Rangers put up seven on hapless Leafs

October 13, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

Under John Tortorella, the Rangers are playing at a higher tempo which utilizes their improved speed and skill. That much was evident in a 7-2 dismantling of the lowly Maple Leafs at The Garden, extending to a five-game win streak. The seven-goal outburst was the first time they played seven-up since an April Fool’s 2007 win over you guessed it, the Leafs.

During the impressive stretch, they’ve outscored opponents 22-9 getting at least three-or-better in all five. Such an offensive explosion wasn’t possible last year. Something one of the really good new Rangers Vinny Prospal alluded to when his team erupted for a four goal third, following a flat second that allowed the winless Leafs (0-4-1) to hang around.

“We had a great start to the second period, but then it was like we stopped playing,” the versatile forward said after assisting on two tallies. “After two periods Torts came in and he wasn’t really happy. We responded the right way, took the play back to them, scored the fourth goal right away. It was a lot easier after that.”

The demanding coach had reason to be displeased because his team wasn’t sharp for stretches over the first 40 minutes. Up till that point, they’d taken advantage of a shaky opponent who almost immediately handed the home club a two-man advantage which Ryan Callahan buried for his second from Brandon Dubinsky and Ales Kotalik 2:34 into the contest. When Wade Redden increased to 2-0 by blasting a Prospal pass top shelf past Vesa Toskala less than six minutes later, it looked way too easy. Not just cause Tinman scored but because of how brutal Toronto looked.

Following an entertaining scrap between ex-Ranger enforcer Colton Orr and Donald Brashear with the booing target getting a slight edge, the Leafs finally awoke. They began turning the tide with a better attack down low, also taking advantage of some sloppy Ranger passing. The Rangers also got nabbed for a bench minor, handing Toronto a power play. However, another great individual effort from Callahan nearly resulted in a three-goal lead. The team’s heart and soul played catch with Chris Drury before stripping the puck to get behind for a clean chance on Toskala but the Toronto netminder robbed him with a quick glove.

Toskala’s save gave the Leafs a chance and late in the first, they finally got on the board when Alexei Ponikarovsky rebounded home a John Mitchell shot in traffic, cutting it to 2-1 with 45 seconds left. Ian White added an assist. Dan Girardi restored order by beating Toskala with a quick snapshot off a clean Drury faceoff win 26 ticks into the second. Both Drury and Callahan provided traffic but neither touched it making it two games in a row that Girardi’s scored. He wasn’t done.

“I think we feel pretty good. At the same time we have to respect our opponents (and) make sure we play hard. We have to keep working hard every day in practice. Good things will come with hard work,” Girardi said.

Perhaps that respect dropped a notch with the team playing its second in two nights going into a malaise. Suddenly, Toronto began dictating by using their speed and better neutral zone play to test Henrik Lundqvist with 13 second period shots. Following a night off, King Henrik was sharp stopping 27 including a dozen in the stanza.

The Rangers ran into penalty trouble with Christopher Higgins and Marian Gaborik taking consecutive minors. After getting the first one killed, they couldn’t prevent the Leafs from cashing in when old nemesis Jason Blake snuck a sharp angle shot past Lundqvist shortside, slicing it to one with 2:39 left. It was one he should’ve had but Toronto finally got rewarded for their effort. A Blake crosscheck nullified another man-advantage with Toskala robbing Drury of a shorthanded goal with the Ranger captain banging into him.

Whatever was said between periods must’ve been good. Maybe not quite as fun as Tortorella’s timeout that awakened them against the Devils. But the message got through because it was a different team in the third. They owned the Leafs from start to finish outscoring them four-zip. Not uncommon for a well conditioned team that’s now outscored opponents 12-3 in third periods this season.

Sean Avery got the party started when he finished off a chance created by improving rookie Artem Anisimov. With the Leafs scrambling, Anisimov forced a turnover by stripping Mikhail Grabovski. His initial shot was stopped by Toskala but the rebound caromed out to Avery, who roofed a backhand for 4-2 at 1:56. A big momentum turner which Toronto never recovered from.

Less than two minutes later, Gaborik extended his season opening point streak to half a dozen when he stuffed one home for his fifth. The play was made possible by Redden and Prospal, who worked a textbook give-and-go with a more confident Tinman getting a low shot through that created a problem for Toskala. Both Prospal and Gaborik where there but the goalscorer got it, making it 5-2.

“It is a good feeling to know you have guys that can score when the game is really tight. This year we have a lot of guys who can step up and score. We had a couple of goals tonight that were mentally really important. Not only the first line, (we have) three or four lines that can score – it is huge for us,” Lundqvist duly noted.

Trailing by three, Toronto began taking liberties with our goalie running him two or three times including a clear bump by fourth line scrub Jamal Mayers. Somehow, no penalty was called. The last thing this team needs is our franchise goalie injured by a fringe player. That can’t happen.

As for the rest of the period, the Rangers toyed with the Leafs looking like a hockey version of the Globetrotters. Could anyone have pictured this a year later after having to deal with Tom Renney’s bland style which made games about as fun as watching paint dry? Under Tortorella, it’s like night and day. Some of it has to do with Gaborik, whose immense skills are so effortless that he can go stretches without doing anything but then suddenly turn it on like he did when he beat three Leafs, nearly scoring a ridiculous one-handed backhand that would’ve made the highlight reels. During second intermission, Brian Burke admitted that Gaborik scares him. If one of the great masterminds says that, then that’s all you need. The ex-Wild superstar seemed to be holding back a bit. Is the groin an issue? That’s the only question with the Big Ticket.

Speaking of which, Gaborik was in on Girardi’s second of the night. Off some more diligent work done by Anisimov, Girardi blasted a rebound past Toskala for his first NHL career two-goal game. That also gave Anisimov his first two-pointer. The 21 year-old Russian’s looked much better since Avery joined his line. No coincidence that three of his four points have come in the last two wins. If he continues this upswing, the Blueshirts are going to be extremely tough to deal with. The ability is there. If only Enver Lisin wasn’t wearing Marcel Hossa’s old number (81).

With the Rangers up four, the refs finally caught Toronto for goalie interference when Blake ran Lundqvist. Of course, Avery quickly came to his teammate’s aid getting cheers. It was only fitting that he concluded the dominant period with his second by rebounding home a Redden shot. Yes. Tinman had three points! The goal was Avery’s second of the night. In two games, he has three points and was responsible for setting up two Ranger goals Sunday. What a difference he makes when he plays smart hockey.

Finally, it mercifully ended for the Leafs, who remain one of two teams minus a win. The Islanders are the other but have three points and shown a pulse even if they lost again yesterday 2-1 to an improved LA club that visits MSG tomorrow. Toronto will get a chance at revenge Saturday at the ACC. The question is will they have a win. We’ll have a more definitive answer later tonight when the Leafs host the Avs.

While they search for answers, the Rangers certainly aren’t.

Notes: The win versus Toronto snapped a three-game losing skid dating back to last year. … Dating back to last year, Gaborik has a 13-game point streak (12-10-22). … After going scoreless in his first three, Anisimov’s registered points in the last three going 1-3-4. … Eight different Rangers had multi-point games with Redden leading the way with a goal and two helpers. He had only one three-point night last season registering three assists versus Atlanta on Dec.10, 2008. … With two more PPG in six opportunities, the Rangers made it four consecutive games with a power play goal. During a stretch that’s seen them convert 7-of-22 (31.9 percent), they’ve gotten at least two in three. … Rangers blocked 14 shots to Toronto’s nine with Girardi and rookie Matt Gilroy each finishing with three while Luke Schenn and Jeff Finger had two apiece. … Rangers (5-1-0, 10 Pts) host the Kings tomorrow night at 7 ET on MSG before traveling to Toronto for a HNIC rematch.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Artem Anisimov, (2 assists for 1st NHL 2-pt game, 2 SOG, takeaway/blocked shot, +2 in 14 shifts-11:40)

2nd Star-Dan Girardi, (2 goals for 1st career 2-goal game, 4 SOG, 4 hits, 3 blocked shots, takeaway, +2 in 18:47)

1st Star-Wade Redden, (goal, 2 helpers, 3 SOG, +2 in 19:21)