Gaborik: 'I have to play better'
New York Rangers right wing Marian Gaborik (10) looks at the crowd as he waits for a face off during the third period against the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden. (Nov. 17, 2010) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Marian Gaborik knows the deal: If he doesn't perform the way he's expected to, the way he expects himself to, he's going to hear about it.
After a listless game in Tampa on Wednesday, Gaborik heard about it. John Tortorella made a point of saying he "didn't see our best player" in the 5-3 loss to the Lightning that was a 5-0 rout after two periods. What made it a little bit more of a stinger was that Tortorella had just finished praising Martin St. Louis, who was one of the stars of Tortorella's Tampa Bay teams.
The forward was unfazed after yesterday's practice. "I have to be play better, obviously," said Gaborik, who had a hat trick plus an assist in his second game back from a separated shoulder but has only one goal in his last six games. "When you come back [from injury], it takes a little bit and you go through some ups and downs. I can't make excuses. I just need to play better."
Tortorella juggled his lines for practice, breaking up the top line of Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov and Ryan Callahan. Dubinsky was with Gaborik and Derek Stepan, Callahan was with Ruslan Fedotenko and Brian Boyle, and Anisimov, who played only 10 minutes Wednesday, was between Brandon Prust and Alex Frolov.
Tortorella might not stick with those lines Friday against the Panthers.
"I just wanted to see something different today," Tortorella said. "I like the way our team has been playing, and then we have that one [Wednesday]. We can't lose that way. That's what bothers me most about it. I know we'll bounce back and we'll play the right way. We may not win a game, but we can't have those happen."
As for Gaborik, Tortorella is sure his top scorer will start producing. "He's one of the most engaged, in-tune elite players," Tortorella said. "He's engaged, he understands and he'll respond. He has struggled. We just want him to simplify everything, and he will. He's our best player. He knows it, our team knows it. And he'll get it done the right way."
Notes & quotes: Tortorella said Henrik Lundqvist will start Friday, a rare pre-gameday announcement by the coach. He was glad that he asked Lundqvist if he wanted to stay in after two periods and five goals Wednesday, and even more enthused that Lundqvist responded with a solid third period . . . D Michal Rozsival (shoulder) won't play and is questionable for Saturday in Nashville. Both player and coach say Rozsival needs more practice time . . . LW Derek Boogaard (shoulder) is day-to-day.
More Rangers
