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| Photo: sportsradiony.com |
Tonight's match-up between the New York Islanders and New York Rangers will have all the feel of a playoff game mixed with a heated rivalry. Expect the emotions to run a little bit deeper, the will to win to be a little bit stronger, and the noise in the Coliseum to be that much louder. This late season meeting with both teams in the playoffs and separated by only two points has this game shaping up to be one of the greats. What will the scene be like tonight in Uniondale? To describe in one word...electric.
The Islanders have not made the playoffs since the the 2006-2007 season where they slipped into the final spot on the final day of the regular season. They were ousted in the first round by the top seeded Buffalo Sabres and haven't tasted playoff hockey since. Now this young and energetic team has Islander fans buzzing about a playoff berth, and their team is playing some good hockey at the right time.
The Islanders are 8-2-0 in their last ten games, and had some big wins over teams fighting for a playoff spot. Not only are the Isles scoring goals, they are playing strong defense. In the ten game span the Islanders gave up more than two goals just once. The most impressive win came this past Thursday night up in Beantown. The Islanders shut down the high powered Bruins and held them to just one goal. I know Boston was missing a few players, but that does not take away from the stout defense the Islanders played. Josh Bailey, who has come on strong as of late, netted both goals against the Bruins. The Islanders currently hold the number seven spot in the Eastern Conference right behind the Ottawa Senators and right in front of the Rangers.
The Rangers are playing their best hockey of the season as well right now. Since April 1st, the Blueshirts are 4-1-1, and have out shot their opponents in every game. Newcomers Derick Brassard and Ryane Clowe have added a boos to a Ranger offense that at times looked like they couldn't score on a soccer net. But Tortorella has his team turning things around, and look to make a late push up the playoff ladder.
Derek Stepan and Rick Nash will be targeted all night by the Islanders defense. Nash and Stepan are one and two on the Rangers in points (Nash 35, Stepan 34). As for the Islanders, we all know who the Rangers must keep an eye on, and that's John Tavares and Matt Moulson. In twenty career games against the Rangers, Tavares has 8 goals and 13 assists, including two goals in two games at the Garden this year. The Rangers must also keep an eye on the speedy Michael Grabner who seems to have at least one breakaway every game. There's no room for error on the Rangers defense who has broken down at times and left players wide open in front of the net.
The intensity will be at an all-time high tonight between the Rangers and Islanders. Expect there to be some scrums and maybe a fight, but don't look for a slug fest between these two. Two points, and a stronger hold on a playoff spot are on the line tonight, so the two teams will have to play smart hockey. It is going to be a fun game and a game that let's New York hockey fans know that the hockey rivalry is back, for now at least. It's going to be loud, it's going to be exciting, it's going to be fun. And did I mention it's going to be loud tonight?
Puck drops at 7 p.m
P.S Ranger fans,
Don't expect the Coliseum to 60-40 or 70-30 in favor of the red, white, and blue tonight. They Islanders have had 17,000 fans filling the seats the past few home games and they are hungry for the playoffs.
For the better part of the shortened 2013 season, the New York Rangers have been forced to do some soul searching. The constant inconsistency, no pun intended, and lack of scoring has the Rangers battling multiple teams for the final playoff spots. After a trade sent Marian Gaborik to Columbus, and the addition of Ryane Clowe, the Rangers are beginning to find their groove, and no one has elevated their game more than Henrik Lundqvist.
Since being blanked in back-to-back games against Ottawa and Montreal, the Rangers are 3-0-1 and have moved into seventh place in the east. It's only four games, but in these four games the Rangers are playing the kind of hockey that will get them to the playoffs. In the four games the Rangers have out scored their opponents 15-5 (shootout goals not included), including a 6-1 drubbing of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rick Nash has continued to put points on the board, and Derek Stepan is finally performing at the level he was expected to.
With the trade deadline approaching on Wednesday, teams are scrambling to try and load up with the right players who can help them make a deep playoff run. Many teams are looking for offense, including the Rangers who are dead last in the league in goals scored with 78.
Many Ranger fans have quickly lost confidence in this group, and righfully so. Fans want results, and the Rangers are not producing right now. Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik have been major disappointments, and the role players on the third and fourth lines have contributed almost nothing on the offensive side. Derek Stepan has stepped up at times this season, and Carl Hagelin has shown he can find the back of the net, but the Ranger offense has been nothing short of embarrassing lately. Rick Nash has come as advertised this season, but one man cannot carry an entire team to the playoffs.
Unfortunately it doesn't seem like there are many players, if any, on the trading block who will help this Ranger team make a deep playoff run. No, the answer to the Rangers problems lies within the team itself. When Rick Nash, Carl, Hagelin, and Derek Stepan play together they find success. This line needs to stay intact, because after all, splitting these three up has not helped the Rangers offense. The more these three play together, the more comfortable they will be with each other. Who can the Rangers trade for who will really help this teams offense, Ryane Clowe? Clowe has no goals and 11 assists so far this season. Even Brian Boyle has a goal for the Blueshirts this season, so would it make sense to add a player who is yet to score this year to the team with the least amount of goals?
Brad Richards and Mrian Gaborik must have break out games this week. As all Ranger fans know, Gaborik is a streaky scorer who scores in bunches, and right now he might be in the worst slump of his career. But Gaborik's scoring struggles should lead Ranger gans to believe that it is only a matter of time before Gaborik starts hitting the back of the net instead of the goalies pads after he shuts the five-hole. So what are the Rangers going to do, trade Gaborik for a player who is yet to score so far this season? Let's not give up on Gaborik yet.
Brad Richards is a prime time player, he loves the big stage, and he performs under pressure...wait, which Brad Richards are we talking about here? Richards has been invisible at some points during this season, and I am not being dramatic. Richards and Gborik need to find a way to get back their scoring touch, and help get this abysmal Ranger offense back on track.
So what does all this add up to? Effort and will. Nothing gets the New York fans going like a hard working, grinding effort, and that is not what the Rangers have been giving their fans, especially on the road. Last season the Rangers were known as the hardest working team in the league. You may have beaten them that night on the scoreboard, but you were not going to hustle, work, and play harder than them. This season has been just the opposite. When the Rangers go down on the scoreboard, it has been hard to believe that they will find a way back into the game, and the past two games have been perfect examples. The Rangers got down by a goal both times to the Senators and Canadiens, and the Rangers could not respond with a goal of their own (the Canadiens scored just 47 seconds into the game).
The Rangers currently hold onto the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference which would set them up with a first round clash with the red hot Pittsburgh Penguins. In order for the Rangers to avoid playing Pittsburgh in the first round they need to win games, and start winning now. Time has run out on the Rangers to just sit back and play defensive hockey and look for counter opportunities, and it's time to attack. How does that famous saying go again? Oh yea..."The best defense is a good offense." The Rangers need to take this term literally and start winning the battles in the corners and along the boards.
A trade is not the answer for the Rangers. The answer lies within the players and coaches to find the motivation and will to find the success they had last year. If they cannot dig deep and play like the team everyone knows they can be now, then sorry Rangers fans your playoffs will consist of youtube highlights from the 2011-12 season.
The Rangers will be at Madison Square Garden Monday night against the Winnipeg Jets, one of the three Canadien teams they have not beaten this season.
