That slogan came out a few years too early I guess. These days, hockey IS different here, different than it has been for a long time. As has been said, in past years this team would have ended up in a five or six game skid after losses like the ones against Washington and Chicago. Instead, they pick right back up, and go out there and beat one of the better teams in the NHL.
Petr Prucha is really emerging as a star. I don't think even the Rodent would have predicted this kind of production out of the young Czech. Glen Sather and Don Maloney said that they wanted to build a core of young players from within, and Prucha and Henrik Lundqvist are a pretty good start. Not to mention the likes of Fedor Tyutin, Dominic Moore, and Maxim Kondratiev.
Mission accomplished so far, and just to top it off, the Rangers are tied with the Ottawa Senators for most points in the NHL. Speaking of which, in the past I would have dreaded upcoming games against teams like the Senators, in sure anticipation of a whooping. Now, I can't wait until they play the Sens on the 26th of December. But I guess that's because hockey is different here these days.
NY Post: The primary difference in the Rangers' glide to a 5-1 victory, in what figures to be the toughest of their three Midwestern stops this week, was that there is only one Jaromir Jagr, and the Rangers have him.
NY Daily News: One night after doing everything but score, the Rangers could do nothing but. One night after throwing away a winnable game with their putrid power play, the Rangers kept a difficult one within their grasp with superb penalty killing and then took control of it at even strength. So, one night after losing to one of the Western Conference's weakest teams, the Rangers beat one of its best, trouncing the Nashville Predators, 5-1, last night.
The Journal News: But as much as the Rangers rely on Jaromir Jagr, they aspire to be more balanced offensively. So beating the Predators 5-1 last night at the Gaylord Entertainment Center via Highways 20 and 25 — two goals apiece from Steve Rucchin and Petr Prucha — was more encouraging than the margin of victory.
NY Newsday: "Nothing has changed for me. I'm still hard-working," said Prucha, 23, who said he expected to score only "five or six" goals this season but has 12. "Jaromir is the best player on this team and other teams know it and cover him. I think nobody can cover him."
NY Times: During the Rangers' current 10-game run, Prucha has scored nine goals, including six in the last four games and two against the Predators on Thursday night. Prucha's 12 goals are second on the team to Jagr's 22. They have combined for 34 of the Rangers' 98 goals this season, 34.7 percent of the team's total.
The aforementioned Rodent gives his take on the game.
Blueshirt Bulletin has some great commentary on the game. They also report that the Newark Star Ledger has dropped its daily beat coverage of the Rangers. It is a shame, because I really enjoyed Colin Stephenson's articles about the team. We wish him luck on his next assignment.
The guys over at NY Sports Day have the usual coverage on the Rangers and your other local sports teams. If you scroll down there is a great article by Joe MacDonald titled "The Legend of Bobby Granger".
Things to keep an eye on:
- Hugh Jessiman returned to action in Charlotte and scored a couple of goals.
- Petr Sykora of the Mighty Ducks was scratched from last night's game, presumably in anticipation of a trade. There have been some chirpings that the Rangers were one of the interested teams, but nothing concrete yet. Not sure what the Rangers would give up, but hey, he is Czech so you never know.
Next game is tomorrow night against the St. Louis Blues. I hope the Rangers do not play down to the level of their opponent, because the Blues really, really stink right now.
Game time is 8:00 pm EST.
HDH
Posted by Jim at December 09, 2005 03:16 PMeMail this entry!
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