Vally and Lisin in versus Renney tonight

November 5, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

In about two hours, the Rangers visit former coach Tom Renney in Edmonton. Well, they’re already there but faceoff’s 9:3o here in NYC on MSG.

As you already know, Renney is the assistant to Pat Quinn for the run and gun Oilers that feature power forward Dustin Penner and speedster Ales Hemsky. They’re coming off a dreadful road trip that included being blanked in Beantown and just one goal in a loss to the Islanders Monday. So, they should be in a pissy mood when the puck drops.

With Edmonton missing a few regulars due to the flu epidemic, one would assume the Rangers might have an edge. Especially because they were already out there having lost to Vancouver in the wild and wacky third that featured a 17-player melee along with broken glass left on the ice and sheer stupidity by now suspended Canuck D Shane O’Brien (1-game) butt ending Sean Avery with Ray Ferraro ducking and covering between benches. Rookie Dane Byers also is out tonight after a premidated late scrap which also cost him and Tort plenty of cash.

But the way this team’s played since a strong start, who the heck knows what to expect? They have stunk. Outside of a virtuoso performance over a shorthanded B’s club, the Rangers are lost right now skating without a purpose. There’s little flow to their game with off passing and no team speed like we saw early on. Sound eerily familiar?

What’s disheartening is that this team does have more talent than last year’s and plays a much higher tempo. But even with Marian Gaborik, they’ve scored only five times in the last four. Granted. He missed a pair. But c’mon! So many teams are missing key pieces and aren’t using it as a copout. The Devils keep losing players and have an AHL D and still are shutting down teams. It’s time for these guys to get their collective heads out of their asses!

Finally, Henrik Lundqvist gets the night off as Steve Valiquette gets to face his former team. Can he and Enver Lisin’s return provide a spark? Or will it be the same old, same old from a team that makes you throw your hands in the air?