The New York Rangers opened their home schedule with a 4-2
loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The New
York Rangers came out flying in their first home period of the season, but they
seemingly left that team in the new locker rooms for the other two periods on
the night. In the first period the
Rangers were doing everything they had been criticized for not doing on the
road to start the season. They attacked
the net, shot the puck, and established a forecheck. Unfortunately the result was only a 1-0 lead
when all was the period was over. Even
more unfortunate was that they went back to not doing any of those things for
the rest of the night.
The Rangers were dominated in the second period, but only
Mike Lombardi scored a soft goal short side on Lundqvist. Lundqvist was not sharp overall tonight, but
he stoned Phil Kessel twice on breakaways and covered for more defensive lapses
by Michael Del Zotto. Lundqvist had some
help from Michael Sauer in that department.
Sauer saved a sure goal with just over 6 minutes left in the second
period after Michael Del Zotto gave the puck away in the corner and the Leafs
had Lundqvist out of the net before Sauer slid across the crease to rob
Grabovski.
The Rangers did not appreciate how lucky they were to be
tied heading into the final period, and played a similar period. Joffrey Lupul won a battle in front and
chipped one behind Lundqvist just 2:11 into the third period. Mike Komisarek stole the puck from Artem
Anisimov at the blue line sending Clark MacArthur the other way and he beat
Lundqvist far post to make it 3-1 Leafs.
Mike Brown beat Lundqvist for a 4-1 lead with just over six minutes left
on another one Lundqvist would say he should stop.
Michael Del Zotto scored a meaningless goal with just over
four minutes to go to cap the scoring.
New York got on the board 6:23 into the game with Dan Girardi getting the goal, but Marian Gaborik deserving full credit. Gaborik made a phenomenal drive to the net the forced Gustavsson down and out of position before Girardi ended up with the puck in the faceoff circle. Gustavsson certainly should have stopped it.
Just before the mid-way point of the period the Rangers appeared
to get their second of the game when Michael Del Zotto beat Gustavsson far post
with a shot. The goal was waved off when
Ryan Callahan and Mike Komisarek’s battle took them into the goalie. Komisarek definitely appeared to push
Callahan into Gustavsson, but the goal was taken away and no penalty
assessed.
Unfortunately for Callahan it would not be the last time a
goal was waved off because of him on the evening. Just three minutes later an apparent Dubinsky
goal was taken away when Callahan crashed into Gustavsson. Tortorella and the Rangers were going crazy
that they had two apparent goals waved off, but the call on the second was
absolutely right. In fact, Callahan was
lucky not to be called for interference as appeared was going to be the case
initially.
- Lundqvist had an off night overall as he would argue at least three of the goals are ones he would say he should stop
- Brad Richards was awful with his chemistry with any and every other forward out there tonight
- Gaborik showed the jump again tonight, but with how little they are generating it is going to be like 2009-10 where they need him to convert every night.
- Dubinsky now has a reputation with penalties to the point where he is getting called for bogus ones.
- Sauer was excellent in his first game back.
- Del Zotto's defense might actually be regressing, if that is possible. Offensively he showed flashes with one good goal and a disallowed one, but his liability on D is ridiculous at this point.
