As I lost my bet with Joe McDonald, my New York Hockey Report co-host, I will be positive about the Rangers today. (Well – I will not be throwing a parade for them, but I will be nice).
Basically, the better team won last night. The Rangers won the battles in the corners, were skating better than the Isles, and seemed to be a lot more peppier in their motions that the Islanders, who were playing the 3rd game in 4 nights.
The new acquisitions for the Rangers, Chris Drury and Scott Gomez were involved in the scoring, and looked much more alive in this game, than they have in the past few.
Lundqvist did a nice job tonight, a yeoman’s effort.
That is about it for the pleasantries.
Hollweg should be SHOT. Deliberately going to attack on Martinek’s stitches and trying to make them bleed… Nice. Someday, he is going to get belted worse than Simon’s hit, and you know what, I won’t be surprised or shocked. I do not wish for these things to happen, but he is just an antagonist whose antics are not good for the game of hockey.
Now to the Isles. You could see how they were dragging on the ice. They will not admit to it, but they are a tired bunch. With all of that layoff time, these 3 in 4 game stretches will test a team. Last night – they did not fare well on that test. Comrie finally decided to shoot, and got a goal. He just needs to do that a great deal more often. Guerin is shooting and playing harder. Maybe that shootout goal gave him some impetus to get his act in gear.
Berard did well, in setting up the PP, the rest of the guys need to finish a little more.
I just love the intensity and the passion that Richard Park puts on each and every game.
DP – a little shaky; just leave it at that. IMHO – Dubie MUST start tomorrow. Give Ricky a break, and let him play his childhood team on Monday. We need him fresh, and Dubie needs to see a puck somewhere other than a practice session.
It was inevitable that the Isles had to lose to the Rangers once in a while. I just dont want it to be a habit. I am sure that my friend Margaret (www.myblueshirtheaven.com) will be excited and have an interesting report. Check it out. The Metro Mug standings are as such:
Well – now that we did not beat the Rangers last night – we should not have the Post Ranger Game Withdrawal symptoms…..
Bring on the Thrashers….Â
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Posted under Islanders 07-08
This post was written by Gary Harding on November 30, 2007
