For Henrik Lundqvist, the past week will likely remain one of the fondest memories of his career. The young netminder added an Olympic gold medal to an already impressive season, by making a couple of key saves late in the game to preserve a 3-2 win for his native Sweden. Lundqvist then traveled home to Sweden with his team mates for an impromptu celebration in front of an estimated 30,000 people, before returning to New York and the Rangers late on Tuesday. Also of note were Ville Nieminen’s silver medal for the surprising Finns, and Bronze medals to Martin Straka, Marek Malik, Martin Rucinsky and Jaromir Jagr.
On Thursday the Rangers resumed their season with a 6-1 commanding victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. Their second game was hardly as enjoyable however, as the division rival New Jersey Devils went back to the past to stymie the Rangers offense and eke out a 2-1 victory on their home ice.
INJURY UPDATE | |
Blair Betts returned to the line-up after missing two months with a sprained MCL | |
Jaromir Jagr overcame a groin injury to play in both games, though sat out much of Thursday’s game after feeling a slight tweak | |
Darius Kasparaitis suffered a broken toe in the Bronze Medal game courtesy of a Jaromir Jagr shot, but remained in the line-up and was an integral part of both games played this week | |
Marek Malik left Saturday’s game in the first period with what has been described as a mild shoulder injury. He is listed as day to day. | |
Petr Prucha remains out with a knee sprain, and was expected to begin skating this week, but has not yet done so. | |
Jason Ward left Saturday’s game with an undisclosed injury. No word on when he might return |
RANGERS GAME SUMMARIES | |
THURSDAY MARCH 2nd | |
at6-1BOXSCORE | GOALS: Jagr (x2), Betts, Nylander, Rucinsky, Ward GOALIE: Weekes 36 of 37 SCRATCHES: Hollweg (healthy), Orr (healthy), Prucha (knee) SPECIAL TEAMS: PP 4 for 6 – PK 8 for 9 |
Special teams and the play of Kevin Weekes, Jaromir Jagr and Darius Kasparaitis was key to the Rangers victory as they picked up their third win of the season in Philadelphia and extended their winning streak to a season high seven games (the longest such streak since the 1999-00 season). The game ended with the Rangers on the power play and Donald Brashear in the locker-room after an unsuccessful attempt to goad Darius Kasparaitis into dropping the gloves. Game Recap | |
SATURDAY MARCH 4th | |
at1-2BOXSCORE | GOALS: Rucinsky GOALIE: Weekes 18 of 20 SCRATCHES: Hollweg (healthy), Orr (healthy), Prucha (knee) SPECIAL TEAMS: PP 0 for 3 – PK 3 for 4 |
It was a costly game for the Rangers as they lose Marek Malik and Jason Ward to injury in the first period and struggle to overcome a Devils team playing like it was still the late 1990s. Kevin Weekes once again has a confident outing, but the Rangers fail to capitalize on a couple of late chances and end their winning streak at seven games. Game Recap |
WOLF PACK |
Sunday, February 26th – Hartford at Lowell 6-5 OT The Pack battle back from a 5-3 deficit in the third period to force overtime and win the game with just 14 seconds remaining. Thomas Pöck puts home his 13th of the season as the Pack finish the night 4 for 9 on the power play and continue their run up the standings. Robert Gherson stops 21 of 26 and extends his winning streak to six straight games. The Pack get goals from Baranka, Dawes, Giroux, Immonen, Pöck and Sonnenberg. Wednesday, February 26th – Hartford v Norfolk 7-6 OT Al Montoya last just one period as he gives up three goals on twelve shots in a less than impressive performance. Robert Gherson comes in in relief and takes a 5-3 deficit once again into the third period. Three goals by the Pack in the first 5:18 of the third give the home team a 6-5 lead, but they can’t hang on and are once again forced to take the decision in overtime when Chad Wiseman scores his second of the night with 3:09 gone in the extra period. The pack get goals from Giroux (x2), Wiseman (x2), Dawes, Genoway and Girardi. Gherson is awarded his seventh straight win. Friday, March 3rd – Hartford at San Antonio 4-2 Robert Gherson extends his unbeaten streak to eight games with 21 stops on 23 shots as the Pack take care of business against one of the league’s worst teams. Nigel Dawes and Layne Ulmer score two each, before Joe Rullier puts the Pack ahead in the third and Dawes completes the hat trick for the win. Dwight Helminen also picks up three assists on the night. Saturday, March 4th – Hartford at Houston 5-1 Up against the best team in the league, the Pack pick up an impressive win and a season sweep of the Aeros. Al Montoya returns to form with 23 saves on 24 shots, including some important ones early in the game according to the Hartford Courant. Alexandre Giroux and Dan Girardi each have two goals, while Colby Genoway picks up his 21st of the season. Giroux’s linemates Immonen and Jessiman each pick up a pair of assists on the night. |
CHARLOTTE CHECKERS |
Saturday, March 4th – Charlotte at Florida 3-6 The Checkers have just one game this week and lose6-3 to the Florida Everblades. Chris Holt nowfinds himself the starting goaltender, after regular starter Jeff Glass is called up to Binghamton as the Senators rearrange their goaltending to accommodate the absence of Dominik Hasek. Rick Kozak scores a goal, while Rory Rawlyk and Juris Stals each pick up an assist in the loss. |
CHL |
Zdenek Bahensky gets a second star of the game, along with two assists on Saturday |
Dane Byers gets to sit out a game Tuesday after being suspended for getting three misconducts in Sunday’s game |
Ryan Callahan has a big night Friday with three power play goals, and an assist to go with the first star of the game |
Brandon Dubinsky continues his hot play since returning from a knee injury, picking up the first star of the game and an assist on Tuesday and picks up a goal and two assists along with the third star on Friday. |
Brodie Dupont scores a goal, has a fight and picks up the first star in the game Friday despite his team losing 3-2 in the shootout. |
NCAA |
Nate Guenin has likely finished his career as OSU gets eliminated in the first round of the CCHA playoffs |
Mike Walsh and Notre Dame have been eliminated from the CCHA playoffs, and that will likely be the end of his NCAA career. |