Our weekly review of the performances of the three local N.H.L. teams.
Grades
Islanders: In their two games after Columbus Day weekend, the Islanders won one by blowout, the other in a nailbiter, and both impressively. They put away Tampa Bay early on Thursday, 5-1, by jumping out to a 4-1 lead after the first period. The Islanders beat the Rangers on Saturday, 4-2, by carrying play in the third period of a game tied at 2-2 after two.
Coach Jack Capuano’s first line of John Tavares centering Matt Moulson and P. A. Parenteau was the difference in both games. The Islanders also received quality goaltending —Al Montoya against Tampa Bay, Evgeni Nabakov against the Rangers —and committed team defense. After the big dud in their home opener against Florida, the Islanders ran off three straight wins at the Coliseum. The road schedule begins this week with games Thursday in Tampa Bay and Saturday against the Panthers. Grade: A
Rangers: The loss to the Islanders gave the Rangers a record of 0-1-2 to start the season. The European trek may have disrupted their preparation and the Rangers are without top defenseman Marc Staal, but no one is going to feel sorry for Coach John Tortorella and his winless club. Staal is not coming back any time soon and the club had a week at home to prepare for the Islanders.
They weren’t terrible in Uniondale, but their forward lines have not been able to string together effective shifts. Their best all-around player on Saturday was Derek Stepan, the second-year pro out of Wisconsin who does everything well and without the flash. Brandon Dubinsky, among many others, needs to be a lot better. Wins will not come any easier as the Rangers leave the country again for a Canadian swing that begins Tuesday in Vancouver. Grade: C-minus
Devils: After a shootout win at home over Los Angeles on Thursday, the Devils really demonstrated guts and spunk two nights later by coming back from a 2-0 deficit after two periods to win in a shootout in Nashville. New Jersey tied the score when Mattias Tedenby threaded a perfect pass to David Clarkson, who scored with 2 minutes left in regulation.
Since they’re relying primarily on Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise for goal scoring, the pressure is on the New Jersey defense. So far, it has been solid. The front six on the blue line — Adam Larsson, Mark Fayne, Anton Volchenkov, Andy Greene, Henrik Tallinder and Bryce Salvador — are among the league’s most underrated. The Devils do not play a game until Friday, when they host the San Jose Sharks. Grade: B-plus
Metro Puck Player of the Week
John Tavares, Islanders: He was the best player among the three locals in a landslide and deserving of consideration for player of the week in the N.H.L., awarded on Monday. Tavares had five goals and three assists in the victories over Tampa Bay and the Rangers. The highlight of his hat trick Saturday was his game-winner on the power play early in the third period to break a 2-2 tie. The best illustration of how far this elite talent has come in just over two seasons of pro hockey came later in the third as he bounced off a big check from a Ranger, kept his balance and set up yet another scoring chance for his linemates. If Tavares plays this way on the road, New York will have a new hockey superstar. Here’s the hat trick:
Trending
Up: Devils’ Shootout Prowess – How’s this for a fast and simple recipe to earn the second standings point in the postgame skills competition? Have Kovalchuk and Parise score on world-class moves and sit back and relax as Johan “Moose” Hedberg stops both opponents. In the Devils’ shootout victories on Thursday and Saturday, the third inning was never needed. For his N.H.L. career, Hedberg is now 20-7 in the shootout.
Down: Rangers’ Toughness – So maybe Sean Avery has lost enough of his edge for the pesky wing to no longer merit a job as one of the Rangers’ top 13 forwards. But something is amiss with the Blueshirts. It’s one thing to be winless in three games to start the season; it’s unacceptable to be an easy team to play against. The Rangers need to upgrade their toughness quotient or opponents will continue to skate into their end without a care in the world. Calling up Kris Newbury and demoting Mats Zuccarello to the minors, as Glen Sather did after the loss on Long Island, is not enough.
Up: Capuano’s Gut – The likeable Islanders coach often describes his decision-making process by saying, “I had a feeling in my gut.” Lately, his tummy is on fire. Capuano is a perfect 4 for 4 in his starting goalie selection this season, making the surprising decision to give Evgeni Nabokov his first game as an Islander against the Rangers on Saturday. He and his staff have also made wise in-game adjustments, like placing brawny fourth-line forward Matt Martin just outside the crease to distract Henrik Lundqvist during an Islanders power play.
Theories
The Rangers need to return from their four-game Canadian trip with more than just their first win of the season. They do not want to finally open at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 27 with a sad record and no momentum. Anything less than five points earned from the games in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg — the last three are especially winnable games — should be considered a failure.
The Islanders should be pleased with winning three of the four games of the season-opening homestand. When they take their act on the road, however, they will need production from players other than the members of their first line. Through four games, Tavares, Moulson and Parenteau have a combined 8 goals and 11 assists for 19 points. No one among the Islanders’ other forwards has more than one point. Just two, Michael Grabner and Frans Nielsen, have scored.
Kovalchuk’s Good Deed
Like many in the hockey community, Ilya Kovalchuk lost a lot of good friends when the airplane carrying the K.H.L. club Lokomotiv Yaroslavl crashed in Russia on Sept. 7. Kovalchuk is raising money for a victims’ family fund by sending autographed photos to supporters who contribute at least $17.
“This was a big tragedy that affected so many lives,” Kovalchuk said. “We should do everything we can to help.”
Those interested in donating and receiving a signed photograph of Kovalchuk should send an e-mail to info@puckagency.com. You will receive a response with details on how to make your contribution.
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