SB Nation New York - Leafs 4, Rangers 2: Toronto Spoils New York's Home Openerhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2011-10-28T02:05:59-04:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/22820052011-10-28T02:05:59-04:002011-10-28T02:05:59-04:00Leafs 4, Rangers 2: Toronto Spoils New York's Home Opener
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<p>It was thought that after being away from the United States for nearly a month, and enduring a seven-game road swing that took them to Western Canada, the New York Rangers needed a trip home to find themselves. It would begin against the Toronto Maple Leafs, many thought. For one period, they did just that. The next two, however, they fell flat, and the Leafs took advantage, handing the Blueshirts a 4-2 loss.</p>
<p>In the first period against Toronto, the Rangers looked like a totally different team from the seven games prior. They were shooting from all angles -- 16 in the period -- they were hitting, skating all over the place, and they were energetic. It was the best period all season. But the only managed one goal, by <span>Dan Girardi</span>, because two were disallowed as the referees determined <span>Ryan Callahan</span> -- on both -- contacted the goalie. What could have been a 3-0 lead, was only a meager 1-goal advantage, and it ultimately did the Rangers in as the game transpired.</p>
<p>New York came out flat in the second and third periods. They mustered seven shots in each period, while allowing 26 more. They lost their energy, with coach John Tortorella admitting they looked "mentally lethargic" and "physically lethargic." <span>Matthew Lombardi</span> knotted the game up at 1, and three more in a row -- by Joffrey Lopul, Clarke MacArthuer and <span>Mike Brown</span> in the third added to the Rangers' misery. <span>Michael Del Zotto</span> scored late in the third for the Rangers to make it 4-2.</p>
<p>This was one of those games where <span>Henrik Lundqvist</span> looked human, letting in a few soft goals along the way, so even he couldn't bail out an offense that's sputtered this season. The offense has managed 16 goals in eight games; not exactly a good indicator of succcess. </p>
<p>Even more disconcerting was the fact that the Rangers could not sustain a high energy level throughout the game -- which was the one you'd expect them to be flying throughout, being their first game on home ice, after all. At this point, it seems the Rangers are a group on different pages, with the talent to be a winning team, but plenty of individuals still trying to find themselves in the early going. That even pertains to Tortorella, who is doing whatever he can to try to find which pieces mesh best together.</p>
<p>New York will look to put together a more complete game against the <a href="https://www.silversevensens.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Ottawa Senators</a> on Saturday afternoon.</p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 10.27.2011 </span> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>3</th> <th>Total</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> </span></td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a> </span></td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>1</td>
<td class="highlight">2</td>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-rangers/2011/10/28/2520177/toronto-maple-leafs-new-york-rangers-score-madison-square-garden-joffrey-lopul-henrik-lundqvistJimmy Hascup2011-10-27T10:01:19-04:002011-10-27T10:01:19-04:00Rangers Vs. Maple Leafs: Blueshirts Finally Return Home For First Game At Madison Square Garden
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<p>The New York Rangers finally get to play a home game Thursday, as the refurbished Madison Square Garden is finally open for business.</p> <p>Maybe some home cooking is just what the doctor ordered for the <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Rangers</a>. Despite earning a respectable 3-2-2 record on a lengthy, 16,000-mile road trip dating back to the preseason, these Blueshirts are still trying to find their way, still trying to replay that identity that existed so often last season. They'll aim to begin to regain that feeling against the <a href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> on Thursday night in their first game at (the newly-renovated) Madison Square Garden since their heartbreaking 4-3 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals on April 20 in the first round of the playoffs (7 p.m. EST, MSG).</p>
<p>At first glance, New York won't have it as easy as they did last year when they recorded a point in every game against Toronto, and won three games (3-0-1). These Maple Leafs have started out strong, with a 5-2-1 record, but their success has been tied to streaky <span>Phil Kessel</span>, who currently leads the NHL in goals (nine) and points (15), and has consequently contributed to a hot start from Joffrey Lopul, who ranks second on the team with nine points. The return of skilled, but injury prone <span>Tim Connolly</span> (upper-body injury) will be a shot in the arm for the Leafs, and he's expected to fill the first-line center role, but the Rangers should win out purely on depth. The Leafs have received standout play from defenseman <span>Dion Phaneuf</span>, who ranks No. 4 in the league with a plus-7 rating, and a return to his early Calgary days would do wonders for their season. But Toronto does have a goal differential of negative-1, and they've lost three of their past five games, one of those losses in a shootout.</p>
<p>Toronto will give up a number of good scoring chances, and thus will rely heavily on their goaltending, which has been buoyed by youngster <span>James Reimer</span>, who is 4-0-1 on the year. Often lacking this year for the Rangers is consistency for all lines, from shift to shift. For the most part, it's been one game on for some, one game off for others -- and unpredictability from one minute to the next. A dominant Rangers' team has not been shown for a long stretch of time yet this season.</p>
<p>The Blueshirts need to return to their hard-hitting, forechecking game and take it to Toronto. Stay out of the penalty box and wear the Leafs down 5-on-5. Overall, play consistently and receive contributions -- read: at least generate offensive chances -- from more than just the No. 1 line. And keep the defensive game simple. With <span>Michael Sauer</span> returning, a steady presence will also be injected into the the blueline core.</p>
<p>Ultimately, though, coach John Tortorella <a href="http://espn.go.com/new-york/nhl/story/_/id/7152610/new-york-rangers-home-open-new-look-madison-square-garden">said it best</a>:</p>
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<p>"We love coming in here today, we love what we see as far as the transformation that has gone on, but you need to win," Tortorella said. "That's what makes the building good -- winning in it. So that's our main focus."</p>
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<p>And it starts tonight. </p>
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<p class="game-title"><a href="https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/">Toronto Maple Leafs</a> <br> <span>@ <a href="https://www.blueshirtbanter.com/">New York Rangers</a> </span></p>
<p class="game-info"><span>Thursday, Oct 27, 2011, 7:00 PM EDT</span><br> Madison Square Garden</p>
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<h5><a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-rangers/2011/10/27/2517964/rangers-maple-leafs-preview-recap-game-time-tv-information">Rangers Vs. Maple Leafs: Blueshirts Finally Return Home For First Game At Madison Square Garden</a></h5>
<p class="byline"><span class="author">posted by <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/authors/jimmy-hascup">Jimmy Hascup</a></span> <span class="time">21 minutes ago</span></p>
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<h5><a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-rangers/2011/10/27/2517959/new-york-rangers-toronto-maple-schedule-game-time-tv-information">Rangers Vs. Maple Leafs: Blueshirts Finally Return Home For First Game At Madison Square Garden</a></h5>
<p class="byline"><span class="author">posted by <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/authors/jimmy-hascup">Jimmy Hascup</a></span> <span class="time">21 minutes ago</span></p>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-rangers/2011/10/27/2517959/new-york-rangers-toronto-maple-schedule-game-time-tv-informationJimmy Hascup