The Rangers and Islanders traded chances in the first period, but the Rangers depth was too much for the soon-to-be Kansas City Drylanders. Two timely goals in the second period by Marian Gaborik and Michael Del Zotto put the Rangers ahead for good. The Rangers, after going 2-3-1 in their previous five games, have won three in a row heading into Friday’s showdown with the Flyers. Let’s get to the bullet points.

Offense

  • So while I was heading home from work, I got off the subway and randomly ran into Del Zotto and Gaborik. I gave the head nod and said good luck, and they went their way while I went to my LIRR train. Both of them scored today. I’m a good luck charm.
  • That goal by Brandon Dubinsky was pure grit, guts, and skill. It’s the Dubinsky we have all been hoping to see, and we finally got it. Let’s hope there are more games like this by him, because the Rangers need it.
  • How about that Marian Gaborik? He really wants it this year. He and Del Zotto are really having fantastic years.
  • The little face off play on Gaborik’s goal was a nicely drawn up play, but executed to perfection by both Gaborik and Artem Anisimov. Anisimov is as important to that line as Derek Stepan, and it often goes unnoticed because he’s not making the flashy plays. Anisimov just does everything right, and does all the small things, which is something that does not go unnoticed on this blog.
  • Carl Hagelin is fast, we know this. But he has some nose for the net. He’s always hounding the goalie and did another great job of it tonight. That’s a part of his game I didn’t notice until he got to the Rangers.
  • His speed, something I noticed while watching him at Michigan, is impressive though. I think Mark Streit is the only Islanders defenseman that Hagelin can’t skate around.
  • The powerplay looked pretty good, moving the puck around. They didn’t score, but made some nice plays.

Defense/Goaltending

  • The defense was rather porous in the beginning, which is expected considering the current state of the blue line. If it weren’t for Del Zotto, Dan Girardi, and Ryan McDonagh, then this game would have been out of hand early. Yes, Michael Del Zotto is in that sentence. He has been brilliant.
  • More on Del Zotto, we’ve been big supporters of his here, and boy is he making us look smart. He has been on an offensive roll this month, and has been fantastic in his own end. It’s called progression folks. And he’s only 22 years old.
  • Tim Erixon made a stupid pass that wound up in an Islanders almost-chance (blocked by Stu Bickel). Erixon made up for it later when he backed up Martin Biron’s stick on a bit of a mess in the crease.
  • Not much needs to be said on Girardi and McDonagh. It’s all been said, and they did it again tonight.
  • Bickel was fairly unnoticeable, but that’s not a bad thing. He made a good play to cover for Erixon’s gaffe, but no one covered for him when he rushed the puck up on the ensuing rush. His fight with Matt Martin was good though.
  • Martin Biron is the best offseason acquisition post-lockout not named Dan Girardi. Period. Even if he did botch that save that led to the Isles powerplay goal in the third.

Opposition/Officiating

  • If the Islanders don’t stay on Long Island, then whatever city gets them will be very lucky. This team is about 2-3 years away from being serious contenders. They have a lot of young talent.
  • That said, all their talent is on offense. They have no one on defense other than Streit. That needs to change.
  • Speaking of Streit, every time I see him play I cry a bit, because he’s the guy I wanted the Rangers to get in that offseason to forget. The Rangers wound up with Wade Redden, but when I saw what Streit signed for, I threw stuff at my TV. I really wanted him on Broadway.
  • What was Evgeni Nabokov thinking when he left the net? Regardless of what Jack Capuano says, you have to see that the Rangers have the puck.
  • The officiating was pretty fair this game. I was very impressed. They let them play. However, they missed the Andrew MacDonald slash on Artem Anisimov. That should have been called.

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