Five Things About the Rangers/Leafs (Game 5 - 2010/2011). . .

Alright, and here we go:

*Yay for Marty Biron! Really happy for him. I had a hunch (expressed on Twitter) that it was right to start him in TO. Hank, for whatever reason, does not have his best games in Toronto - well, most of Canada - so why not give Biron the go. Not only did he win, he played well. And stopped what has been a hot Maple Leafs team. Good for him, - a really good guy. Congrats on his first win as a NYR.

*Ruslan Fedotenko led the Rangers with 5 shots on goal and got his first goal as a Ranger tonight. But, he had the right idea. The big thing is winning. And if more guys can produce on the goal sheet, the Rangers will do more of that winning thing.

*When Anisimov scored on the feed from Rozsival, and was right on the doorstep to do so, I asked myself - why is that so uncommon. Perfect scenario. Perfect looking goal. Kudos Anisimov for making it look smooth, but Rozsival has impressed in the small ways so far this year. Shots from the point. A few crafty passes. I think - maybe - he's finally back on track. Worth $5 million. No way. But a serviceable part of this team. He can be.

*Despite all the Avery/Komisarek/Gaborik/Armstrong talk going into tonight's game, the only true revenge would be to do exactly what they did - win. Win for themselves. Win for their team. And win to get themselves on track, and the Leafs off of whatever track of success they've been on. 2 points. Much needed.

*Kessel had 3 shots in over 20 minutes, and was a -1 on the night. Guess we can give some credit to Marc Staal for playing the shutdown role on him. Pretty effective job.

OH and speaking of Kessel. This is horrible, but it's really funny. I saw this floating around on Twitter. Down Goes Brown has some amazing stuff, and this is one of my favorites:

Leafs Delivering Tickets

Enjoy!


________________________________________________


Meanwhile, in Coyote land, Petr Prucha has been scratched two games in a row, bringing horrible visions of Tom Renney to mind, and making my twitter explode in dis-satifaction. Not good for his confidence. Hope this is not a pattern, or we'll see lovable ball of fire playing in Europe next year. :(

Bestest NHL Thank You Video Ever. . .

Wait for it...wait for it... =)

Keep Your Heads Up, Coyotes. . .

So the season that was successful, ground-breaking, and franchise record
setting, came to a not-so-happy ending for the 2009-2010 Phoenix Coyotes Tuesday night.

So what.

Woah, now, don't confuse the passive attitude with non-interest or disrespect. It's
neither!

Rather I don't want in any way to disrespect the team for all they did this season. To focus on the end and not the journey, in this case, would take away from all they accomplished. (And, man, did they accomplish a lot!)

Look, we'd all be in a much better state of mind if the Yotes powerplay didn't go dry in 5 out of 7 games, if regular season Lee Stempniak didn't forget how to score in the playoffs, and if Shane Doan didn't get so seriously hurt.

But...that's not the way it rolled. Sometimes all good intentions and better teams just don't get you there.

I think the Coyotes played well, and on many nights, as well as they could have. Games 5 and 7 didn't follow that mold. Many people thought they'd go down in 4 or 5 games.

Instead a squad of young, mostly inexperienced players took the two time
consequtive Western Conference champs to 7 games.

Hell, I thought the Coyotes would win in 6 games. Felt very confident in fact. Sometimes the good, and perhaps the better, teams fall.

Just ask Washington.

____________________________


Anyway, think of the positives of the playoffs.

Shane Doan got back there. True it was only for 2+ games and he was severely injured. But think back to game 1. When he was told to have fun before game 1 he said, "don't worry I will," with his trademark, glorious Doan-ish smile.

Keith Yandle took a big step towards joining the next ranks of breakout defensemen in the league. His game 1 performance was dominant. The only bad news, he won't be a silent weapon much longer. He's too good.

Matthew Lombardi and Martin Hanzal stepped up in the faceoff circle. Vital parts of this team. Hanzal, in fact, had a masterful performance, even in games the Coyotes did not play well. Guy is sometimes a little penalty prone, but he is young and learning.

Ilya Bryzgalov may not have had his best games at all moments but the guy
carried the team as best he could when the once steady, well-disciplined
defense in front of him fell. He will only grow from this. He's too good a goalie to not get the chance to experience more playoffs and improve in big games.

And Petr Prucha, the oft-scratched, rarely counted upon in do-or-die situations in the past (well, at least in New York), had the best night in his young playoff career in Game 3. A key assist on his tempo-setting first shift, a goal that undressed 6-time Norris winner Nick Lidstrom, and a well deserved first star of the game honor. All on a nationally televised game. And when their captain was injured, it was #16 that skated with Lombardi and Woltek Wolski. Think someone has gotten
their confidence back?

Anyway, I think we should focus on that. Not the powerless powerplay, not the
defensive lapses, not the things we can't control. (And that seemingly the team could not control either).

They got a taste now. They will be hungrier next year. Get the nerves out of their system now, and work to fix what they can - like the powerplay. This team will be in good shape. I'm confident.

And the cool thing about it all. They did get there. It may not have been MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, but it was mission accomplished.

A team no one thought would even contend - did. And they did all of their fans proud - the fans that have supported for years, the fans in Phoenix, and the fans from afar. They did us proud.

So bravo to them. And thank you. I don't think we'll ever forget this season in the desert. It was truly something to marvel at and there are no words to describe how happy I was and satisfied I am to have been one of the many taking their journey with them.

Thank you, 2009-2010 Phoenix Coyotes. We'll see you next season.

Speaking of Petr Prucha. . .

He nets an assist on the franchise record quickest goal in playoff history 29 seconds in, plays on fire all night, and, oh yeah, scores the game winning goal - as the Coyotes beat Detroit in Game 3 of their best of 7 series. He was named #1 Star of the Game!

=)

Here are some photos. And a link to a great article on nhl.com. Get the Hankies out. (Again, not Lundqvist here).

"I finally have my spot in the lineup," said Prucha, who had 30 goals for New York in 2005-06 and 22 the following season before falling out of favor with the coaching staff. "It's always good to feel that you're important for the team and you can make something on the ice. I feel great."

"That was huge," Prucha said. "First shift, we had a 1-0 lead so we calmed down a little bit and took the momentum from them. We just kept going."

"That line, they compete hard, they do good things with the puck," Phoenix coach Dave Tippett said. "When they chip in with some goals, that's really a bonus. They play against top players all the time. They're a group that really works well together."

"He's been a very good player for us all year," Tippett said. "I thought the last couple of weeks of the (regular) season and the first three games of the playoffs, he's been very good. Great work ethic. He's relentless on the puck, and that's what we need from that whole group."

"It's great for our confidence," Prucha said. "They stole one game from us in our house, and now we were able to do it in their house and we still have one more opportunity to do it one more time."

Confidence, right? All about a little confidence. =) *Oh and you are always a Star to us, Pete!




Go Yotes Go!

Thoughts on the Rangers and Coyotes. . .

Too much to type on Twitter right now, so the blog lives for a night.

Tonight was the first night, for sure, that I thought the Rangers were done. Over. Finished. Kaput.

No lack of credit to St. Louis, but there was no reason, to me, the Rangers couldn't have gotten it done. And had they come out big after Drury's criticism of the team's "maturity" level after Tuesday's Habs diabacle, I thought maybe - maybe! - they'd have a shot.

But they didn't.

Hank looked shaky. The team failed to score 5 on 3. The team scored 3 goals and did not win. And after they scored their 3rd goal to tie, they gave up the go-ahead goal less than 2 minutes later.

Sound familiar?

A tale too often told at the Garden.

And one fans just do not want to hear, see, live.

And yet, they do. We do. I did.

I don't know what to say to it. Hank has kept the Rangers in games they should not have been. But tonight, he wasn't sharp.

The Rangers woes are the same they've had most of the season, save a few games. They can't score when they should. They can't hold a lead (or in this case tie). Their defense is pedestrian, at times.

I want this team to make the playoffs, surely. But they HAVE to win. They HAVE to do something about it. They CAN'T LOSE their way to the playoffs. They don't have that LUXURY this year.

So the NYRs wait until Sunday when they face off against the team they are trying to displace - Boston.

A very, very interesting and IMPORTANT matchup Sunday has turned out to be.

Look, I'm a Rangers fan. I will always hope they figure it out and find a way. I just think the chances got a lot slimmer tonight. I just don't feel there is any magic left. Sadly.


THE YOTES-

Which brings me to - the Phoenix Coyotes.

I know some people probably have no idea why I am so happy for this team. Although to me it's very clear. My favorite player got exiled there. Exiled to a team that had an uncertain future. But a team that, we have seen, is a very VERY VERY very legitimate team.

And as much as I root for his team because it is HIS team, I have grown to love this team. I think I respect Shane Doan more than almost anybody in this entire league. I think Bryzgalov got over-shadowed in Anaheim and finally - finally! - has been given his own true chance - and lived up! I think it's BRILLIANT - (and feels like it was done once, once, upon a time in New York. Cough 2005-2006) in New York?) - to have a plethora of Czechs on your team.

I also think they are a true example of a team. They never quit. They can be down 4-0, 3-0, 4-2 late in the game, and they keep going. They believe they can, and very often, they can. They rally around one another, in defeat, and in glory. They have unlikely heroes - like Aucoin and Korpikoski in the shootout, Lee Stempniak - the guy who just joined the team at deadline and has contributed significantly to their offense after it.

They do not score a ton - they score as a team. They display amazing puck support in a pack mentality way, and they make up for one another's errors. They have one of the most defensively strong games I've ever seen - and yet they are anything BUT boring.

Sure, the Coyotes have lost games 4-0, 3-0, but those are the extreme minority. They've shown they can win in almost every way - tonight's come from behind 4-3 SH win, as an example.

This team is 33-3-2 when they score first. (Read that again please). 33-3-2. Anyone in any phase, stream of life, wishes they had that type of consistency.

The Coyotes do.

And I'm proud of them.

I am a Rangers fan, promised in my heart years ago, and I will not relent.

BUT, I have never, ever, been the person that cannot hope, want, wish, and enjoy good for other teams. And if there is any team that I get to do that for - it's that team in the desert.

The team that since one Pete Prucha got traded last March, I followed more closely. The team that I followed even when he didn't play. The team that has now stopped being made up of Vernon Fiddler, Taylor Pyatt, Radim Vrbata, and NOW, to me, is made up of Fiddy!, Py-Py, and Vrby!

I do love this team. If Pete does not remail after next year (although I hope with all my heart he does, because they love and appreciate him) - I care for this team and know more about this team and its players that ANY team I've followed during the last 16 years save the Rangers. And the NYRs have left a lot of room for following other teams, especially come playoff time. This is the closest I've ever gotten to another "love."

Again, take nothing from New York. I'll love them forever. But loving the Coyotes too - means I get to feel more of that passion. And I need that. I love and appreciate that.

Tonight, the Coyotes set a franchise record for wins in a season with 44. Congratulations to them. A team that I, even despite the love, didn't think had it in them, even though I hoped and (biasedly) felt they maybe did. They are amazing, and wonderful, and I am proud to have followed them 99% of the time since March of 2009.

Bandwagon? It's been said.

Us Prucha fans jumped on before their was such a thing.

And we love #16.

But we LOVE them all! All those in maroon and white. All those in the desert. We support...and we believe.


_______________________________________________________

P.S. 1 - Why - Why? - does it seem all these young college basketball athletes get it. Get the fleeting joy, the startling defeat, more than the hockey professionals. The joy, the sorrow, on their faces. That is what I love about sports. I miss the innocence. I really do.

P.S. 2 - I am sincerely and with extreme regret, sorry this blog has been so dark. I won't make promises for this season. I've been very busy, and very distracted. But...I am sorry. And I hope - hope! - going forward into the summer and next year, that it will be regularly updated once again. Who knows? Way things look, it may be an unofficial Coyotes board come playoff time! ;)

A Few Ramblings Thoughts on the NYRs. . .

A few thoughts, some long overdue, that have been floating around in my mind for the last while, especially given the last week of fun that was being a New York Rangers fan.

The Rangers scored last night. Really that shouldn't be news, but it is. Because they can't score. Or they won't score. And they hadn't scored in over a week - literally - after being shutout at home twice in a row.

I knew they'd have problems scoring, but come on now...

The game against the Bruins was up tempo and great, a real put-together effort.

The game against the Devils was frustrating in only that they lost in the skills competition of the hockey menu. (And that thing about Brodeur but I won't digress).

The game against Ottawa was some of the most mind-numbing play (if we can call it that) I've seen in this year. Did they even know they had a game? Should they have to have been told?

The game last night. Well, I kinda had a feeling that, for irony sake, if Voros was in the lineup he'd have something to do with scoring. He had an assist. As the Rangers finally score a goal.

Again, shouldn't be news, but in NYR world, it kinda is.


After the last week of "whatever-it-was" I have a few questions/thoughts/confusions going on.

One (as mentioned in my last entry) I'd read in Rangers Rants that after Erik Christensen missed in the shootout, he had a hard time sleeping.

After the Ottawa game, Rangers.com writer Jim Cerny tweeted that:

Maybe most down post-game locker room all year for #Rangers; Del Zotto, Boyle, Prospal among those really taking it to heart #NYR
10:50 PM Jan 14th from web

We all saw Gaborik's quotes that he said that Ottawa's first goal in the dying minutes Thursday was "his fault" and it "cost us the game."

Every game we see Hank take the burden of the game on himself. I've said for along time, no one takes it harder when the NYRs lose than him. I'm sure he's even hard on himself in games he does NOT EVEN PLAY. Because that's the type of player he is.

So, why, I ask, is is so easy for these players to feel badly. And for others to seemingly not care?

Prospal is a gamer, a Marty Straka type guy. He gets it. He gets what it takes to win and feels bad when they lose.

Del Zotto, the 19-year-old rookie who has had a great year and who makes me happy to be a fan. He gets it.

Boyle, the 4th liner, he gets it.

Gaborik and Hank, the two guys who going into this season we knew would be carrying this team on their back, they get it.

And Christensen, Erik - I wasn't even here a month ago - Christensen, he gets it?


I'm happy these players get it. I am. It just makes me curious who else does?

Does Drury get it? I realize he may not be the captain we expect, or certainly not the player he is paid for, but at what point do you have to, for benefit of the team and the fans, consciously put aside the fact that you are a boring, mumbling human being, and act like a captain. Even if that isn't who you are. At what point do you show the world that you care?

Erik Christensen couldn't sleep the other night.

Did Chris Drury have a problem?


_____________________________________


I've spoken before, namely last season, and a lot, about passion and personality, and how it matters.

And it matters less when you are doing your job, surely, and gets magnified, to me, when you are not.

I like this team better. I really do. But more than halfway through, we can come to some conclusions.

*Brashear is useless to this team. I tried to give the benefit of the doubt (to a degree) to start the season. But I think we can safely say that if he was ever to be effective, he is now too old, too injured to do so in any capacity.

It now makes perfect sense (and lacks all sense not) to play Aaron Voros every night in his place. Why? At least Voros seems to care. That much can definitely be said. Not one can, and ever will, show the grace and humility Prucha did when scratched repeatedly, but I think Voros has done an admirable job of taking it. And tell me how he's worse? He skates better, and if the last two Brashear fights are any indication, he may actually fight better at this point. Or at least not fall down anymore.

$1.4 million waste of money. And most of us knew it in July.


* This team will only go as far as Gaborik takes them. Another conclusion we probably could have reached in July. Gaborik is upset he thinks he cost the Rangers one game in January. Marian, how many did you win for them? Seriously, how many games were you the only one scoring, the only one providing any enthusiasm or sense of purpose? And he's on himself because he's not a shootout wizard? Please. Gaby, if you were not here in New York, the Rangers would be holding up Carolina and Toronto in the standings.

* As much as Gaborik is important, vital, to this team, Hank has proven himself to be the backbone. This is Hank's team, guys. No doubt anymore. It doesn't matter that he doesn't wear the C.

- He (and Avery) called that meeting to try to get the team back on track.

- He is very often the reason they win or remain in games they should not.

- He is the guy who you have no doubt - NO DOUBT - tears himself up over this team.

Hank, Hank is the backbone of this team. No question about it.

* Beyond a bright future on defense (I include Staal with Del Zotto and Gilroy), a superstar talent (Gaborik), and Hank, this team is not as good as I thought they were. Not that I thought they were good, mind you. But I thought they were 8th place material, that perhaps they'd fall between 6 and 10th, and hopefully squeeze into the playoffs at 8. They probably aren't even good enough to do that. They'll benefit surely from a weaker East. They may very well get into the playoffs if other teams collapse. But they are a team trying to put it together, not a team with their act together.


* Inconsistency has been the worst part of this team, has it was last year, and times before that. A 60 minutes effort is a rarity. And even when it is there (like Tuesday versus NJ) there is sometimes nothing to show for it. I'm disappointed, for myself as a fan, and for the players that do try so hard. Why should Hank and Gaborik (and Boyle and Del Zotto, and Christensen, and Prospal) beat themselves up all the time? When it's a 20 player game and so many of the rest of them are invisible.


Rangers take on the Habs tonight. I can see this going badly. Since Poulliot has joined the Canadiens, Gomez has looked a real player again. Yep, I can see this being an interesting return trip to MSG.


_______________________

In happy news, Prucha scored 2 goals (and almost a 3rd) in a 6-4 win over the Wild in the desert last night.

Prucha has 11 goals on the season.

More goals than any Ranger that is not wearing #10 on his back.

Yotes: Prucha on the Rise. . .

Helmet tip to the good folks at 5-hole.com for putting together a "Prucha Goal Watch" on their site. I was going to do the same, but you know what they say about great minds...

Anyway, in all its glory, you can view Prucha's 9 - count 'em 9 - goals so far this season - Prucha Goal Watch!

In short, and this will be short, I've kept up with the Coyotes about as much as any Rangers fan in New York could. I watch all the games I possibly can (probably 95% so far in some capacity) and even if I miss, make sure I watch Prucha's shifts on the games I Tivo.

My conclusion:

The kid is okay.

He's more than okay.

He's great.

What started after trade deadline last season - a quiet, slow, building of confidence with puck carrying, movement in the offensive zone, using the boards, etc - has now grown into the most full out confidence I've seen from the Czech forward in, well, let's just say way too long.

The Coyotes system is perfect for a guy like Pete. Not saying other ones wouldn't be, but this certainly has given him an opportunity to play a role and be productive, even if he doesn't score.

Coyotes players swarm, provide excellent puck support to one another. If one guy loses it, someone is right behind them.

Prucha works in this. He's the type of player that if he loses the puck, he does everything to get it back, and to his credit, he very often does. Now, he gets it back for teammates too. He backchecks and often is caught making a great defensive play because he's so fast (you listening TR?). On the powerplays he and his Czech mates create a great down low cycle on the puck.

It's refreshing. Truly refreshing.

But the biggest difference as of late - two lovely and glorious goals earlier in the season: one on butt, one on stomach, notwithstanding - has been his ability to do all the above AND shoot the puck.

When Prucha scored his 8th of the season versus Vancouver on 12/29, he had scored more goals than any year since 2006-2007 when he scored 22. And his shooting % was higher than it had been since then as well.

Earlier in the year, he was getting robbed by goalies, literally highlight reel robs.

But he didn't quit. Like we'd expect any differently? Please.

He never quits.

So he stuck with it and he's now shooting, and shooting with a confidence. The more goals he scores, the more the confidence rises.

His goal versus Edmonton on Tuesday, versus former coach Tom Renney, was another example of such. He was passed the puck in the slot and he shot, without thinking, just shot. Puck in net. Goal #9 on the year.

It's refreshing he's shooting. It's wonderful he's scoring.

But best of all, it's just the best thing in the world that he's happy and he's playing.

Good stuff in the desert. And #16 is a big part of that.

State of the Union at NHTProductions. . .

As we bustle through the season of holiday fun, snow, and hockey, thought I'd take a few minutes out to make another clarification, if I may so bold as to do so.

Last night on my twitter feed I got a comment (we won't say complaint) that I wasn't talking enough about the Rangers and to stop spending so much time talking about the Coyotes.

First I got annoyed. It was very clear from the beginning - to me at least - that even though the Rangers logo appears and that the Rangers are #1 (in our hearts, not in the standings) that Natural Hat Trick Productions was always a hockey blog. A hockey blog with a Rangers flavor and favortism, but a hockey blog.

After the annoyance faded, I actual agreed on some level with the person who commented. I engage in A LOT of Coyote conversation. It's true. And the thought has crossed my mind that someone "following" me may be a little annoyed by it if they follow for "Ranger" or "NHL" news.

However, I can't apologize and I don't think it should have to change.

When the trade that rocked some of our worlds in March sent Petr Prucha - the like him, love him, don't care about him, but don't hate him bundle of energy - to the desert, my rooting interests changed. Or rather were added to.

I'm still a New York Rangers fan. But I had a player I cared about deeply go somewhere else. Somewhere you can't visit all the time. Somewhere that, with a BIG thanks to technology, you can only watch on TV and communicate about on the internet. Thankfully, it's still possible to root. To be a fan.

Thus I found a new team to follow. They don't replace the Rangers. Please. But I'm not one of those people that felt that you couldn't follow other teams when the Rangers weren't playing, or when they were not in the playoffs. I spent years following Dallas, San Jose, and the rest of those perennial playoff teams during the Rangers dark era. I did. And no regrets, and no apologies.

So why should there need to be apologies for spending evenings, late evenings, sometimes til 1am or beyond, chatting with people who like the Coyotes, like the Rangers and watch the Coyotes, or like both? Why? The greatest thing, besides the fact that "pepperpot" gets to play hockey (guess who was on during the last few minutes of a tie game? guess who was taking faceoffs last night?), is that it's opened up a whole new group of hockey friends to share the experience with.

If Prucha does not go to the Coyotes, I may root for them, hope well for them, but I do not watch them, I do not follow them so closely. He went, so I do. But it's really more than him. It is. I always respected Shane Doan. Don't know if it's possible not to. And I wanted well for the team. They are a fun team. A fun group of guys that, perhaps like Pete, did not get the chance to play somewhere else.

And they are doing a fantastic job there. Very enjoyable team to watch. They hustle, they support one another, they almost never back down from a game they are losing in. And I say what I am going to say next with love - they are more enjoyable to watch than the Rangers are right now.


If I'm apologizing for anything here, it's that with watching essentially every Rangers game and every Coyotes game, there has become little to no time for watching any OTHER team. And that does hurt. I have such a devoted interest to all hockey, and on a weekly basis there are many games I wish there was time to watch. I'm apologizing that the "Game of the Week" segment disappeared. I'm apologizing that the Flyers have fired their coach and I still have not seen them play a game yet this year! (Although that one may be on Versus a bit).


Before this "few minutes" gets to be more than it needs to be, the person who made the comment had a point. And while I will not stop at the late west coast hours chatting on twitter with fellow Rangers, Coyotes, and Prucha fans - my advice, btw, is to just ignore my twitter account during those late hours - I can make sure to add some more Rangers content to NHTProductions. Absolutely.

So to the random person who made the comment. Thank you. I won't apologize or change what I am doing regards the Coyotes, BUT, I'll be better about not forgetting my Rangers team either.

Yotes: From the Flames Game Day. . .

Just to please the masses:



Prucha got the Coyotes first goal of the night en route to a 2-1 win. His goal broke a recent shutout streak by the recently very impressive Kiprusoff!



We're happy for you Pru! =)

Yotes: Some Prucha Return Video Clips From Phoenix Broadcast. . .

Big helmet-tip to Amy Jo over at YotesGurl for these clips. Tell me the first one doesn't make you cry, the second one doesn't make you laugh!

How do you not cheer for the little guy with the big heart?!






There's a phrase that goes something like, mourn not to long that he is gone, but rejoice forever that he was.

Rejoice in that NY had Prucha for 4 wonderful years. And mourn not, because the kid is where he can be happy once again.

Five Things About the Rangers/Yotes Game. . .

With a confused mind and a heavy heart, you get....

* How great for Enver Lisin to get a goal and an assist versus his former team? Good for him for gaining the trust of Torts and being, let's say, much better than in his first handful of games. Guy has a good personality and has gotten some insurance goals for NY. Happy for him to have that moment.

* Important win for the NYRs, any way you slice it. Could not have been good to lose 4 in a row - no matter how many NYR supporters had mixed emotions as their adoptive desert dogs rolled into the Garden tonight. (And yes, I am very much among them.) They needed to get back to what made them good, and I think they made strides in that effort tonight. Have a few games coming up that are very win-able. They need to keep the streak going.

* Another night where Prospal, Kotalik, and Gaborik continued to prove their worth. We knew the potential for Gaborik, but I am happy with the production of Kotalik and Prospal. Even better? They seem to be so happy when they score, when their teammates score. It's a good thing to have a team you feel good about.

* Del Zotto - two more assists. It's too early to even really legitimately contemplate, but the guy is getting serious league recognition for being the offensive-go-to-guy on defense. A brilliant thing, one I don't think we, as fans of the NYR, thought we'd be seeing again so soon. Great story. So proud of such a talented young kid.

* As much as we (me, me, me) wanted Prucha's return to the Garden to be an amazing, unforgettable one, it wasn't much to speak about. During warmups, he tossed some pucks to his fans. He got his very much and always fondly remembered "Pruuuuuus." And he hustled. There is not a game I remember where the little pepperpot did not go-go-go. I wish he scored a goal. Hell, I wish he scored 14 goals. It didn't happen. But it's important that my adoptive Coyote team, like my favorite NYR team, gets back to what got them there in the first place -good neutral zone play, with minimal turnovers. And rock solid goaltending. Here's hoping they do well against Columbus in 2 nights. As much as I looked forward to tonight and wanted the best, I am just as happy it is behind us and I can root for my favorite team, and my favorite team to root for again. It's too hard having them both interconnect.

Til Wednesday...

Yotes: And Prucha Ties It. . .

Apparently another gutsy play but the good guy -

Yotes: Prucha In Pittsburgh. . .

Well if you thought you knew what was going to happen when the Penguins went into Pittsburgh tonight - think again.

The Coyotes put together a gutsy full team effort and took advantage of a penalty plagued Penguins team to win 3-0 over the defending champs.

Pens announcers on radio and TV kept praising the Coyotes fight, saying they were a complete team, giving the Penguins no time and space to do anything.

The highlight of the night and my early "Goal of the Year" favorite was from a very familiar face. In case you missed, this is what you would have heard:

"Shot taken by Vrbata. The rebound - they score! Petr Prucha scores from his BACK, as he's able to poke it past Brent Johnson to make it 2 to nothing.

Isn't that what Petr Prucha brings you? We've seen it when he was a member of the New York Rangers. Maybe he's not feisty. Sometimes he is and he has been, but he's got great hands.

On the first goal, he was the screen and the second goal he is lying on his kneesand he's able to keep track of the puck as he's knocked down, intertwined with Mark Eaton in front of the cage. Even though he was hog tied, he got it up over the glove of Brent Johnson. It's 2-0 on two powerplay goals by the Coyotes. What a goal!"

"So Petr Prucha is on the board for the first time with the Coyotes this season. That's his 6th goal in 29 games against the Penguins. Doesn't sound like much but I bet if you look he has more goals against Pittsburgh than any other team. He really loves playing against the Penguins.

And maybe the Rangers knew that. They would even plug him into the lineup against Pittsburgh even after he'd been scratched for a several games before that.

Petr Prucha has given the Coyotes a 2-0 lead."

And later on:

"You don't want those two on a 2 on 1. Vrbata and Prucha. They are two of the most talented players on this hockey team. Nice move by Prucha to move it from forehand to backhand."

Ignore the Prucha gushing - okay, don't. relish in it! you know I will! - this was a complete team effort but a team that is not getting enough credit.

I'm thrilled anytime they win. But even more when they win like that. And against the Penguins - a team that under Bylsma has only lost once on home ice. Until tonight that is.

Take them seriously folks. The Penguins are going to.

And the Penguins announcers warned that Phoenix is "making a little bit more noise than people expected."



Damn straight they are.

Playing Catch-up on the Rangers and Yotes and More. . .

*Author's note. Things are still pretty busy and even though I still got to watch some hockey these last few days =) - I was still caught out of computer range for a few days. I hope that'll be temorary, but if there's not as many updates as I'd like to make, that's why.*

So the Rangers opened their season! To a strange pre-game presentation that included Blue Man Group (to which I said ?????) and no player introductions, which I had the following to say about.

Simply it was very Tortorella. Very much how I'd expect him to want this team to be. No names. The name on the front being more important than the name on the back, and all. As much as I always look forward to those pre-game player intros, I didn't mind them playing up the whole one team united angle, if that's what they were aiming for.

The game was good. It wasn't without it's moments, but what game isn't. Del Zotto's gaol was the cherry on top. The fans went nuts for this kid and it was great to see.

Dubinsky appears to be getting showered with boos and not only Doos by the fans, which I guess to some degree is understandable. I'd never deny that considering he was the ONLY guy who could play with Jagr after Nylander was shown the door, that he was one of the most valuable players here, and I know he is worth more than some of the other players on this team (to remain nameless) and that he knows it to, which is why I can't disagree with him on his holding out. It's a players decision and I would never argue for or against, that's all I am going to say.

Except that I don't care what he did as long as he keeps scoring goals. This team needs that!

The powerplay movement has looked better. I mean, truthfully, I'm not going to be so dumb as to say that the powerplay can't possibly be any worse than the previous year - been there, done that, see 08-09 NYRs - but can I just say what a relief it is not to see Gomez, Drury, Naslund, Rozsival, and Redden come over the boards each and every freakin' time.

Whew!

Hank looked brilliant at times last night. Which he'll need to be that and more at times to get the Rangers through the rough patches.

Overall, thought it was a good effort and a good team win.


Yotes/Kings!:

Which brings us to the Coyotes and Kings who opened up their season in Los Angeles. The Kings looked kinda flat and Quick looked rather pedestrian in nets, but damn those Coyotes were flying.

To quote the Kings broadcast team:

"Phoenix is a very fast team. They are going to move the puck around because they skate so well...Phoenix's forwards can absolutely fly."

"Everyone in the NHL can skate, but the Coyotes, they have a speed on their team that is so effective."

"The Coyotes have come to play tonight; that much is obvious."

And it was obvious to me. Maybe, just maybe, they really can use all the horrible drama that has been happening as a springboard to becoming one of the most unified teams in the league.

Boy, would I love to see that!

They got off to a good start last night, being relentless with their puck pursuit.

The pepperpot - Prucha - was hitting like, well, like only he can. Good energy from him and the team tonight. Noticed two things in particular about his game.

One was on a play around 7:40 into the 2nd when he was passed the puck and dodged through what looked like at least two Kings to take a sweeping shot on net. Not really sure how it stayed out but the important thing is his continuation to keep control of the puck and to take the shot. Anything can happen.

And it did on Vrbata's goal, where the Czechs teamed up for some magic. Pete's first point of the season. Smiling I'm sure.

I certainly was.





Around the League:

The big questions/thoughts on my mind.

Umm, Vancouver, two big losses in a row. What happened to the Stanley Cup parade?

Florida looked pretty good overseas, no?

Will this Versus thing get figured out soon? I know a few Rangers fans who are not going to be happy missing the Rangers/Devils game tomorrow?

Ray Emery - legit?

Alex Ovechkin - something to prove? Yikes!

Why We Root For Theo Fleury and More. . .

Ever since the news of Theo's reinstatement to the NHL and subsequent invite to Flames training camp, I've been meaning to write a few words on the former Ranger.

I was too young to see Theo Fleury in his prime, winning the Cup in Calgary and pouncing by surprise on the league, a little man with an energy unmatched by many.

But I wasn't too young to see Theo Fleury in New York, the roller coaster of ups and downs. The ups very, very high, and the lows, very, very low.

If we're being completely honest here - I was a big Fleury fan. Probably, in part, because I may have not seen the whole picture. All that really mattered to me was that this guy - apart from any demons he may be fighting - was really good for our team for a period of time. Really good.



The numbers will tell you that in 2000-2001, Theo had 74 points in 63 games, and ranked 37 in the league. The following year, he'd score 63 points in 82 games, and come in ranking at 42.

But what the numbers won't tell you is how Theo was part of something special in New York, something that I, as a fan, wanted to root for.

The fabled FLY Line - (yes, fabled! For what line besides Jagr, Nylander, and Straka, and they had no name for them, came even as close to grabbing our attention, I ask you? ) - had a crazy stretch of time where they were all ranked within the top 5 in the NHL in scoring. Yes, all three.



Sure, the fable faded. Theo had a few "incidents." Lindros has another "injury." And York ended up in Edmonton.

But I choose to remember what was. And remember it fondly. Much like I hate when people choose to throw stones at the Czech Mates - the other fabled line of the Rangers during the similar time long playoff-less periods in New York - I hate when people say that it's silly to look back at something so fondly that didn't end well. Or just because it was the only "bright" spot on an otherwise lackluster team.

Quite simply, I think that's unfortunate. Unfortunate to be unable to love and appreciate what was, even if it wasn't perfect. That line and those players gave us something to cheer for - anything to cheer for - in what was a very disappointing series of seasons in the Big Apple.

And Theo Fleury was a BIG part of that.



I remember the Olympics in 2002 with such intensity, as we approach almost 8 years later. I was rooting for the USA, trying to be a good American. But surely I was keeping an eye on Team Canada, and on 2/3rds of the Rangers top line that were representing their home team. (THe other 1/3rd was playing for the red, white, and blue.)

After the tears stopped that day - 2/22/02 - they started again when I looked up to see Theo, bathed in the flag of his native country, and I realized just how much that must have meant to him. A man with such talent but whose demons were cutting into the focus he had for the game he loved.

As much as I had wanted the Americans to win, I had no regrets that a guy like Theo Fleury (and Eric Lindros for that matter) got to win that day.



The other thing I loved about Theo Fleury was how well he played against the rival New Jersey Devils. I laugh because even if a player is not in New York long, if they play well against the team's most hated rivals, there is a good chance they'll always be remembered.

I have never forgotten.




So when word came round that Theo was going to Flames camp, I smiled. I remembered the guy that I loved rooting for on my team, and I started rooting for him again. I probably never stopped.

And when he scored the shootout winning goal in his first pre-season game, I had to smile. When he added a goal and an assist in his next game, I smiled again.

The talent was there. The heart and determination was there. It just was a sad reality that at times the demons were there as well.

Whether Fleury's return is successful or not, he should be applauded in the attempt. Not many people are able to fight their demons and fight for another chance at their dreams.

He's lucky. And I have no doubt in his mind that he knows that.

If hope he gets the chance to continue to write his story. And I think if there's any place he belongs, it may just be in Calgary, wearing that familiar sweater he donned so many years ago.

Even though I'll always remember him in blue...






**And More. . .**

Listened to the Coyotes/Lightning game on radio last night =) with some other Prucha fans, and today Beyond the Blueshirts (who does such a FANTASTIC job with coverage on her blog ) posted this post-game interview with the little Pepperpot who scored the Yotes only goal, and even tangled, although not on purpose, with the Tampa goalie Mike Smith.


Petr Prucha post game interview 9/22/09 - Enjoy!

Did Bob Gainey Out-Sather Glen Sather. . .?

On the surface, this evening's deal between the Rangers and Habs begs that question.

As we speak, fans in Montreal are teetering over bridges and ready to overthrow Bob Gainey for making what they deem is such a horrible trade for them.

How do I feel?

=)

=)

=)

And not for not liking Gomez, although let it be said, he had two things against him:

1) His inability to live up to his contract, though not entirely his fault
2) His inability to make us believe he gave a crap and was trying hard, which is entirely his fault.

I think Gomez, in a situation that makes him happy, can be effective. Put it this way, I wish him, as a person, well in Montreal, but not too well, if you get me.

Let's face it, he was never going to live up to the contract he was given. Again, not his fault. Gomez should never have been the top $$-maker on any teeam.

BUT, he could have looked like he cared a little more. That will always be my one gripe with him.

And as for complaints of why not Drury or why not Redden?

1) Shouldn't we be glad someone was going to take ONE of Sather's mistakes. ANY ONE of them?!
2) Drury has only 3 years left, Gomez had 5 - that has something to do with it, no doubt. Plus, Mr. Renney made Mr. Mumbles the captain of the team, not that I think that really would have stopped the trade, but it's worth noting.
3) No one will take Redden. That I even believed for a second Brian Burke would take Redden off our hands tells you how hopefully dellusional I can be at times.

Take this what it is, folks. A nice trade. It drops salary, a salary we desparately needed dropped. And it steals the best prospect in Montreal in Ryan McDonaugh. I listen to Montreal radio faithfully. They love this kid.

Trust me, fans in Montreal are probably more upset by the fact that he's leaving than in the fact that Gomez is coming.

And if Sather doesn't manage to screw it all up in the next few hours or days - always a possibility - then he might have just made up for one of his horrible mistakes and given the team the opportunity to make themselves better.

Fixing one mistake doesn't make you a better person; it'll just make us Rangers fans smile a little more until you make the next one.



Torts Quotes:

Steve Zipay on Blue Notes posted some Tortorella quotes yesterday, most of which I think are a breath of fresh air for Rangers fans. Feel free to take a read here.

My favorite:

"And I’m not afraid of youth. It’s going to be done on merit."

It may be too late for many of the wasted youth on this team, but for whomever is around for next season, this is going to be a wonderful change of pace.

Accountability - hmm, what a concept!



Yotes:

Speaking of wasted Rangers youth, I got a "tweet" from a Coyotes fan that made me very happy today.

"I LOVE prucha. he's a hard worker and does the little things that make a team better. He's crucial to us"

See, Pete will be fine. Just fine. =)

I was already greatly looking forward to the Coyotes season to see the team in action ON the ice.

But perhaps with some changes in place, I'll be looking forward to the Rangers as
well...

Although way, way too early to tell.



Canada Day/Free Agent Frenzy Day/Tums and Tylenol Day:
The day that knows so many names.

I usually think of July 1st in the order above.

I wish Canadians, and those of us hockey lovers, a Happy Canada Day.

I get NO work done because I'm highly anticipated any trade, especially ones not done by our GM.

And I have the two Ts - Tums and Tylenol - at the ready for those headaches and bouts of nausea.

(For the record, I now know why I was kept up last Thursday night in advance of the Draft. I preached and preached Tums and yet, where were they as I anticipated the potential bad moves of the next day and lay awake, tossing and turning?).

Back to the point. I will, for the most part, after today be on Twitter only, as I will be out of state. I will not be anyone's best source for "up to the minute" updates, so please check elsewhere and help keep me informed! =)

And I wish you all a Happy Canada/Free Agent Frenzy/Tums and Tylenol Day!!! =)

Yotes: Petr Prucha Signs 2-year Deal. . .

Details forthcoming. This was a tag-on to an article about the Steven Reinprecht trade.

Needless to say, I am elated! =) True, he's still far away, but he will get the best opportunity to shine there.

Now, if they could only work out the rest of the hullabaloo going on there.


*Update:



Here's the official announcement on coyotes.nhl.com.

“We are pleased to have signed Petr to a new contract,” said Maloney. “He is a former 30-goal scorer and an emerging young offensive talent who competes hard every night. We look forward to Petr bringing a combination of speed and skill to our lineup.”

I'm not going to go into some long-winded Prucha defense rant. At least not tonight. ;)

But I am going to say that I think this is

a) fantastic news
b) very good for him
and
c) very good for the team

Prucha, in his short time in the desert, brought energy and a fantastic work ethic to the Coyotes club. He was praised by Wayne Gretzky, by the broadcasters, and by his linemates for it.

I personally think that if given a full year, where he can continue to build the confidence that he had started to re-gain, I think he can be a stable, effective player for that team.

Do I think 30 goals is a lofty dream? Yes, perhaps. In my getting to see Pete play in Phoenix, it seemed to me that he'd definitely end up being more of the set-up guy to the Lombardis and the Upshalls than the guy scoring goals on his own.

I truly hope that that line is able to be resurrected in Phoenix next year. They were a joy to watch - three guys completement each other so.

Either way, and regardless of point totals, Phoenix locked up someone today who takes the ice each and every night with the goal of doing all he can do to make his team successful and setting a good example for his teammates.

If only more players looked at the game that way...

Yotes: An Uncanny Trade Deadline Rarity. . .

Darren Pang: "I've never, in all my hockey years, seen three players that came from three different teams be on the same line and have as much chemistry as those three guys right there: Scottie Upshall, Petr Prucha, and Matthew Lombardi. And they stick up for one another. They battle hard for one another. Their on ice synergy is uncanny. You think about it. You are at trade deadline, you bring in three individuals that are all positions that compliment. A left wing, a center, and a right wing and. . .[good natured laughter].

Strader: "Yeah it's incredible."

Pang: "It's uncanny."

You know, it's funny. In the month I've watched Petr Prucha on his new team, I've had similar thoughts. How odd is it to have one of the most consistent lines for the Phoenix Coyotes, be made up of three guys who all came from different teams? It is odd. It is remarkable.

And it's been a pleasure to watch.

Pang: "You see how fundamentally sound that line is. And Petr Prucha makes such great defensive reads. He's always around the puck, always supporting the puck."

Please, seriously, someone go get Tom Renney - RIGHT NOW - and have him read this blog! (kidding, kidding...)


The three of them do have a ton of synergy. A similar mind set. And they come to each other's defense too.

When Pete got knocked into the boards, Scottie Upshall was after the guy smacking him with his stick.

When Gauthier and Upshall (two former Flyer guys) got into a little tussle, it didn't take long for everyone to see the little fireball, Prucha, skate and throw himself onto the pile of guys, coming away with someone.

Pete's the kind of guy that has always done that for his teammates - any of his teammates. This next statement is not a swipe at any Rangers, BUT, it's nice to see his current teammates do the same for him.


Prucha gets smashed again to the boards.

Pang: "He gets hit hard doesn't he, Prucha? And then he just gets right back up."

"All three of those guys - Upshall, Lombardi, Prucha. They get hit, they get up. They go right back to work."

You may ask why I am writing all this, why I continue to keep track so closely of my favorite Ranger departed and where he is now.

I can say, with absolute certainty, that even in the games that the Coyotes have lost, I have had much more enjoyment from watching their team and their effort than I have from watching the Rangers team and effort this spring.

Look, I am - was, always will be - a Rangers fan, but when pepperpot Prucha became a departed Ranger, I got the opportunity to follow a new team. A team that has a lot of young guys, a lot of spark, and are a lot of fun to watch. And Prucha, along with Lombardi and Upshall, have played a BIG part in that. Not just for me, but for Phoenix. They have, all three of them, put up really nice numbers since trade deadline for their new team. And they've looked like they've been playing together for ages.

Which brings me to my next thought. What does it take to get them all to stay there next year? Prucha and Upshall are both RFAs after this season and made comparable money (1.6 versus 1.23 - apx). Lombardi has one year left on a 1.8 million dollar deal after which he is a UFA.

If you are the Phoenix Coyotes, do you want to keep them there? I say, based on what I've seen so far, you'd have to assume yes. Gretzky loves these type of players and while there is a plethora of extra guys, not one of these guys has seen the press box yet.

It's funny too. Strader pointed out a week or so ago that the Coyotes had some 30+ year old vets - the Doans, Klees, Jovos - and some 19 and 20-year-olds - the Turris, Boedker, Mueller crowd - but they lacked anybody in between. That, he said, was another reason GM Don Maloney went after guys like Upshall (25), Prucha (26), and Lombardi (27 ). To provide that balance between the veterans and the rookies. And biased though you may think I am, I think they've filled the role admirably.

So if I'm the Coyotes, I'm thinking yes. I'm thinking these three guys have the right attitude, the right talent, and the right chemistry. And they will not break the bank.

If I'm the players, I say, why not. You fight perhaps your whole career to find chemistry with players. When you get it, you want to hold on to it. If one player makes the others better, and it goes around full circle, you think they'd want to continue that, even for one year, to see how it goes.

Now, that might not be the way all professional athletes do think or will think, but if I were Coyotes management, I'd work hard to make sure all three of these guys were in the desert next season.

**On edit, I just finished skimming/watching the Coyotes/Kings match from Saturday night. Perhaps the first insight into one of the uncanny three's feelings in Phoenix. In being asked about Phoenix and if he's thinking about if he wants to stay next year, Scottie Upshall said:

"This is a great opportunity for us young guys coming in, with a little different atmosphere, more chances to show what you can do. And right now I'm getting to play with some great players and things are good here. I can only say good things about the opportunity I've had and I'm excited about this."

On playing for Wayne Gretzky:

"It helps to have Gretz on the bench patting you on the back when you make good plays and send you out there in key opportunities. It says a lot. I'm excited. I'm back to having fun and playing good hockey."

And there you have it.


**Author's note: Sorry for this being a few days late. Original quotes above were from Phoenix's 2-1 win versus Los Angeles on April 2nd. Following Upshall quote from 4/4/09.**

Rangers in Brief:

In Rangers news, I agree 1000% percent with all Larry Brook's wrote in today's NY Post. I would comment on it, but you know what, he did it perfectly, so I don't need to just yet. I'll bookmark that article and use it when I analyze the Rangers season in a week (or two, or maybe perhaps even three).

Yotes: A Second Life In The Desert. . .

Prucha is merely one of a handful of guys seeing new life in the desert for the Coyotes since trade deadline day, but he is most certainly the player we, as Rangers fans and devote fans of the Ranger departed, are most happy to see succeed.

Last night's telecast of the Stars/Coyotes game on Versus began and ended with discussion on our Petr Prucha. The final notes being one of dramatic fashion.



But before we get there, let's start, as we should, at the beginning.

Dave Strader (Phoenix) and Daryl Reaugh (Dallas) had the call of the game, so that meant perhaps more introspective on Phoenix than may usually happen in a Versus telecast. (Note: Keith Jones in studio said it was a perfect time to get "reaquainted" with the Coyotes; a team you can bet he hasn't watched all that much unless they were on VS in the fall).

Dave and Daryl focused on three Phoenix players to start the game - Scottie Upshall (3-4-7), Matthew Lombardi (5-4-9), and Petr Prucha (1-5-6). Those are their point totals in their 12 games with the Coyotes since trade deadline. That's 9 goals, 22 points, and a combined +3.

Now, those who have been watching the Coyotes from back East - and I am not alone - know that this line, although together for perhaps games three through maybe six of that span, have not played non-stop together. BUT, they have almost always, and from the beginning, looked very much in sync.

The announcing team credits that to the fact that they "play the right way, the way that Wayne Gretzky wants the entire roster to play. They compete hard for pucks and are gritty in the offensive zone."

Tonight Phoenix's uncontested top line played no differently.

Upshall scored two goals, both assisted by Lombardi and Prucha, and both in a similar tic-tac-toe fashion. One a nice passing play in close and the second coming into the zone with Lombardi dropping the puck back for Upshall to take the blast from the point.

Prucha was a main topic of conversation for Daryl and Dave. Here are some highlights.

Daryl: "This is one area where Petr Prucha can help the Coyotes. His rookie season with New York, he was dynamic on the powerplay. Obviously [he] has faded in that department and out of favor in New York. But his second life [is] here in the desert."

Dave: "He played a lot of that season with Jaromir Jagr and Marty Straka. When I asked him about scoring the 30 goals, he said, well, you know, it was a lot easier playing with those guys."

This has always been a hotly contested battle between Prucha supporters and, well, let's just say those that say he was lucky in who he played with. But I hold true, and goodness knows if I had time I'd review the video tapes I have floating around, to prove my point, but he did not always play with Jagr, certainly not when Nylander and Straka were Jagr's linemates for the majority of that season.

Now Prucha may have scored his powerplay goals with benefit of Jagr, as did many other guys in this league. But he played five on five with guys like Steve Rucchin, Marty Ruchinsky, Petr Sykora. Those are nice players, but Petr paved his own path, make no mistake. It was not without his own talent and effort that he got to 30 goals in this league.

Daryl: "Good little play by Petr Prucha on that faceoff. He won the draw and then made himself available for the tip in after. Remember back in his rookie year. He was right in the conversation with Crosby and company, scoring goals at similar rates. And then he fell out of favor in New York and could never work his way back up the ladder to be a regular guy with the Rangers."

Dave: "He basically told the New York media that he wasn't very good at English. I did and interview with him last week and he's a wonderful young man with a sense of humor. His English is far better than he would lead you to believe. He just explained to me the biggest problem for a lot of guys like him is being properly understood or understanding the exact question they're being asked. He's always worried about being taken out of context."

Daryl: "You can speak on the ice. You don't need any language down there and he's getting every opportunity here. He's looked good tonight."

As the game went on, they kept coming back to the top line, calling Prucha "relentless," and saying how its the tenacity of the entire line that makes them tick.

Look, we as fans of Prucha don't need to be told how fantastic he is. We know. We always knew. But it provides insane pleasure for me to hear other people say it.

It was too long in New York between hearing wonderful things about Petr Prucha. His determination and good attitude were never in question and continually lauded by media and teammates alike. But what about the fact that he is a legit and talented hockey player. That got lost, as so much else sometimes does in New York.

But back to the game for a minute.

Dallas, a team desperately trying to make the playoffs, although time nor points are in their favor, continued to come on hard especially in the late stages of the game. They scored first, and Phoenix scored twice to take the lead after one. The teams traded powerplay goals, and both took a few too many penalties. Phoenix appeared to collapse late, causing a 5-3 lead to evaporate and force the game into OT.

Where none other than Petr Prucha stepped on ice for some four on three action, after Dallas was called for a trip in the extra frame.

It took only 53 seconds into overtime when our favorite departed got in a good position after the faceoff, crept up close to the net, and scored the Coyotes first overtime winner of the season.

And the first overtime winner of his career.

Let's watch it again (and again...and again...) :)




For post game interviews, including a short one with a happily, smiling Prucha:




Gretzky said, "The three of them play the game the way the game should be played."

We as fans can't help but nod in agreement.


Here are all game highlights, as Enver Lisin also notched two goals and an assist in the total team effort:




Lastly an official write-up from Coyotes.com:

Petr Prucha: "It's a great feeling."


Petr Prucha is playing hockey again - a game he loves. As fans of his we have to love and embrace that. He's got to be at his happiest when he's playing a game he loves. And playing the game with more poise and confidence than I have seen him play in years.

As much as we all hate to admit it, this resurgence we are seeing - it sadly could not have happened in current day New York, the way things are now.

Instead it had to happen under a different sky, for the color of another team. A second life in the desert, perhaps.

He may be further away, and that's a painful reality, but if anything can help bridge the gap of 3000 miles, it's the joy of seeing our favorite player smile again.

Avery Versus The World. . .

Got back from the Rangers/Devils game a little while ago. And I must say, that was certainly an exciting evening. It lived up to the hype, although perhaps not for the reasons most of us originally thought.

For it wasn't Avery and Brodeur.

It was Avery and Clarkson. Avery and, umm, Holik, Shanahan, Zajac, White, Langenbrunner, Rupp. . .need me to continue?

It seemed Avery was more in the heads of the Devils players than they were in his. And that is where Sean has been effective against them and where he can be effective against them going forward.

If I were New Jersey, for that reason alone, I would not want to face New York in the playoffs.

Sean can provide a decided edge. He did again tonight.

If there was a moment that disappointed me it was during the Clarkson/Avery scuffle, and not for Sean. I was not disappointed in Sean. I was disappointed with the refs, I guess much in the same way many Rangers fans have been upset for a while now.

There is no denying that Sean Avery is being looked at differently while he's on the ice by the officials.

No doubt in my mind.

If the media, the other coaches, the other players, if they are all looking at him differently, what makes us think the referees are going to be any different.

The problem with that - the officials are supposed to be impartial. It's their job. But I guess we really don't have to go into a long and drawn out conversation on the overall state of officiating in the league now do we?

But it disapointed me. And if it continues, which I am afraid it might, it will continue to disappoint me.

Sean Avery did all that was asked of him and I personally think has done a very, very good job of holding himself in check since his return to the league earlier this month.

Does that mean he's been a perfect angel?

Please, I wouldn't recognize or want Sean Avery on my team if he were that.

But he's done nothing to warrant any major retribution. AND, he has not gotten the benefit of any calls when something is done to him. And it's the latter that is most disturbing. It is a blatant slap in the face to Sean, and his team. And it takes credibility away from a league that sometimes walks a very fine line in that departmnet already.

If Sean does something warranting a penalty - send him to the box. He'll go. But if someone does something to Sean - they should be sent on that same path. Anything less, is a detriment to the sport of hockey.

Oh, wait, you've heard that one before.

Players that physically hurt their brothers in this league are given endless chances and infinite patience, sometimes to the degree that almost that confounds understanding.

And yet a guy that did nothing, really, except draw some negative attention to a minor moment of bad judgement and make himself look like a moron in the process - he has done the unforgiveable. He can't catch a break.

That is a shame.

And an embarassment.

I think we all as Rangers fans have one plea - let Sean be viewed the same as any player in this league. Let that endless and infinite patience fall on someone that has and can do good for this league on the ice and in the press. Let him play.

Putting him in this no-win situation is just asking for him to eventually snap. Not this year, but if it continues. Maybe that's what they all want. For the great voice to be right. That Avery is not a player in this league and that he's nothing more than a side show to it.

I hope with all I have that they don't get that wish, if that is what they are trying so desperately to do, and I hope that Sean Avery has the will inside him to withstand all that is unfairly being thrown at him.

The league has a lot of villians to contend with. Like it or not, Sean Avery is not one of them.



Other game notes:

Larry Brooks was quoted in today's NY Post as saying:

"But to believe that Avery-Brodeur is somehow just a sideshow is missing the point, which, quite simply, is that Avery the Ranger is as singularly responsible for tilting the rivalry Manhattan's way as anyone since Mark Messier."

I will agree, to the extent that he is one of the two people. Applaud Sean Avery for being a MAJOR reason that New York has once again become a respectible rival to the Devils once again. For he is. He truly, truly is. And not for the antics, if you will. But because he is, and I continue to believe in this, a legit hockey player.

BUT...in applauding Avery, I don't think we should forget about the other guy, Henrik Lundqvist. Including tonight Hank is 14-5-4 versus New Jersey and 14-2-4 against Brodeur. (*I want to confirm those numbers*). And he has an incredible GAA too.

That is domination right there. And - and! - he did it last year when it counted. In the playoffs.

So as much as the world wants to focus on Avery and his play against New Jersey - again, rightfully so - do not lose track of the fact that Hank himself plays masterfully against New Jersey and deserves applause as well.

It is so nice after being on the bad side of a one sided rivalry for seven years, to finally be on an upswing.

Kudos Avery. Kudos Hank.



Lastly, Naslund, in what I saw of him, looked like a much more determined man tonight. It might be a flash in the pan, but it's something to keep an eye on going forward as the season closes out.



Around the League:

Just have to mention this. On my way home I listeded to a bit of Coyotes/Stars and in the first intermission they did a 'Hot Stove Report" of sorts. Now, Dave Strader was on Versus with the Dallas Stars guy, so Darren Pang jumped to Dallas TV. This was the Coyotes radio broadcast team; forgive me for missing names here. The whole segment began and ended with the song "love the one you're with." (Kinda a play on the fact that so many regular broadcast partners were in different places tonight). Anyway, a question is asked and answered by [fill in the blank.]. The announcer then goes, "okay, Panger, you got sloppy seconds."

Yes, you read me right. On air, professional broadcasters used the term that almost had Sean Avery banned from this very league!

Now I am not stupid (at least I try very hard not to be). Granted Avery's context was different and his connotation might have very well been of the negative variety. But who has not - seriously, folks - used the term like the broadcasters did above?

Because, in all honesty here - which I do preach at NHTP - my first thought any time I hear sloppy seconds, and this includes the time Avery said it, is not anything sexual or negative.

I'm thinking the guys above, they probably were not thinking along those lines either.If we are being truly honest here.



Yotes/Stars Notes:

Kudos from the broadcast crew (whose names I will find tomorrow) for the reunited Prucha-Lombardi-Upshall line that combined for a goal - (Just checked the score) - 2 goals so far on the night. It seems the three boys can play in almost any combination with their teammates and they all bring that energy and tenaciousness. That's the word I am going to use to describe the Coyotes in my three weeks watching them. Tenacious. On the puck, on the boards. Tenacious. They might not score a lot(although they are againt Tobias Stephan tonight) yet, but they are punishing other teams with their work ethic and consistent pressure. The goals, I believe, will come. And they did tonight. 5-3 in the 3rd.


**Thanks for reading. Goodnight folks.**

On edit: Prucha just got game winning goal in OT! More tomorrow. :) But to see the jump in his step. Well, well deserved.