by Jim Samuels
The week that was for the New York Rangers, a new week that featured more of the same for this undisciplined, inconsistent bunch. Despite going a respectable 2-2 in the four games on the schedule this week, outscoring their opponents by an aggregate 13-12 score in the process, the Blueshirts continue to commit the same gaffe’s and defensive miscue’s that have plagued them over the first dozen games of this young season.
One of the biggest problems that has faced this team over the past four non-playoff seasons continues to haunt this year’s revamped edition. Their inability to win on home ice has reared it’s ugly head once again and this year unlike in the past, empty seats have become commonplace at The Worlds Most Famous Arena.
Through the first six Garden matches the Blueshirts find themselves an underwhelming 3-3, which is unacceptable for a team with postseason aspirations. An unfathomable lack of energy has seemingly engulfed an arena that was once one of the most hallowed buildings in all of hockey. Sure, this can be partially attributed to the new, fan friendly 7pm start times, but the underlying theme here is that the Rangers seem unable to sustain 60 minutes of inspired hockey on any ice surface, especially the one located at 34th and 7th.
The Rangers began the week with a hard fought, come from behind 4-2 victory over the Dallas Stars Monday night at the Garden. The Blueshirts were badly outplayed for much of the first two periods, in fact they were being outshot at the mid-way point of the second period by a whopping 25-5 margin. If not for the outstanding play of MIKE RICHTER the Rangers could’ve easily found themselves down three or four goals by the time they decided to put forth any type of effort before a disinterested, less than sellout Garden crowd. Trailing 2-1 late in the second period, the Rangers responded with their version of an offensive explosion, scoring three times in just over five minutes to take a 4-2 lead in game they had no business being in.
After MIKE YORK’S goal crease spin-o-rama knotted the game at 2, SANDY MCCARTHY finally received some well deserved ice time and scored a hard working, net crashing goal that gave the Rangers their first lead of the night. Newcomer DARREN VAN IMPE scored his first goal as a Ranger to give the Blueshirts a two goal lead which they protected quite well, allowing only nine Dallas shots in a scoreless third period. Harford Wolfpack pugilist RICHARD SCOTT was recalled for the game and got into a scrap early in the first period, the fight was the Ranger first in the past three games. The win over the Stars was the Rangers first MSG triumph over Dallas since 12/11/95.
On Wednesday night Pavel Bure and the Florida Panthers paid a visit to Madison Square Garden, the Panthers entered the game with an eastern conference low two wins and had allowed a whopping 37 goals over their first 12 matches. In a strange Halloween match that contained very little flow and even less excitement, the Rangers struggled to create offense all night and were unable to break the Panthers version of the dreaded trap. ERIC LINDROS who played a physical game and generated what few good scoring chances the Rangers could muster, took a questionable interference penalty with just under eight minutes remaining. Rookie sniper Christian Huselius converted on a power play ricochet that found it’s way past Mike Richter giving the Panthers a lead they would not relinquish en route to a 3-1 Garden victory.
Allowing a team so lacking in confidence to come into their building and dictate the pace of the game is a prime example of what ail’s this feeling their way bunch. The Rangers sat back and played right into Florida’s hands with each team waiting for the other to make a mistake. The specialty teams proved to be the Blueshirts downfall once again as they allowed a big power play goal mid-way through the third period, something a contending team cannot do against an opponent the likes of the Panthers. The Rangers went 0 for 3 with the man advantage and finished out the month of October with an overall record of 6-6-1.
Center PETR NEDVED had a tough night, after being struck in the side of the head by a Rangers point shot, the speedy centermen collided with teammate Eric Lindros and was forced to leave the game with a mild concussion. Nedved missed both weekend road games but is expected to return on Tuesday for a Garden match against Minnesota.
Following Wednesday’s disappointing home loss to Florida, the Rangers hit the road for a pair of games against the Hurricanes in Carolina and a return match with the Panthers in Florida. On Friday night the Rangers faced a Carolina team that had played a tough game the night before on the road in St Louis. After giving up their customary first goal of the game, defensemen VLADIMIR MALAKHOV answered with his first goal of the season to even the game at 1. That was short lived however as the Rangers gave up a late goal when the diminutive Sami Kapanen was allowed to stand alone in front of Richter and poke home a rebound to give the Hurricanes the lead just before the end of the first period.
Eric Lindros evened the score mid-way through the second with a power play marker, only to see the Rangers surrender another late goal as Kapanen outworked BRYAN BERARD for a loose puck and beat a helpless DAN BLACKBURN from close range to give the Hurricanes a 3-2 lead. The teams traded scoring chances in the third but the Rangers were unable to beat Carolina netminder Arturs Irbe, who was brilliant in the 3-2 win. Winger THEO FLEURY was stopped several times from close range and was frustrated by Irbe throughout. The Rangers outshot the Hurricanes 34-32 and their special teams play improved, going 1 for 5 with the man advantage while killing all five Carolina power plays. MIKE YORK had 2 points for the Blueshirts.
The Rangers closed out their week on Saturday night with an impressive come from behind win over the Panthers in Florida. The Blueshirts actually scored first against Florida netminder Roberto Luongo as Theo Fleury opened the scoring just 2:30 into the first period. Winger Marcus Nilson answered for the Panthers with just under five minutes remaining to knot the score at one. After Pavel Bure gave Florida the lead, Eric Lindros tallied the Blueshirts first shothanded goal of the season to bring the Rangers even once again . But Bure, who was allowed to camp just to the side of Richter’s net for much of the night converted his second power play goal of the evening tapping home a perfect cross ice pass from Robert Svehla.
The Rangers would rally in the third, with three goals in the last seven minutes to put the game away. RADEK DVORAK, who has gotten off to a slow start, tied the game at three when his ninth shot on goal of the evening finally found it’s way past Luongo. Less than three minutes later Mike York put the Rangers ahead for good, converting a nifty feed from Lindros. Defensive specialist ANDREAS JOHANSSON closed out the scoring with an empty netter with just 37 seconds remaining.
The defensive pairing of TOMAS KLOUCEK and DALE PURINTON has continued to shine since they were put together following Purinton’s suspension. The hard hitting pair has played against the other teams biggest forwards and has done an admirable job, both finishing their checks and clearing the front of the net. Purinton took on Florida heavyweight Peter Worrell early in the second period, after Worrell ran ZDENO CIGER. Purinton once again showed a willingness to stick up for his teammates taking on the much bigger Worrell.
The Rangers, who entered the game 2 for their last 42 on the power play finally scored with the man advantage when Johansson slid one into an empty to ice the victory for the Blueshirts. The much maligned pairing of Berard and IGOR ULANOV had a good night with each going +3 on the evening. Lindros has registered four points in the last two games.
THE WEEK AHEAD: The Rangers face the Wild at the Garden on Tuesday before traveling to Nassau Coliseum to face the first place Islanders on Thursday. The Blueshirts close out the week with weekend games in Buffalo against the Sabres and at home on Sunday against Montreal.