Penalties, penalties, penalties. That was the story last night, and luckily for the Rangers, they were able to kill them all off. Thanks to another spectacular game from Henrik Lundqvist and some of the most energetic penalty killing players in the NHL, the Rangers managed to hold on to beat the Isles 3-1.
Once again, Henrik showed MSG why he was the MVP of the Swedish league last year. He made 31 saves and kept the Blueshirts in the game while Jaromir Jagr helped to set up the first two Ranger goals. Blair Betts added an empty netter to cap off the victory.
Of course, the news writers focus on the penalties, those who took them and those who killed them.
NY Post: Larry Brooks likes his blue collar Blueshirts.
NY Daily News: Lundqvist is as good an all-around goaltender as any at the moment. Just seven games into his NHL career, the 23-year-old is 4-1 in regulation with an overtime loss and a shootout loss. Lundqvist's 1.55 goals-against average and .947 save percentage both rank second in the league. He stopped 31 of 32 shots last night, outdueling Rick DiPietro (30 saves).
NY Times: "So far I feel like the game fits me pretty well," Lundqvist said. "I like to battle. I like the close play, the play around the net. I'm pretty fast sideways. Back in Sweden, of course, you have a lot of shots, but not in the same way. It's more intense here. And I like it."
The Journal News: Andrew Gross thinks the Rangers were lucky to come away with the win last night.
The Star Ledger: Their confidence was no doubt aided by the fact they had a goaltender who was at the top of his game. Henrik Lundqvist, who started the season as the backup to Kevin Weekes but looks like the dominant No. 1 the Rangers haven't had since Mike Richter, stopped 31 shots.
NY Newsday: The penalty-killers, blocking numerous shots and supported by an exceptional third period from goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, made the difference as the Rangers hung on to edge the visiting Islanders, 3-1, at Madison Square Garden.
NY Newsday: Steve Zipay gives a little info on the debuts of Fedor Fedorov and Jeff Taffe.
NY Newsday again: Wallace Matthews talks to Don Maloney about the decision to rebuild: "There was a conscious organizational decision made about a month before the trade deadline [of the 2003-2004 season] that this just wasn't working anymore," said Don Maloney, the Rangers' assistant GM. "You look up at the board in the summertime and you see all the great names and great players, and you say how could this team not have success. And then we'd have another bad season. Finally, it just got to the point where enough is enough, you know?"
The Rodent gives his unique perspective of the game.
Next up for the Rangers are the Montreal Canadiens. The Habs currently sit atop the Eastern Conference. Believe it or not, the Rangers have the chance to overtake them. First place baby.
HDH
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