Two teams off to fast starts meet at the Gaw-den. It's not just the overall winning streaks at 5 for the Rags and 4 for the Kings. Kings bring a 2 game road winning run to NY to face the Rangers who are undefeated in 3 consecutive home starts.
Perhaps a little surprising is that Kings coach Terry Murray is starting the backup Erik Ersberg tonight. Jon Quick has allowed one goal each to the I slanders in the Kings past 2 games.
Murray told Rich Hammond of LAKings.com, "No, there hasn't been any hesitation on my part," Murray said. "This is something that we planned out before the season started. It's just time to get going.
"I talked to Erik three or four days ago, to let him know that he was in. He's very excited, obviously, to get his first start of the season, playing against a fellow Swede too. It's a good challenge for him. Throughout the training camp and the practices, he's working very hard. I remember, a couple times last year, putting him in when he hadn't played in three or four weeks, and he ended up playing extremely well."
Coach Tortorella might use that for motivation. I know I would make good use of the message board. Something like, "Kings don't respect you. They're starting their backup tonight."
Brandan Dubinsky became the latest Rag I've heard credit conditioning for the fast start. Doobie told Jim Cerney of newyorkrangers.com, “I think (mental toughness) and the conditioning level we’ve brought in this year are two big keys for us,” center Brandon Dubinsky said in trying to explain the Rangers’ hot start. “And everyone is stepping up and making big plays at big times, and Henrik (Lundqvist) is being Henrik. It’s been a collective thing, I guess.”
One thing is certain going into tonight's game, one streak will end and another will continue.
Posted on 10/14 6:10 AM | IP: 75.128.51.39
Definitely excited about tonight. It should be entertaining.
Posted on 10/14 7:13 AM | IP: 65.9.82.239
Wow - no disrespect to these two teams but if you had told me a few weeks back this would be a game for 1st in the NHL I'd have told you that you were nuts.
We'll see if these teams can keep it up long term - like my Blue Jays I seriously doubt the fast starts are for real. They may yet prove me wrong.
Posted on 10/14 9:38 AM | IP: 203.18.176.243
I don't expect either team to finish in the top four of either conferences, maybe even top five, but if they start hot and continue to be this way for another ten games and reach 20 points first before anyone else, then they certainly look promising for a playoff spot.
Posted on 10/14 9:42 AM | IP: 65.9.82.239
Hey Die-hard part of the fun of October is that it gives us a chance to talk about other teams, in good way. Some Kings fans are really livin' large, migrating to the Ducks boards and posting links to the Pacific Division standings, lol.
Posted on 10/14 1:10 PM | IP: 75.128.51.39
Correct me if I'm wrong Thrash - weren't you originally a Kings fan? I'm trying to remember back that far so the mind could be a little bit fuzy.
I fully agree that a good start can get a team to the playoffs - look at the Habs last year. The Rangers could do that this year, so could the Kings. I'd expect the Rags to have a better shot at it - Kings have all kinds of young talent but it will be a couple more seasons before they know how to win, IMHO.
Posted on 10/14 1:28 PM | IP: 203.18.176.243
Well growing up in Southern Ontario Die-hard I was originally a Leafs fan. Became a Kings fan when I moved to SoCal. Moved to the Ducks when I grew tired of Tim Lieweke, better known in these parts as Lie-a-minute.
Parked my heart with the Ducks and was promptly welcomed with a 10 game losing streak.
So yeah, 3 hockey teams and one wife. Maybe I don't have as much fun as some guys but the alimony payments to hockey teams are a lot less ;)
Posted on 10/14 3:09 PM | IP: 75.128.51.39
I bet this thread would have been left to rot if i didn't post now, or upice tomorrow.
Not a great game by the Rangers since the second half they played too much catch up hockey, but they scored on their chances and Prospal would have netted a hat trick had Gaborik not been too nice in attempting a pass for the empty netter.
Still, Rangers had a strong start and go on to win their sixth in a row, tied with the Penguins.
Kings really played a solid game though. Their defense can make costly mistakes, but i love the style that they play by pushing up their D.
And yeah, Ryan Smyth is back! Glad to see him do well.
Posted on 10/14 8:49 PM | IP: 65.9.82.239
You are right Roni, when the Rangers are winning I can't possibly let this thread go.....4-1 !!!!
Thrash where are the Ducks?
Posted on 10/17 7:01 PM | IP: 66.25.43.67
Rangers played too weak, but their talent simply outmatched the Leafs. Toronto just has no offense what so ever. Lundqvist had to make some really nice saves, but overall, the Leafs are without a doubt heading towards playing the worst season in franchise history.
Obviously goaltending is an issue, and i know Gusty is supposed to be better, but we don't even know yet.
I think what Wilson has to do is just make these guys play an all out defensive system, major trapping. These guys are missing basics, markings, poor positioning, and poor unit work. They are just not working as a unit.
Of course they need to score goals, but this team has the worst defense in the league right now. You have to show your strengths and the make up of the defense is without a doubt talented, strong, and solid overall. The Leafs do not have the offensive talent to score three....four goals just to tie a game. If the defense can limit it to two...at most three goals a game, then it helps thee offense.
I understand Burke and Wilson want to give entertaining hockey, but it's not working and i think Burke does not want to go down in the record books as making a trade of a 1st overall pick, and another first rounder, for Phil Kessel.
And yes, the Leafs need a playmaker for Kessel. Desperate measures may even call for making as desperate a trade as acquiring someone like Nylander.
As for the Rangers. They have been playing too sloppy the past two games, but having offense on all four lines, including d-men, and a lethal PP, does help. And yeah, also having a world class goalie helps.
They are starting to wear out a bit, and so a loss is expected...... it will be a hell of a match up against the Sharks on Monday.
Del Zotto again shows how valuable he is offensively. Gilroy has quieted down a lot, but Torts is definitely making him work on his defense, which was rather quite bad in pre-season.
Bu hey, seven wins in a row...... a 7-1 record to start the season? It is satisfying, but this team needs to really avoid what happened last year when they went like 10-2 and then played .500 hockey the rest of the way. Still, new coach, new core group of players........ hopefully the Rangers can keep it up some more and then cruise their way into the playoffs.
Posted on 10/17 11:12 PM | IP: 74.233.200.114
Valiquette and Lunqvist put the streak to an end by getting whooped by the Sharks (not to take anything away from the Sharks) and getting burned in the neutral zone and transition game by the Devils. Lundvist needs to look at some tape, to me he his reactions to shots looks slow. I forgot Heatley scored another, I'll get an offical count later.
Posted on 10/22 6:36 PM | IP: 66.25.40.5
The Devils game was a tragedy in the neutral zone. Lundqvist made some excellent saves, but Brodeur outplayed him for the second time at the Garden ever since these two started the battle of the goalies. Marty made three wowzing saves that most goalies would have allowed.
Staal needs to be more consistent. He was very bad tonight and he is depended on to be that fort on the D.
Posted on 10/22 10:40 PM | IP: 74.233.134.188
From what I saw Lundqvist couldn't stop the high blocker-side shot, at least 3 0f them maybe more. Rags were up 3-1 4 mins into the second and now the streak is going in reverse. Henric needs to practice, the last 3 games were out of sinc for him and I would start Valiquette next game
This post was edited on 10/24 9:14 PM by upice
Posted on 10/24 8:58 PM | IP: 66.25.43.170
Vali was pretty bad against the Sharks, though.
We have issues in the neutral zone, and way too many penalties. I mean, we dominate a game and then get penalties. It has got to stop. Sure it runs the risk of allowing PP goals, but it just takes out the momentum you build on for most of the game. Habs D couldn't keep up with the Rangers O. It was going to be brutal for them with the momentum the Rangers had. But, a bad penalty, a horrible giveaway........and you put the lead on the line.
Dubi played half a game for it. You just can't make that kind of mistake in the neutral zone. You're not Jagr, for crying out loud, and after sitting out, he should be playing better.
Rangers beat themselves tonight.
Posted on 10/24 11:30 PM | IP: 74.233.202.220
still not letting Lundqvist off the hook.
Posted on 10/26 6:29 PM | IP: 66.25.43.170
Gaborik left the "bench" late in the third with an undisclosed "problem", just a matter of time.
This post was edited on 10/26 7:27 PM by upice
Posted on 10/26 7:19 PM | IP: 66.25.43.170
You don't like Lundqvist that much, do you? lol
Gaborik spoke, and said it was not groin related to his previous injuries, which is a good sign. He didn't seem too concerned either. He will most likely miss some time, but hopefully not more than two weeks.
Posted on 10/26 10:54 PM | IP: 98.77.176.175
I like Lundqvist, but his blocker side is lethargic, I bet the opposition's scouting reports are saying "go high blocker side".
Posted on 10/27 3:10 PM | IP: 66.25.42.23
True, he has his weakness, but every great goalie does.
Want to know Luongo's weakness? Five hole. I think someone need to add heavy metal plates on the paddle of his stick so he can keep it down on the ice to stop a five hole shot. Obviously he stops most of them, but sometimes he lets them in and it drives me nuts. He is not on the Panthers anymore, but it still drives me nuts.
He was in a car accident yesterday afternoon. He is fine, though.
Posted on 10/27 10:06 PM | IP: 98.77.178.137
With your insight Luongo does have a great blocker side, I would rather see a weak 5-hole if I had a choice.
Posted on 10/28 3:58 PM | IP: 66.25.42.23
marion is not dressing for the Isles game and 2 weeks is too-long, Rags can't score without him. Glad I didn't bet, I knew he would get injured and miss some time, he was was just feeding the press that it was minor. Otherwise he would have been in the lineup. Torts was quoted as saying "I don't know how long he will be out of the ineup" which is bull because he is the coach and has to know. So that means the organization knows it will be for a significant length in time, I don't know why they are hiding it.
This post was edited on 10/28 5:03 PM by upice
Posted on 10/28 4:52 PM | IP: 66.25.42.23
with Gabs out and Lundqvist not looking too sharp, the Shirts are on the verge of losing to the Isles with 4 mins remaining, I sure hope the team takes a more urgent approach to the upcoming games.
Posted on 10/28 6:34 PM | IP: 66.25.42.23
It's much easier for a any skater to shoot five hole than high blocker side.
Posted on 10/28 10:28 PM | IP: 74.233.134.141
they still cant score, there has to be more comimng from the other lines. The defense was scoring but only because the forwards were successful deep in the o-zone.
Posted on 11/1 1:13 PM | IP: 66.25.42.23
Yeah, they need to step up more offensively, but at least they went back to the basics that win you games and were flawless in every defensive aspect of the game. The PK was great. I was very pleased with Gilroy's defensive game. Del Zotto is a charm to watch. Redden has been the most reliable veteran d-man so far (huge change from last season).
Anisimov is definitely putting Dubinsky in the hot seat.
It's still such a young season, but i like this team more than last year's. There are just certain players that need to get their scoring. Sooner or later, they will.
Latest Team Rankings
Mobile
