Live from Philly....Setting up the showdown
From Wells Fargo, before I duck out for a quick lunch over at Citizens Bank Park:
It’ll be Ilya Bryzgalov returning after missing the last three games with a chip fracture in his right foot. Henrik Lundqvist will start his 10th straight as the Rangers hope to gain at least a point to clinch the East title with two games to go after tonight…
The Rangers are 5-0 this season with Lundqvist in net, outscored the Flyers 19-8 and 10-3 in third periods. It would be their first sweep since 71-72. One point clinches the No. 5 seed for Philly.
“I don’t think for a second that we’ve got this team’s number,” said Mike Rupp, who expected a physical game, but perhaps not dirty hits. “You don’t want to miss the playoffs (with a suspension),” he said.
Said Brandon Prust: “It’s always a physical battle out there, we expect the same; it doesn’t mean there’s going to be a bench brawl (like the other night between the pens and Flyers). Everybody’s battling for playoff spots and home ice advantage, everyone’s trying to prove a point, trying to let the other team know it’s going to be a long playoffs.” He said that fighting often “slows down in the second half of the season, but who knows? With this division, I don’t think there’s any time frame.”
Here’s some excerpts from Tortorella’s remarks after the optional skate. I asked him if goaltending and special teams were more of a factor this time of year:
“Goaltending always is going to be a factor, no matter what time of year, it’s always a huge factor and if we’re speaking for us, we want to go into the playoffs, with our special teams working. I think our power play is coming, I think the PK been consistent all year long. If you have those two, it gives you a foundation, it gives you an advantage as far as trying to find your way.”
On the 0 for 3 PP against the Bruins: “We couldn’t get it off the kick boards…give the Bruins some credit, they knew we were stuck wide. Those back-to-back situations, a short 5 on 3 (two shots) and the 5 on 4 right after that were situations where it would have been nice to kick one in. (Tim) Thomas was playing so well, we needed to get something done there.”
More Rangers
