It was a dilemna. What to do. Watch my beloved Rangers and miss the Jets last game of the season or watch the Jets and maybe miss another Ranger loss at St. Louis. Ah! Technology. I decided to use my DVR and tape both games. I started out watching the Rangers first period and then went to the football for the entire first half. Then it was back to the Rangers second period. Then back to the football for the thrilling finale and eventually back to the Rangers for their thrilling win, their first in St. Louis in eleven years. Didn't miss a faceoff or a snap and saw two thrilling games and fully satisfied and happy.
The Rangers were sparked by that oher goalie named Marty, Biron, who was outstanding with 24 stops and bringing his record to 7-3-0. Biron is truly a backup goalie not a fill in. The Rangers fell behind in the second period on a redirection by Brad Winchester. They tied it on a beautiful goal in front by Derek Stepan. The play was started by rookie defenseman Ryan McDonagh who fed Dubinsky who gave it to Zuccarello who led Stepan for the goal.
The winning goal came about as Dubinsky and Avery won a battle on the boards with Dubinsky going to the net with the puck being followed close behind by Avery. Dubinsky passed to Gaborik whose shot hit off the crossbar and fell on the goalline. A crashing Avery then tucked the puck in for the winning goal thereby eliminating any reason for a goal review.
The big moment, moments, in the game came when Avery took a double minor, four minutes, for high sticking. The Rangers killed this off and held on for the win. I didn't hear Avery's name mentioned after that and don't know if he was benched. However, Sam Rosen, may have been mad at him as Sam thought Gaborik scored the winning goal and remarked that Gaborik "needed the goal." The team needs goals Sam, not the players.
If this story is true, then we should see Michal Rozsival's minutes greatly reduced once he returns from his injury.
Rick Carpiniello / lohud.com:
Kinder Tortorella fights for youth movement --
... Tortorella — a Stanley Cup-winning coach and the winningest American-born coach in NHL history — was continuing to be true to his promise that this team will live and die with its youth, with the hiccups and stumbles along the way, and not succumb to the temptation to trade future for present just to make the playoffs.
When was the last time a New York coach in any sport said that and meant it? Or put job security, perhaps, on the line for the greater good of the franchise? ..
The story appears to be true. MR's minutes will be greatly reduced!
I think MR knows that he's on thin ice. If I'm not mistaken I believe I saw him with the team in St. Louis and after the game he was down in the hallway from the ice giving everyone a fist bump as the walked off after the win. I'm guessing that he wants to stay close so he has a job to return to when he comes back.