Rangers Obliterated by Penguins 8-3, Nov. 28th '09

Game Highlights:


The Rangers were spanked hard in the third period resulting from double-minor penalties assessed to Donald Brashear for sticking up for his head-hunted team mate. Starting the frame to bring the score to 4-3.. only to have 4 unanswered goals scored on Stephen Valiquette, who has played since Henrik Lundqvist was pulled in Tampa Bay.

Chris Drury was given more power-play time then anyone else (by :31) with 4:01 during which time the Rangers were scoreless and seemingly clueless. He also led the team last night in what Tortorella called 'the worst game we played all year' 5-1 loss to the Panthers. The power-play looked abysmal during both rounds failing to connect or force the goalie into any outrageous saves in either game.

Matt Cooke had vicious blindside hit to the head of Artem Anisimov several minutes into the third period when the Penguins were already up by 3 goals. He was assessed a 2-minute interference call. On Cooke's next shift, John Tortorella unleashed Donald Brashear to do what New York paid him 1.4 million dollars for, but was quickly diffused by swarming refs. Watch the game highlights, Donald Brashear barely got any swings in to a mocking Cooke while the refs immediately jumped all over the situation like they were trying to protect the Penguin. Donald Brashear was given a 4-minute double-minor - which the Penguins scored twice on to put a nail in the coffin.

The maximum penalty one should be able to receive in a game should be on intent-to-injure malicious hits or plays, but knowing the Rangers management - they may throw large contracts at such villains.

* Henrik Lundqvist has shown he is well-capable of rebounding in the past. Playing Steve Valiquette against the Stanley Cup-defending Penguins on the road while the team seems to be struggling is a poor choice by Tortorella. Have some faith in your gold-medal winning #1.

* Marc-Andre Fleury has a tendency to go from the back of his net out to the very top of the crease while players are turning during a high-speed forecheck. After Sean Avery circled a couple times in his first shifts, Fleury moved into a position where he got clipped by Avery skating past. Sean was assessed a 2-minute goalie interference on what was clearly a sneaky draw by the dirty Pittsburgh backstop.

* Ryan Callahan was able to fight Matt Cooke and got the best of him with a couple quick rights after the 8th goal was scored. I suppose the referees would let this one happen because Callahan is significantly smaller and exponentially less notorious then Donald Brashear.

* Brian Boyle was scratched. Enver Lisin was dressed per roster requirements, but did not play a second. Yet Michael Del Zotto didn't miss a second and has been -6 in the past two nights, held without a point. It goes to show how heavy Tortorella will drop the book on the components, rather then addressing the system.

* John Tortorella mixed up lines almost to the point where it was ridiculous. I'm not sure how this fits into the plan of building a team - it seems like this is work that should of been done in the pre-season.

Steve Valiquette was in a total-scramble and gave up soft goals, but John Tortorella was also in a total scramble throwing combinations together (like Voros centering Higgins and Brashear - who were scored on in the first), and even choosing Valiquette to start against the Penguins. Add that to some terribly biased officiating by the referees, where they will go to physical lengths to step between flying-fists of Donald Brashear to protect criminal Matt Cooke, and you get the score of 8-3.

John Tortorella Post-Game: