Our weekly review of the metropolitan area’s three N.H.L. teams.
Grades
Rangers: They played four home games this week and won them all, out-scoring opponents, 15-6. The Rangers beat Montreal and Winnipeg in regulation in back-to-back games over the weekend. Young centers Derek Stepan and Artem Anisimov, whose development is crucial to New York’s success this season, improved with each game in the homestand. It wasn’t always perfect – see the third period against Anaheim on Thursday – but it was a very good week for the Rangers. Grade: A
Devils: Like the Rangers, the Devils have mastered the craft of “finding ways to win.” After a loss to Toronto Tuesday in Martin Brodeur’s return from the injured list, the Devils played in Philadelphia 24 hours later, scored late in regulation to tie the game and won in a shootout. They reversed the scene Saturday at home, blowing a 2-0 third period lead to Winnipeg before winning in overtime. As a team expected to be in the battle for the final playoff spots in the East, the Devils do not want to give away points to clubs like Winnipeg. Still, wins in two out of three this week isn’t bad. Grade: B plus
Islanders: Thanks in part to trio of terrible goals allowed by Tomas Vokoun, the Islanders ended a six-game losing streak Saturday by beating Washington, 5-3. The victory was crucial for the young and confidence-challenged Islanders, who play three straight on the road this week, starting Monday night in Boston. Coach Jack Capuano was wise to rattle his forward lines after his team’s 3-0 loss to Winnipeg on Thursday. Win or lose, there’s no better way to identify the best competitors on your team. Grade: B
Metro Player of the Week
Adam Henrique, Devils – The 21-year-old returned from a recent skills-polishing stint in the minors to center a line featuring Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise. Henrique scored his first N.H.L. goal Wednesday in the win in Philadelphia. With Kovalchuk sidelined with an injury Saturday, Henrique scored twice – including the game-winner in overtime – against the Jets. The Devils’ third round pick from the 2008 draft probably won’t see the American Hockey League again this season.
Trending
Up: Metro New York Hockey – On Saturday, the Rangers, Devils and Islanders played home games to a combined audience of more than 47,000 – and they all won! No, the good attendance has nothing to do with the N.B.A. lockout. As evidenced by the passion in the stands shown in these early-season games, plenty of people in the tri-state area care about this sport.
Down: Henrik Tallinder – The Devils’ defenseman is 6 foot 4, 210 pounds and gifted with on-ice smarts, vision and mobility. But he has no goals and just one assist through 12 games this season and is a team-worst minus-6 (minus-4 this week). Pete DeBoer needs a lot more from Tallinder.
Up: Devils’ Outreach – As part of a national program called “Try Hockey For Free Day,” Devils alumni Ken Daneyko, Bruce Driver, Grant Marshall and President Lou Lamoriello hosted a clinic for 40 inner-city youths at the team’s practice facility Saturday. Willie O’Ree, the first black player in N.H.L. history, also took part. The Rangers and Islanders conducted clinics as well.
Up: P. A. Parenteau – The Islanders’ right wing is the personification of the “Moneyball” player on ice. Scouts may pick his game apart, but all Parenteau does is produce. In Capuano’s lineup shakeup, Parenteau was taken off John Tavares’ line. He responded with two assists and the game-winning goal against Washington. Parenteau has 11 points in 11 games.
Down: Al Montoya’s Playing Time – He was the Islanders’ starting goaltender for the season opener and was outstanding, posting a 2.02 goals-against average and .930 save percentage. But the team wanted to give Evgeni Nabokov some work and Rick DiPietro came off the injured list to play the last three games. Montoya has not seen a minute between the pipes in 17 days.
Down: Nassau Coliseum Roof – The roof of the old barn on Hempstead Turnpike on Long Island sprung another leak on Saturday, which meant relocating two sections of fans to other seats during the game against Washington.
Up: Marian Gaborik – Never mind the impressive stats (7 goals and 6 assists in 13 games), Gaborik has been outstanding this season in every aspect of the game. With or without Brad Richards, he has been the Rangers’ best forward regardless of the identity of his linemates. “He’s coming,” said John Tortorella.
Up: Michael Del Zotto – The 21-year-old defenseman, who spent most of last year in the minors after a solid rookie season, has regained his confidence. Since his defensive positioning has improved, Del Zotto feels more comfortable joining the play in the offensive zone. At plus-6, he is tied for the team lead with Ryan McDonagh.
Prospect Watch
In the sixth round of the 2009 N.H.L. draft, the Islanders selected Anders Lee, a 6 foot 3 forward from Minnesota. The team’s scouts received a tip that Lee, a star quarterback in high school, was going to give up the gridiron to focus solely on hockey. As a sophomore under Coach Jeff Jackson, Lee has ten goals in the first nine games of this season.
Rangers left wing prospect Carl Hagelin is off to a good start in his first year as a pro after playing four years at the University of Michigan. Hagelin, a 23-year-old left wing from Sweden, has 4 goals and 4 assists in 12 games with the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League.
The Devils signed Keith Kinkaid as a free agent in April, after the goaltender completed his sophomore year at Union College in upstate New York. Considered one of the best goalies in the E.C.A.C., Kinkaid has impressed from the start of his professional career. In his first five games with the Albany Devils of the A.H.L., Kinkaid has a 1.98 goals-against average and .930 save percentage.
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