For sixty minutes they bored the hell out of me. Except for the goaltending, this wasn't a well played game, for sixty minutes. The OT and the shootout raised the game to another level. The Rangers won the shootout as Stepan and Gaborik outgunned Vrbata for a 2-1 victory. Vrbata had tied the game with 8:23 left.
The OT brought some dramatics as Gaborik was awarded a dubious penalty shot, no histrionics by the anointed coach. Gaborik made some beautiful moves but goalie Mike Smith made a sensational stick save to send the game into the shootout. Lundqvist was good with 18 saves including 5 out of 6 in the shootout. Mike Smith was outstanding with 31 saves even though he blew two of six shootout shots.
So now would you believe the Rangers are atop the NHL with 58 points, one ahead of Vancouver and we have four games in hand on the Canucks. More significant is the three point lead over the big bad Bruins of Boston. We haven't played the Bruins yet and they have a game in hand on us.
There was one power play in the game and the Rangers got it and blew it. There was a nonsensical fight between Rupp and Bissonnette, the type that gives the NHL a bad name. It was contrived. Sam said it went back to the previous meeting of the two teams. That was eons ago. Rupp further distinguished himself by igniting the 'Yotes tying goal with a 'beautiful' drop pass that led to Vrbata's tying goal. Rupp got all of 7:39 of ice time. And Sean Avery sits in Hartford.
Feds Hat
There were plenty of heroes wearing the Rangers sweater Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, not the least of which were shootout stars Henrik Lundqvist, Derek Stepan, and Marian Gaborik. However the team's Broadway Hat ended up on the head of a player who played an extremely strong two-way game Tuesday, but who did not take part in the shootout.
Veteran winger Ruslan Fedotenko was presented the Broadway Hat following the game after scoring his sixth goal of the season---the only goal scored by the Blueshirts through 65 minutes against Mike Smith---while playing a very effective game on the forecheck along with linemates Brian Boyle and Carl Hagelin.
I really miss Sean, it's a disgrace that he's in CT
Well, he'll have more company in CT with Christensen going there for conditioning, and possiby Wolski. Mr. Avery is not a happy camper, both his blog and his twitter have gone quiet.
Sadly, I don't think we ever see him at MSG again. The #AveryArmy will have to decamp to parts unknown.
I haven't commented in a while at first it was the busyness of the holiday season and then it was the heartbreak of the inevitable departure of our Sean Avery. I watch the games with a heavy heart missing him. It hurt me to see the coach treat him so poorly and the organization allowed this to happen. Glen Sather has no guts and allows this bully of a coach to bully him around. No question disagreeable has the final say on everything. I knew they were going to ditch Sean but I didn't think it was necessary for the coach to twist the knife further in his back by sending him away the day before the team was going to the Winter Classic. It is clear to me that coach got distinct pleasure out of denying Sean of the experience but of course he isn't man enough to admit his decision is personal. No instead he lied again about how the decision was made because Wolski was healthy. Wolski - a player the coach likes just a smidge more than he likes Avery who hasn't seen one second of ice time since he said he was healthy proving just how urgent it was to Send Sean away on THAT day. What a mean SOB.
Anyway, I couldn't have written this game post any better. The Rangers are winning night after night in spite of the coach and I am proud of the players ability to play for each other every game. They are a special group of guys for sure.
That's a good point about Torts "twisting the knife" on the timing of Sean's waiver to Hartford. It is a great team character wise, and it's certainly understandable how difficult it was for Avery to get discarded. Especially, since he has gotten to know some of the players like Henrik and Richards very well. And he's certainly a better player than Rupp and Christensen. Also to get pulled off a team that is jelling and winning games must feel like a punch in the gut.
Torts and Avery got along like Darth Vader and Hans Solo. Like Hans Solo, Avery has been frozen in carbonite by Vader, put in limbo, and sent to a far off land with Jabba the Hutt. Unfortunately, there is no Princess Leia to free him. Unless Sather wants to play that part again.
From the Post today, it appears the Rangers are going to let Sean go for a draft pick IF they do not have to take a Cap hit and put him on reentry. They will take an offer like that.
Also stated, there are two teams who want him.
Sec. 335, Thanks for the heads up.