The memory of Dan Girardi watching Dan Carcillo rain punches on Marian Gaborik without interceding back in Philadelphia on Jan. 21 is an indelible memory from this season.
It couldn’t have anything to do with a lack of courage — Girardi challenged and fought Mike Richards at the Garden last season on March 17, 2009, after the Flyers’ captain ran Nikolai Zherdev — but more likely with confusion over whether stepping in for Gaborik (and perhaps leaving his team a man short) would have been well received by coach John Tortorella.
That became evident on Wednesday when Tortorella refused to give an unqualified endorsement of Brandon Dubinsky’s decision to retaliate against Jeff Finger after the Toronto defenseman’s dangerous — perhaps legal, but certainly borderline — hit that drove Marian Gaborik into the back wall. The coach instead chose to use the opportunity to deliver a speech decrying the league-wide need to retaliate against clean hits.
Last night, though, Girardi created a new memory for this season. He responded immediately when Scott Hartnell, so brave when he catches an opponent in a vulnerable position, crushed Artem Anisimov against the wall at 11:14 of the third with the Rangers up by the 4-3 score by which they would win.
Trailing the play, Girardi came across and dropped his gloves with Hartnell, who had turned back to confront the onrushing defenseman.
“We came to realize that we’re the only ones who can take care of each other, so we’ve developed a team toughness that’s been contagious and has brought the room closer,” Brandon Dubinsky said. “Guys want to play for each other, whether that means taking a punch, or stepping in, we’re going to be there.
“What Danny G. did, that gave everyone a boost of energy that we could feed off. Honestly, this type of toughness and willingness to be there for one another was lacking before this stretch.”
Later in the third, with 3:38 to go, a scrum developed around Henrik Lundqvist’s net during which Carcillo attempted to grab Gaborik around the net. But Marc Staal wouldn’t allow it, the defenseman instead grabbing Carcillo and guiding him away from No. 10.
“It’s within the team,” Gaborik said. “Danny G. did a great job standing up for Artie. Staalsie and I have a lot of respect for one another, but I know he would do that for anybody. We’re all in this together.
“We didn’t have that for times this year. I don’t know why, but I do know that we’ve been learning something every day, and it shows.”
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Delivering a check against Chris Pronger midway through the second period, Ryan Callahan aggravated the right knee injury that kept him sidelined for four previous games. Callahan, who did not return, is questionable for tomorrow’s finale in Philadelphia. Sean Avery, who has missed the last six games with a right knee injury, will not be able to play tomorrow.
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The Blueshirts were shorthanded twice last night, both times on minors assessed to Aaron Voros. The Rangers killed them both at critical junctures of the game. They killed the first at 0:59 of the first, 19 seconds after Mike Richards opened the scoring for Philadelphia. They killed the second with 6:36 to go and the Blueshirts up 4-3.
“That was a huge penalty kill, down 1-0,” Tortorella said. “If they score there, who knows?”
Blueshirts were 1-for-4 on the power play, with Chris Drury getting the goal at the left porch off a spectacular, spinning, no-look, backhand feed from Erik Christensen that few players in the NHL would dare to attempt, let alone be able to complete.
Honestly, Wayne Gretzky, Adam Oates, Joe Sakic . . .
“I was lucky,” said Christensen, who also had the first assist on Dubinsky’s goal at the right post at 6:58 of the second that came off a nifty centering, near-post feed from Gaborik that left Pronger a spectator in front. “But you know, when you play with people like Gaborik, Dubinsky and Drury, you get the opportunity to make plays like that.”