Zuccarello Provides Spark, but Clinching Must Wait
Mats Zuccarello's performance encapsulated a lot of what went right and what went wrong for the Rangers in their 3-2 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Hee scored twice, but he was also on the ice for all of the Senators' goals.
But perhaps most impressive was the way the diminutive Zuccarello stuck up for Marc Staal after the Ottawa enforcer Chris Neil hit Staal with a dangerous body check along the boards with 2 minutes 47 seconds left in the game.
Neil did not receive a penalty for the hit.
'I think it's a dirty hit, it's a blindside hit and a little late,' Zuccarello said.
The Rangers are headed toward the playoffs, but the defeat postponed their official celebration, as they still need to gain a point on the Devils to clinch a place in the postseason. The Devils won on Saturday and next play Monday at home against Calgary.
Of greater importance to the Rangers was Philadelphia's loss earlier Saturday. That meant the Rangers, in second place in the Metropolitan Division, stayed 4 points ahead of the third-place Flyers. The Rangers have three games left, and the Flyers have five.
'It's very disappointing,' said Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi, who looked ahead to the Rangers' next game, Tuesday at home against Carolina. 'It's in our hands to get that win in our next game at home and hopefully secure home ice.'
Staal was not in the Rangers' dressing room after the game, but Coach Alain Vigneault said Staal was not hurt on the hit by Neil.
Staal has come back from a couple of serious injuries in recent years: a concussion that sidelined him for much of the 2011-12 season and a serious eye injury from being struck by a puck last season. Anytime he takes a major hit, it raises concerns.
Neil hit Staal from the side, heavily into the boards, just after Staal shot the puck into the Ottawa zone.
With time running down, the Rangers were swarming goalie Robin Lehner, who had an outstanding game with 41 saves. Vigneault said he was not upset by the hit, but Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist said he was.
'It's a brutal call,' said Lundqvist, who finished the game with 31 saves. 'I definitely think it's a late hit.'
Moments after Neil's check, the 5-foot-7 Zuccarello hit the 6-1 Neil in the corner. Then Benoit Pouliot hit Neil. Then Staal arrived and started wrestling Neil, who threw Staal to the ice. Then another Ottawa enforcer, the 6-2 Zack Smith, started shoving Zuccarello, who shoved back.
When it was done, the Senators had a power play for all but the final 47 seconds.
'Our players react,' Zuccarello said. 'I can't believe how they get a power play out of that.'
Zuccarello has 57 points (19 goals and 38 assists), the most points for the Rangers this season. Martin St. Louis has more points, but most of them came while he was with Tampa Bay.
Zuccarello's goals came in the second period. He deflected defenseman John Moore's shot past Lehner to halve a 2-0 deficit. Later, he deflected Eric Staal's shot in to cut the deficit to 3-2.
But he and his linemates, Pouliot and Derick Brassard, were also on the ice when Mark Stone, Mika Zibanejad and Jason Spezza scored for the Senators, who took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission.
The Rangers were hopeful heading into the third. They had beaten Ottawa, 4-1 and 8-4, in their two previous meetings this season.
The Senators are out of the playoff picture and have shown a penchant for squandering leads, including a 3-0 lead they lost to Montreal in a 7-4 defeat on Friday.
The Rangers were without defenseman Ryan McDonagh for a second consecutive game. They seemed to miss him. The Rangers' normally steady defense gave up several odd-man rushes to the Senators in the game's first 30 minutes.
The Rangers came into the game with one of the top records in the N.H.L. since Dec. 25, having gone 25-12-3. They had just completed a trip west in which they went 2-1-1, giving them a 25-14-1 road record for 51 points, the most in the league so far this season.
But Saturday's loss dropped their home record to 18-17-4.
'Our focus on details has been really good on the road,' Lundqvist said. 'It's something we have to pay more attention to at home.'
Post a Comment for "Zuccarello Provides Spark, but Clinching Must Wait"