Analysis: Rangers Still Not Sharp, But Win in Winnipeg

Ryan Callahan’s goal midway through the third period gave the Rangers a 2-1 victory Monday night in Winnipeg.

Skating down the right side, Callahan attempted to slide a pass to an opponent outside the crease, but the puck caromed off Winnipeg defenseman Zach Bogosian and past goalie Chris Mason.

Ruslan Fedotenko’s redirection of a point shot by Dan Girardi on the power play opened the scoring early in the second period, but Nik Antropov answered for Winnipeg 10 minutes later.

Martin Biron made his first start of the season for the Rangers in goal and made 27 saves. A well-rested Henrik Lundqvist will be the starter when the Rangers play their home opener Thursday against the Maple Leafs.

Winnpieg out-shot the Rangers, 28-17. The Rangers completed its seven-game, season-opening trip with a record of 3-2-2. Despite only losing two games in regulation out of the seven, the Rangers will have to play much better to contend for the Stanley Cup this season.

Game Rating

Manitobans waited fifteen years for the return of the N.H.L. At this early stage of the comeback season, Jets fans are cheering everything. This game did not simmer until a frantic third period. Rating: 6 out of 10

Our Three Stars

1. Ruslan Fedotenko: A goal, an assist, plus a drawn penalty that led to the game-winning power play goal.

2. Martin Biron: Although Henrik Lundqvist started the first six games of the season, Biron did not look rusty.

3. Dustin Byfuglien: The immense Jets defenseman (latest estimate: 260 pounds) was a force for most of the night, especially in the offensive zone.

Rangers Plus/Minus

Plus: In a rarity this early in the season, the Rangers did not hold a parade to the penalty box. The Jets had only one power play.

Minus: Despite some line combination alterations by Coach John Tortorella, the Rangers were unable to sustain much of an offensive attack during five on five play for the second game in a row. During an intense 90-second stretch in the middle of the third period, the Jets had the Rangers scrambling in their own zone while they peppered Biron with shots.

Plus: Showing no favorites and identifying some uninspired play by Marian Gaborik, Tortorella benched the team’s leading goal scorer for all but three shifts in the third period.

Minus: After getting shut out by Edmonton on Saturday, the Rangers managed just 10 shots on goal after 40 minutes in Winnipeg.

Plus: Dan Girardi had assists on both goals and led the team with more than 25 minutes of playing time.

Plus: The Rangers’ seven-game road schedule — opening the season with four games in Europe, a pit stop in Uniondale and three games in Canada — is over. After a day off Tuesday, the Rangers will have one practice and a morning skate to prepare for their home opener Thursday. Their next six games are at Madison Square Garden.

Plus: After Callahan’s goal gave them the lead, the Rangers established an effective forecheck that stymied Winnipeg’s ability to create scoring chances in the final 10 minutes of the game.

Plus: The Rangers blocked 14 shots, including Callahan’s gutsy stop of a Bogosian slap shot in the final minute.

Tortorella’s Take

“Except for that one shift where they ran all over us, I thought we defended well. To watch our guys start blocking shots the way they did, that’s what we have to start with. We still have to be consistent having the puck.

“We’re 3-2-2, eight points,” he said of the seven-game trip. “We still have a lot of work to do to try and play the right way. But in this league, you grab your points and get out of here. There will be times when we play our best game and lose.”

Rangers Want Stralman

The Rangers have reportedly made a contract offer to Anton Stralman, an unrestricted free agent who has played 212 games in his N.H.L. career with Toronto and Columbus. Stralman attended the Devils’ training camp last month and impressed the coaching staff, but the team decided to go with other defensemen and did not offer him a deal. The Rangers are in need of experienced defensemen because of the uncertain status of Marc Staal, who continues to suffer from concussion symptoms.

Metro Puck: Ranking the Top Offensive Forwards Among the Rangers, Islanders and Devils

There are now nine elite scoring forwards among New York and New Jersey’s hockey teams. Two years ago, list-makers would find it challenging to nominate more than one each from the Rangers, Islanders and Devils. Now it’s an embarrassment of Richards and Tavares and Kovalchuk.

These gentlemen – no, really, they all play this nasty game fairly – are capable of scoring a minimum of 30 goals, averaging a point a game, or both. The oldest is 35 years of age, the youngest just 21. The relative youth among the nine means we should finally see more playoff hockey in Manhattan, Uniondale and Newark over the next few seasons.

A few words about the criteria for this one-man poll: the players are ranked not on potential, but simply on value to their teams for the 2011-12 season. While these humble hockey players may be honored just to be in each other’s company, you are invited to submit your own list (and other worthy candidates) in the comments space.

1. Brad Richards, Rangers: Richards has never scored 30 goals in his ten-year N.H.L. career; he established his high of 28 last season with Dallas. But the Rangers’ must-have free agent acquisition from this summer has eclipsed the 70-point plateau 7 times. In reuniting with his playmaking center on the 2004 Cup-winning squad in Tampa Bay, Coach John Tortorella is relying on Richards to set up Marian Gaborik all season long. An 80-point season for Richards is a reachable goal.

2. John Tavares, Islanders: Every Canadian junior league scout could tell you Tavares, 21, would be a masterful sniper in the N.H.L. within close range. What has surprised some league observers is his ability to make a pinpoint pass opponents do not see coming. Tavares had 24 goals and 54 points as a rookie and 29 goals and 67 points last season. The Islanders, who signed him to a six-year contract extension this summer, have reason to believe he can reach at least 35 goals and 75 points in year 3.

3. Zach Parise, Devils: The U.S.A. Olympian missed all but 13 games last season with a torn meniscus in his right knee, but looked in a preseason win on Saturday over the Flyers like he has made a complete recovery. Parise, who is on the last year of his contract and could become an unrestricted free agent next July 1, averaged 42 goals and 88 points over his two seasons before getting hurt. If he returns to the top of his game and matches those numbers, the 27-year-old will be in position to pick his team next summer. Count, as the Devils surely are, on Parise staying in New Jersey.

4. Ilya Kovalchuk, Devils: Inarguably the most explosive player in the region, the left wing from Russia has more to prove as a Devil. Last season he had 31 goals and 60 points – his lowest totals since his rookie year with Atlanta in 2002-03 – and was unable to lift his club when Parise was injured and players sulked under former coach John MacLean. The bar is higher for Kovachuk, and it’s not because of his 15-year, $100 million contract. Expectations are great because of his skill level.

5. Michael Grabner, Islanders: In a shocking waiver wire steal, the Islanders lifted Grabner from the Panthers after the Austrian struggled through a slow start in his first Florida training camp. Grabner, who won the Fastest Skater competition on N.H.L. All-Star weekend, scored 34 goals for the Islanders. If he can improve his ability to finish his innumerable breakaways, Grabner can become of the league’s top game-breakers.

6. Marian Gaborik, Rangers: There will be no excuses for Gaborik, a highly skilled sniper who scored just 22 goals last season. Richards has arrived and the pair is expected to elevate the Rangers from a fringe playoff team to a squad challenging for home-ice advantage in the first round.

7. Ryan Callahan, Rangers: New York’s newly-christened captain set career highs last season with 23 goals and 48 points in 60 games last season. Although he may never be a big goal scorer, Callahan is revered among his teammates and coaches for his physical play. He is viewed as one of the most effective second-line forwards in the game. His only downside: Callahan plays so hard – often selfishly giving up his 5-11, 195-pound body to block a shot – he could be prone to breaking a few bones, as he did last season in missing 22 games and the playoffs.

8. Matt Moulson, Islanders: Moulson scored 30 and 31 goals the last two seasons for the Islanders after never getting his big break in the farm system of the Los Angeles Kings. He averaged just 20 assists the last two seasons, which suggests Moulson is a finisher and not much of a passer. If he continues to pot at least 30 goals each season playing to the left of Tavares, no one with the Islanders is going to complain.

9. Patrik Elias, Devils: Check out the Czech’s point totals since 2006-07: 69, 55, 78, 48 and 62 last season. While the ups and downs may have been affected in part by the quality of his linemates, the 35-year-old Elias must have a 30-goal, 30-assist campaign to help the Devils qualify for the playoffs. Elias is a proud competitor. Don’t bet against him.

Close: Brandon Dubinsky, Rangers; Kyle Okposo, Islanders

Developing: Mattias Tedenby and Jacob Josefson, Devils; Nino Niederreiter, Islanders