Rangers Rout Panthers, 4-1

The Hagelin-Richards-Callahan line launched a three goal first period onslaught that put the game away early for the NY Rangers. Richards and Hagelin were both a minus 3 in the prior Washington game. So it looks like the bad taste from that game motivated them to bring it tonight, and they did. A great demonstration of professionalism and determination by Richards and crew. Do we want to call them the Haggard Hand line? Anyway, after Brandon Dubinsky scored the Rangers' fourth goal in the second period the team was basically done for the night.

The second half of the game was a showcase for Henrik Lundqvist and the defense. The cats came hard and took the momentum back from the Rangers. Their shots per period reflected their effort: 7, 12, 9. A Panthers score by Matt Bradley midway through the second period gave them some life. But the defense and royally good goaltending held the day. The King stopped 27 shots and was again given the Broadway Hat for his superior play.

The Rangers went 0-for-1 on their powerplay, and stopped all 4 of Florida's powerplays. Numbers like that are now standard operating procedure. If the Rangers didn't practice their powerplay could they be any worse?

The game end sucker punch of Del Zotto by Tomas Kopecky stirred things up. Rupp made himself useful by pummeling the Slovakian. That will perk up the intensity for next Thursday's game at the Garden with the cats. Something to look forward to now, following the Winter Classic let down.

The Scoring Summary:

G	Per	Time	Str	Team	Goal Scorer	Assist	Assist
1	1	00:35	EV	NYR	Hagelin (7)	Callahan (15)	McDonagh(11)
2	1	05:10	EV	NYR	Richards(13)	Woywitka (5)
3	1	15:37	EV	NYR	Del Zotto(5)	Richards (15)	Hagelin (4)
4	2	07:41	EV	NYR	Dubinsky(4)	McDonagh(12)
5	2	09:28	EV	FLA	Bradley (2)	Gudbranson(2)

Time to wrap ourselves in blue for a big long weekend. Cheers.

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ICINGS:

Blueshirt United:

Henrik Lundqvist was extremely sharp, finishing with 27 saves in Friday night's 4-1 victory over the Panthers, earning the Broadway Hat in the process.

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Kopecky Sucker Punches Del Zotto, Turtles When Rupp Fights Him


via Blueshirts Brotherhood

more discussion:
HockeyFights.com: Michael Rupp vs Tomas Kopecky

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In a move that we could all see coming Sean Avery was waived by the NY Rangers and sent to the Hartford Whale today. Reaction: Disappointed, but not surprised. #AveryArmy loses its commanding general.

Sean Avery: I’m hungry to prove people wrong.

Larry Brooks / NY Post:
Avery vows to play again after waived by Rangers --

Sean Avery, placed on waivers by the Rangers at noon Friday, told The Post this afternoon that he “guarantee[s]” that a club claiming him “won’t ever be sorry.”

“I have a lot to prove, and I have a lot of game left after not being allowed to play my game for the last four years,” Avery told The Post before returning to New York from Florida, where he was given notice of the move this morning.

“I guarantee that I’ll play my a-- off and give everything I have for the team that will give me the chance I wasn’t getting [by coach John Tortorella]. That team will be getting a guy who has a lot to prove.

“The GM and coach willing to look past some of the things that are out there about me, I can guarantee that they won’t ever be sorry, and neither would my teammates.\

“I’m hungry to prove people wrong"...