Rangers vs Blues Recap 11/7/2010: Ranger Play Not Calls Loses Game

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The New York Rangers took the ice in the Garden looking to get back to even on the season at home, but you wouldn’t know it from the effort they put forth in the game.  I said after the New Jersey game and in previewing this one that the effort the Rangers had against New Jersey would not get it done against St. Louis and tonight’s effort might have actually been worse.  The Blues victory marked their 7^th straight and moved their record to a very impressive 9-1-2 while the loss dropped the Rangers to 7-6-1 as the rollercoaster of ups and downs continues.

The Hobbit Has Come Alive: Zuccarello Hat-Trick

Seems that the bogus rumor of Zuccarello going back to Sweden and giving up on pushing to make it in the NHL has sparked Mats game.  The rumor came out last weekend and in the 4 games since he now has 4G and 2A including a hat-trick and an assist so far tonight in a 5-0 lead for Hartford.  Nice to see Zuke respond in this way, shows fight and pride, maybe now is a good time to call him up and give him a chance for a few while injuries still impacting the big club.  Send Grachev back down and let Zuke get a shot on the 3rd line.

In the game tonight Tim "stuck in exile" Kennedy has 3 assists to bring his total to 2G 6A in 9 games.  Anyone else wish Kennedy had stayed and White was sent down since we can never call Kennedy back up.  Also Ryan McDonagh scored his first professional point with an assist.

Final Game News

Lineup same as reported earlier

Dubinsky-Anisimov-Callahan
Avery-Boyle-Prust
Frolov-Christensen-Fedotenko
Boogaard-Stepan-Grachev

Staal-Rozsival
MDZ-Girardi
Eminger-Sauer

Biron
Lundqvist

Gilroy and White the healthy scratches.

Update really concerns the Blues as David Perron will be out again tonight after being hit in the head by Joe Thornton the other night and the Blues will start backup Ty Conklin for the 2nd time this season.  The 2nd of 3 starts for Biron that will be a matchup of the backups, let's hope he plays as well this time as he did against the backup the last time.  Perron being out might be good news for the Rangers tonight as they dont have to deal with a rising player in the league, but never wish to not face a guy because he is hurt.

Video: Prust vs Cam Janssen

Will Prust and Janssen and renew acquaintances again considering Janssen broke Prust's jaw a few years back and also beat him in a couple fights since? Here are a couple of tilts between them from last year.

Game 14: Rangers vs St. Louis Pregame Thoughts

Rangers (7-5-1) vs St. Louis (8-1-2)

Key Opposing Player: T.J. Oshie (1-9-10)

Lineup:
Dubinsky-Anisimov-Callahan
Avery-Boyle-Prust
Frolov-Christensen-Fedotenko
Boogaard-Stepan-Grachev

Staal - Rozsival
Del Zotto - Girardi
Eminger-Sauer

Biron
Lundqvist

Tonight's Goalie

In addition to the roster news I just posted Steve Zipay was the first to report that Martin Biron was the first goalie off the ice from the skate which typically means he will be tonight's starter.  I figured that he would get at least one game in this homestand, somewhat surprised it is tonight with as hot as St. Louis is and not say Buffalo on Thursday but Tortorella did show last year he likes to play his backup against Western Conference teams.  Also Henrik has played the last five straight and this will give Hank a nice 3 day break before getting back in their vs the Capitals on Tuesday night.

Morning Skate News: Gaborik Coming, Cally Back

According to Andrew Gross (just the first to report it) the news out of the morning skate in preparation for tonight’s game with the Blues is that both Marian Gaborik and Ryan Callahan are participating.  That Gaborik is there is not a huge surprise as he has been at each of the last three morning skates.  Callahan’s presence also is not a big surprise as the expectation since Friday is that he would play tonight, but always good to have one of your leaders looking like he is getting healthy and playing tonight.

Poll: Clarkson Punishment

Earlier I said that the next up in the card game of punishment would be David Clarkson for his boarding penalty on Brian Boyle. There is no real rush to hand down a sentence since the Devils have a few days off, but let us speculate on what it might be. The poll question is what he will get from league. If you think what he will get and what he should get differ vote and then tell me your thoughts in the comments.