According to Andrew Gross/Jesse Spector Carcillo was yapping in the pregame skate and Boogaard came over and pushed/bumped him back to his side of the ice to get the night's festivities under way. Just have had this feeling all day there will be a lot of PIM's tonight, but unlike many I would prefer the W and 2 points to just getting revenge on a guy even one as annoying as Carcillo. Now if we can both it's a great night.
Video:
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Link: Sather Chats with ESPN's LeBrun about Homegrown Talent; My Thoughts
For any of you who missed the article by Pierre Lebrun of ESPN this morning check the story out Rangers' homegrown players making mark as it delves into how the "youth movement" or as I prefer to think of it "homegrown movement" has progressed for the Rangers over the past few years and is showing fruit this year, with more stock maturing on the trees to come. There is the obvious talk of Stepan as the rookie for this season and Kreider as a future guy, but it was interesting to see Sather mention some guys that I like to follow and talk about more than most of the mainstream press does in Roman Horak and Carl Hagelin. I agree that both have the potential to be big contributors for the Rangers down the line.
The only real gripe I have with the article is the claim that the Rangers still have a glaring need at center and that there is no number 1 here. I disagree obviously because I believe that Anisimov is a number 1 caliber center and I think he is proving that each game this season. For some you are only a number 1 if you are a big name that is paid like one and sure there are better guys out there than Artem, but that does not mean he is not a number 1 caliber center.
The only real gripe I have with the article is the claim that the Rangers still have a glaring need at center and that there is no number 1 here. I disagree obviously because I believe that Anisimov is a number 1 caliber center and I think he is proving that each game this season. For some you are only a number 1 if you are a big name that is paid like one and sure there are better guys out there than Artem, but that does not mean he is not a number 1 caliber center.
Rangers-Flyers Pregame 11-4
Rangers (6-4-1) at Philadelphia (7-4-1)
Key Opposing Player: Claude Girouix (7-5-12)
Lineup:
Dubinsky-Anisimov-Callahan
Avery-Boyle-Fedetenko
Frolov-Christensen-Prust
Boogaard-Stepan-Grachev
Staal - Rozsival
Del Zotto - Girardi
Eminger-Sauer
Lundqvist
Biron
Chris Drury's Broken Finger; Prospal's Knee
According to Andrew Gross the injury to Chris Drury's finger in his season debut following the training camp injury was not just a break to another part of the same finger, as has been widely reported, but also a re-break in the original spot. Gross adds that there is no timetable for the return of the captain, which is not at all surprising given that this is the second injury to the finger this year. There is no reason to rush Drury back right now as the team is playing solid hockey and the last thing that they would want is a repeat of what just happened in that he rushes back, gets re-injured and misses another 6-8 weeks as opposed to sitting an extra week or so until he was fully ready.
Also according to Andrew Gross Prospal has no timetable for a return and is just going through the course of rehab on the knee both in and out of the pool. I said earlier this year when the injury cropped up in training camp and the surgery to start the year that anything from Vinny this year would be considered gravy for me and I still think that way, so here's to hoping there is a lot of gravy coming.
As long as the Rangers are staying afloat or better as they have since the injuries have all come down I would expect the club to be extra cautious in bringing back any of Drury, Prospal or Gaborik until they are fully sure of their health. It is the right course of action both in the short and long term interest of the club.
Also according to Andrew Gross Prospal has no timetable for a return and is just going through the course of rehab on the knee both in and out of the pool. I said earlier this year when the injury cropped up in training camp and the surgery to start the year that anything from Vinny this year would be considered gravy for me and I still think that way, so here's to hoping there is a lot of gravy coming.
As long as the Rangers are staying afloat or better as they have since the injuries have all come down I would expect the club to be extra cautious in bringing back any of Drury, Prospal or Gaborik until they are fully sure of their health. It is the right course of action both in the short and long term interest of the club.
Drury, Prospal, Gaborik All Travel; Gaborik, Lundqvist on Ice
For the first since their individual injuries all three of Captain Chris Drury, Assistant Captain Vinny Prospal and Star Marian Gaborik have made the trip with the team for a road game. Obviously in terms of geography this was not a huge trip for them to make as it is just a train ride to Philadelphia, but I always think things like these help the club out in the long term as it gives a boost to the guys who are playing and also lets the injured guys feel more part of the team than the isolation a rehab stint can be. The biggest difference in the Rangers so far this season as in most every game they have played as a team looking out for and standing up for one another. That obviously will be tested tonight against a very agitating Flyers squad. Little things like the injured players making trips to road games helps that cause as it continues to build chemistry in the room, which will show itself on the ice.
Poll: Fight Most Want To See Tonight
If Other, please Specify which fight it would be in the comments. thanks.
To get you in the mood Dubinsky vs Richards March 14, 2010:
Boogaard's Chance To Show His Value
For all those including myself who have questioned the signing of Derek Boogaard and the playing him against teams that have no need to have an enforcer in the lineup tonight is one of those games where he has a chance to erase it all. Boogaard has a chance to erase at least some of the scorn and disdain for his obscenely high salary, to show his value in protecting his teammates and to send a message around the league that this team will not be pushed around. After all it is because of a game in Philly last season, January 21st, 2010 when Dan Carcillo fought Marian Gaborik and no Ranger on the ice came to his aide.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The Last Time The Rangers Visited Philly: The Pain of Being a Fan
As a fan there are many bad things that come from rooting for a team in any sport. In hockey other than just injuries the list includes: missing the playoffs; losing to a rival; being beaten by a backup goalie; having stars not show up for critical game. For the Rangers fans in their teams’ last trip to Philly for Game 82 of the season last year all of those things happened. To miss the playoffs is always a bad feeling, to miss it by one point is even worse, to miss it by losing to the Flyers worse yet to miss it by 1 point because you lost a shootout pitting your star goalie against Brian “Water Boy” Boucher is only exponentially compounds the anger and heartbreak.
More Late Injury News: Lundqvist and Gaborik
As I am sure you have read everwhere by now Henrik Lundqvist was hit in the neck by a Brian Boyle shot in practice, was dazed, short of breath momentarily but is now said to be fine and could start tomorrow vs Phi. The one who seemed the most shaken was Boyle because if he had actually seriously injured the King all of NY might have sought to destroy him. This is what happens when you unleash the wrath of the new Brian Boyle, you just cannot ask him to contain his dominance at any point, even practice against his own franchise goaltender.
On the Gaborik front he took another step in his recovery skating again, this time with gear, though still alone. He took shots again and still no timetable on his return. If I was to project one for his return I figure he gets at least a week with some contact and in practice and since he hasnt even started skating with others even without contact yet I say 11/17 vs Boston as the general time I would expect him back.
Personal Note: Sorry for the lack of either updates or timely news the past few days, but as you know yesterday was Election Day and I was in a bunch of places for that and this morning was a recharge the batteries moment. As of now should be back to normal here.
On the Gaborik front he took another step in his recovery skating again, this time with gear, though still alone. He took shots again and still no timetable on his return. If I was to project one for his return I figure he gets at least a week with some contact and in practice and since he hasnt even started skating with others even without contact yet I say 11/17 vs Boston as the general time I would expect him back.
Personal Note: Sorry for the lack of either updates or timely news the past few days, but as you know yesterday was Election Day and I was in a bunch of places for that and this morning was a recharge the batteries moment. As of now should be back to normal here.
Who Should/Would have Taken Cally's Spot Tomorrow
In one of those score one for not having to actually face the decision moments because it appears that Ryan Callahan will be able to play tomorrow after sitting out practice this morning after taking stitches to his ankle, let's look at what could have been. It would have been unlikely that they would have broken up the Avery-Boyle-Fedetenko line because it has been producing and the combination of Avery and Ruslan has been very effective all season virtually regardless of their center. The main options to take the spot on the first line RW probably would have included: Frolov, Prust, White and possibly Grachev or Stepan.
Join me after the jump to take a look at the rationale for and against each of those options.
Join me after the jump to take a look at the rationale for and against each of those options.
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