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GAMES PLAYED
10/28: NYR 7 @ PHO 3
10/30: NYR 1 @ LA 4
11/1: NYR 4 @ ANA 3 OT
11/2: NYR 2 @ SJ 1
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GOALTENDING

Henrik Lundqvist: D
He hasn't gotten better since my last report card two weeks ago, unfortunately he's gotten worse. Even though he went 1-1 on the week, both games were poor. The Rangers outmatched a terrible Phoenix team badly and Lundqvist still gave up a few clunkers, and then Monday in LA he was just dreadful. All four goals were questionable. He's getting beaten with a lot of long shots this season, something I've never seen from Henrik before (teams usually beat him high). Don't know what to say. He's lost right now.

Kevin Weekes: A-
Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, here's the hero of the week. From the 3rd period in Anaheim through the game in San Jose, Kevin has been spectacular. He started off rusty in Anaheim, not giving up terrible goals but not making the big save, either, but held the Rangers in there in the 3rd for a comeback win and absolutely stoned the Sharks Thursday night. While not his most dramatic or memorable game as a Ranger (that would be the OT win against Philly last season to put the Rangers in the playoffs, of course) the Sharks game was probably Kevin's best game as a Ranger. The Rangers may have played better defense in San Jose than they have in a while, Weekes was still called on to steal a good four or five shoulda-been-goals. If the Rangers have turned the corner now, Weekes was one of the main catalysts behind it.
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DEFENSE

Darius Kasparaitis: D+
Things are awfully problematic here between Darius and the Rangers. He still hasn't found his game, looking rather slow and not playing physically, so the Rangers demoted him to Hartford on a two-week conditioning stint. Kasparaitis is not very happy about this, to put it mildly. He even questions whether he'll play another game for the Rangers. This after he was already stripped of the assistant captaincy and held out of the lineup during the opening week plus. I can't see this ending well.

Marek Malik: D
While nearly every other Ranger improved their game this week, Malik really hasn't. He played well in San Jose, but otherwise still displays the mobility of a lamppost and seemingly turns the puck over every chance he gets.

Karel Rachunek: B
Made his way back into the lineup after Kasparaitis was demoted and played the final two games on the trip, pulling a +2 for the both. He's looking good again, like he did early in the season. Solid positioning and nice passes.

Michal Roszival: C+
Actually played a great game in San Jose. His shoulder to the chest of a rushing Michalek on Thursday was as good as defensive plays get. Sure, I could talk about how Roszival was far less than great before Thursday, but there's been enough bitching in Rangerland lately.

Fedor Tyutin: B
Really stepping up his game since his dreadful start to the season. He's staying in position and his nasty edge has been more prominent lately.

Aaron Ward: A
The more I watch Ward, the more I appreciate him. More and more every game, in fact. He's been the Rangers best defenseman all season but lately he's really shining. Not to mention, Ward has a very healthy 2 goals and 6 assists with a +7 on the season. That's like ordering a pizza and getting a free case of beer with it.
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FORWARDS

Blair Betts: A-
Outstanding week for Betts. Looks like he's found a 6th gear in his skating, as I've never seen him move as fast as he has at times this week. His end to end split-the-defenseman goal in Anaheim was a work of art. Penalty killing as good as ever.

Matt Cullen: B+
You don't notice him all the time, but Cullen usually ends up making at least one significant play per game. If I asked you how he did this week the common answer would probably be, "Pretty good. Had a goal, I think." That's what I would've said. But he actually had 2 goals, 2 assists and a +3. Sneaky good.

Nigel Dawes: N/A
Only played one game, the Anaheim one, where Nigel went -2 in under 4 minutes of ice time. That looks ugly, but I can't say I noticed whether he had a hand in those two goals against or not. I assume he'll be returned to Hartford soon. No reason to keep him in New York just to sit in the press box.

Adam Hall: B-
I could've sworn he had one goal this week, if not two, but the stats say otherwise. I think one of his goals was attributed to Prucha, if I remember. Regardless, a nice enough week on a rejuvenated 3rd line.

Ryan Hollweg: B-
Played one of the best games of his career against the Sharks. Completely frustrated Jonathan Cheechoo and a few other Sharks into taking several bad penalties. Still no offensive game whatsoever, but if can keep playing like he did on Thursday, that's okay, there's a role there for him.

Marcel Hossa: C+
He really is a rather good penalty killer and defensive hockey player, but I want to see him get on the board somewhat consistently, too. Still no points on the season.

Jaromir Jagr: B+
I don't even know what to think about Jagr. He's still not up to his potential and is being awfully lazy sometimes, yet he's led the league in points since his first game, I think. Put up another six points this week, just like that. What's a struggle for 95% of the NHL is a walk in the park for him. He's slumping... and leading the league in points. Showed signs last game he seems to be coming out of his lethargy, but that's happened previously this season.

Michael Nylander: A-
Nylander is an artist. I don't remember if I've said this before about Nylander but I'll say it again: Best playmaker on the Rangers since Wayne Gretzky. His passing is brilliant. He seems to have 360 degree vision as Michael could've been looking away for 30 seconds when all of a sudden he passes through two pairs of legs to an open man on the other side of the ice. Four points this week, tied for fourth in the league in scoring. Fourth. And it's not like this is all because of Jagr, Nylander is doing it on whatever line he's placed on. More fans need to recognize what a talent we have playing for the Rangers right now.

Colton Orr: C-
Actually played in all four games this week and he... well, you know. He, um... he played. A little. I think.

Petr Prucha: B
Seems to be emerging from his funk now, and this while rumors are swirling the Blackhawks might part with young potential defensive stud Brent Seabrook to land Prucha's scoring talents. A pair of tallies this week, though he needs to start shooting the puck a lot more often (6 in the last 4 games). And for god sake Peter, keep your head up! He's been absolutely drilled about a half dozen times this week. I've never seen one player get hit so hard, so often. At least once per game he's going to go flying. To Prucha's credit he always bounces right back up, but one of these times he's not going to. Renney and co. need to drill Prucha on awareness and keeping your head up before one of these hits takes him out for the year.

Brendan Shanahan: A
He's been playing like these are the playoffs since opening night, and 13 games later has barely taken a shift off. The road trip? Meh. How about 4 goals, 7 points and 25 shots? No big deal. At age 37, he's diving in front of shots stomach first like a 25 year old. In October.

Martin Straka: B+
He has a tendency to play one big game followed by one minor game, but still, Marty is once again having a very good season for the Rangers with 7 goals and 14 points to date. He's the one converting all the fancy Nylander and Jagr passes. Usually backchecks harder than most others. No complaints here.

Jason Ward: C+
He has a lesser role on the 06-07 Rangers than he did last season. Basically he's just a 4th line "sparkplug" and penalty killer now, and his numbers are well off the pace of his 28 points of last season. Can't complain about his play, though, which is why I've always liked Ward. Even under the marginal role he's playing on the team you still notice him just about every night.
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COACHING STAFF: B+

Credit to Renney for not only going with Weekes but coming back with him the next night. Let's see how he plays it from here, though, and if he has Lundqvist start the next half dozen games as soon as Weekes loses. That would be a mistake. Keep alternating goalies until one of them plays themselves out of the rotation. I'm curious to see if Renney succumbs to the MSG fan hivemind and gives them their precious Lundqvist on Sunday against Buffalo even though Weekes most assuredly deserves the start. Also it'll be interesting to see if he continues to hold Ozolinsh off of MSG ice even though he's been playing as well as anyone else on defense short of Ward lately. Basically, does Tom Renney have the stones to play the "proper" lineup tomorrow?
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TEAM: B+

The Phoenix game fooled no one. You'd figure a 7-3 romp would have fans of the struggling Rangers delighted, but everyone saw what they should've seen: The Coyotes were more inept than the Rangers were good. Then they played an absolute bomb of a game in LA from Lundqvist on out, and with a menu of the Ducks and Sharks coming up on back-to-back nights, the panic button was pushed. Then a funny thing happened. They hung in there better than expected against Anaheim, tied the game in the 3rd and won in OT on a patented Jagr bomb on the power play. Then the next night against a fast, aggressive San Jose team they played some of their most solid team-wide defense of the season and Kevin Weekes was masterful.

What are you supposed to think? They're truly turning the corner here, or they just put out a surprising effort for a couple nights? Well, neither yet, obviously. They play the best team in the league on Sunday afternoon whom the Rangers owe a big payback to, but it's the following three games (@FLA, @ATL, @WSH) which are just as important if this team wants to bring themselves back into the upper echelon.
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- Rocha

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