Parenteau shoots Rangers past Sens

November 14, 2009   ·   Derek Felix   ·   Jump to comments

Perhaps, it was fitting that P.A. Parenteau shot the Rangers past the Sens this afternoon in Kanata, Ontario. The Hartford recall had a glorious opportunity to end matters in regulation but somehow, missed an empty net. But here he was again sent out by John Tortorella in Round Seven of the club’s first and hopefully last shootout of the season. He didn’t disappoint beating Brian Elliott with a forehand deke upstairs, lifting the Blueshirts to a much needed 2-1 skill competition win.

As much as I loathe the shootout, it helped the Rangers come away with two points in a hard fought road game. Only their fourth win in the last 12 (4-7-1). It wasn’t pretty. But when you’re struggling, that’s usually the case. There were times they did, getting outplayed for large stretches in a penalty infested second. However, they didn’t go away killing off all five Senator power plays, including a crucial four-on-three in the last 1:23 of overtime.

Henrik Lundqvist was outstanding, finishing with 35 saves of which many were quality. Afterwards, he gave the credit to the PK, who’s still missing key contributors Chris Drury and Brandon Dubinsky. In a tight low scoring game like today, your goalie has to be your best player. Henrik was. Even if he got help from teammates, who blocked 20 shots including some huge ones from Ryan Callahan, Marc Staal and Dan Girardi late. As Tortorella noted on MSG’s postgame, the effort level was much better than the forgettable loss to Atlanta.

Still, they got a long way to go. Especially when it comes to staying disciplined, even if the roughing call on Sean Avery was just the latest embarrassment from a hypocritical league that gives its marquee attractions preferential treatment. I think the coach summed it up best to Larry Brooks when he said that the focus on Avery has to end. At least he was better with Tort terming it, ‘A step in the right direction.‘

After a scoreless first in which the teams split 18 shots, Ottawa got on board first when defenseman Brian Lee finished off a four-on-three rush by wristing one stickside on Lundqvist. On the play, both Parenteau and Ales Kotalik got caught deep and didn’t hustle back as ‘mates Marian Gaborik and Vinny Prospal did to negate a similar rush in the first. They wound up getting burned with Lee getting his second from superpest Jarkko Ruutu and Chris Kelly.

Suddenly with momentum during a stretch that saw them have three consecutive power plays  starting late in the first on a Kotalik minor, the Sens were all over the Rangers looking for more. But Lundqvist wouldn’t allow it, stopping Mike Fisher from in tight while getting a piece of a few other tough offerings. It was on the third penalty that momentum changed when the dynamic duo of Gaborik and Prospal connected for a beautiful shorthanded goal, tying it with 9:02 left in the second.

Having already done some solid defensive work in front, Gaborik victimized ex-Isle Chris Campoli, chipping the puck off the boards to himself to start a two-on-one. The Big Ticket then patiently waited before making a sweet dish to Prospal, who cashed his first career shorthanded goal in 894 games. A pleased Prospal would later say that Gaborik being a threat opened up the seam and all he had to do was put it into an open net. Thru 20 games, the two have clicked with Gaborik third overall in scoring with 25 points (13-12-25 in 18 GP) while Prospal is in the top 10 with 21 points (5-16-21). It’s scary to think where this team would be without them.

Thanks to some splendid PK work that included a fourth straight Ottawa man-advantage on a phantom Avery call in which he was incredibly nabbed for roughing when all he did was try to negate an icing, the Rangers were still tied despite being outshot 17-7. The Sens came out strong in the third with at one point leading our guys 31-18 overall. But the Rangers finally tightened up and drew a couple of penalties on the hosts much to the chagrin of Scotiabank Place who apparently felt everything was a penalty on us. However, the Sens easily killed both power plays in the second half, even creating some shorthanded chances. Thankfully, our players hustled back with the best example rookie Mike Del Zotto, diving to get a piece of an Alex Kovalev bid.

Late in the third, finally the Rangers had some unbelievable chances to win it. Thanks to some grunt work from Chris Higgins, who looked fine at center, they came close a few times with Higgins in one sequence hitting a post and having Elliott rob him with a sprawling pad save. Then, came Parenteau’s bid in which Higgins set him up with a vacant net but incredibly, he missed wide. At that point, I remarked to my brother that this team is hexed. It nearly cameback to bite them when Staal, who was miserable most of the day, lost the puck to evil Chris Neil, who Lundqvist thwarted twice just to reach OT.

Though there were only four shots (2-2), the four-on-four was jittery with lots of action. Still, the Sens had the best chance to end it when Kotalik reached out and tripped a Sen, handing them a four-on-three to which Tortorella wisely used a timeout. Afterwards, Callahan, Girardi and Staal responded with yeoman work as each sacrificed with Cally’s block of a Daniel Alfredsson one-timer highlighting the kinda play necessary to turn it around. Staal also had his best moment in the waning seconds getting a piece of Jason Spezza’s shot which he still got off, forcing Lundqvist to make one more tough stop.

The shootout would be unpredictable with Kotalik (glove-side) and Alfredsson (backhand deke 5-hole) trading goals in Round Two. Then Prospal (far wrister) and Spezza (five-hole) did the same forcing extra innings. With Lundqvist later admitting that he was annoyed at himself for letting in Spezza’s, he denied three Sens from winning it before Parenteau beat Elliott with a nice forehand deke top shelf which his parents and either cute sister or girlfriend celebrated. Henrik still had one more shot to stop and did so by denying Milan Michalek’s backhand, then pumping his fist as teammates congratulated him.

All in all, a tad ugly. But it was the kinda character win the team needed moving forward with Alex Ovechkin due back for an MSG tilt Tuesday night. It’s a step at least. We’ll see if they can follow it up against one of the league’s best.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Vinny Prospal, NYR (1st SHG of career in 894 games, game high 7 SOG, 2 hits, blocked shot, 13-11 draws, +1 in 28 shifts-22:59)

2nd Star-Brian Elliott, Ott (27 saves inc.10/10 in 3rd)

1st Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (35 saves incl.16/17 in 2nd)