Thirty Stories Up

Figured I could live-blog this, since it’s the first televised preseason game I’ve had a chance to catch. Watching on MSG-HD.

3rd Period:

The Devils manage to turn this one into a thriller late, despite failing to convert on a lengthy 5-on-3 power play - a goal with about 6 minutes left beats Valiquette.

Still, the kids hold on, and the Rangers manage to pick up their first preseason W in the home opener, despite not having either of their big free-agent centers out.  Sauer and Staal both looked good on defense, and Blair Betts was up to his usual shot-blocking mastery.  The Rangers coaches are going to have some tough decisions to make at the next round of cuts.

Final score:  Rangers 4, Devils 3

2nd Period:

MSG is off their game. They just totally missed a goal, they were showing archive footage. Betts on a garbage goal, but at least it show’s he’s working. 3-0.

Montoya got beat on a miscommunication; overhandled and got beat. Mishandled again later, but squeaked out a save and Callahan bailed him out with a block on the rebound. Pulled in favor of Valiquette halfway through the period.

Vishnevsky is tough to knock down at the best of times, whether he’s hitting you or vice versa. Zubrus, however, goes down when you hit him hard enough.

Dubinsky is going to lock himself into a roster spot if he keeps playing like this. Yet another outstanding pass to a free stick across the crease nets him yet another assist. Straka puts it in, but by that point Devils backup Jordan Parise (yes, there is a relation) was long since beat, so it was just a matter of burying it. 4-1 Rangers.

Valiquette beat on a Parise wrist shot late, to cut the Rangers lead to 4-2.

After 1 Period:
Well, the Rangers appear to have read my article earlier today, since they’re both trying to render it irrelevant as quickly as possible. Rangers goalie prospect Al Montoya is making a very compelling case stonewalling the 8 shots he’s faced so far as a potential backup to Henrik Lundqvist, and a challenge by Avery in the offensive zone sent a Devils player into Kevin Weekes, getting him shaken up badly and an early exit. No word so far on the severity of the injury.

Things I like so far from the Rangers, who are up 2-0:

• The Rangers are playing great possession hockey. They’re holding the puck, working the zone, cycling well, and forcing the Devils to stay pinned in the zone for long shifts. Especially on the power-play, they’re just keeping a stick on it with strong forechecking.
• Marc Staal: for a guy who wasn’t slated to play tonight (he’s replacing Fyodor Tyutin, out with the flu), he looks ready. He’s staying in the play with strong hits and good positioning, and has an assist so far to show for it.
• Dan Girardi, one of my favorite young defensemen. He has an assist on both Rangers goals, and is looking every bit the NHL-ready D-man that he appeared as a call-up last season.
• Byers - another guy who’s looking strong so far. He’s staying in the mix and obviously looking for his chance to prove himself, with a goal to show for it.
• Dubinsky - I think he has a legitimate shot at 4th-line center for the Rangers this season. He looks fantastic so far, with an assist to his name already.

Filed under: Hockey

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