Zherdev winner makes Avery MSG return success

March 8, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

Sean Avery’s MSG return was a success. Thanks to Nikolai Zherdev’s deciding goal with 6:22 left in a period largely dominated by their opponent, the Rangers made it two-for-two with Avery posting a 4-3 win over the Bruins.

“Obviously the two points feel real good,” the Grate One said following an active second game that included a thump of Milan Lucic during his first shift to cheers along with helping setup Ryan Callahan’s goal that put them up a pair before the Bruins rallied to make things interesting.

“On a personal note, it felt good to be at home and playing for the fans, just hearing them with me at the Garden.”

The support was overwhelming for the popular energizer who played a smart checking game even if the programmed refs tried to spoil the fun with a suspect interference call on Avery which gave Boston a six-on-four with Manny Fernandez pulled late.

But in a period the Bruins awakened outshooting the home club 21-10, the PK got the job done thanks to a yeoman effort from deserving third star Brandon Dubinsky, who sacrificed his body diving to block shots while killing valuable time in the waning seconds preserving the Blueshirt’s third consecutive win.

“It is not like we are still sitting pretty in the standings,” emerging second period power play scorer Scott Gomez pointed out regarding the ongoing tight race that also saw the Pens 4-3 winners via the shootout later on to stay even in points. “Let’s not get carried away, it is just some wins. We will enjoy it, but we have a huge game (Monday), and that is our focus.”

That game will pit the resurgent Rangers versus a hot Carolina team that’s won seven of nine having scored 15 goals in their last two wins since Erik Cole returned. They know they’ll have their work cut out tomorrow night in Raleigh with only a point separating them.

“It’s important that the guys continue to grow in confidence with this, but they also have to understand where we’re at,” John Tortorella noted after his team improved to 3-1-1 since he relieved Tom Renney. “We have to try to do the same things more consistently (Monday).”

For two periods, that wasn’t a problem with the Rangers continuing to play more aggressively taking the play to one of the league’s best. Off a Dubinsky faceoff win, new Ranger Nik Antropov scored his first working a give-and-go with Chris Drury, taking a pass in the high slot wristing home his 22nd top shelf past Fernandez at 3:01. Wade Redden drew a secondary helper.

“It’s a new start for me,” Antropov stated also adding an assist giving him three points in two Ranger wins. “A new team. A great team. New York, it’s just an awesome feeling.”

Boston struck back two minutes later when Chuck Kobasew got behind the D taking a Zdeno Chara outlet before beating Henrik Lundqvist backhand deke for his 15th. In a period that saw the Bruins get away with two penalties on Avery including a dirty Lucic takedown (what a shock) right in front of the stripes, the Rangers got consecutive man-advantages on what else but tacky hooks. The kind the league has brainwashed.

After an ineffective first power play, they caught a break when a Gomez stuff try squeaked through a leaky Fernandez, who stunk all afternoon letting in two other klunkers. With the Rangers up one, an inspired shift from the trio of Avery, Lauri Korpikoski and Ryan Callahan paid off when Avery outworked a Bruin behind the net feeding an open Callahan, whose initial shot handcuffed Fernandez. Looking dazed and confused, the backup spun around trying to hold it but instead foolishly kicked it into his own net allowing Callahan to score his 15th for Avery’s first point in his Second Ranger Act.

What followed next was all too predictable as an enthused Garden crowd loudly cheered when Avery’s name was announced for the assist leading to “Ave—ry, Ave—ry, Ave—ry” chants.

However, there’s a reason Boston leads the NHL with 95 points- one better than Western leaders San Jose and Detroit. They began to turn the tide late in the stanza getting some help from Dan Girardi, who took an undisciplined high sticking double minor with two and a half seconds left.

Though the Rangers nearly scored shorthanded drawing a Kobasew hook evening things up, it was the Bruins suddenly in control during four-on-four. After Lundqvist had stopped Dennis Wideman, Boston eventually got the puck to a wide open Chara, who slapped one home stickside for his 16th cutting it to 3-2 at 2:12. It was definitely one Lundqvist would’ve liked back as nobody screened.

Gaining momentum, the B’s then capitalized on the second end of Girardi’s penalty when Marc Savard dished across for an open Michael Ryder, who buried his 23rd tying it 1:35 later. That definitely took the steam out of the crowd and made me wonder if Boston was really that good that they could basically show for one period dominating every facet.

It was all Bruins with them constantly on the attack with all five players keeping the Rangers pinned in. If not for some timely stops from Lundqvist, who atoned for his one bad goal, there’s little doubt Boston would’ve gone ahead and maybe stolen this game. When Tortorella took over, he called Henrik the best goalie. Goaltending is what won the game because their guy stunk while ours who was shaky throughout fighting rebounds settled down delivering his best stuff with it up for grabs.

Eventually, the Blueshirts snapped out of it thanks to some nice work from Marc Staal, who came from his end driving hard to the net firing wide. While the puck caromed, Fernandez looked like a dolphin on the ice totally out of position as Zherdev followed up his 19th into the open side.

“For whatever reason, I overplayed it and it comes back to bite me,” Fernandez lamented after falling to 0-3-2 since Jan.8. Perhaps, now would be as good a time as any to tell the Bruins to go with Tim Thomas down the stretch. He got them here.

Like Tortorella indicated the other night, you don’t get style points. For the second straight game, his team wasn’t perfect but who is? At the end of the day, they got the job done and now bring a three-game win streak into Carolina with another huge two points up for grabs.

All in all, despite a horrible parking situation no thanks to NBC, it was a fun time had by all and nice to see Avery back where he belongs helping the team win. I’ll take that anyday.

Three Stars:

3rd Star-Marc Staal, NYR (assist, 5 hits, takeaway, block, +1 in 22:10)

2nd Star-Brandon Dubinsky, NYR (5 hits, 3-2 draws in 18:17)

1st Star-Zdeno Chara, Bos (goal, assist, 6 SOG, 4 blocks, 2 hits, +1 in 26:52)

Notes: Zherdev and Gomez have scored in three straight with the latter getting points in eight of the last nine (5-5-10) going plus-seven to turn his season around. Zherdev has points in three straight going 3-2-5 plus-six since being reunited with Gomez. … Avery played 14:29 narrowly missing a goal in the first off a nice rush. He finished with an assist and three hits going plus-one on the day.

… With an assist, Drury has five points (2-3-5) during the three-game win streak. … D Steve Montador satout a second straight due to illness. … D Derek Morris registered his first point as a Ranger assisting on Gomez’ PPG matching his prior power play total for the season much to Larry Brooks’ disappointment. … Despite six shots, C David Krejci was held off the scoresheet for the seventh time in nine games. The Boston center has only two points during that span.

… Lundqvist finished with 36 saves stopping 19 of 21 in a busy third while Fernandez allowed four on 30 shots. … Rangers (34-24-8, 76 Pts) are sixth in the East due to losing the season series to Florida. They visit ninth Carolina (35-27-5, 75 Pts) tomorrow night at 7 on Versus.