Torts likes Lundqvist's feistiness
New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist pounces on Montreal Canadiens' Max Pacioretty (67) during the second period of an NHL hockey gmae in Montreal. (Jan. 15, 2011) Credit: AP
Should cool, calm and collected Henrik Lundqvist have a little more Bill Smith in him?
In the right situation, according to coach John Tortorella, maybe.
With 17:03 left in the second period in Montreal on Saturday and the Canadiens leading 3-1 and buzzing around the net, Lundqvist dived on Max Pacioretty after they collided, flinging punches.
"I wish he would've hit him with more shots," Tortorella said. "Situations arise where you need to stand up for yourself and spark a team. That was one. It can't be every time he gets hit . . . Where our team was at the end of the period, I think it was the right time to do it."
Tortorella, however, said he had "no temptation to go with Hank" against the Flyers last night despite his 5-2-1 run. "Marty Biron has played very well,'' he said of the backup goalie, who was 7-3-0. "We need to stay with what we're trying to do, so at the end of the year [Lundqvist will] be fresh."
Hitting the road
The Rangers not only are one of six teams that have been invited to open next season with two games in Europe, possibly Sweden, but could return to the United States and play a string of road games to allow more time for continuing Garden renovations, a source familiar with the scheduling told Newsday.
A changeup
The Brandon Prust-Brian Boyle-Ruslan Fedotenko line has been a key energy and forechecking trio most of the season and took the opening faceoff in six of seven games entering Saturday. But Tortorella broke up the unit against the Canadiens, using Sean Avery in place of Fedotenko. Avery started on Boyle's left side and Prust shifted to the right side against the Flyers.
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