New York (9-5-1) at Vancouver (8-7-0)

  • Game info: 10:00 pm EST Tue Nov 3, 2009
  • TV: TSN, MSG

By MATT BECKER, STATS Senior Writer Nov 2, 10:03 pm EST

Preview | Box Score | Recap | Highlights
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After struggling over the past two weeks, the New York Rangers again feel like they’re heading in the right direction.

Keeping it up this week during a three-game trip to Western Canada won’t be easy, though.

With leading scorer Marian Gaborik(notes) back in the lineup, the Rangers seek their first victory in Vancouver in a dozen years Tuesday night against the banged-up Canucks.

New York (9-5-1) got off to a strong start to 2009-10 by winning seven games in a row following a season-opening loss, but things quickly turned. The Rangers were just 1-4-1 on the heels of the winning streak before defeating Boston 1-0 on Sunday.

Gaborik scored the lone goal after sitting out Friday’s 3-2 loss at Minnesota and Wednesday’s 3-1 defeat to the New York Islanders with a right leg injury. Gaborik, clearly the key cog in the Rangers’ attack, has scored five goals in his last four games, raising his season total to 11. The right wing, who signed with New York in the offseason, has three goals and two assists in his last five games against the Canucks (8-7-0).

“I don’t think the players are resting on it … but that’s why Gabby is here,” Rangers coach John Tortorella said. “That is why we made the deal. We felt we needed a game-breaker and I think that helps you win games consistently.”

While Gaborik’s leading the offense, Henrik Lundqvist(notes) made 29 saves Sunday for his first shutout of the season.

“We needed some confidence to feel good about ourselves and as a team,” said Lundqvist, who was 1-3-1 with a 3.38 goals-against average in his previous six games. “This week is going to be a challenge for us. We know it’s going to be tough, but this will definitely help us.”

The Rangers, who visit Edmonton on Thursday and Calgary on Saturday, have lost three consecutive road games, and stopping that skid in Vancouver could be a challenge.

New York has lost four straight at GM Place since a 6-3 victory on Oct. 11, 1997, and the Canucks have won 19 of 23 in Vancouver dating to last season.

In the only meeting between these teams last season, Lundqvist stopped 12 of 17 shots before being removed in the second period of a 6-3 loss Nov. 19 at Madison Square Garden.

Lundqvist has as 5.65 GAA in losing his two career starts against the Canucks, who have won three straight over the Rangers and eight of the last nine meetings overall.

While New York doesn’t seem to have much in its favor going into this matchup, it likely won’t have to face four-time All-Star goaltender Roberto Luongo(notes), one of seven Vancouver players expected to be out.

Luongo has missed three straight games with a hairline rib fracture and likely won’t return until Thursday at Minnesota.

Andrew Raycroft(notes) did a solid job as Luongo’s replacement Sunday, stopping 18 shots in a 3-0 win over Western Conference-leading Colorado for his second victory in three starts.

“That was a big win for us,” said Raycroft, who was pulled after giving up four goals on 22 shots through 40 minutes of Friday’s 7-2 loss in Anaheim. “We didn’t play our best the other night. We played well against the best team in the league and we shut them down, so it was good.”

Raycroft hasn’t had much luck against the Rangers lately, though, going 0-2-0 with a 7.07 GAA in his last three games against them.

Updated Nov 2, 10:03 pm EST
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Team Comparison

Team G W L OTL Pts Standings GF GA Road/Home
New York 26 13 12 1 27 4th, Atlantic 78 79 6-7-1 Road
Vancouver 25 14 11 0 28 3rd, Northwest 78 64 10-3-0 Home

Notes

Last game: 2-1 loss at Washington, April 28 Series: Lost Eastern Conference quarterfinals, 4-3 The Rangers lost a playoff series after holding a three-games-to-one lead for the first time in franchise history. ... New York was outshot, 13-1, in the third period. ... C Nik Antropov, who scored the lone goal, led the team with three shots. ... C Artem Anisimov was inserted into the lineup in place of C Blair Betts, who suffered a fractured orbital bone in Game Six. Anisimov saw 5 minutes, 35 seconds of action.

Apr 28, 11:27 pm EDT

The Canucks avoided an embarrassing loss Thursday, scoring with 73 seconds remaining in the third period to snap a 3-3 tie after entering the session with a 3-0 lead. ... Vancouver was 1-for-7 on the power play. ... C Ryan Kesler and RW Pavol Demitra each registered a game-high five shots on goal. ... C Kyle Wellwood won all seven of his faceoffs.

May 1, 12:38 am EDT
NHL

25 Comments

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  1. gebster
    25. Posted by gebster Wed Nov 4 8:48pm EST

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    The mighty, fantastic, awe-inspiring Rangers LOST "for the sixth time in seven games after opening the season 7-1-0".
  2. Dan G
    24. Posted by Dan G Wed Nov 4 8:43pm EST

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    Vancouver - 0 cups and counting....
  3. Gino Odjick
    23. Posted by Gino Odjick Wed Nov 4 6:09pm EST

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    I don't know why everyones commenting on 94, but as for last night - Nuks owned the Rangers. The Rangers are lucky the brawl didn't escalate, because they would've got smoked. Besides Brashear and Voros...not too many guys that can throw down on that team.
  4. Ian S
    22. Posted by Ian S Wed Nov 4 4:47pm EST

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    Here's what I remember about Game 7 in 94.

    Goal post, goal post and Linden almost winning the game single handedly. Oh and many, many beers to drown my sorrows after the loss.
  5. Guy F
    21. Posted by Guy F Wed Nov 4 3:43pm EST

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    @ 15 : Blackaces : I have the games on tape (VHS!) and everything looked okay to me. Further, I do not recall there ever being any controversy about the officiating. The only complaint Canuck fans had was the extra day of rest between games 6 & 7. We were the younger team with all the momentum, after wining games 5 & 6, and had the game taken place 24 hours earlier all the NYR graybeards may have been in trouble. That said, Richter and Leetch lead the way and they were in their prime. Plus MSG is a busy building and there was a scheduling conflict, so be it. The VAST majority of Canuck fans have never cried about any officiating partiality whatsoever.
  6. El Viejo
    20. Posted by El Viejo Wed Nov 4 11:58am EST

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    I knew that had to be AVERY .... what a moron .... what's he doing on the ice ... he cant play hockey ... why do the Rangers embarrass themselves with such an idiot .... put a hockey player in his place, they might win someting ... :)
  7. El Viejo
    19. Posted by El Viejo Wed Nov 4 11:46am EST

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    no they didn't ... the NHL helped them ... every game vs. Rangers is game 7 all over again ... it was last night, watch the emotion ! ... fantastic game, right till the end ... Samuelson looks like a genius signing now eh ? .... Kesler is becoming a leader, masterful setup for Rypien and 3 assists ... astounding ... Raycroft looking good, has learned from Loiue .... when Daniel and Pavol and the rest come back, there will be no stopping this team.
  8. Mariners, Canucks, Redskins
    18. Posted by Mariners, Canucks, Redskins Wed Nov 4 10:31am EST

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    El Viejo, let it go, man. You're embarrassing the rest of us. The Rangers beat us fair and square in 1994, stop crying.
  9. Jay S
    17. Posted by Jay S Wed Nov 4 10:07am EST

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    #10 - Yep, and the South still sucks and is full of ignorant hicks like you.
  10. Haveanother1
    16. Posted by Haveanother1 Wed Nov 4 8:53am EST

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    Good, now Higgins' on track for a 5 goal season.
  11. <i>blackaces1994</i>
    15. Posted by blackaces1994 Wed Nov 4 7:55am EST

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    You Canuck fans need seriously to get a life......Officiating was fine......you just can't stand to bear the fact that the better team won the Cup in '94......best regular season record that year...best everything.....you were a great story getting to the Finals but please stop...you're embarrassing yourselves and the Canucks by whining about it....case closed.........stop crying and worry about how your overrated team this season will do......and post #2 let's talk about the most shameful chapter in NHL history - Bertuzzi the Canuck attacking Moore......get real
  12. E = MC Hammer
    14. Posted by E = MC Hammer Wed Nov 4 2:46am EST

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    Goodbye Shane O'Brien. I've got a feeling he played his last game as a Canuck.
  13. Lu
    13. Posted by Lu Wed Nov 4 1:44am EST

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    Vancouver has a good team this year, i have to say i'm impressed by their play with so many on IR. They've got 4th line guys contributing...and a great speed line with Raymond, Grabner and Kesler.

    If Luongo plays well, they're a good bet to win on most nights.

    p.s. whatever happened to Sundin?
  14. Guy F
    12. Posted by Guy F Wed Nov 4 12:55am EST

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    Well, looks like Sedin is okay (then again, Daniel finished the game when he broke his foot too...)

    I've said it before, I'll say it again ; Ryan Kesler is the most underrated player in the National Hockey League. Luongo Schmongo, Kes is the Captain of the Vancouver Canucks.
  15. Guy F
    11. Posted by Guy F Wed Nov 4 12:16am EST

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    Kesler's goal was completely legit. He was clearly stopping, no kicking motion at all.

    Looks like Henrik Sedin and Willie Mitchell might be injured now. What the hell, Grabner's "turned ankle" is now being reported as a 6 week absence. This is getting ridiculous.
  16. SEC Owns All
    10. Posted by SEC Owns All Tue Nov 3 9:37pm EST

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    They still play hockey?
  17. <i>sasha_k1984</i>
    9. Posted by sasha_k1984 Tue Nov 3 9:19pm EST

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    To bad nobody is even close to pavel bure in the league right now except for Alex The Great Ovechkin!!!
    NHL has not been the same after The Russian Rocket retired.
    Bure we miss youuuuuuuuu!!!
  18. David C
    8. Posted by David C Tue Nov 3 9:00pm EST

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    wow cant believe we are still talking about 1994 very bitter still
  19. LGR!!
    7. Posted by LGR!! Tue Nov 3 5:50pm EST

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    lmao Kyprien!
  20. nyr
    6. Posted by nyr Tue Nov 3 5:31pm EST

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    The Rangers Win tonight......Bet on it!!!!
  21. El Viejo
    5. Posted by El Viejo Tue Nov 3 4:11pm EST

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    some things are never settled, until VAN wins a cup that was torn out of our hands ... one day it will happen .... Buffalo must feel the same way (no goal) .... such is the power of the dark side.
  22. Nikka B
    4. Posted by Nikka B Tue Nov 3 2:22pm EST

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    The Canucks definitely where the Cinderella story in 1994, barely making the playoffs in the last regular season game. Pavel Bure was amazing and it would have been cool if Linden could have gotten his name on the cup as a Canuck.
    Mark Messier was amazing for NY... then Van. paid way too much to aquire him after he was too old to be as effective.
  23. Joseph
    3. Posted by Joseph Tue Nov 3 1:15pm EST

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    really ....that was 15 years ago....wow what a bitter bitter man.
  24. El Viejo
    2. Posted by El Viejo Tue Nov 3 12:40pm EST

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    VAN 3 - NYR 2 .... Canucks should have won the Cup in 1994 .... even Messier knows it .... Kyprien knows it too that little a$$hole ..... what a dork he is.

    Hope the officiating was to your liking, Mr. Messier .... was that ok .... referreeing was horrible in the 7th game, wiorking a 3-2 win over the Canucks .... the most shameful chapter in NHL history !
  25. Joseph
    1. Posted by Joseph Tue Nov 3 11:35am EST

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    Lgr!!!!!
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