After having the last three days off following a disappointing effort and result against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday the Rangers returned to the ice today against the same foe. The game was not much prettier than the last go round, but the result was certainly better as the Rangers got a much needed two points by virtue of the win. Sauer Atones For Early Mistake With Game Winner To Lead Rangers to Ugly Win discusses the game in its entirety from the key plays to the best players and even the bonehead ones that nearly cost the Rangers the W. Good gritty win for the team in a game that really the fitting result would have been a loss for each based on quality.
From during the game there is Video: Boogaard vs Carkner fight in which both guys landed some punches but Carkner landed the best one and possibly broke Boogey’s nose. More importantly than the fight itself was the disgraceful act committed by Matt Carkner after the fight when at the very least he simulated flicking blood at the New York Rangers bench. Video: Carkner Flicks Blood At Rangers Bench? Suspension Coming? has a clip of what Carkner did and while it is unclear if there was actual flicking of blood or if it ever reached the bench it does not make the act itself any less reprehensible. I fully expect a suspension of at least the two games handed out earlier this year for the simulated sex act by James Wisniewski against the Rangers and Sean Avery.
In terms of news before the game the big news concerned the Rangers lineup both for tonight and for the future in terms of returning players from injury Rangers Lineup News: Michael Del Zotto Healthy Scratch; Gilroy In; Prospal and Drury Updates detailed the Rangers deciding to finally allow struggling second year defender Michael Del Zotto to sit and watch for the game to see if that approach would help him fix some of his struggles. In his place Matt Gilroy got back into the lineup. Also there were updates on what exactly Chris Drury and Vinny Prospal are able to do right now and when they might be able to return to the lineup. Check it out to see my thoughts on the Del Zotto move and those updates.
Speaking of Chris Drury and Vinny Prospal this morning I took a look at the following question: Are the Rangers A Better Team Without Drury and Prospal? The question itself has a number of important angles in terms of talent on the club but also the roles each player has carved out and how the returns might change the way some players have been to this point in the season.
