Rangers' goal: More scoring down stretch
Brandon Prust and the Rangers want more goal celebrations like this one in the final six games. (Mar. 24, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- With goals at a premium in the stretch run to the playoffs, contributions by special teams are critical. That's especially true when goalies are white-hot, as in the case of Henrik Lundqvist and Ryan Miller, who face each other tomorrow in Buffalo in a showdown for postseason seeding. If the Sabres beat the Maple Leafs tonight, they will head into the game tied with the Rangers at 87 points.
The Rangers have scored only three goals in the past three games. Coach John Tortorella loved the defensive effort, but he said bluntly: "We're going to have to score some more."
The Sabres have eight goals in the last three games, so the Rangers will have to continue to be stingy and find a way to score against Miller, voted the NHL's No. 1 star of last week. Miller and Lundqvist, who was named the No. 3 star, each posted two shutouts.
Yesterday, the Rangers devoted the last 45 minutes of practice to the power play. Marian Gaborik, Vinny Prospal and Brian Boyle (subbing for Ryan Callahan, given a day off) were up front. Bryan McCabe and Marc Staal manned the points and had some success.
The Rangers rank 13th in the NHL on the power play at 17.8 percent but convert only 15.8 percent of the time on the road. Buffalo's power play is 21 percent effective at home and 11th overall.
But since McCabe was acquired from Florida at the trade deadline, the Rangers' power play is 10-for-41, better than the Sabres (10-for-49). And the Sabres have allowed 12 shorthanded goals, the third-highest in the NHL. The Rangers have scored 11 while down a man, the fourth-most in the league.
Meanwhile, it will be a formidable task for ninth-place Carolina to knock the Rangers out. Even if the Hurricanes were to win all seven of their remaining games to reach 94 points, the Rangers still would make the cut by grabbing eight points in their last six games.
Notes & quotes: Mats Zuccarello, a healthy scratch Saturday, skated in Callahan's spot during line drills, so Zuccarello might be a spare again . . . It's approaching decision time for two prospects: Chris Kreider, the team's No. 1 draft pick in 2009, and Swedish-born Carl Hagelin. Kreider, a sophomore at Boston College, is debating whether to forgo his junior year. Michigan is in the Frozen Four, and Hagelin, 22, a senior who leads the team in scoring (18 goals, 48 points in 42 games) is expected to begin negotiations once the NCAA championship is decided.
More Rangers
