A Dismal End To A Good Season
The New York Rangers were predicted to finish not just at the bottom of the
division, but near, if not at, the bottom of the NHL. This fired the team
up to prove the naysayers wrong (The same could be said of the Buffalo Sabres
and Carolina Hurricanes). I admit that I was among the naysayers, as were all of
my friends. But the Rangers' very first game against the Flyers blew me away.
They won 5-3 against a team that should've ripped them to shreds.
Over the next several months, the team played with such tenacity and heart that
they won me over. They gave their all in every game, even when they lost. Even
the young guys played with intensity. They might not have scored much but it
wasn't for want of trying. The power play and penalty kill was among the best in
the league. Coach Tom Renney actually seemed to know what he was doing. I'd
catch glimpses of him talking to players on the bench and he seemed to have
their respect; even Jagr consulted with him on gameplay. After a while, the wins
started to pile up and the team actually led the division for weeks at a time,
trading off with Philadelphia.
Jagr regained his form as one of the best players in the league. Journeymen
Nylander, Straka, and Rucinsky each had one of the best years in their careers.
Rookie Petr Prucha was red hot. Only Jagr scored more goals than he did this
year. Sykora was picked up mid-season and immediately started scoring goals for
the team. Rucchin and Kasparitis had solid years. Malek Malik scored the game
winning shootout goal against Washington that had to be seen to be believed.
Young guys like Moore, Hossa, Ortmeyer, Tyutin, Ward, Rosival, Betts, Strudwick
and Hollweg always gave their all, and every now and then they get the points to
prove it.
In goal, Kevin Weekes had his best W-L record but it was rookie (though he's
played a few years in Europe) Henrik Lundquist who stole the show. He had a
phenomenal year giving Ranger fans hope that the team had finally found a successor to Mike Richter.
For the first time in years, fans at MSG had something to cheer about. And did
they ever. The Rangers were 35-15-8, riding high in the Atlantic
Division, when the Olympics came.
Did you know that hockey is the only team sport that plays in the Olympics
during its regular season? Basketball occurs during the summer Olympics,
after their season is done. The Olympics permit NHL-ers and this year the
Rangers sent 8 guys. The grueling schedule wears guys out, if it doesn't
injure them. The rest of the league gets a rest.
After the Olympics, the Rangers went 9-11-4. Injuries took out several
guys down the stretch. The Rangers lost the last 5 games of the season. On the
last day of the season, they fell from the top of the division and 3rd place in
the conference to 3rd place in the division and 6th place in the conference. It
was no wonder that they got swept in 4 games by the Devils.
Down the stretch and in the first couple of games in the playoffs, the Rangers
played how we expected them to play this year. They took bad penalties, lacked
confidence, and made horrible mistakes. The Devils capitalized on every one. The
Rangers only allowed 9 shorthanded goals all season but the Devils scored 3 of
them in just 4 games. The Rangers power play was 8th best in the league but dead
last in the playoffs. The penalty kill worked 83.7% of the time even by the end
of the season (10th in the league) but was only 70% effective in the playoffs.
When Jagr dislocated his shoulder late in game 1 (a 6-1 loss) it was a sign that
the Rangers season was going to end soon.
While the Rangers did play better in games 3 and 4, it was too late. The Devils
ended their season in first place in the division, thanks to an unprecedented 11
game winning streak. Patrik Elias was on fire and Brodeur was back in top form.
The Devils showed no signs of weakness while the Rangers looked dazed and
confused.
I blame the Olympics. It screwed everyting up and wore everyone out. Don't
believe me? Dominic Hasek was injured in the very first Olympic game and hasn't
played since. Ask Vancouver Canucks fans about the death spiral their team went
into. They also sent 8 guys to the Olympics. They didn't even make the playoffs!
The Rangers record before and after the Olympics says it all.
Still, the Rangers had a really good season, so much better than I, or anyone
else apparently, expected. They made the playoffs for the first time in 9 years.
The team really gelled and Glen Sather actually restrained himself from making
more than a couple trades. I hope he exercises similar restraint in the
offseason. As far as I'm concerned, they've got a great lineup. Since there
won't be any Olympics next year, the Rangers will be back to kick some ass on
the ice again. :)
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