Dubi, Rangers Can Do
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by: Joe McDonald | Publisher and Editor-in-Chief | Sunday, February 17, 2008
NEW YORK – Don’t expect the NHL to go to a NFL type, game a week schedule, but after the 5-1 drubbing of the Buffalo Sabres at the Garden by the New York Rangers, the Blueshirts may lobby for it.
That’s because a different Ranger team took the ice, one that pressured the net and controlled the game, while staying true to its defensive roots.
It took the lead 10 seconds into the game and never looked back.
“The start was certainly we all hoped for,” said coach Tom Renney, who worked his team this week and certainly had them prepared for battle. “And made it real clear to Buffalo, who have certainly been very good lately, that they will have their hands full. From that point of view, we were satisfied with our start.”
Two goals from Sean Avery combined with Brandon Dubinsky’s goal with two assists paced the Blueshirts in one of the few laughers they had this season. And the four goal first period was the Rangers first in almost five years.
“We had to sit there and wait,” Dubinsky said. “Some teams were winning and we were bumped out of a playoff spot. We wanted a great start tonight and 4-0 after the first period, I don't know if you can ask for anything else.”
It was more than anything anyone in the Garden expected. After Avery scored at 10 seconds, Ryan Callahan put in Marty Straka’s rebound at 4:29 of the first off a shaky Ryan Miller, who was chased after Brendan Shanahan made it 4-0 at 12:25. The Buffalo netminder stopped only seven shots on the night and was replaced quickly by coach Lindy Ruff with Jocelyn Thibault, who fared better, stopping 20 of 21 shots.
“We were talking before the game about making sure we weren’t sleeping because we have been off for so long,” Shanahan said. “I don’t think we expected to get off to that good of a start. Ryan Miller is a great goalie, but all great goalies have a tough night.”
Then there was Dubinsky, who centered Avery and Jaromir Jagr and scored the Rangers third tally on a soft Miller let in and assisted on Avery’s two bookends by breaking hard to the net.
“He's not really a rookie anymore,” Renney said. “He's well into his first season and he's very confident. He certainly respects Jaromir, but he also understands that he has individual attributes that not only help Jaromir, but also the team. The combination of both how he plays and the way he feels about himself right now is great.”
Added Dubinsky: “[Breaking hard] is always part of my game. I just want to get there and create opportunities. Sometimes they don’t go in and tonight they went in three times.”
It was enough for the new $41 million man Henrik Lundqvist, who stopped 29 of 30 shots in his first game after signing his new six-year extension.
“When you have nine days off, it’s easy to think you are a little rusty,” Lundqvist said. “It was a great start and I had to know it wasn’t going to be easy. For me it felt really good to get a good solid game.”
And since the NHL hasn’t adopted the ways of pro football, the Rangers can’t bask in the victory as they will play later today with a game against the San Jose Sharks at the Garden.
Notes: Dan Girardi will be around for a while. The surprising defenseman signed a two year extension worth $3.1 million…Marcel Hossa accepted a conditioning assignment in Harford while recovering from a herniated disk in his back.
