NY Sports Report » Pens

Pens It Is

Joe McDonald — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:07:33 +0000

With Philly winning in overtime 3-2 last night, the Rangers will now face the Penguins in Round 2 with games on Friday and Sunday in Pittsburgh and Games 3 and 4 at the Garden on Tuesday and Thursday.

Here’s the full schedule:

Game 1: Friday 4/25 at the Igloo 7 p.m.

Game 2: Sunday 4/27 at the Igloo 2 p.m. Game on NBC

Game 3: Tuesday 4/29 at the Garden 7 p.m.

Game 4: Thursday 5/1 at the Garden 7 p.m.

Game 5*: Sunday 5/4 at the Igloo 2 p.m. Game on NBC

Game 6*: Monday 5/5 at the Garden 7 p.m.

Game 7 *: Wednesday 5/7 at the Igloo TBD

*if necessary

The Rangers went 5-3 this year against the Pens. 4-0 at the Garden and 1-3 in Pittsburgh. Two of the Ranger wins were in overtime, including the one win in Pittsburgh and Marc Andre Fleury went 3-2 against the Blueshirts.

They will have to face the star power of Crosby, Malkin and Hossa. and it will be interesting to see if Tom Renney dresses Colton Orr for this matchup, since the fourth line of Betts, Hollweg and Orr did a great job against Crosby this season.

Should be a fun matchup.

I won’t be around for the first few games – getting married this weekend, but I will be watching from afar and checking in from the blackberry or on my laptop. Full reports from here and NYSD return next week.

The Centers of Attention

Joe McDonald — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 10:26:14 +0000

Tom Renney apparently had enough and decided to shuffle the lines to something more conventional before the Rangers take on the Pens tonight.

Scott Gomez will now be centering Jaromir Jagr and Marty Straka with Chris Drury becoming Brendan Shanahan’s pivot. Brandon Dubinsky goes to line No. 3 with Ryan Callahan and Petr Prucha.

Now this makes sense. As long as the Rangers were winning, Renney wanted to leave well-enough alone, but now it’s time to get Jagr a true puck moving center like Gomez and Drury with Shanahan works well too.

Let’s see if it puts more goals in the net tonight.

Callahan Up, Moore Down

Joe McDonald — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:08:07 +0000

The Rangers announced they recalled Ryan Callahan, who never left New York anyway, and sent Greg Moore back to Hartford, which was a change in heart from yesterday.

It was Tom Renney’s call, who felt he wanted Callahan in New York.

According the reporters in Greenburgh, Renney changed the lines up. You can read more on Sam Weinman’s blog on that topic.

Also Henrik Lundqvist is still sick with the flu, so if doesn’t take a turn for the better tomorrow and practices in the morning, expect Steve Valiquette again in goal against the Pens tomorrow night.

Speaking of the flu, didn’t Lundqvist get sick last year at this time? Maybe it’s time for a flu shot or something.

Slow Week

Joe McDonald — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 20:01:32 +0000

Sorry for not posting that much this week, but since the Rangers were on the road and I was not, anything I write would be second-hand.

I also had a 300+ page report to go over.

Anyway, we will have more this week, I promise beginning with today’s game at the Garden and Tuesday against the Pens.

So tune in and comment.