Game 51: NJD 1 NYR 0
Posted 12:50 AM ET | Comments 0
The Devils were able to escape MSG with a 1-0 victory and earn their second victory in eight days over the Rangers. However just like the previous game between these two bitter rivals the end was not one that many Ranger fans will be able to swallow with ease. This time it was a late goalie interference penalty, that negated the potentially tying goal, on Gaborick which provided controversy to the end of the game. The call seemed to be questionable as Volchenkov seemed to make significant contact with Gaborick and force him into Brodeur which drew the call. This was most certainly one call that was certainly blown by the officials as the rule clearly states that "If an attacking player has been pushed, shoved, or fouled by a defending player so as to cause him to come into contact with the goalkeeper, such contact will not be deemed contact initiated by the attacking player for purposes of this rule, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact". The play clearly shows that Gaborick made his best attempt to stop and simultaneously was shoved by Volchenkov into Brodeur.
However it is important to note that this play, however critical should not be used as in excuse for the Rangers play during the rest of the game. The difference in the game ended up not surprisingly being in the special teams. The Devils jump out to a 1-0 lead off of a PP goal when Parise fed David Clarkson in the slot allowing him to bury his 21st of the year. The Rangers on the other hand once again failed to generate any scoring with their PP and went 0-3 on the night. This being said the Devils PK is one of the best in the league so it is not unheard of for teams to struggle on the PP against them. Still the Rangers need to do something to get out of the slump on their PP for it will be tough to win in the postseason without it. The other big factor in this game was the Devils ability to control rebounds and not allow the Rangers any second or third chances. It was not until the third period that the Rangers finally were able to penetrate the Devils defense and really start to pepper Brodeur with some shots. Brodeur was up to the task on each and everyone of them unfortunately and the Rangers were never able to get on the board.
An encouraging sign in this game was that Rupp was able to drop the gloves early in the third period which is something that he has not been able to do since he took that slash from Boulton in the previous game. Torts confirmed this in his post game report that Rupp was fine after the fight which prompts the question that with Bickle no longer needed for his physical presence when will Eminger return to the lineup? I would expect this to be sooner rather than later especially since it was Bickle who was in the box on a bad holding call when the Devils scored the lone goal of the hockey game. Lundqvist once again played outstanding hockey lowering his GAA to 1.80. It probably goes without saying but he really is the best in the world right now and for him to not win the Vezina would be a travesty. This team would never be anywhere close to where it is right now without his remarkable and most importantly dependable play in net. I also feel that Staal's play has been steadily improving and that some of that rust from being on the IR for so long. I think this is huge as I am worried about Girardi sustaining the heavy load of minutes that he has been forced to play this season.
My hope from this game is that the Rangers find motivation out of having a point stolen from them tonight and come out and play there best hockey in their next game. The schedule really gets tough after the Lightning so those two points are important as the Rangers will need to face some of the tough teams in the NHL in the coming games.
However it is important to note that this play, however critical should not be used as in excuse for the Rangers play during the rest of the game. The difference in the game ended up not surprisingly being in the special teams. The Devils jump out to a 1-0 lead off of a PP goal when Parise fed David Clarkson in the slot allowing him to bury his 21st of the year. The Rangers on the other hand once again failed to generate any scoring with their PP and went 0-3 on the night. This being said the Devils PK is one of the best in the league so it is not unheard of for teams to struggle on the PP against them. Still the Rangers need to do something to get out of the slump on their PP for it will be tough to win in the postseason without it. The other big factor in this game was the Devils ability to control rebounds and not allow the Rangers any second or third chances. It was not until the third period that the Rangers finally were able to penetrate the Devils defense and really start to pepper Brodeur with some shots. Brodeur was up to the task on each and everyone of them unfortunately and the Rangers were never able to get on the board.
An encouraging sign in this game was that Rupp was able to drop the gloves early in the third period which is something that he has not been able to do since he took that slash from Boulton in the previous game. Torts confirmed this in his post game report that Rupp was fine after the fight which prompts the question that with Bickle no longer needed for his physical presence when will Eminger return to the lineup? I would expect this to be sooner rather than later especially since it was Bickle who was in the box on a bad holding call when the Devils scored the lone goal of the hockey game. Lundqvist once again played outstanding hockey lowering his GAA to 1.80. It probably goes without saying but he really is the best in the world right now and for him to not win the Vezina would be a travesty. This team would never be anywhere close to where it is right now without his remarkable and most importantly dependable play in net. I also feel that Staal's play has been steadily improving and that some of that rust from being on the IR for so long. I think this is huge as I am worried about Girardi sustaining the heavy load of minutes that he has been forced to play this season.
My hope from this game is that the Rangers find motivation out of having a point stolen from them tonight and come out and play there best hockey in their next game. The schedule really gets tough after the Lightning so those two points are important as the Rangers will need to face some of the tough teams in the NHL in the coming games.