Oh, that's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh.
That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh,
I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh...
-- KC & The Sunshine Band
We don't need no stink'n 2-1 hockey games. Win or lose the Rangers play a much better brand of hockey under new coach John Tortorella.
Last night the Torts era arrived at MSG and boy is it a sight for sore eyes. Goals in bunches, hitting, scrums, and multiple fights. The Rangers buried the Colorado Avalanche, 6-1, in game that had the Garden rocking. Ryan Callahan and Nikolai Zherdev scored in the first 68 seconds and the Rangers scored twice more in the period to jump on top of a flat Avs team.
Lundqvist played strong down the stretch to hold the Colorado team to one goal. That lone goal was scored on a Ryan Smyth breakaway after a giveaway by Dmitri Kalinin at 13:05 of the second, when the Rangers were leading 5-0. Markus Naslund finished the Rangers scoring with a wrister at 14:49 of the third. In between, Drury, Gomez, and Prucha also got in on the scoring festivities.
After all the scoring the Avs got mad and the fistycuffs began. I don't want to use the word ugly for the latter part of this game, because I sure didn't turn away from the bedlam. I wanted to see who was going to stand up.
What got into Petr Prucha? The new Rangers tough guy was mixing it up, while Wade Redden was looking around for his contact lens. If Prucha does get traded he's certainly going out on a high note.
Here's a roundup of some various thoughts (mostly positive) from Rangerland:
Steve Zipay / Newsday:
RANGERS 6, AVALANCHE 1: That is just what they needed --
While the relief was palpable in the locker room, the Rangers cannot get too giddy. Colorado, now 11-20-1 on the road and planning to be sellers at Wednesday's trade deadline, is dead last in the Western Conference...Hockey Rodent:
The Beast Of MSG --
Three encounters under new management and there's a pronounced paradigm shift. The puck is spending a lot more time in the enemy end of the rink than it is spending near The Swede. That alone should be cause for rejoicification.Bring the Cup ton NY:
From an entertainment perspective, the product has improved substantially. Heck, even those break-ins on Hank which Tortorella promised us... well... even those bring drama to a formerly mundane display...
A Spark of Life? --
Since Tortorella took over behind the bench, we've seen the blueshirts become a more offensively aggressive team, pursuing the fore check and having defensemen pinch in to help out on the play. At the same time while implementing this new system, they haven't given up much defensively so far it seems.Scotty Hockey:
32-24-8: Is This What Happiness Feels Like? --
Several hours after walking out of Madison Square Garden, I find myself wrestling with a strange emotion. I am sure I have felt it before, but my memory is failing me as to when. It certainly has been a long time since I felt this particular emotion but I can't pin it down. Time certainly takes it's toll. Hmm, what could it be?Kerri / Some Like It Blue:
Could it be ... joy?? ...
And the Goals Come in an Avalanche --
Well… that was fun.The Manic Ranger:
Fun!
Hockey is… FUN! What a concept!
But since I have no time to do anything anymore, never-the-less blog about the greatest hockey team on ice (what, too soon? :-P), I want to go back to Monday morning to start. Of course, that was the day that Tom “I like backchecking” Renney and Perry “I’m in the charge of the powerplay” Pearn were let go by the Rangers organization. It was change that was desperately, desperately needed, on several accounts...
Torts Get First Win As Rangers Coach, An Old Fashioned Ass Kicking --
Could this be the start of a new beginning for this team? I F'ing Hope So!Natural Hat Trick:
- First off all, while I'm on the topic of Old Time Hockey, great move by Torts to send Colton Orr on the ice towards the end of the game. It sent a clear message to his players that he will not allow them to be pushed around. Orr beat the living hell out of Chris Stewart. That first right hook he landed was a monster...
A Fun Game Long Overdue. . . --
You will not find me complaining about one thing in last night's game. Not one thing.ICINGS:
It had goals - a season high 6 of them! It had fights and rough stuff - plenty to go around!
It had spunk. It had fire. It had heart.
And man, it was FUN! ...
HockeyFights.com:
Chris Stewart vs Colton Orr -- Who won?
Colton Orr -- 92.2%
Draw -- 6.5%
Chris Stewart -- 1.3% (friends & family?)
The Avalanche were a bit of a punching bag even before the fists started flying.
Getting the next goal after Smyth broke Hank's shutout was a really good sign, cause Colorado was playing a lot better.
Even if it was a weaker team, it is still great to get a convincing win, and a completely deserved one, like that.
Gives them a feeling of how the hard work pays off, unlike with the previous joke of a coach who fiddled with the dials too much.
This is heartening, and it's got to make Henrik feel like he possibly might be seeing the light appearing at the end of the long dark tunnel.
Let's Go Rangers!!
Tough guy Prucha and Redden searching for his contact lense...priceless!
I like the point about the win helping Henrik's confidence. I forgot who said that he looked like he needed a hug during this losing streak. I've never seen him so unsure of himself and the team. If his psyche cracks the team won't be far behind. This *is* heartening.
Too bad it's Prucha and not Redden who might go. It's called selling your winners and keeping your sinners. Not a good investment strategy and certainly not a good hockey team building strategy.