JET SCREAM: Brandon Prust gets cheeky with the Jets’ Tanner Glass during a first-period fight in the Rangers’ 2-1 triumph last night in Winnipeg. The Rangers will finally play their home opener Thursday at the Garden. (AP)
WINNIPEG, Manitoba — While going through customs on their way home to New York, the Rangers presumably did not forget to declare the smoke and mirrors they carried with them through this four-game tour through western Canada.
Oh, and the six points they stole, uh, earned, as well.
For though outplayed through wide swatches of each game, including last night’s match in which they were pinned in their own end for much of the match and nearly all of the third period — when they were out-attempted in shots 27-11 — the Rangers rode Martin Biron’s goaltending to a 2-1 victory over the Jets to go 3-1 on this final leg of an exhausting opening trek.
“We know there are a lot of things that we need to work on, but at the same time it’s been an extremely long month with the trip to Europe and then this one, so we’ll gladly take the 3-1 [record],” said Ryan Callahan, who scored the power-play game-winner at 8:41 of the third when what was meant to be a pass from the right wing banked in off the skate of Winnipeg defenseman Zach Bogosian.
“Honestly, we’re all looking forward to finally getting to spend some time at home.”
The Rangers will open a six-game homestand Thursday night against the Maple Leafs at the remodeled Garden with a 3-2-2 record fashioned largely on the backs of goaltenders Henrik Lundqvist and Biron, who got his first start since last Feb. 7.
Biron may not wear the crown but he was sure wearing the Broadway Hat after a 27-save performance during which he was aggressive and poised throughout as his club scrambled in front of him.
“The key to my game is not to be overly aggressive, to challenge at the top of the [crease] and make myself look big,” said Biron, knocked out of action last year when he sustained a broken collarbone during a Feb. 28 practice. “There were a couple of tough saves I had to make early that gave me a lot of confidence moving forward.”
Speaking of moving forward(s), coach John Tortorella broke up every single line combination by the start of the third period during which Marian Gaborik got only 3:03 of ice while Brandon Dubinsky and Derek Stepan both moved from the wing to the middle, Brian Boyle shifted to the flank and Artem Anisimov was demoted to the fourth line.
“We’re used to it, but it’s not like [Tortorella] switched everything up when we were going well,” said Callahan. “Let’s face it.”
If there is a positive beyond the victory, it’s that the Rangers appeared comfortable and did not lose their defensive zone presence during the third period, when they blocked nine shots.
“It’s a matter of keeping it to the outside and not allowing passes to be made through the seams,” said Dan Girardi, who played 9:47 in the third and 25:40 overall. “We stuck with it no matter how long we were back there.”
It only seemed as if they were back there as long as they’ve been on the road.
Late last week, the Rangers made a contract offer to 25-year-old free- agent defenseman Anton Stralman, who did not get an offer from the Devils after attending training camp with New Jersey.
Stralman, who has options in Europe, would provide an immediate third-pair upgrade over the less mobile Jeff Woywitka, but is not perceived as the solution to the problem created by Marc Staal’s absence.