The New York Rangers finally decided to end the domination
the Flyers have had over them this season in a massive 7-0 win. The win is a
huge mental hurdle cleared and a statement to the rest of the Eastern
Conference. The game was probably the most complete performance of the season. Leading
the way for New York was Ryan Callahan with his career high four goal game.
Callahan scored both Rangers goals in the opening period, one in the second and
capped his afternoon with one more in the third. The four goal output gave him
20 on the season. Hopefully the Rangers
build on this as they head to California for two this week.
Callahan set the tone from the outset scoring just 51
seconds into the game as he tipped a Brandon Dubinsky wraparound past Rangers nemesis
Brian Boucher. Getting the second goal
was not a problem in this one as Callahan made it two nothing with a power play
tally late in the first.
Just 55 seconds into the second was the all too predictable
fight between Mike Richards and Brandon Dubinsky. Dubinsky beat down Richards during the fight
in which Richards as usual did not take his helmet with the visor off, but it
was beaten off him.
The Rangers would keep the pedal down early in the second when
it appeared Sean Avery made it 3-0, but after review it was decided that Avery
kicked the puck in and the goal was disallowed.
The response in the Garden was pretty clear that it was simply
disallowed for Avery being the one involved.
If I was coaching the Flyers this would have been the point I pulled
Boucher as he was shaky the whole afternoon, but thankfully for the Rangers
they left him in and the goals kept flowing.
The newest Flyer Kris Versteeg showed he is adjusting to the
Flyer way very quickly as he decided to play slash hockey wit Marian Gaborik,
and Gaborik responded. Versteeg then
threw a punch and there was a lot of wrestling that ensued. I like that Gaborik defended himself from the
slash, but whenever it results in punches to his recently concussed head that
leads to worry.
Mats Zuccarello got in on the action 5:06 into the period
while on a 2-on-1 with Ruslan Fedotenko as he took the shot from the off wing
and beat Boucher far side with a beautiful shot. Converting on odd-man rushes has been a huge
problem for the Rangers, as aside from Brian Boyle we are far too pass happy on
those chances.
Ryan Callahan decided he wanted some hats to protect him
from the rain outside and he got them 6:28 into the second when he stole the
puck from Kris Versteeg and was wide open in the slot and fired top corner on
Boucher. Dubinsky in his typical fashion
decided to grab the puck for his boy Callahan to make sure he could have it for
a keepsake. This was the final straw as
Laviolette finally pulled Boucher with the Rangers up 4-0.
Three was not enough for Callahan as he added a fourth early
in the third when he a tap in power play goal off a beautiful feed from Matt
Gilroy. Artem Anisimov added the Rangers
sixth tally with just over five minutes remaining with a beauty on the
breakaway and Mats Zuccarello added his second of the game to make it 7-0 and
end the game.
- The entire Dubinsky, Anisimov, Callahan was phenomenal in this game and Dubinsky is getting close to putting the goal drought to an end.
- Henrik made at least four dazzlers on the day to secure his ninth shutout.
