New York Rangers Stats and News

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

New York Rangers Season Extra Stats

Games Played: 79

Power Play:
PP for -- 378
PPG for -- 71
PCT = 18.8

Penalty Kill:
PP against -- 360
PPG agst -- 49
PCT = 86.4

Penalty Minutes:
PIM -- 914
PIM/G -- 11.6

Short Handed Goals:
SHG for -- 4
SHG agst -- 4

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

October was a tale of two months for the Rangers. An 0-4 start with 17 goals against had hearts and feet dragging in the Garden. Undisciplined play led to a slew of opposition power plays: 36 over the span, an average of 9 per game. Eight times the enemy scored with the man advantage, for a horrifying 77% penalty kill. Given that three of those losses were by a single goal, it's safe to say the lack of effort killing penalties likely cost the team some valuable points come playoff time.

The rest of the month was a different story. Smarting from the profane rantings of Coach Tortorella, the team went on a seven-game winning streak, and finished October by winning nine of their last ten. The penalty kill turned things around, killing off 34 of 37 manpower deficits. And after giving up 17 goals in the first four games, the team gave up 17 goals over the next ten outings -- a difference of two-and-a-half goals per game.

So what's made the difference? Our sources disagree, citing numerous possibilities: Coach Tort's change from acid-tongue barbarities to Shakespearean soliloquies; Sean Avery quitting his day job at Vogue; the voodoo hexes laid on the visiting team's locker room; or maybe the cases of Colt 45 delivered to the team hotel after every win. Whatever the reason, here's hoping the run continues, and we don't see Donald Brashear near the lineup again.

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

The good feelings engendered by a strong October were shattered mercilessly by a brutal November. The fact that no one died (at least on the ice) is the best thing you can say about the past four weeks in Rags-land. Thirteen games yielded just two wins, along with six overtime/shootout losses. With the "loser points" now given in the NHL, at least the Blueshirts managed ten points during the month, and are still in playoff contention. Only now they sit on the outside looking in.Still, it's early in the season, and the team's fortunes could change again. December brings thirteen games, seven of them at home.

There were few bright spots in November. Henrik Lundqvist continues to play well, but apparently needs to get a better witch doctor to win a few overtime contests. The defense is still a solid unit, despite a sudden scoring drought from the point. And Artem Anisimov was recalled from Hartford late in the month in the hopes of sparking some offense, and has played well. Some line adjustments and a few hellish practices from coach Torterella could make for positive changes.

If not, look for things to change in the Big Apple by Christmas, or at least MLK day. "We've been in contact with several teams recently," said GM Pat Webber, "and we'll certainly pull the trigger if a deal is right for us." Rumors continue to swirl that some of the young regulars on the blueline are being actively shopped, but Webber would not confirm anything. The team did add forwards Wayne Primeau and Antti Laaksonen in November, in order to tighten up the defensive effort from the front lines. But those additions did not address the team's lack of offensive punch, which was the main source of frustration during the month.

Still, hope springs eternal in Gotham, and GM Webber remains outwardly unfazed. "When we were winning, the games were close. Most of our losses have been close. Change a few of those results, and we're in the upper echelon of our conference. It's a long season, and a few good bounces in December could swing us back near the top. Either that, or we'll buy the Fountain of Youth and bring back Messier, Esposito, and Ratelle." He did not appear to be joking.

[Virtual Jarmo]

Good stuff, Pat. An entertaining read.

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

Consistency finally became the byword on Broadway in December. The Rangers were able to put aside many of the struggles of the first two months of the season and put together a solid month of hockey, winning eleven of the thirteen games during that span. Perhaps even more impressive was the goal differential over that period: 52 goals for versus 17 goals allowed, including just one goal against total over the last three games of the month.

Not content to stand still on those nice numbers, however, GM Pat Webber pulled off a significant trade just after the holidays. Webber sent two of his top four defensemen, Michal Rozsival and Dan Girardi, to San Jose for forwards Patrick Marleau and Jamie McGinn, and defensemen Daniel Tjärnqvist and Dick Tärnström. "I felt we needed more firepower up front, and Marleau gives us more options and the ability to roll two solid scoring lines, especially with the development of Artem Anisimov." While it was difficult to give up two important parts of the defensive corps, Webber feels the return -- and the future -- makes up for that. "The Tarns give us quality play now, and with Michael del Zotto and Ryan McDonagh pushing up from below, we feel our blueline is in good shape for the present and near future."

Other highlights of the month just past were solid play from Cory Stillman (6-4-10) and Anisimov (2-6-8), and Ryan Callahan's hat trick against Florida on the 23rd. But most impressive was the play of goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who registered two shutouts, four other games allowing just one goal, and in fact only one game allowing three or more goals.

Coach John Tortorella could not be reached for this article, as he was said to be attending to "important team matters." Asked if those matters included the new listing of an Abdul Alhazred as "Cthulhu wrangler" in the team directory, a team spokesman had no comment.

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

January was another happy month on Broadway, as the Rangers were able to maintain their positive momentum with an 11-4-1 record. All five of the losses came against playoff-level teams, but among the wins were games over Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Carolina, and two against Montreal. "Yeah, we get fat off the league's weak sisters, but we're starting to hold our own against the top dogs now," said coach Tortorella.

Center Artem Anisimov earned honors as EHEC Rookie of the Month for January, continuing his strong play since his recall from the AHL in December. "He did his time in the minors, and he earned the award," said GM Pat Webber. "He was our top scorer in January, and his emergence has really stabilized our scoring." Another rookie who could be making a mark sooner than later was defenseman Michael Del Zotto, called up late in the month. He saw action in five games, registering an assist while seeing significant even-strength and power play time. "We believe it's just a matter of time before Michael's one of the best offensive blueliners in the league, and we felt it was time for him to show what he could do right now," added Webber. "As long as he's contributing at both ends of the ice, he'll stay up."

February's abbreviated schedule will be tough, and the Rags will have to work to keep their momentum going into the Olympic break. The team plays six games over fourteen days, five against playoff-caliber teams. Road games against LA and PIT bracket a home stand against WSH, NJ, and NAS, and the month ends with a home game against TB. "The Kings, Caps, and Lightning are top-five teams, and the Preds were the hottest team in the league in January. Added Webber, "Nobody's overlooking the Pens either, and they've already had success against us this year. These games will give us a chance to make a mark before the break. We'll know a lot about our team down the stretch after these next two weeks."

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

With the Olympic break, February brought an abbreviated schedule of games for the league, including six for the Rangers. The Rags managed to win four of those games, including tough wins against some of the top flight of the league in Tampa, Nashville, and Washington. Despite the 4-2 record, the Rangers remain in fifth place in the tough Eastern Conference. "We're only two points in back of Philly in our division, and five out of first place overall, but moving up is going to be really, really difficult this time of year. We seem to have been stuck in fifth for months now," said GM Pat Webber. Moving up will be hard indeed, given that the Flyers have two games in hand on the Rangers; but the teams do face each other three more times this season. Even with a successful final twenty games in the season, there is no guarantee that fifth place is still in the offing, given the recent resurgence of the Carolina Hurricanes. The Canes are only four points behind the Rags, and have a game in hand. The teams do not face each other again during the regular season.

Trade winds also blew through Broadway again this month, with a surprising -- and substantial -- deal with division rival Philadelphia. The Rangers sent cornerstone blueliner Wade Redden and forward pest Sean Avery, along with prospects Evgeny Grachev and Bobby Sanguinetti, to the Flyers for scoring machine Simon Gagné and two-way defenseman Kimmo Timonen. Both have had less-than-stellar adjustments to their new team, with Timonen registering two assists in four games, and Gagné going pointless in three. One other minor trade saw checking forward Brian Sutherby come over from the Dallas Stars for forward Brandon Dubinsky. The Stars also sent two third round picks in this year's draft.

In Olympic news, the Rangers are sending several regulars to Vancouver to play for their respective countries. Making their national teams were:
USA -- C Chris Drury
USA -- R Ryan Callahan
CAN -- F Patrick Marleau
FIN -- D Kimmo Timonen
SWE -- G Henrik Lundqvist
SWE -- F Fredrik Modin
CZE -- F Vaclav Prospal

Rangers management wishes all of their players good luck during the tournament, even if they won't be able to watch the games on MSNBC.

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

How could I forget on my Olympian list:

SUI -- F Andres Ambuhl