In a relatively minor trade, the Rangers have acquired defenseman Stu Bickel from Anaheim in exchange for defenseman Nigel Williams. Bickel, 24, is 6’4 and 218 lbs, and has played in six games with Anaheim’s AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch.
New York, NY (Sports Network) – Martin Biron made 31 stops, including 15 in a flawless third period, as the New York Rangers held on for a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames at Madison Square Garden.
Biron, starting his second straight game in place of a struggling Henrik Lundqvist, earned his fifth win of the season for the Rangers, who have won two straight and five of seven overall.
Dan Girardi notched a goal and an assist, while Brian Boyle scored the other goal in the win, New York’s first over Calgary since January 10, 2006.
Jarome Iginla scored his sixth goal in three games for the Flames, who are 2-8-1 over their last 11 games. Miikka Kiprusoff was victimized for two goals on 24 shots in defeat.
The Rangers were two different teams this weekend.
Friday, against the Colorado Avalanche, they got blown out of the water. The goaltending was bad, the defense was worse and the offense couldn't seem to create any type of momentum. The Rangers looked like a lost team, and the result showed that.
Saturday, on the other hand, was a different story. The goaltending was solid, the defense was great and the offense clicked. Michael Del Zotto played amazing, scored a goal and played well in his own zone, and looked like the guy the Rangers want him to be. Marian Gaborik and Alexander Frolov had good games for the Rangers as well. But it was Derek Stepan who stood out, playing an unbelievable game, and registering an assist in his home state.
The Rangers will be looking for that type of an effort tonight against the Calgary Flames. Olli Jokinen makes his return to MSG after a relatively poor spell in New York, capped off by his missed shootout attempt that would have prolonged the decisive game in Philadelphia at the end of the year.
Henrik Lundqvist will start in net, despite John Tortorella being less than pleased at his performance over the last two games.
A win would put the Rangers at 12-9-1, and move them closer to the top of the Atlantic Division.
