As in the skate this morning, Martin Straka will return to the Jagr-Gomez duo; Sean Avery slides back with Dubinsky and Shanahan, Chris Drury is between Prucha and Dawes.
The HBO line is intact.
Straka is back on the No. 1 line, Renney said a few minutes ago, because that trio seemed to play more "by instinct". He acknowledged that it was "taking a little bit of sizzle (Avery) off the line" but that it would be useful elsewhere.
Marcel Hossa's MRI revealed a slightly herniated disc that will require rest. Renney said it was unclear how or when the injury occured. Counting tonight, Hossa will have missed seven straight games, although he was a healthy scratch for the first few.
The Rangers have not won a road game in 2008 (0-4-2); the Flyers are 5-1-1 in the last seven here.
More from Wachovia Center later...
Comments (14)
I think this really makes the most sense. would love to see Callahan or Byers playing opposite Orr or Hollweg, though.
since we all know no one is gonna comment cause no one does after a good win. it was nice to see a 60 min well played passionate effort with hard work for once.
Always nice to beat Philly
Interesting way to showcase Malik tonight. Put Stall and Strudwick out together on a defensive pairing, and Malik looks alot less like a trafic cone. . . . .there should be a rule that either Malik sits, or Struds sits. Mara is nothing more than Tom Poti with a really large head, but at least he can skate.
Is this team a freakin jeykl and hyde or what. Very good game, malik was terrible but thats not new. Jagr was invisible after the first period. Do you think tom has realized that Dubi is his best forward and should be getting alot more ice time and jagr less. The only thing i missed was Orr kicking cote ass!!!!!! But overall good game , but can they keep it up
to call mara tom poti is a little unfair. i thought at the deadline last year it was a good trade. ward was doing nothing for our team and mara when he cme to the rangers had some key goals
now onto malik sather is wrong to think that he is going to get a top 4 defenseman evenly for malik i mean c'mon the guy screws up everyother game. yes he did play a solid game tonight and yes the last game he played in he impressed me with standing up for his teamates but honestley we cannot win the cup without a Niedermier or Rob Blake who is not affraid to take shots on the powerplay.
and also i have to confess
when drury signed the contract in July i was estatic mainly for 2 reasons
1. he has a natural nack for the game and comes up with the big goals
and 2. he lives 10 mins away from my school and is an american born player.
i do believe that he is the next captain of the team and rightfully deserves it. if after not a full season when straka got hurt drury is given the "A" it seems like he is vocal in the locker room and was the first one to display a handshake to leetch of his appreciation night.
drury does come up with the big goals and as long as we make the playoffs (which avery has to step up ((not saying that having him back in the line up after the injuries he insured, but tonight i only saw a glipse of the avery that turned this team around and made them a stanley cup contender)) and be the badmouthing in your-face guy that us NY fans know and love and depatably should be given and "A") i have full confidence in.
there is a differnece between Drury and every other vet that comes into the rangers organization and that is this is drury's dream. he has been a ranger fan since he was a little kid and would like nothing more then, i believe to be the next rangers captian and to finish his career in NY. i think in due time he will be the man we all know knocked us out of the playoffs last year but what everyone, in my opinion fails to realize, is that he played 3 seasons and post seasons with buffalo, it is only his first seaon with us and we lost our Jagr key element (nylander, and we cant get him back no matter what becuase he tore his pectorial muscle). Jagr will be back next season, there is no doubt in my mind beacause renny loves jagr and who could blame him on a night like tonight. (honestly i thought he dominated the ice in the 1st, end of the 2nd and 3rd periods). as a hockey player, no matter what ur name is or how good you have done in the past, you play every game night to night and if you are not hitting the net on one night, it does damage on your confdence.
all in all i think that we will go far in the playoffs as long as we continue to play the way we played tonight (that means renny has to use harsh words in pracitece and threaten lundqvist with starting valliquette over him or signing another hight end goalie like emery((eventhought i cant stand him and do not want him on the team with his reputation this year))).
i do have faith in this team and next season i think we will the team to beat with the chemistry we have put together this season and in the off season.
were the Rangers really good or was Philly really bad? That team we played last night didn't look like the Philly everyone has been talking about in the last month. They sure didn't shoot the puck very much.
Now, NJ and Montreal are next. If the Rangers really want a shot at being a playoff team they are going to need to find a way to beat both teams to get a hold on the standings. Both teams sit in positions the Rangers want with games in hand. well boys, if you want it, prove it.
Otherwise, Philly was just really bad last night.
Another thing, The Devils are going to be on there toes tonight... we've beat them 4 straight, I don't think their going to let us take away the 5th without an all out fight to the death!
Slick, hows it going
I am with you sort of. The Rangers looked great last night. Looked like the team we should watch every night and you could be happy with even if they lost and looked like that. I think the Rangers dominated last night and controlled the game.
But, we have seen this all season. A big win like last night you should be able to feel good about and enjoy. As Rangers fans that have watched all season though you can't. A great game like that is usually followed up with crap you are embarrassed to watch.
We shall see...
I'm with you though, this weekend is a great time to see what this team wants to do.
(insert alot of big Renney words in the last sentence and make it a paragraph that makes you shake your head and say "what did he just say"?)
Hey Blues,
It's now or never.
It’s really not just winning this weekend as in the next 10 games. All are against playoff teams. This weekend is a sign to management on the direction they should take at the trade deadline. Next week will solidify those decisions. Beating 1 western conference team is important. Both games are drastically needed points in what looks like a tighter playoff race than last year. So now you’re talking about 6 out of 8 very needed points, and then comes Philly and the Caps next weekend. Umm, yeah, the only way to catch up with Philly is to beat them, the only way to hold off the Caps is to beat them. Now 10 out of 12 points. You get the idea I’m sure. We need a November in February. We need a February in March. Nothing more will do. Otherwise, lets get some return on our investments…you dig?
They need to play like that for a long, long stretch, be consistent like other bona fide playoff teams to gain credibility. It took a tongue lashing by Renney to get them motivated it seems, and Renney should not have had to rip into a fairly veteran ladened team, they should already be hungry and motivated, like other teams in the league with lesser talent and lesser payroll (Devils, Penguins, Bruins). Also, on Drury, it was 1 of a few solid games he has played this year. He has not played like the Drury in Buffalo, not sure if it is a function of the linemates he has been paired with or what the deal is. He was -14 going into that game. Maybe he's getting more comfortable and will turn the corner.
Slick,
Now or Never is right for sure. 29 games left.
I do dig!
In saying this weekend I was going with the baby steps theory. Rangers have won 3 of the last four. Wins tonight and Sunday make them 5 of last six and gives them a 3 game winning streak. That has to be a best since November like you stated.
The number out there for the Rangers to make the playoffs is 17-12 in the last 29 games to reach the points everyone suspects set the mark for the playoffs.
Now this is said with my lucky rabbits foot in my pocket and doing everything else that brings luck. If the team we watched last night can play out the rest of this schedule things will look up.
Call me bias because I am a die-hard fan but, the run starts now. I am making my call and it's that we are not sellers or huge buyers but, role fillers at the deadline with long term in the sights. Maybe a D-man and or a forward that is not huge market name but, good players that add to the run this year and can be kept for next year to fill holes. As well as there will be playoff hockey at the Garden this year. I also would like to think that we are not grabbing the 8th place seat in the conference and that we don't have to wait for a SO win buy another team to seat us...(wishful thinking and gut feelings here)
Ron,
Hopefully Renney served the wakeup call and it has been answered. Dury was easily one of the best on that ice last night and i think it was just a sign of what is to come. I don't believe in comparing the season he or Gomez has to last season or their careers in the other cities.
It is a big adjustment to spend a few year in one city both good teams (Devils/Sabres) and then move to any other city. Then add the spotlight of NYC its tough. He will come around and will play great here when he is settled in.
Sam Rosen said it best last night when he stated that it's frustrating to see the Rangers play so well one night, and then play absolutely un-cohesive the next.
It's been a VERY frustrating season, as most of you already know and have witnessed. We obviously have the talent, but we just lack that day-to-day chemistry that we need to be successful. Last night, they were clicking on every cylinder and it was a superb effort, and does need to be congratulated. Though, it's only a small step on the road to the playoffs.
And yes, I know I've stated the obvious here, but I'm just venting. I'm itching for a good ol' ten game winning streak to get back that precious momentum we'll need for this playoff run.
Big Dee,
Couldn't agree with you more. I don't want anyone to take my post above yours as me saying last night they turned the corner. CAN THEY KEEP IT UP? Is the big question!
I read and listen to alot about hockey all year long and the thing I have heard the most about lately is the parity in the NHL this year. Take Detroit out of it because they are always a great team.
Our division the most.
7 pts separate 1st and last. Our whole division could make the playoffs if it shakes out right.
Also has been said that at this time it is not impossible for any team to make the playoffs but, some teams are alot worse off then the Rangers. This is the list and its a good one. This includes games last night:
Western Conference (95 points)
1. Detroit - 7-22-1
2. San Jose - 16-15-0
3. Minnesota - 17-14-0
4. Calgary - 17-13-1
5. Dallas - 16-12-0
6. Colorado - 18-12-1
7. Anaheim - 17-10-1
8. Phoenix - 19-11-1
9. Vancouver - 19-11-0
10. Nashville - 19-11-0
11. St. Louis - 21-12-0
12. Columbus - 19-9-1
13. Chicago - 22-8-1
14. Edmonton - 22-7-0
15. Los Angeles - 25-4-0
Eastern Conference (90 points)
1. Ottawa - 11-19-0
2. Montreal - 13-17-1
3. Philadelphia - 14-17-1
4. New Jersey - 15-16-1
5. Pittsburgh - 15-16-0
6. Boston - 15-15-1
7. N.Y. Rangers - 17-12-0
8. Buffalo - 19-13-0
9. N.Y. Islanders - 18-12-0
10. Carolina - 17-11-0
11. Washington - 18-11-1
12. Atlanta - 19-10-0
13. Florida - 20-9-1
14. Toronto - 20-8-1
15. Tampa Bay - 21-8-1