Paging the Rangers

November 22, 2008   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

Apparently, the Rangers forgot to set their alarm clocks for 3 PM in Ottawa. Now, we all know this team never shows up early but this listless performance coming three days after that pathetic display against Vancouver is inexcusable.

They sure have settled the score with Jarkko Ruutu with Paul Mara taking a bad penalty leading to a power play goal scored by Jason Spezza. Nice to see wa$te of space Michal Rozsival not even try allowing Heatley to get by him and Chris Drury on the play.

Even worse, the Sens got the first 13 shots on Stephen Valiquette, who bailed his flat team out giving them a chance to awaken from their afternoon nap. He couldn’t be faulted for Jesse Winchester’s second goal coming on a break in which Wade Redden got beat by his former team.

What’s troublesome is how dead this team looks today after a couple of days off from that rout. And instead, they fail to show. I don’t care if the team comes back. Their play is getting worse and it’s growing evident how much they miss Scott Gomez. Injuries are part of the game. They aren’t scoring much but to mail it in can’t be tolerated.

They’ve also played very undisciplined today taking three straight minor penalties to set the tone and haven’t recovered. There was one brief spurt late in the first where they got a couple of good chances with Nigel Dawes getting the best one with a rebound on the doorstep which would’ve resulted in a goal if not for the solid backcheck of Shean Donovan.

So, who has showed today aside from Valiquette and Dawes? The fourth line where Colton Orr caught Chris Phillips with a clean shoulder against the glass late in the second to try to inject some life. How did the team respond? By allowing Winchester to break out and score.

Has anyone seen Nikolai Zherdev lately??? His play has gotten so bad, I’d consider healthy scratching him and reinserting Christmas ornament Petr Prucha. Yes. Remember him?

I’m also not pleased with Brandon Dubinsky’s play. He’s been getting caught out of position taking lazy penalties and turning over the puck. He’s a much better player than that and needs a wakeup call.

I’ve liked Lauri Korpikoski’s work ethic at least. That’s about it.

If they don’t snap out of it soon, teams are going to pass them in the standings and their gap is going to be gone. The Bruins with a win tonight will probably be first in the conference.

The Pens lost today to Vancouver 3-1 but it’s worth noting that Vezina frontrunner Roberto Luongo left very early with an injury being helped off the ice. I’ll try to update later.

I’m going to go force myself to watch the third.

Edit: I also see Daniel Alfredsson scored unassisted with 45 seconds left in the second. Must’ve been another great folly.

Cancel watching the third. I think I’ll go for a ride instead and get some fresh air.