 6:34 am
good bless you guys are back just to let you know…for us in italy almost impossible to see the game. and even espn360 the website where i could watch the game on line as block the viewing of the show in ITALY can you give me any Idea WHY….i still got the game on the NHL radio ….mamma mia…its 2008….help me out we are living…like fred flinstones
Gary October 6th at 7:03 am
GAbbi, According to the announcement on August 21 “New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that Adam Graves, Andy Bathgate and Harry Howell will have their jerseys retired in two separate on-ice ceremonies during the 2008-09 season”
Stephen, the tradition when retiring the number is that no future player can wear it. Therefore, if a current player is wearing the number that is to be retired, they may continue to wear that number for the length of their tenure with that team, once they leave that number will never be used again.
That being said, Michael Rozsival will have thee option to continue to wear his number 3, once he leaves the Rangers there will be no player issued that number again.
Who knows, if his playing becomes worthy of it, there could be two number 3’s hanging from MSG’s Rafters on Ranger Blue Banners, just like there will be two Ranger number 9’s and two Knicks number 15’s
Michael October 6th at 12:57 pm
I’d also like to add that Rozsival could just ask permission from Howell to wear #3, and if Howell consented, which I don’t see why he wouldn’t there’d be controversy about this at all.
Gary October 6th at 8:56 pm
There should be no controversy at all, the standard tradition is that if there is an active player who has the number which is to be retired prior to the announcement that it is to be retired, he shall be able to keep said number for his tenure with the organization, on the end of his active participation, said number will no longer be worn again.
Michael October 7th at 4:27 pm
That’s what I meant to say, but my typing deficiencies got the better of me. You’re right, this shouldn’t even be an issue. Plenty of ways around it.