Hockeybird.com: Report Card: NYR 2 @ SJ 2

Report Card: NYR 2 @ SJ 2

Wednesday - November 19, 2003

11/18/03	1	2	3	OT	F
	0	2	0	0	2
	0	0	2	0	2

Goalie	GA/SH	Grade	Comments
Jason Labarbara #69, G	0/0		(DNP)
Jussi Markkanen #40, G	2/33	B+	Didn't have to do anything REALLY spectacular through the first two periods, but there were at least 3 or 4 flurries or shots my man Jussi made some big saves on. Looked very strong. Sharks goal in the 3rd, Markkanen was probably shocked how easily the Shark blew around Messier and made a lunge to cover the bottom of the net while Korolyuk put it up top with a great shot. The next goal, on the PP, not much Jussi could've done about it as the Shark was wide open at the post. Played a sharp game overall. Both goalies did.
Defenseman	Ice Time	Grade	Comments
Brian Leetch #2, LD	24:30	B	As physical and fiesty he's looked since his return. Had a few decent scoring chances jumping into the play, too, though his offensive game is still well behind where it could be.
Greg de Vries #4, RD	24:30	B	Hey, a huge 24:30 on the ice and on for no goals against, I'll take it.
Vladimir Malakhov #23, LD	21:39	B	Pretty mammoth hip check/tackle at the blue line on the Rangers first PP was fun to watch. Nice sliding dive to break up a breakaway in the 3rd. Solid game.
Boris Mironov #29, RD	20:58	C+	Got absolutely drilled by a full-wind slap shot on the 2nd period PK, got up and not only finished his shift but knocked a crease-hanging Shark to the ice. On the Sharks game-tying PP goal, scored at the post Mironov was supposed to be standing at, where was he??
Tom Poti #3, LD	19:38	B-	I'm not entirely positive, but I think this is the first time Poti is playing at his natural left defensive position as a Ranger. It's the first time in a long time, anyway. Not too long after his first few shifts on the left and I typed the above, Poti was switched back to the right side just to annoy me, so never mind. Maybe Sather is trying to confuse the snipers. As far as his game tonight, Poti was more shaky than not, but not terrible, either. Led the defensemen with 3 shots including a very sneaky near goal in OT.
Darius Kasparaitis #6, RD	18:59	C-	Late 3rd Marleau gets a step on Kasparaitis, Darius grabs his arm and yanks him down like he was pulling down a wide reciever. Awful, awful play in a big spot. Had a shaky game.
Forward	Ice Time	Grade	Comments
Bobby Holik #16, C	18:08	B+	See Kovalev's column for a bigger description of Holik's goal. Credit Bobby for hanging around the net and being in position to put that rebound in. It's been mentioned often that Messier is the best player on the team right now. Like hell! It's Holik. He's even gotten Kovalev's game going!
Martin Rucinsky #26, LW	20:30	B	Had a good chance on an open wing in OT, shot it wide! Unlike many of his teammates, though, there's no need for Rucinsky to hang his head, as he was on that approximate half of the team that decided to show up tonight. 4 shots.
Alexei Kovalev #27, RW	20:41	B+	Early 1st, couldn't handle what was likely a breakaway pass on the Sharks blueline from Leetch. 2nd period was going around the right of the net, made a slick cut back for a surprising wraparound on the left side, which left an enormously fat rebound for Holik to poke into the open side. Skated hard and played tough all night. Best game in weeks.
Petr Nedved #93, C	16:51	D-	Completely, entirely lethargic. No mistakes leading towards goals against, but I can't remember him skating hard, making a good pass or forcing a play ALL NIGHT LONG! Had to be one of the least active games I've ever seen Nedved play, and that's not without some major competition. No shots, no nothing. As bad as a player could be without making huge mistakes. There was no need for Petr to show up tonight.
Jan Hlavac #37, LW	15:57	B-	Started off very quietly put picked it up as the game went on with 2 shots in each of the last two periods.
Anson Carter #22, RW	12:25	C-	A nice pass or two early, but really, not much at all from Carter tonight, and was given the reduced ice time that fit his effort. Disappointing.
Mark Messier #11, C	17:38	F	If I have to hear Sam & JD sickeningly gush over Messier one more time tonight I'm going to light my cable box on fire. There must've been five Messier mini-tributes by the end of the 1st period. Then they announce Messier was supposed to be their 1st intermission interview guest and he never showed up! HOO HOO HA HA HA! Serves you guys right, your fawning probably even made Messier want to avoid you! (It was later said they had "technical difficulties", but I'm sticking with my joke.) As far as how Messier played, he was lazy as hell all night, as usual, which makes it FIVE times as annoying because of all the gushing that's been directed his way tonight. 3rd period Korolyuk blows around Messier like his Rascal ran out of batteries! In OT hooked at a Shark, giving them a PP with 1:20 left. What the hell, Mark! If you're gonna suck tonight, might as well suck completely, right? ARGH! There's been nothing more annoying about this team this year than Messier getting a bunch of cheap goals yet playing MISERABLY otherwise (except faceoffs) and getting praised like he's a modern miracle. My first "F" of the season, fully deserved.
Chris Simon #17, LW	13:38	B+	Awesome goal to make it 2-0 Rangers. Took a shot just inside the left circle, crashed the net for a shot on that rebound, kept crashing the net for another shot on THAT rebound and put it in backhanded with his back facing the net! 3 shots and a goal in about 3 seconds! 4 shots total.
Matthew Barnaby #36, RW	13:59	C+	Great play around the 10 min. mark of the 1st, backchecking to break up a 4-on-3. Had a blueline in breakaway early in the 2nd, a Shark got a stick on his arm at the last second but it still looked like Barnaby flubbed it well wide. No shots. Decent game, though.
Jamie Lundmark #21, C	12:48	D	Tough boarding call on Lundmark in the 3rd, the guy turned his back to Lundmark a second before Jamie hit him, 2 minute PP, Sharks tie the game. While he doesn't deserve a beheading for that play, really, the rest of the game Lundmark was completely a non-factor. Later in the 3rd with the score tied at 2, he was DAMN lucky he didn't get called on what was a very obvious kneeing/tripping call at center ice. No shots either, and in near 13 minutes. Bad game.
Dan Lacouture #39, LW	9:38	D+	Just to fill up this typically blank column, I want to mention again how awful I thought Sam & JD were tonight. First they drool over Messier constantly and even worse, when Korolyuk zipped past him they didn't say ONE SINGLE WORD about it! What do you think, we're stupid? Later on they ridiculously stick up for Lundmark on what was a painfully obvious tripping penalty that wasn't called. They also mentioned how good Leetch was looking about, oh, 5 minutes into the game. If all they're going to do is praise and stick up for the players on the team they like, please guys, you're doing your audience a disservice. I usually like Sam & JD, especially compared to the other broadcasters out there, but tonight they were just awful. The "D+" is for Lacouture's uninspiring game, by the way. Sam & JD would get an "F" tonight.
Jed Ortmeyer #41, RW	10:41	B	Nice PK shift in the 2nd with a sliding kick save block of a shot. 2 shots. These are the types of players I'd like to see stick around on the 4th line compared to five-games-off, one-game-on players like Lundmark.

COACHING STAFF:		C	Lines were bascially, if not exactly the same as the last two games. Gave Lundmark and Ortmeyer some PK time. One one hand I like how he generally rewarded the hot players with ice time while the lethargic player's times suffered (except Messier, of course!), I was definitely not happy with his postgame comments where Sather stated he was happy to get a point and to give the Sharks credit. Yeah, great, Glen. I hope you don't wonder why your team has a .500 record.

1st PERIOD:		C	Also known as, "The Period Where Nothing Really Happened". I think someone took a shot at some point, Bobo fell down once and Sather is wearing his camel hair blazer, which seems to be a favorite of his. Shots were 9-6 Sharks, faceoffs 16-4 for the Rangers.
2nd PERIOD:		A-	Hey, it's a period where something really did happen, and it was all for our team, too! Rangers dominated from the opening faceoff right through the end save for one Sharks PP that had some touchy moments. Rangers CRASHED THE NET. Both goals happened because Rangers went to the net and hung around there. Defense was also quite good - no major mistakes at all. Shots 14-8 NYR.
3rd PERIOD:		D-	What a wreck. Just like we've seen MANY times already this season, an excellent period is followed by a complete bomb. Sharks had all the pressure, Rangers were scrambling and taking bad penalties and the Rangers were lucky to get to OT. Shots 14-7 San Jose. Rangers had a few excellent chances in OT, Kovalev and Leetch in particular.
OVERALL:		C-	I do not trust this team anymore. Not for a second. Whatever they had earlier in the season is gone now. For one period at a time they can look as good as they have all season, but that's how it's been going lately - one period great, one period garbage, repeat. All the signs are there of a team that doesn't seem like it's going anywhere. They've only won one of their last seven, they're playing a pretty poor Sharks team that hasn't won on home ice ALL SEASON and they can't hold a 2-0 lead in the 3rd period! That's not a playoff team, especially considering how many points the East are getting the West so far this season. Lindros can't stay healthy, Dunham's groin keeps acting up, Messier is good for a goal against every single night... yeah, I'm not feeling very confident in this team right now.
Scratches:			Joel Bouchard (healthy) Pavel Bure (knee - IR) Mike Dunham (groin) Paul Healey (knee - IR) Eric Lindros (eye - IR) Dale Purinton (healthy) Pascal Rheaume (knee - IR)
created by:			Pete Rocha, © 2003. procha@optonline.net
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Posted by pete at November 19, 2003 01:38 AM
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