Rangers must cut down on their penalties
Photo credit: Newsday/Jason DeCrow | New York Rangers left wing Donald Brashear, left, fights with Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Colton Orr. (October 12, 2009)
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Oct. 14: Rangers 4, Kings 2
GREENBURGH, N.Y. - The power play is quicker and more potent, the goaltending tandem is allowing just two goals a game, and the defense, led by youngsters and veterans, is adapting to coach John Tortorella's style.
Things are going swimmingly for the 6-1 Rangers, but there's one area that could sink their best efforts: Penalties.
During their 4-2 win Wednesday over the Los Angeles Kings, the Rangers were called for eight penalties, including seven straight in a stretch from 2:17 of the second period to 19:24 of the third. In three of the seven games, they've committed eight or more penalties.
They're averaging 15 minutes a game in the box, the 10th-highest in the league, and because Tortorella uses many of his top players on the penalty-kill units, the extra ice time is wearing them down for even-strength play.
"I'm concerned about the penalties, our discipline, that's all," Tortorella said. "We've taken some offensive-zone penalties, during which [the pucks] usually end up in the back of the net. That's what I'm concerned about, losing the flow of the game by penalties, especially in the third period. It comes down to the dynamics of the team."
The Rangers have committed 13 of their 42 penalties in the final 20 minutes.
And there will be no break Saturday in Toronto against the rugged, winless Leafs, who rank sixth in penalty time per game and will be scrapping for points.
Notes & quotes: LW Donald Brashear (soreness), who didn't play against the Ducks, said he felt "fantastic" and is ready to play . . . Judging by the combinations in practice, RW Ales Kotalik (3-4-7) will move from the fourth line to the third line with C Artem Anisimov and LW Sean Avery . . . Either Aaron Voros or Enver Lisin will be a healthy scratch . . . Henrik Lundqvist (5-1, 2.35 GAA, .924 save percentage) is expected to start in goal.
