James Dolan gives thumbs up after shutout
Henrik Lundqvist makes a save against the Nashville Predators. (Jan. 17, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
Even if John Tortorella is hesitant to mention that the Rangers may be Stanley Cup contenders, Cablevision owner James Dolan isn't.
In rare public remarks to the media after the Rangers shut out the Nashville Predators, 3-0, at the Garden Tuesday night, Dolan stunned Tortorella, standing near the podium, by saying he believed the team was close to winning the Cup.
"I'm very proud of the organization," said Dolan, who hasn't addressed the Rangers with reporters since the 2005-06 season but answered two questions. "I'm particularly proud of Mr. Sather because all the way back to 2004, when things weren't going so well, and we had a lot of free agents in here and we basically decided to re-do the strategy. I made a pact, I actually gave him something -- which I'm not going to reveal today -- to seal the pact and said: 'You can't give it back to me until we win the Stanley Cup.' I think we're pretty close to getting that thing back."
In his short visit, Dolan praised "the system that Sather built -- of course, great coaching -- but it's about the farm system and scouting and development and going with kids and sticking with that philosophy, even at times when it didn't look so good." He also said when asked what Sather told him about Tortorella before his hiring: "I don't think Glen wanted to tell me anything about John."
When Dolan departed after that comment, Tortorella said, "Thanks a lot, Mr. Dolan," and turned to the media: "I'm just as shocked as you guys are." After answering a few questions about the game, Tortorella said: "We just have to go about our business. I have my owner up here talking about a Stanley Cup. That's a bunch of B.S. We need to take one day at a time."
In the game, Henrik Lundqvist earned his fourth shutout of the season and 20th win, as the NHL-leading Rangers (29-11-4) rebounded from a 4-1 loss in Montreal on Sunday.
Tortorella said he was worried that the Rangers would be looking past the Predators to Thursday's game against Pittsburgh and Saturday in Boston. But the Rangers responded with a big defensive effort after the coach said they had "zero structure" against the Canadiens.
Lundqvist, calling it a personal "bounce-back" after two losses, made 27 saves for the 39th shutout of his career. John Mitchell scored a goal for the second consecutive game and Dan Girardi opened the scoring when his wrister from the right boards deflected past Anders Lindback, the Predators' 6-6 backup to Pekka Rinne.
Although Lindback, who hadn't played for three weeks, looked shaky and indecisive in the first, lunging at shots, the lone goal on 10 shots was scored when Girardi's shot hit Jack Hillen's stick and fluttered toward the cage. Lindback waved and missed, and the Blueshirts had a 1-0 lead at 6:15. Lundqvist made 11 saves, including extending his right pad to the post to deny Martin Erat's rebound from the doorstep.
Mitchell, scoring his fourth goal, provided a two-goal cushion in the second period. Mitchell spun away from defenseman Gabriel Bourque in the right circle and his wrister eluded Lindback, who may have been screened by Derek Stepan at 9:18.
Ryan Callahan was credited with an empty-netter with 50.9 seconds left when he was pulled down by Erat. It was his first goal in six games.
The Dolan family owns controlling interests in the Rangers, MSG and Cablevision. Cablevision owns Newsday.
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