The Rangers go into the break off one of their most complete games yet, go into the NHL’s two-day Christmas recess in first-place after wrapping up this week’s four-day, three-game capsule with a bow.
“Our goal was to approach this as a four-day season, if you will,” Brandon Dubinsky said after the Rangers imposed their will on the Flyers 4-2 last night at Madison Square Garden following victories over the Devils in New Jersey on Tuesday and against the Islanders on Broadway on Thursday. “The boys really wanted this one. We really wanted to come out with an effort and go into this break in style.”
The 21-8-4 Rangers are atop the Atlantic, holding one game in hand on the 21-9-4 Flyers, with whom they are deadlocked with 46 points. The Rangers, who have the fewest regulation defeats in the NHL, trail the East-leading 23-9-1 Bruins by just one point.
“Being on top looks good on paper, but we have to work hard every night for what we get,” said Henrik Lundqvist, superb throughout, never more so than when he stopped Jaromir Jagr trying to go five-hole from the doorstep on a three-on-one with the game scoreless at 7:20 of the second. “I think the difference between this team and the ones the last couple of years is that we have a little more talent.
“We’ve got great character combined with skill.”
The Rangers did not simply find the way to win last night, they dictated much of the game, taking the body, working the puck and grinding below the hash marks in playing a tempo game while also giving up very little in their own end.
“I think everyone has been looking forward to this game for a while,” said Michael Del Zotto, who consistently engaged in and won battles through 25:47 of outstanding play in the tight spots and in open ice. “We’re rolling right now.”
The Rangers earned a 2-0 lead on nearly identical plays 5:11 apart through the gut of the second, deflections in front on long wrist shots from the right side by Stu Bickel after forechecking flushed the Flyers into mistakes. Derek Stepan got the first at 10:16 before Ruslan Fedotenko converted at 15:29. When Marian Gaborik buried his sixth in four games on a breakaway for his league-leading 21st goal at 1:48 of the third, the Rangers were in control.
Dubinsky had his most formidable game of the year combining with Brian Boyle and John Mitchell on the Rangers’ most consistently effective line. Anton Stralman punctuated his improved play since moving up to the second pair — becoming Del Zotto’s partner after Steve Eminger went down with a separated shoulder in Phoenix last Saturday — with a perfectly executed hip check that sent Matt Read flying into the boards midway through the first.
“I think in all aspects we had a great game,” Lundqvist said. “We really wanted to go into the break with an effort like this.
“From start to finish, we did everything we were asked for.”
Coach John Tortorella wasn’t exactly the Grinch who stole first place, and he didn’t quite cry “Bah Humbug!” when asked about the standings, but the coach came close even while sending the appropriate message to his team that there are months of heavy lifting ahead.
“I’m happy the way we’re playing and that we’re grabbing points, but first place now really means nothing,” Tortorella said. “They don’t give out playoff bids or anything else on Dec. 23.”