Henrik Lundqvist Named NHL's Third Star of the Week

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During most weeks if a goaltender posts a 2-0-1 record, 0.32 goals-against average, .987 save percentage and two shutouts they would win the National Hockey Leauge’s first star of the week, but unfortunately for Henrik Lundqvist this week he will have to settle for third.  Ryan Miller who had a very similar week to Henrik but won all three of his starts as the Sabres continue their push for the playoffs and Corey Perry had an amazing offensive week for the Ducks.

Lundqvist play last week was critical to propelling the Rangers considering the offense only mustered three goals in the three games and yet still managed to get five critical points in the playoff race that not only has them much more comfortably inside, but now looking ahead in the standings.  The two shutouts brought Lundqvist season total up to a career-high eleven on the season and his primed to carry this team into the playoffs as a darkhorse to be reckoned with by whomever they draw.

Rangers To Open Season In Stockholm, Berlin or Helsinki?

For some time it has been presumed that the Rangers would open the 2011-12 season in Europe as they have been one of the originally six teams slated to go.  Last week it was reported that the idea of Russia had been taken off the table with the breakdown in negotiations between the NHL and KHL over the terms of the agreement.

According to Pierre LeBrun at ESPN.com the Rangers are still likely to go overseas, but now the most likely destinations will be Stockholm, Helsinki or Berlin.  Making the trip to Europe has always made sense for the Rangers in terms of opening next season due to the renovations that are being done at Madison Square Garden that will leave home ice unavailable throughout the preseason and likely the end of October. 

For obvious reasons I am sure both Henrik Lundqvist and Rangers’ fans would prefer the season start in Stockholm.  The other teams in the now four team discussions for the start of the year in Europe are Buffalo, Los Angeles. Anaheim.

Is Sending Zuccarello Back to AHL Might Be Best Move For Him Long Term?

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One of the most important things for a young player is simply getting on the ice.  For the New York Rangers Mats Zuccarello has played very well in spurts since being called up in December, but recently he has been buried on the fourth line and yesterday he was a healthy scratch against the Bruins.  With the team on its playoff push his role has been diminished and he is not seeing the type of ice time you would like to see him get to continue his development. 

With the combination of the shortening of the rotation and the relative ineffectiveness of the line Zuccarello has seen his ice time over the last six games, prior to his scratch, peak at 12:37 while being under 8 minutes on two occasions.  The question becomes, is it better for Zuccarello to go down to the AHL and play in a top line role with huge minutes or stay with the Rangers in his current role?

There is certainly something to be said for playing at the NHL level and getting the experience of a playoff push and the playoffs up here, but there is more to be said for his ability to help the Rangers in the future if he goes down and gains the playing time and confidence of a playoff run as a key contributor for the Whale.  This suggestion is not a slight on Zuccarello and his ability to contribute at this level.  In fact it is intended in the opposite way as I want to see him be able to be the impact player his talent will afford him to be and the best way to do that is to play. 

When you are a skill play and a playmaking type player you need ice time to really get into the flow of the game and produce, but instead Zuccarello is buried on the lower lines with quality players, but without the chance to be on the ice.  The Rangers system has become roll four lines for the first two periods, then take the three players coach John Tortorella feels he is not getting production from that day and use them sparingly if at all in the third.  Typically this has led to the Rangers not using the rookies and Wojtek Wolski/Sean Avery in big situations during the third as they either seek to protect a lead or look for a crucial goal to get back in the game.

If Tortorella is not going to trust and turn to Zuccarello in spots to produce, the best move is to let him go down and continue to work on his game, specifically his finishing, in the midst the AHL playoff race.

Four Game Road Trip, Starting Today, Will Determine Rangers Fate This Season

The New York Rangers have played very well over the past few weeks and even when they haven’t are finding ways to get points.  They currently sit in seventh place with 85 points which puts them five clear of ninth place Carolina and only four behind fifth place Tampa Bay.  With those parameters these last seven games can send New York in either direction and a key determinant of what does finally happen will be this critical four game road trip the Rangers begin today in Boston.

Coming off a bad shootout loss to Ottawa the team will be hungry for not only a better outcome, but a better effort than they put forth on Thursday night.  The Bruins have been very Jekyll and Hyde of late either being very hot or extremely cold, but they are coming off a 7-0 win against the Canadiens.  Today’s game could be a playoff preview if the teams end up as the respective third and sixth seeds in the East.

Wednesday the Rangers will take on Buffalo at their place is what will likely be a crucial game for both in terms of being in and the positioning in the standings.  Buffalo owns the regulation/wins tiebreakers over New York at the moment and could win the season series with a win on Sunday.  The consensus amongst many of the fans is that the Rangers need to avoid Philly in the first round and Wednesday’s game in particular could be a key factor in that.

After playing in Buffalo Wednesday the Rangers will have to go Long Island on Thursday to take on the Islanders in what is never an easy late season game.  The Islanders will have nothing to play for and beating the Rangers and costing them either positioning or a playoff spot is the one thing they have left to get out of this season.  The Rangers have played well against them this year in terms of results but that is a two point game they have to be circling as a must on the calendar.

The trip wraps up next Sunday in Philadelphia against the Flyers who will be looking to exact revenge for the Rangers 7-0 beat down in the Garden at the beginning of this month.  Up until that game on March 6 the Flyers had New York’s number and they will be looking to get it again psychologically heading into a potential meeting in the playoffs.

The Rangers have played extremely well to control their own destiny to get into the playoffs and have chances to move up in the seedings, but much of what comes out in the end will be determined by how these four road games turn out.

Blueshirt Banter Viewing Party Tomorrow 11 AM

For those of you who live under a rock and are unaware tomorrow at the Molly Wee in New York City is the 2nd Blueshirt Banter Viewing Party.  The day begins at 11 and who knows when it will end.  Starting at 1130 will be a live Blueshirt Banter Radio, and then at 1 PM, there will be Bruins vs Rangers hockey.

The Molly Wee is located at 402 8th Avenue (between 30th & 31st Street) For more information, check out the Facebook Event Page. 

According to great Mr. Jim Schmiedeberg: ALL AGES WILL BE ADMITTED.  
 
It's going to be a great day, drinking, eating, hanging out with your Blueshirt Banter friends and watching the Rangers.  Bring one and all and of course Lets go Rangers.

Rangers Need Agitating Sean Avery Back Starting Tomorrow Vs Bruins.

For the past three games Sean Avery has been scratched from the New York Rangers lineup, but I would expect that to change tomorrow against the Boston Bruins.  The team has lacked energy and fire the last two games which combined with the fact that Boston is a very physical/tough team I would expect coach John Torotorella to go back to Avery for this tilt in Beantown.  The key for Avery will be to get back to agitating ways that have made him so effective in the past, but do so while staying on the right side of line in terms of penalties.  A pestering Avery could be a tremendous weapon for the Rangers not only tomorrow but in the playoffs and if he can gain the trust of the coaching staff to play straddling the line how he used to and not cross it the Rangers will be even more dangerous.  

It is an open question who would come out of the lineup as there are a few guys who are really struggling at the moment, but the odds on favorite would have to be Wojtek Wolski, but I would not count out a move to sit Mats Zuccarello for a game.