Today was all about two guys who just a week ago were not
even thought of as likely candidates to have been in the lineup the last two
games; Matt Gilroy and Mats Zuccarello-Aasen.
In the game tonight Gilroy, the oft scratched Gilroy, who was in for the
struggling Michael Del Zotto would score two goals and try to stake a claim to
remaining in the lineup on a more permanent basis. I said this afternoon that he had done
everything to earn
that chance but it was up to the coaching staff to believe he could be used
beyond the role of injury replacement and punishment for other’s bad
play. Tonight’s performance certainly
helped Gilroy’s chances of doing all of that as it was his offense and overall
play that helped lead
the charge in the Rangers burying the Islanders 7-2 and had his coach
praising him following the game.
The full game recap details the all the goals and thoughts
on how certain players performed during the game as always and tonight as you
would expect in a blowout win there were a lot of performances to have positive
thoughts on including Marian Gaborik of whom I have been critical of lately.
You would think following a 7-2 home win the coach would be
happy with his club but that was clearly not the case in Tortorella’s press
conference following the game. The video
of the conference shows his distaste for some of the plays made by the club
and the chances that they surrendered to the Islanders. Also during the conference he talks about how
Matt Gilroy is one of his top six defenders right now, which will lead me to
tomorrow’s discussion as to who is or should be the new odd man out. Other good stuff in the presser, but that dissatisfaction
with the overall team play was somewhat the overall takeaway for me.
In terms of Mats Zuccarello he was back for his second NHL
game and once again showed that he belonged at this level, but the question I
pondered this morning was concerning how long would he make his stay last this
time around. “Zuccarello’s
back; Can the Norwegian Hobbit Work His Magic To Make it Permanent”
discusses the obstacles in terms of the roster that stand in Zuke’s way, but
also the things that he brings to the table that make him necessary to have a
role on the club now. If Zuccarello can
find a chemistry with Marian Gaborik that would go a long way to cementing his
spot on the club and for my money the key stretch is these next couple of weeks
before Vinny Prospal returns as if he plays to his talents and abilities Zuke
will once again force the Rangers to readjust the schedule they had for him. The one thing that is very evident in
everything Zuccarello does is the level of self-confidence he has and the
Rangers in addition to his skill could certainly use some of his swagger to
wear off on guys like Dubinsky, Anisimov for whom self-confidence is their
biggest impediment.
Speaking of Gaborik before the game the Rangers announced the
new lines for the game and it appeared as if it was going to be another move
just to get Gaborik going, which creating lines solely for that purpose I have
been against. The lines were said to
have Gaborik
returning to the team’s top line while Mats Zuccarello was scheduled to play on
the team’s fourth line with Sean Avery and Erik Christensen. Luckily for all involved John Tortorella’s
penchant for changing lines would occur even before the game as Zuccarello
would end up with Gaborik on the same line.
Obviously my reaction to those lines would have been far different than
to the announced ones, but check out what I thought on what was supposed to be.
In non-Rangers news there was another
brilliant Tim Thomas stop to save a game for the Bruins in which he thought
he was superman.
Also on the more serious side Jordin
Tootoo of the Nashville Predators checked himself into the NHL in-patient rehab
program and put some perspective on the human side of hockey and how
playing the game and certain roles can take their toll on the players off the
ice. Tootoo is in a completely different
battle right now but he deserves a stick salute for facing it head on and for
asking for help when he needed it.
