NHL

At Last!

So, fourth time’s the charm for these Rangers against the Islanders. Four goals scored by a team whose offense has been the biggest disappointment of the season, with the last goal coming from a great effort by Brandon Dubinsky. The kid deserves to be up and his play is the justification; he’s the best fit the Rangers have found for Jaromir Jagr.

4-2 was the final at the Garden, a low-shooting affair where Henrik Lundqvist was the lesser tested goalie, but he turned away everything he needed to and got plenty of offensive support to make up for the two Islander goals. The team seems to have gotten the message: they shot the puck. Jagr shot it and scored. Scott Gomez shot it and scored. Marty Straka hit the post. There were chances abound because the Blueshirts played with the mentality to put the puck on net. They were reportedly drilling on rebounds during practice, with the plan of peppering Rick DiPietro down low to created second and third chances. One such chance was Daniel Girardi’s low wrister from the point that Chris Drury snuck home on the rebound.

It’s a great result, but this game wasn’t without fault; the Rangers’ first power play was a pathetic joke and didn’t bode well of things to come … but the surprise was pleasant, and few games will have perfect execution in every facet.

The Rangers came to play and did everything needed to shut down the Isles and take the two points. They adapted to lob soft dumps into the corner, avoiding DiPietro’s propensity for long clears, and it was a pleasant sight.

Tonight we saw a team capable of both adapting to suit the situation and able to execute a style of play that promoted their strengths and yielded results. There were defensive lapses, and they again showed that they’re vulnerable during the man-advantage of opposing skaters forcing the play at the point and causing a short-handed opportunity. It’s a point that needs to, and hopefully will be, addressed.

Great play by Jason Strudwick at the end to protect the puck at the end boards then push it up the ice to start the Dubinsky scoring play. Paul Mara went down late and looked to be injured, so here’s hoping it’s nothing major. With Sean Avery out, it’s good to have Ryan Callahan back; his scrappy play was sorely missed and his determination shone on a late clearing attempt. Marek Malik is fit to play but was a healthy scratch … the Ranger defense has proven they don’t need him. It’ll be interesting to see if and when he returns to the ice and whose place he takes.

All told, though, it was a hugely satisfying result to a game needed to salvage — and build upon — what pride remained after the first three meetings.