Captain Ryan Callahan does what it takes
Ryan Callahan, #24 of the Rangers, celebrates with his teammates after they beat the Ottawa Senators. (April 12, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
It was all there, just in the opening 20 minutes. Everything the Rangers missed about Ryan Callahan from last year's brief, unsuccessful playoff stay. Everything Ryan Callahan brings to the table.
No surprise, then, that Callahan, who embodies this Rangers team more than anyone else, set the tone for a 4-2 victory over Ottawa in Game 1 Thursday night.
The Rangers have flashier players, and they have a goaltender who is their most important player every game he plays. But they do not have a leader on par with their captain.
The Rangers have had perhaps the greatest captain who ever donned an NHL sweater in Mark Messier, and Messier was the leader and player he was because he didn't just score timely goals or deliver timely hits. He did everything, usually within the same game, usually at this time of year.
Callahan had just such a first period Thursday night. He bulled his way to get position on Senators defenseman Filip Kuba, found a rebound and spun around with a pinpoint shot, just inside the left post, to bring relief into a loud but tight Garden crowd at 12:01 of the first.
About six minutes later, Callahan took a few purposeful strides into the Ottawa zone and crunched former teammate Matt Gilroy into the end boards. More roars.
Peeling off to backcheck, Callahan stopped in his tracks in center ice to put a shoulder into Jesse Winchester's chest, separating the Senators forward from the puck. More roars. Chants of "Cally!"
"He was a monster," Brian Boyle said. "Big goal, throwing his body around, couple open-ice hits. Just a monster for us."
Callahan never got to experience any of it last season. As the Rangers fought and clawed to reach the playoffs, Callahan was doing whatever it took. What it took late on April 4 at the Garden was to try to get a piece of Zdeno Chara's 105-mph slap shot. Callahan fearlessly did, but his ankle was broken. The Rangers made the postseason, but their leader wasn't there. And the playoffs were a short stay.
"He's a big part of everything we do," coach John Tortorella said of Callahan, whose recovery from the broken ankle culminated in being named captain just before training camp started.
Instead of wearing the "C'' heavily and awkwardly, Callahan continued to lead the way. His 88 blocked shots were third-most among NHL forwards this season, and he had nine game-winning goals among his 29.
He threw himself in front of Erik Karlsson's power-play rip with 5:15 to go in the second period of a 1-0 game, blocking Karlsson's blast with his back. The Rangers, clinging to the lead through much of the second, broke free with two late goals in the period to get some breathing room.
Callahan has led the way in this Eastern Conference-leading season. In need of a more forceful start to the postseason, the captain took charge.
"That's why he wears the 'C,' " Dan Girardi said. "His style of game, it's perfect for the playoffs. He just does all the stuff it takes to win."
It wasn't just crucial to taking a lead in the series. Ryan Callahan, the captain, the truest Ranger of this group, took charge, and that can only be a good omen for this playoff run.
More Rangers
