One could learn a lot from watching the new Rangers promo on MSG. You know the one “ladies and gentleman”, with the heavy music to match the heavy hits. The 30 second spot shows you everything a Rangers fan could ask to see. It features young guns with bright futures, a world class netminder, slick skating Europeans, and a packed Garden. It really is catchy.
But as I sat down Wednesday night with a cold Stella and visions of another blowout, something a bit more subtle caught my attention. Jaromir Jagrs eyes. The promo ends with the familiar sight of the Rangers gathered at center ice to salute the fans following a win. And as the loud music fades to a hum the camera focuses on the Captain. Confident and reassuring in his appearance. His eyes are doing the talking for him, “we want what the fans want and this time we will not let you down”. Sort of reminds me of another Rangers Captain who’s intense eyes told the story of the team.
The Rangers burned Atlanta very much the same way Sherman did during his march through the south. Fast, furious and focused. A far cry from the teams first round exit in last years playoffs. Last year the Rangers showed what can only be described as a general disinterest in the task at hand. I am not one that accepts the excuse that injuries did them in against the Devils last season. The Rangers lacked focus.
But this team is different. This team will not relent until the cup is carried by out stretched arms in broadway blue. Ladies and gentleman the New York Rangers are focused! And the systematic dismantling of the Atlanta Thrashers made quite a few things clear to fans and the rest of the NHL.
The relentless forecheck from every line is unmatched in today’s NHL. Head coach Tom Renney has the ability to roll out 4 lines without fear of a defensive letdown. Thanks to his forwards grinding efforts deep in the oppositions end and tireless work along the boards. You would be hard pressed to find better forecheckers than Jed Ortmeyer and Blair Betts. Creating turnover after turnover and disrupting any flow towards the Rangers end of the ice.
Sean Avery uses his title of “most hated player in the NHL” to implement the defense by distraction technique. Thrashers superstars Ilya Kovalchuk and Keith Tkachuk were hardly interested in keeping up to par on the scoreboard. Choosing instead to beat up on Avery. Night after night the 26 year old Avery was taking shots after the whistle and drawing penalties.
Chants of “shoot the puck” during Ranger power plays could be heard clear across Manhattan all season. When handed the extra skater it seemed that right just was not right enough. My how things have changed. Rangers point men have served notice to the opposition, “we have big shots and we will use them”. A welcome sight to the Garden faithfull. The power play is on fire right now and it could not come at a better time.
Jaromir Jagr, who in recent years has taken a backseat to the likes of Sidney Crosby, Joe Thornton, and Alex Ovechkin is again the most dominant player in the league. The man seems to be controling shifts at will. And his team is feeding off of it. Jagr and line mates Michael Nylander and Marcel Hossa dominate the offensive zone. They put the defense on their heels and create shots from every angle. Nylander is playing the best hockey of his careerand used the opportunity to shed is 0 for forever playoff demons. There was only one Hossa on the scoresheet and that was not 100 point man Marion.
Who can say when the exact moment was that turned the Rangers season around. At one point the team was desperate for wins just to stay in the playoff race race. But desperation turned to determination and the Rangers went on a tearand landed the 6th seed in the playoffs. One could point to the MVP play of goaltender Henrik Lunquist. Or the jolt they got from Sean Avery. Whatever the moment was , focus was found. The New York Rangers are not looking back.
