Ryan Lindgren, Vincent LoVerde and Boo Nieves to Serve as Alternate Captains

BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack 

HARTFORD, October 3, 2019:  Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Chris Drury announced today that forward Steven Fogarty has been named the 12^th captain in Wolf Pack history and that defensemen Ryan Lindgren and Vincent LoVerde, and forward Boo Nieves, will rotate as alternate captains.

Fogarty, a fourth-year pro out of the University of Notre Dame, was the Wolf Pack’s second-leading point, goal and assist-scorer last season, with pro career highs of 21-31-52 in 66 games.  The 26-year-old Chambersburg, PA native also logged ten games with the parent New York Rangers in 2018-19.  A third-round (72^nd overall) draft pick by the Rangers in 2011, Fogarty has totaled 198 career games of action in a Wolf Pack uniform, notching 37 goals and 56 assists for 93 points, along with 93 penalty minutes.

Lindgren is entering his second year of pro hockey out of the University of Minnesota.  In 65 games with the Wolf Pack last season as a rookie, the 21-year-old native of Burnsville, MN chipped in 12 assists and served 94 minutes in penalties, the second-highest total on the Wolf Pack club.  He also got into five NHL games with the Rangers, registering eight PIM.  Lindgren was acquired by the Rangers from Boston February 25, 2018, along with Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey and a 2018 first-round draft pick, in exchange for Rick Nash.  He was originally drafted in the second round (49^th overall) by the Bruins in 2016.

LoVerde is a ninth-year pro, and two-time Calder Cup champion, who was signed to an AHL contract by the Wolf Pack July 1.  The 30-year-old, Chicago, IL-born LoVerde brings 432 games of AHL experience to the Wolf Pack, having amassed career totals of 45 goals and 107 assists for 152 points, along with 316 PIM, in action with the Manchester Monarchs, Ontario Reign and Toronto Marlies.  A product of Miami University (Ohio), LoVerde captained the 2014-15 Monarchs to a Calder Cup title and also won a Calder Cup with the 2017-18 Marlies.

Nieves, a 25-year-old fourth-year man out of the University of Michigan, skated in 43 games with the Rangers in 2018-19, contributing four goals and six assists for ten points.  He also saw action in 16 games with the Wolf Pack and registered three goals and five assists for eight points.  A second-round (59^th overall) draftee by the Rangers in 2012 and a native of Syracuse, NY, Nieves is a veteran of 72 career NHL games, in which he has totaled five goals and 14 assists for 19 points, plus 20 penalty minutes, and 104 AHL contests with the Wolf Pack, having produced 19 goals and 33 assists for 52 points, with 28 PIM.

The Wolf Pack opens its 2019-20 regular season this Saturday, October 5, with a home-ice contest vs. the defending Calder Cup-champion Charlotte Checkers.  Faceoff is 7:00 PM.  Tickets for that game and all 2019-20 Wolf Pack home games are on sale now at the Sunwave Gas & Power Ticket Office at the XL Center, on-line at hartfordwolfpack.com and by phone at (877) 522-8499.  Tickets purchased in advance for kids 12 or younger start at just $10 each, and all tickets will have a $3 day-of-game increase.

To speak with a Wolf Pack representative about season or group tickets, or any of the Wolf Pack’s many ticketing options, call (860) 722-9425, or click here to request more info.  To visit the Wolf Pack online, go to hartfordwolfpack.com.

The post CRAWFORD: WOLF PACK NAME STEVEN FOGARTY CAPTAIN first appeared on Howlings.

By: The New York Rangers

NEW YORK, July 1, 2019 – New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton announced today that the team has agreed to terms with free agent forward Artemi Panarin.

Panarin, 27, has skated in 322 career NHL games over four seasons (2015-16 – 2018-19) with Chicago and Columbus, registering 116 goals and 204 assists for 320 points, along with a plus-63 rating and 102 penalty minutes. He has recorded 74 or more points in every season of his NHL career. Panarin is one of three undrafted players in NHL history who have tallied at least 70 points in each of their first four seasons in the league (along with Wayne Gretzky and Peter Stastny). Since 1990-91, Panarin is one of only four NHL players who have tallied at least 74 points in each of their first four seasons in the league (along with Sergei Fedorov, Evgeni Malkin, and Alex Ovechkin). Since he entered the NHL in 2015-16, Panarin ranks eighth in the league in points, trailing only Patrick Kane, Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Blake Wheeler, Brad Marchand, and Johnny Gaudreau. In addition, Panarin ranks fourth in even strength points over his four seasons in the league (240), trailing only McDavid (270), Kane (269), and Crosby (245) in those four seasons, and his 154 even strength assists are also the third-most in the NHL over the span (McDavid – 165; Kane – 156).

The 5-11, 168-pounder won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year and was selected to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team in 2015-16, as he registered 77 points (30 goals, 47 assists) in 80 games with Chicago. In addition, Panarin was named to the NHL’s Second All-Star Team at Left Wing in 2016-17, as he recorded a career-high 31 goals and tallied 74 points (31 goals, 43 assists) while playing in all 82 games with the Blackhawks. He was also named the winner of the Kharlamov Trophy as the Russian Player of the Year in 2015-16. Panarin has helped his team advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his four seasons in the NHL; he has registered 26 points (nine goals, 17 assists) in 27 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, and he has either led his team or tied for the team lead in playoff points in three of his four years in the league.

Panarin skated in 79 games with Columbus this past season, registering 28 goals and 59 assists for 87 points, along with a plus-14 rating and 23 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in several categories in 2018-19, including assists, points, even strength assists (47), even strength points (69), game-winning goals (eight), and overtime goals (four). Panarin established Blue Jackets single-season records in assists and points in 2018-19, eclipsing the single-season franchise records he set in 2017-18 (55 assists and 82 points), and his four overtime goals were also a single-season franchise record. In addition, he posted 25 multi-point games during the past season, which were a career-high and the most any Blue Jacket registered in one season in franchise history (he broke Rick Nash’s single-season franchise record of 24 multi-point games in 2008-09).

Panarin tied for the NHL lead in overtime goals, tied for fifth in game-winning goals, ranked 13th in assists, and tied for 17th in points during the 2018-19 season. In addition, he ranked fourth in the NHL in even strength assists (trailing only Nikita Kucherov, Connor McDavid, and Mitch Marner) and tied for seventh in the NHL in even-strength points (tied with Sidney Crosby and John Tavares) during the past season. He led the Blue Jackets in several categories during the season, including assists and points, tied for the team lead in game-winning goals, ranked second in goals, and led team forwards in average ice time (19:51). Panarin registered 11 points (five goals, six assists) in 10 games during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and he established playoff career-highs in games played, goals, assists, and points. He notched a point in eight of 10 playoff games in 2019, and he registered five points (two goals, three assists) in four games in the First Round against Tampa Bay while helping the Blue Jackets win their first playoff series in franchise history. Panarin’s 11 points in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs were the most any Columbus player has recorded in one playoff year in franchise history. Panarin also ranked second in the NHL (min. 10 playoff games played) in points per game during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs (1.10).

Prior to beginning his NHL career, Panarin played parts of seven seasons (2008-09 – 2014-15) in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), registering 76 goals and 107 assists for 183 points, along with a plus-30 rating in 263 games. In his final season in the KHL in 2014-15, he was named to the KHL First All-Star Team and helped SKA St. Petersburg win the Gagarin Cup as KHL Champions. Panarin tallied 62 points (26 goals, 36 assists) in 54 regular season games and 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 20 playoff contests.

Internationally, the Korkino, Russia native has represented his country in several tournaments. Most recently, Panarin registered 17 points (four goals, 13 assists) in nine games while helping Russia earn a bronze medal at the 2017 IIHF World Championship. Panarin’s 13 assists in the tournament were tied for the fifth-most in one World Championship in the tournament’s history and the most since Sergei Makarov recorded 14 with the Soviet Union in 1986. Panarin was selected as the Best Forward of the Tournament and was named to the Tournament All-Star Team at the 2017 IIHF World Championship, as he led all skaters in assists and points. He helped Russia earn a gold medal at the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship and recorded the game-winning goal in the Gold Medal Game against Canada. In addition, Panarin has represented Russia at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, the 2016 IIHF World Championship, and the 2015 IIHF World Championship. Panarin helped Russia earn a silver medal at the 2015 IIHF World Championship and a bronze medal at the 2016 IIHF World Championship. He has tallied 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) in 29 career games at the IIHF World Championship.

Panarin was originally signed by Chicago as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2015. He was acquired by Columbus from Chicago on June 23, 2017.

The post RANGERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH FREE AGENT FORWARD ARTEMI PANARIN first appeared on Howlings.

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

CROMWELL, CT – It’s been a rollercoaster of a first season for Hartford Wolf Pack rookie defenseman, Ryan Lindgren. His play has earned him a passing grade for his effort, despite not going to the postseason for a second straight season

A majority of Lindgren’s season was spent partnered with John Gilmour as the Wolf Pack’s top defensive duo.

The expectation for the remainder of the season is that there will be new combinations tried at both the forward and defensive positions.  Lindgren played with Brandon Crawley last weekend.

“It was a lot of fun playing with John, and we also got along well off the ice too. I’m happy for him to get a recall. He’s a heck of a hockey player. I played most of the year with him, with the exception of a few games. He’s such an easy guy to play with, just give him the puck, and he’s such a good skater, you let him fly.

“Now we’re all going to have to make changes and adjustments with so many new faces,” said Lindgren.

Lindgren is acutely aware of what coming into a locker room at the end of a tough, and a difficult season can be like for a player.

“I came here last year for the last ten games, so I know what it’s like when you’re the new face and everything is new to you. It’s a very exciting time for them to start playing (pro hockey). It’s still a big time for myself and all the other players to show management what you got. We’ve got to make sure nobody is taking any nights off. It’s an important final ten games for everybody here.”

Lindgren had one advantage last year that helped in in his transition. His former college teammate, Vinni Lettieri, who was just recalled to the Rangers, was there to greet him last spring.

“I went through the same thing they did in coming from college. It’s just a different lifestyle going from class and knowing all your buddies to a place where you really don’t know anyone. To go from the structure of going to classes to where you go to practice in the morning and then the rest of the day is yours, it’s a lot different as the hockey is different from the college game.”

The Lettieri factor was big for him.

“I was very lucky to have Vinni here when I got here, of course, I knew him from playing at (University of) Minnesota, so I was able to move in with him and he’s a guy who was always on the move, on and off the ice,” Lindgren said with a laugh. “He had family come in and always had something going on. I was very lucky to just not to sit in a hotel by myself, doing things with him or cooking meals at home. I was very fortunate.”

Lindgren’s game is a physical, grind-it-out style that is a throwback to the players of 10-15 years ago. At that time, having a physical rearguard would be prized, but in today’s game, defensemen are more like defensive backs in football. Their hands are tied in how to defend against the opposing forward in their own end.

“When I was playing for the US at the World Juniors with coach Bob Motzko (now the head coach at the University of Minnesota). He used to say to play as close to the line as you can. To crossover is a huge thing. I like to play a physical style. I do trash talk a bit, and run my mouth,” Lindgren said with a wry smile and wink. ”But you have to be careful not to carry it too far. In general, you have to stay focused on your game, so you don’t hurt the team with bad or ill-timed penalties. So that’s the game I bring and that’s not going to change, you just have to be smart to know when the right time is.”

The first year has seen Lindgren’s potential tempered with reality. It was a season of ups-and-downs for the Wolf Pack as a team and individually. He now sports an “A” with Rob O’Gara out for the past 21 games since early February with a lower-body injury.

“I have been happy about it there a very good group of guys here and I got time in New York which of course very special,” said Lindgren. The Second year pro was originally drafted by Boston, whose rights were acquired in the Rick Nash deal last spring “I have learned a lot in my time here. (Pack Head Coach) Keith (McCambridge) and (Assistant Coach) Joe (Mormina) have been huge for me in getting to learn the pro game, and the call-up, of course, to the Rangers was something else. I was fairly consistent for the year and the Rangers seem happy with me,”

The season, however, boils down to one bad stretch, a ten game losing streak that ran from mid-January to mid-February just after the trade of then, team captain, Cole Schneider.

“We were right in contention (three points out of fourth place) and we lost ten in a row and it’s hard to make that up and others were winning (Hershey Bears) and next thing you know we fell out of it (playoff contention). It’s a very tough time of the year. Everybody is playing for a playoff spot and you’re not.

“We let up at that time and this is where we’re at. Losing Schneids was tough, but we didn’t play as well as we should have.”

The Checkers with a 44-15-7-1 record (96 points) are 31 points ahead of the Wolf Pack. They clinched a playoff berth last weekend by sweeping the Pack in a pair of games. Syracuse has also clinched a playoff berth last weekend as they lead the North Division.

The Pack takes on the Checkers for a third straight game on Friday night at the XL Center at 7:15 pm which will be the last meeting with the Checkers this year.

“They are the league’s best team. We got a lot of new faces, so it’s going to be a big test for us if we play well,” said Lindgren last weekend as they departed for North Carolina.

NOTES:

No week is complete without some roster moves.

Greg Chase, the nephew of former Hartford Whaler, Kelly Chase, had a two-goal game for the Maine Mariners (ECHL) against the Worcester Railers including an OT winner. He was signed to a PTO by Hartford while Dean Melanson was returned to the Mariners.

Former UCONN player Karl El-Mir was released by Providence from his ATO deal without having played a game. Michael Doherty (Yale) was released by the Bruins too and sent back to Manchester (ECHL).

A slew of El-Mir’s Hockey East opponents have all signed pro deals this week.

Boston College saw Michael Kim and Chris Brown both sign with Wilkes Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL). Casey Fitzgerald (Buffalo-NHL/Rochester-AHL) and goalie Joseph Woll sign with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) and a report from TSN’s Bob McKenzie says that freshmen, Oliver Wahlstrom, has told BC he will turn professional and is working on a deal with the New York Islanders and may wind up with the playoff-bound Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Woll’s departure will allow Darien’s Spencer Knight (US National Development Team) and one-time Avon Old Farms product to head to BC. He will likely be a first or second round pick in this upcoming summer’s NHL Draft in Vancouver.

Boston University, saw top-end defenseman, junior, Dante Fabbro sign with Nashville. Ridgefield native, Chad Krys, sign an ATO deal with Rockford (AHL). Goalie, Jake Oettinger (Texas-AHL), Bobo Carpenter (Islanders) and, a surprise freshman, Joel Farabee (Flyers) have all left.

A total of 27 Hockey East players have signed pro deals so far. There has been 105 Division I players and 118 college players in total have all signed North American/European pro deals.

Matthew McGroarty (Westport/Brunswick Prep) has made an oral commit to Quinnipiac University (ECACHL) in 2021-22.

Congrats to the state high school hockey champions.

Early in March in the NEPSAC prep school boys tournament at St. Anselm College in Manchester, Kent School won the large Division title beating Cushing Academy 2-1. Kent grads include current Rangers head coach, David Quinn, and current Ranger and ex-Wolf Pack, Boo Nieves.

In the Open Division, Salisbury Prep lost in the finals to Kimball Union 4-3.

Salisbury features Thomas Richter (Greenwich), the son of the Rangers all-time great goalie, who is a Union College (ECACHL) commit 2020-21.

In the public school tournament held at Yale University, in Division I Fairfield Prep captured their 17^th Division I title (one Division II title in their first year as a varsity program) in the fifth championship meeting between ND-West Haven. They won by the score of 5-2. Mason Whitney and Thomas Quinn had a goal and an assist apiece to pace the Jesuits win.

The final four for the first time in Division I history featured all four teams from parochial schools.

In Division II, the Branford Hornets shutout Glastonbury 2-0 to capture the first title as David Engstrom’s goal and assist and Jared Yakimoff’s 20 saves paced the title win.

It was Branford’s first title since 1988 when they beat Shepaug Valley (Washington, CT) by the score of 5-3 and only the third championship final in the history of the program.

In Division III, the co-op program Lyman Hall/Haddam-Killingworth/Coginchaug knocked off the other Wallingford school, Sheehan, in the Battle of Wallingford by the count of 6-2 for their first ever hockey title.

Senior Kyle Roberts had two goals and an assist and nine shots on goal and sophomore Aidan Weir’s tallied two goals on two shots, including what became the game-winner help the Trojans victory.

The University of Wisconsin won the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four this past weekend in Hamden at Quinnipiac University with a 2-0 shutout win over Minnesota for their 5th national title.

Loren Gabel of Clarkson (ECACHL-W) won the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, the Hobey Baker Award for women’s hockey.

The Calgary Inferno captured the CWHL (Canadian Women’s Hockey league) championship shutting out the Les Canadiennes of Montreal, 2-0 at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, home of the AHL Toronto Marlies.

CT Jr. Rangers forward, Jay de Ruiter, who played for the Netherlands WJC team in Division 2 Group B is playing for his home country national team at the U-18 World Championship Group B Division 2 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Ex-Pack, Matt Carey, signs with Schwenniger (Germany-DEL) for next season.

Four more European, Asian or Scandanavia titles have been decided.

In Iceland, SA Akureyri Vikings of Northern Iceland (southern Iceland much warmer !) swept SR Rekyavik in four straight 2-0, 3-2 (OT), 3-2 and a final game at 4-1. The playoff MVP and top goalie was Adam Beukeboom, the second cousin of former Ranger player and coach and Wolf Pack assistant coach, Jeff Beukeboom.

In Lithuania, Engergie Elektrenai won their 4^th straight title over Hockey Punks Vilnius sweeping best of five series by the scores of 6-4,7-4 and 7-3.

In Spain, Txuri Urdin beat CG Pulgcerda for their third straight title and 16th Spanish title winning the championship game 3-2.

Turkey, saw Zeytinburnu Istanbul capture its sixth straight Turkish Super League (TSL) title beating Buz Adamlar. They swept the best of five series winning by the scores of 2-1, 4-3 (OT) and 4-3 in the short-season league. The leading regular-season scorer was former Danbury Whaler Matt Puntureri of KOC University-Istanbul with 52 goals and 21 assists and 73 points in just 14 games!

The post CANTLON: RYAN LINDGREN PROFILE AND LATEST NEWS first appeared on Howlings.

BY: The New York Rangers

NEW YORK, June 24, 2018 – The New York Rangers announced today that the team will hold its annual prospect development camp from Monday, June 25 to Friday, June 29 at MSG Training Center. The camp will feature several of the Blueshirts’ top prospects, including the team’s three first round selections in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Vitali Kravtsov (ninth overall), K’Andre Miller (22nd overall), and Nils Lundkvist (28th overall), the team’s two first round selections in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil, and three players acquired by the Rangers in February of 2018, Libor Hajek, Brett Howden, and Ryan Lindgren.

Thirty-six (36) players are attending the Rangers’ prospect development camp this year. All of the Rangers’ 10 selections in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft will attend the team’s prospect development camp this year: Kravtsov, Miller, Lundkvist, Olof Lindbom (second round, 39th overall), Jacob Ragnarsson (third round, 70th overall), Joey Keane (third round, 88th overall), Nico Gross (fourth round, 101st overall), Lauri Pajuniemi (fifth round, 132nd overall), Simon Kjellberg (sixth round, 163rd overall), and Riley Hughes (seventh round, 216th overall).

Players will be on the ice during the following times throughout the week:

• Monday, June 25 – 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 

• Tuesday, June 26 – 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

• Wednesday, June 27 – 8:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

• Thursday, June 28 – 8:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

• Friday, June 29 – 10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. 

The players will participate in scrimmages on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (each scrimmage begins at 10:00 a.m.)

Kravtsov, 18, received the Alexei Cherepanov Award as the Kontinental Hockey League’s Rookie of the Year in 2017-18. In 16 games with Traktor Chelyabinsk during the 2018 Gagarin Cup Playoffs, Kravtsov registered six goals and five assists for 11 points. Kravtsov’s 11 points were the most a KHL junior player (younger than 20 years old) has registered in one playoff year in the league’s history, eclipsing the previous record of nine held by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Valeri Nichushkin. In addition, Kravtsov’s six goals in the 2018 Gagarin Cup Playoffs were tied for the second-most a KHL junior player has recorded in one playoff year in the league’s history. Other than Kravtsov, the only three KHL players younger than 20 years old who have tallied six or more goals in one playoff year are Kuznetsov (seven), Nichushkin (six), and Eeli Tolvanen (six). In addition, the 18-year-old Kravtsov became one of only three players younger than 22 years old in KHL history to register at least 11 points in one playoff year (Vladimir Tarasenko – 16 points as a 21-year-old; Kuznetsov – 11 points as a 20-year-old). Including the Russian Superleague (RSL), which was in existence from 1992-93 – 2007-08, Kravtsov’s 11 points in the 2018 Gagarin Cup Playoffs were tied for the third-most by a teenager in one playoff year since 1992-93. Since 1992-93, the only teenagers who recorded more points than Kravtsov in one playoff year in Russia’s highest league of professional hockey are Maxim Afinogenov (16 in 1998-99) and Evgeni Malkin (15 in 2005-06), and he is tied for first among 18-year-olds in points in one playoff year over the span.

Miller, 18, skated in 58 regular season and tournament games with the U.S. National U18 Team in the United States Development Program (USNTDP) this past season, registering nine goals and 20 assists for 29 points, along with a plus-23 rating and 26 penalty minutes. He ranked third among defensemen on the U.S. National U18 Team in goals, points, and plus/minus rating in 2017-18. In addition, Miller skated in 22 games with Team USA in the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the past season, registering 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) and a plus-13 rating. He led all defensemen on Team USA (min. two games played) – and ranked fifth among USHL defensemen – in points per game in 2017-18 (0.73). Miller also helped the United States earn a silver medal at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship, as he registered three points (one goal, two assists) and a plus-four rating in seven games. In addition, he represented the United States at the 2016 World U17 Challenge, the 2017 U18 Five Nations Tournament, the 2016 U17 Four Nations Tournament, and the 2017 U17 Five Nations Tournament. Miller has also been invited by USA Hockey to the 2018 World Junior Summer Showcase.

Lundkvist, 17 (turns 18 years old on July 27), split this past season between Lulea in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) and Lulea’s junior team in SuperElit. He skated in 28 SHL games with Lulea, registering two goals and three assists for five points, along with a plus-two rating. He ranked third among SHL players younger than 18 years old in goals and points in 2017-18, trailing only Rasmus Dahlin and David Gustafsson, and he also tied for third among SHL players younger than 18 years old in assists. Lundkvist was one of only 10 defensemen younger than 18 years old who skated in at least one SHL game during the past season, and his 28 games played were tied for the second-most among SHL defensemen younger than 18 years old in 2017-18 (Dahlin – 41). He averaged 16:00 of ice time in his 28 SHL games and posted a plus/minus rating of even or better in 22 of the 28 contests. Lundkvist made his SHL debut on Oct. 26, 2017 against Malmo, and he tallied his first career SHL goal/point on Dec. 30, 2017 against Skelleftea. In addition, he skated in two SHL playoff contests with Lulea. He also skated in 26 games with Lulea’s junior team in SuperElit in 2017-18, registering three goals and 11 assists for 14 points, along with a plus-two rating and 18 penalty minutes. Lundkvist was selected as the Best Defenseman in SuperElit in 2017-18. In addition, he registered five assists and posted a plus-five rating in six playoff games during the season. Lundkvist participated in the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship, registering two assists and a plus-one rating in seven games while helping Sweden earn a bronze medal.

Andersson, 19, split this past season between Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL), and the Rangers. He skated in the Rangers’ final seven games of the 2017-18 season, registering one goal and one assist for two points, along with a plus-one rating. He tallied his first career NHL goal/point while making his NHL debut on Mar. 26, 2018 vs. Washington, and he became the youngest player (19 years, 164 days old) to register a goal in his NHL debut in Rangers history.

The 6-0, 204-pounder skated in 25 AHL games with the Wolf Pack in 2017-18, registering five goals and nine assists for 14 points, along with eight penalty minutes. At the time he was recalled by the Rangers from Hartford on Mar. 25, 2018, Andersson ranked third among AHL players younger than 20 years old (min. five games played) in points per game (0.58). He tallied his first career AHL assist/point, which was an assist on the game-winning goal in overtime, while making his AHL debut on Jan. 24, 2018 at Utica.

Internationally, the Smogen, Sweden native represented his country in several tournaments during the 2017-18 season, including the 2018 IIHF World Championship and the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. Andersson registered two points (one goal, one assist) and posted a plus-three rating in 10 games while helping Sweden win a gold medal at the 2018 IIHF World Championship. In addition, he served as Sweden’s captain and helped Sweden earn a silver medal at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. Andersson recorded seven points (six goals, one assist) and a plus-five rating in seven games at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship and was named one of the Top Three Players on his Team in the tournament.

Andersson was selected by the Rangers in the first round, seventh overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Chytil, 18, split the 2017-18 season between the Rangers and the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL). He skated in nine games with the Rangers during the season, registering one goal and two assists for three points, along with four penalty minutes. When he made his NHL debut on Oct. 5, 2017 vs. Colorado, Chytil (18 years and 30 days old) became the fourth-youngest player to appear in a game with the Rangers in franchise history. He was one of six 18-year-olds who played at least one NHL game in 2017-18. Chytil tallied his first career NHL assist/point on Mar. 26, 2018 vs. Washington, and he became the first teenager to record an assist/point with the Rangers since Manny Malhotra during the 1998-99 season. Prior to the start of the 2017-18 season, Chytil won the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award, which is awarded annually to the Top Rangers rookie in Training Camp.

The 6-2, 202-pounder skated in 46 AHL games with the Wolf Pack this past season, registering 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points, along with a plus-one rating and six penalty minutes. Chytil’s 31 points in 2017-18 were tied for the 12th-most a player younger than 19 years old tallied in one season in AHL history. At the time he was recalled by the Rangers on Mar. 25, 2018, he led all AHL players younger than 20 years old in goals and points per game (0.69), and ranked second among all AHL players younger than 20 years old in assists and points in 2017-18. Chytil made his AHL debut on Oct. 13, 2017 vs. Toronto, and he became the youngest player to appear in an AHL game since Mario Tremblay in 1974.

Internationally, the Kromeriz, Czech Republic native represented his country in several tournaments during the 2017-18 season, including the 2018 IIHF World Championship and the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. Chytil registered four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games while representing the Czech Republic at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. In addition, he tallied two points (one goal, one assist) in seven games while representing the Czech Republic at the 2018 IIHF World Championship, and he became the youngest player to score a goal for the Czech Republic in an IIHF World Championship game.

Chytil was selected by the Rangers in the first round, 21st overall, of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Hajek, 20, split this past season between the Saskatoon Blades and the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL), registering 12 goals and 27 assists for 39 points, along with 30 penalty minutes in 58 games. He established WHL career-highs in several categories in 2017-18, including goals, assists, and points, and he tied for 15th among WHL defensemen in goals. In addition, Hajek recorded three points (one goal, two assists) in five games during the 2018 Memorial Cup, and he helped Regina advance to the Memorial Cup Final.

The 6-2, 210-pounder also represented the Czech Republic at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship during this past season. Hajek skated in seven games during the tournament, registering one goal and seven assists for eight points, along with six penalty minutes. Hajek, who was teammates with current Ranger Filip Chytil on the Czech Republic team, led all defensemen in the tournament in assists and tied for first among all defensemen in the tournament in points. In addition, he was named one of the Top Three Players on his Team in the tournament.

The Smrcek, Czech Republic native was acquired by the Rangers from Tampa Bay, along with Vladislav Namestnikov, Brett Howden, a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, and a conditional first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, in exchange for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller on Feb. 26, 2018. Hajek was originally selected by the Lightning in the second round, 37th overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Howden, 20, skated in 49 games with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this past season, registering 24 goals and 51 assists for 75 points, along with a plus-28 rating and 42 penalty minutes. He established WHL career-highs in several categories during the 2017-18 season, including assists, points per game (1.53), plus/minus rating, and game-winning goals (five). Howden ranked 12th in the WHL in points per game in 2017-18, and he served as Moose Jaw’s captain for the second consecutive season.

The 6-3, 200-pounder also skated in 14 games with Moose Jaw during the 2018 WHL Playoffs, registering seven goals and eight assists for 15 points, along with a plus-two rating and eight penalty minutes. Howden established WHL playoff career-highs in games played and goals, and tied his playoff career-high in points during the 2018 Playoffs. He ranked second on Moose Jaw in goals and points, and ranked third on the team in assists in the playoffs. In addition, six of Howden’s seven goals in the playoffs either gave Moose Jaw the lead or tied the game, while four of his seven playoff goals were scored in either the third period or overtime.

Internationally, the Calgary, Alberta native helped Canada earn a gold medal at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. Howden registered seven points (three goals, four assists) and a plus-nine rating in seven games during the tournament, and he ranked fourth among all skaters in the tournament – and led all forwards – in plus/minus rating.

Howden was acquired by the Rangers from Tampa Bay, along with Vladislav Namestnikov, Libor Hajek, a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, and a conditional first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, in exchange for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller on Feb. 26, 2018. He was originally selected by the Lightning in the first round, 27th overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

Lindgren, 20, skated in 35 games with the University of Minnesota this past season, registering two goals and seven assists for nine points, along with 51 penalty minutes. He was named an Honorable Mention for the Big Ten All-Star Team in 2017-18, as he established collegiate career-highs in several categories during his sophomore year, including games played, goals, assists, and points. In addition, Lindgren served as an alternate captain with the University of Minnesota as a sophomore.

The 6-0, 202-pounder agreed to terms on an entry-level contract with the Rangers on Mar. 22, 2018. Lindgren skated in 10 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2017-18 after signing his entry-level contract, registering two goals and two assists for four points, along with a plus-four rating and 23 penalty minutes. He tallied two points (one goal, one assist), including his first career AHL goal, assist, and point, while skating in his second career AHL game on Mar. 25, 2018 at Hershey.

Internationally, the Burnsville, Minnesota native registered one assist in seven games while helping the United States earn a bronze medal at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. In addition, Lindgren served as one of Team USA’s alternate captains in the tournament. He also helped the United States capture a gold medal at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Championship, and he helped Team USA earn a bronze medal while serving as the team’s captain at the 2016 IIHF U18 World Championship.

Lindgren was acquired by the Rangers from Boston, along with Ryan Spooner, Matt Beleskey, a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, and a seventh-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, in exchange for Rick Nash on Feb. 25, 2018. He was originally selected by the Bruins in the second round, 49th overall, of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

The post 2018 RANGERS PROSPECT DEVELOPMENT CAMP OPENS first appeared on Howlings.

      VERSUS     

BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings

FIRST PERIOD

PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack had a rough start in part because their lineup had lost two players before they left for Providence. Forwards Matt Beleskey and Steven Fogarty were both recalled by the New York Rangers to play in their regular-season finale Saturday afternoon at 3 pm in Philadelphia.

The first two Providence goals came 1:11 apart.

Anton Blidh got behind the defense and took a perfect lead pass from a former University of  Wisconsin standout, rookie Cameron Hughes. The pass went up the right wing boards and from the off-wing side snapped his eleventh of the season past Pack netminder, Alex Georgiev.

That was followed by the recently named AHL All-Second Team All-Star, Austin Czarnik who took the puck from rookie Dawson Leedahl and fed Casey Fitzgerald. He spotted a wide-open Jordan Swarz in the lower left wing faceoff circle. Swarz blasted his 21st of the season to Georgiev’s short-side. Georgiev had no chance and the shots on goal read 9-2 Bruins.

The Pack crawled back to make the shots more respectable. The period ended with a 14-10 margin favoring the home Bruins. Vince Pedrie, Evan Jasper, and John Albert had two shots apiece.

SECOND PERIOD

The Bruins scored on the power play at 2:58 and made it a 3-0 lead.

Simsbury native and former Westminster Prep star, Tommy Cross, was at the right point. He started a perfect passing sequence sending the puck to his defensive partner Paul Postma on the left wing boards. Postma hit Czarnik with a diagonal pass on the right wing. Czarnik quickly hit a wide open Fitzgerald who was alone in front for an easy redirect for his 18^th of the season.

The Bruins’ fourth goal came via some puck luck.

After Czarnik’s shot on net was blocked, Ryan Gropp turned to start a rush out of the zone. Gropp collided with defenseman Ryan Lindgren and the puck popped out to an open spot in the ice. Fitzgerald was right there for the P-Bruins to bury his second of the period and 19^th of the season from 25-feet with a laser shot past Georgiev.

The Bruins tallied their fifth goal while on a delayed penalty. Brandon Crawley was going to receive either a kneeing or an interference call on the Bruins’ Adam Payerl. The puck came loose went off the stick of Colton Hargrove and rookie Trent Frederic, just three weeks out of college hockey, drilled home his third goal  of the season getting it past Georgiev at 10:42.

Head Coach Keith McCambridge had seen enough and swapped Georgiev for Marek Mazanec in the net.

Twenty seconds later, the Pack lost Hubert Labrie for the night. He was hit with a five-minute major penalty for boarding rookie Joona Kopponen. The call came just a few seconds after Kopponanen came charging and hit Labrie. Most of the hit, was a miss so nothing was called. Labrie’s hit, meanwhile, was from the side and in reality was more of a minor call for boarding than a major. The PK did the job not allowing Providence to add to their lead.

THIRD PERIOD

For two-thirds of the final period, the Pack controlled the play. After amassing only 19 shots through two periods, they held a 12-4 advantage before they finally put two past Zane McIntyre in a 55-second span.

The first came with one second left on a powerplay chance. The Pack had strong passing on the right side from Adam Tambellini to Dan DeSalvo over on the left wing. DeSalvo’s pass to Chris Bigras saw him let a hard wrist shot go from 55 feet out with Boo Nieves in front with a screen in at 14:40.

The Pack made it 5-2 as defenseman Brendan Kotyk won a one-on-one battle in the Wolf Pack right wing corner. Kotyk sent Vinni Lettieri on a break-out with a short pass off the boards.

Lettieri came into the Bruins zone and put a shot toward the net. Forward Drew Melanson broke to the net and redirected the puck. Gropp was also charging to the net and banged in his 12^th goal of the campaign into the short side of McIntyre.

It seemed like the Pack was on their way to mounting an improbable comeback.

18 seconds later, The Bruins squashed that idea when Czarnik tallied his 22^nd of the year and finished the hat trick. Czarnik received a pass from rookie Jack Studnicks, who was making his pro debut (Oshawa-OHL). He was flat on his back after being tripped by Cole Schneider in center ice. There was no call on the play. Defenseman Vince Pedrie backed off giving Czarnik room. He took advantage going to the right-wing faceoff circle and ripping a beautiful wrist shot over Mazanec’s left shoulder and popped the water bottle for the Bruins sixth goal at 15:53.

The Wolf Pack, who doubled their shot total from the first two periods, saw Lindgren launch shot number twenty, a slap shot from the left point, beat McIntyre cleanly. For Lindgren, it was his second pro goal and came at 18:16 and closed out the scoring.

The 6-3 loss to the Bruins was the Pack’s third straight loss.

NOTES:

Of the 20 skaters the Pack put on the ice, 12 of them were rookies. The Bruins had nine in their lineup.

The Pack’s fourth line was Evan Jasper, Drew Melanson and David Hallisey of Wethersfield, who was making his pro debut. Jasper and Melanson recorded their first pro points.

Scott Kosmachuk missed just his second game of the season as a result of injury (the November 4^th game against Providence) and with Fogarty on recall, head coach Keith McCambridge named two new assistant captains. They were forward John Albert, and defenseman Hubert Labrie, who were both acquired from the Hershey Bears in the deal that saw Pack team captain, Joe Whitney go the other way.

McCambridge pulled Georgiev for the sixth time this season.

The 21 shots in the third period by the Pack was their second highest this season. They registered 23 against the Springfield Thunderbirds in the third period of a 5-4 loss on December 30^th. 

Though it’s not yet been announced, the Wolf Pack have signed forward Jason Salvaggio from the University of New Hampshire Wildcats (HE) to an ATO contract.

Steven Fogarty will make his pro debut against the Flyers on Saturday. Fogarty is a native of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, near the Maryland border. The afternoon game will help him to be able to watch his alma mater ND Fighting Irish play Ranger teammate Neal Pionk’s University Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs in the NCAA title game Saturday night in St. Paul, MN.

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The post CANTLON: PACK – BRUINS CLIFF NOTES LOSE 6-3 first appeared on Howlings.

Rookie sensation joins the Hartford Wolf Pack on the first promotion of career after the 50-point season.

BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, announced today that the club’s leading scorer Evan Jasper has earned his first career call-up to the Hartford Wolf Pack. The rookie will join Greenville’s AHL affiliate ahead of the club’s next game against the Providence Bruins on Friday night. Jasper is the ninth Greenville player to earn a call-up to the AHL this season.

Jasper, 26, has had a breakout rookie season and currently leads the club in scoring. The first-year skater has posted 50 points (21G, 29A) in 64 games, ranking seventh among all rookies in the ECHL. Jasper’s production in his first professional season is third most in franchise history, trailing Marc-Olivier Vallerand (53 points) and Ahti Oksanen (52 points) rookie season totals.

The Whitby, Ontario native set multiple records this season for the Swamp Rabbits. Jasper posted a club-best 12 shots against the Atlanta Gladiators on Jan. 20, netting both of Greenville’s goals in the contest. The 5-foot-10 winger also tied a franchise record this year, collecting four points (2G, 2A) on Jan. 5, in route to a 5-3 victory over the Atlanta Gladiators. At the time of his call-up, Jasper had a team-leading 16 multi-point games and had scored a pair of game-winning goals.

At the end of the 2016-17 season, the Sacred Heart University alum played 11 games for the Swamp Rabbits, making his pro debut on Mar. 10. Jasper then rallied for a pair of points in those games, netting his first pro goal on Mar. 30.

In four seasons with the Pioneers, Jasper did not miss a single game, playing a school record 148 career contests while netting 37 goals and adding 47 assists. As a senior, he was promoted to captain of his alma mater after serving as alternate captain during his junior season.

While Jasper joins the Wolf Pack this weekend, the Swamp Rabbits prepare for a pair of home games against the South Carolina Stingrays. Free Kids Day is Thursday at 7 p.m. while Fan Appreciation Night wraps up the Swamp Rabbits home schedule on Friday at 7 p.m.

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The post TOSTI: JASPER EARNS FIRST CAREER CALL-UP first appeared on Howlings.

The final week of Swamp Rabbits season features two games at home and one final contest in the I-85 rivalry.

BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

THE STINGY SOUTH
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (23-38-7-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, went on the road to Florida for three games against the Florida Everblades and Orlando Solar Bears. Goaltenders Chris Nell and Ty Rimmer were active in their starts combining for 122 saves in three games. Friday night, the club had its most productive offensive night, netting three goals against the Everblades. Matt Prapavessis, Wade Murphy, and Evan Jasper each tallied goals in the game as the team rallied for late goals. The team finished the game 2-for-5 on the power play but fell to Florida 5-3 at Germain Arena.

HOT HARE
Chris Nell – 2 GP | 81 Saves, .910 Save%
The rookie goaltender made his Swamp Rabbits debut on Wednesday against the Everblades and set a career-record with 40 saves. Three nights later, Nell bested himself with a 41-save outing against the Orlando Solar Bears. The netminder held the club close in both games but ultimately suffered a pair of losses. The Bowling Green State University alum played the 33rd game of his career on Saturday in Orlando.

RABBIT TAILS

• Evan Jasper became just the third rookie in team history to reach 50 points (21G, 29A).
• Ty Rimmer is the first goaltender in franchise history to make over 1,200 saves in a season.
• The Swamp Rabbits net two power-play goals on Friday to improve their road power play record to fourth in the league (27-for-141 | 19.1%).
• Joe Basaraba is one point from tying his point production from last season and has missed just one game in the last two years.
• Johno May has tied his NCAA output in 2017-18 in just five pro games, netting a goal and adding four assists.
• The Swamp Rabbits end the year in Atlanta on Saturday for the third consecutive season.

UPCOMING GAMES

• Thursday, Apr. 5 | Free Kids Thursday | 7:00 p.m.
  • Buy one adult ticket to the game and claim up to four free kids tickets when you head online. Use promo code KidsNight at SwampRabbits.com or follow this link to get your tickets.
  • Watch | Listen
• Friday, Apr. 6 | Fan Appreciation Night | 7:00 p.m.
  • The Swamp Rabbits are handing out prizes all night long! Enjoy the final home game of the year for your chance at hundreds of giveaways throughout the night. Grab tickets for $10 by calling the Swamp Rabbits office (864) 674-PUCK.
  • Watch | Listen
• Saturday, Mar. 31 | Swamp Rabbits @ Gladiators | 7:05 p.m.
  • The Swamp Rabbits final game of the season puts the team in Duluth, Georgia to face the Atlanta Gladiators for the 11th time this season.
  • Watch | Listen

SOUTH DIVISION STANDINGS

1. x – Florida Everblades (49-13-2-4) = 104 PTS
2. x – South Carolina Stingrays (45-16-6-1) = 97 PTS
3. x – Orlando Solar Bears (33-28-6-3) = 75 PTS
4. Atlanta Gladiators (31-34-2-3) = 67 PTS
5. Jacksonville Icemen (26-36-4-3) = 59 PTS
6. Norfolk Admirals (26-37-6-1) = 59 PTS
7. Greenville Swamp Rabbits (23-38-7-1) = 54 PTS

x – clinched a playoff position
y – clinched South Division
z – Regular Season Champion

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The post TOSTI: SWAMP RABBITS WEEKLY: EDITION 25 first appeared on Howlings.

BY: Adam Gavriel

The trade winds on Monday were blowing quite the storm through Columbus. At the eye of that storm was the seemingly never-ending story of Rick Nash, Scott  Howson and Glen Sather. Right down to the 3pm Eastern Time deadline it was believed that the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs were the final suitors for the star left-winger’s services. Throughout the rather slow and uneventful trading deadline day, both of TSN’s TradeCentre Insiders, Darren Dreger and Bob McKenzie, reported that the Rangers were in the midst of trying to swing a deal to secure the Brampton, Ontario native’s services as the Blueshirts made a big push to bring back to the Big Apple it’s first Stanley Cup since 1994. However, in the end, the king’s ransom that Howson was seeking for Nash was ultimately  rejected leaving the disheartened Nash chained to Columbus, Ohio, a place he unequivocally wants to leave.

The New York Post’s Larry Brooks reported after the deadline had passed that the final offer from Sather to Howson was believed to be forward Brandon Dubinsky, the recently acquired son of former Ranger Jan Erixon, defenseman Tim Erixon, the Ranger’s 2011 first round pick, J.T. Miller, as well as 2010 second round pick Christian Thomas, and a first-round selection in this coming off-season’s draft. If Brooks is correct and this is the actual proposal that Sather offered and Howson rejected, Rangers fans should be elated that Howson did…and for that matter, so should Columbus fans.

For Rangers’ fans, how often has it been said that team chemistry on this season’s team is a huge reason that they find themselves in first place in the conference. In fact, after Monday’s 1-0 win over New Jersey, John Tortorella was quoted as saying that this was the tightest group of players he’s ever coached. Tortorella has a long history of coaching good teams, and that statement speaks volumes as to how well this team gets along. Thanks to social media services like Twitter, and the revamped BlueshirtsUnited.com fans can get inside access to the action. How often are players like Michael Del Zotto tweeting to all the boys on Twitter about how great the team is and how they play #therightway.

Had Howson accepted Sather’s last proposal, Dubinsky who is by all accounts a huge influence on team chemistry; a career Ranger, and an integral part of the team’s home grown core, might have been an adverse effect to the team chemistry. In fact, had that move been made for the assets that were being requested, it would likely have sent a shockwave not only through the room, but into the entire system as well.

The Rangers lost only one player off their roster, Wojtek Wolski (for minor leaguer Mike Vernace), and added tough guy and swingman John Scott. who also has the reputation of being a great locker room guy. In Chicago, Scott was the Blackhawks player representative to the NHLPA.

Not to mention the fact that Nash carries a $7.8 million cap number from now through the 2017-2018 season. This situation could have proven to handcuff Sather in the signing of future restricted free-agents and have an effect on keeping the Rangers core together.

Howson was smart to stand firm on his demands. Nash is the face of the franchise, their captain. When you think of the Blue Jackets, you think of Rick Nash.  Also remember that Howson’s job is not only to put a winning team on the ice, but to put a product that the sales team can “sell” and bring fans to their arena. What would it say to the Blue Jacket faithful if their GM accepted an offer of far less than what he believed to be true value for Rick Nash.

Howson handled the Nash situation admirably. Well, until his press conference after the 3pm trading deadline came and went. In his press conference Howson stated that Nash (likely via his agent) approached him and the executive team and requested to be traded by the trade deadline. Howson also said he made it clear to Nash that if a deal was not reached for what he believed was fair value, that he would NOT be moved. Many were speculating that this was the case, but to make to make it public was not the right move. By doing that, you turn the fan base against the very player they need to keep happy. You have to wonder how the rest of the team feels about their captain, knowing he doesn’t want to be there, that their captain isn’t committed to the rebuild that management is undertaking. Howson certainly has tied his own hands, and now it’s just a mere matter of time before Nash and his $7.8 million cap hit are out of Columbus.

Could Nash have helped the Rangers power play; absolutely; but at what cost? Sather must have realized this but wasn’t going to buy into Howson’s demands. Because both GM’s stuck to their values, a stalemate occurred and now a VERY unhappy Rick Nash stays in Columbus.

The Nash situation will stay in the news throughout the campaign. Without a doubt we will be revisiting this Rick Nash situation when the 2012 entry draft comes along.

The post FAN-FARE: SATHER, HOWSON, NASH AND YOUNG first appeared on Howlings.

NEW YORK RANGERS vs. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

* All information through NHL games on Feb. 17

TONIGHT’S GAME
The Rangers will face-off against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden (8:00 p.m.; TV: MSG Network; Radio: 1050 ESPN Radio). The Blueshirts currently sit atop the Eastern Conference standings, and rank second in the league overall, with a record of 37-14-5 (79 pts). The Rangers enter the contest having been defeated by the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-2, on Thursday at Madison Square Garden to snap their four-game winning streak, and are now 8-2-1 in their last 11 games. The Blueshirts are 20-6-1 in their last 27 contests, dating back to Dec. 17, and have registered at least one point in 37 of their last 48 games since Oct. 29 (34-11-3) after beginning the season with a 3-3-2 mark. The Blue Jackets enter the contest with a 17-35-6 (40 pts) record to rank 15th in the Western Conference, and have lost three of their last five games. Following the contest, the Rangers will face-off against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at CONSOL Energy Center (7:00 p.m.), in an Atlantic Division match-up.

RANGERS vs. BLUE JACKETS:

• All-Time: 4-6-1-0 overall (2-1-1-0 at home; 2-5-0-0 on the road)
• 2011-12: Tonight is the first and only meeting this season.
• Last Season: New York was 0-1-0 overall (0-0-0 at home; 0-1-0 on the road), following a 3-1 loss in their only meeting on Dec. 11 at Nationwide Arena. Marc Staal tallied the Rangers’ lone goal, on the power play, while Brandon Dubinsky and Ruslan Fedotenko each picked up an assist. Henrik Lundqvist made 20 saves.
• The last time the Rangers defeated the Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden was Nov. 23, 2009 (7-4)
• New York ranks sixth with an 18-7-2 (38 pts) record at home; Columbus ranks 29th with a 7-19-3 (17 pts) mark on the road
• The Rangers are 1-2-0 vs. the Central Division; the Blue Jackets are 0-1-1 vs. the Atlantic Division
• New York lists two former Blue Jackets on their roster: Mike Rupp (2005-06); Anton Stralman (2009-10 – 2010-11)
• Columbus lists two former Rangers on their roster: Vinny Prospal (2009-10 – 2010-11); Fedor Tyutin (2003-04 – 2007-08)

INDIVIDUAL CAREER LEADERS vs. BLUE JACKETS:

• Henrik Lundqvist — 4 GP, 2-2-0, 2.77 GAA
• Martin Biron — 4 GP, 1-2-1-0, 1.73 GAA, 1 SO
• Marian Gaborik — 24 GP, 13-9-22
• Brad Richards — 19 GP, 8-11-19
• Artem Anisimov — 2 GP, 1-2-3
• Dan Girardi — 4 GP, 1-1-2

SPECIAL TEAMS:
The Rangers have tallied five power play goals in the last five games, posting a 25.0% success rate over the span (5-20). The Blueshirts penalty kill has held opponents scoreless in the last four games (10 times shorthanded), and 18 of the last 23 games (57-62, 91.9% over the span). The Rangers are tied for fourth in the NHL with seven shorthanded goals. The Blueshirts have posted a record of 19-1-2 in games when tallying a power play goal, and are 27-7-2 when not allowing a power play goal.

• Power Play: The Rangers did not tally a goal in seven power play attempts (10:06) on Thursday vs. Chicago. New York ranks 27th overall (28-196, 14.3%) and is tied for 23rd at home (16-106, 15.1%). The Rangers are 2-12 (8:51) in five-on-three situations (last – 12/23 vs. PHI), and 1-6 (8:52) when four-on-three (last – 2/1 at BUF). Shorthanded goals allowed (3): 12/5 vs. TOR (Steckel); 12/8 vs. TBL (Moore); 12/17 at PHX (Korpikoski).
• Penalty Killing: The Blueshirts held the Blackhawks scoreless in three power play attempts (3:24) on Thursday at MSG. New York is tied for fourth overall (160-183, 87.4%) and ranks sixth at home (70-81, 86.4%). The Rangers are 8-9 (4:34) in three-on-five situations (last – 2/16 vs. CHI), and 2-3 (2:24) when three-on-four (last – 2/16 vs. CHI). Shorthanded goals for (7): 10/20 at CGY (Prust); 12/8 vs. TBL (Anisimov); 12/10 at BUF (Hagelin); 12/10 at BUF (Callahan); 12/20 at NJD (Hagelin); 1/6 at PIT (Dubinsky); 2/12 vs. WSH (Prust).

• Four-on-Four: New York did not tally/yield a goal in two four-on-four situations (1:24) on Thursday vs. Chicago. The Rangers are plus-six in 58 four-on-four situations (106:30), and even in one three-on-three situation (0:01). Four-on-four goals for (7): 10/18 at VAN (Gaborik); 10/20 at CGY (McDonagh); 10/27 vs. TOR (Girardi); 1/2 vs. FLA (Gaborik); 2/9 vs. TBL (Stepan); 2/9 vs. TBL (Richards); 2/14 at BOS (Anisimov). Four-on-four goals allowed (1): 2/9 vs. TBL (Lecavalier).

HOME SWEET HOME
The Blueshirts’ 18-7-2 (38 pts) mark at MSG is their best start at home through 27 games since 1995-96 (19-2-6, 44 pts).

PLACE IN HISTORY
The Rangers’ .705 win% through 56 games is the team’s best start in 39 years, when the 1972-73 Blueshirts began the season with a 38-13-5 record (.723 win%), and is the third best start in franchise history. *courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau

BENCH BOSS
Head Coach John Tortorella registered his 131st win as Rangers’ head coach with a 3-0 win on Tuesday at Boston to move into a tie with Herb Brooks for sixth on the Rangers’ all-time coaching wins list. His .584 win% currently ranks second on the Rangers’ all-time coaching win% list.

MEASURING UP
The Rangers rank among the NHL leaders in several statistical categories…

• T-2nd in points (79)
• 1st in win% (.705)
• 2nd in wins (37)
• T-1st in regulation/overtime wins (34)
• 1st in fewest regulation losses (14)
• 2nd in fewest goals against (110)
• 2nd in GAA (1.96)
• 1st in hits (1,682)
• 4th in blocked shots (946)
• 4th in +/- rating (plus-40)

• 3rd in goal differential (plus-44)

QUICK HITS:

• This is the latest the Rangers have been in first place of the Eastern Conference standings since the 1995-96 season, when New York held the top position through games played on Mar. 15, 1996 (NYR game #68). *courtesy of the Elias Sports Bureau
• New York has registered at least one point in 37 of their last 48 games (34-11-3), dating back to Oct. 29, after beginning the season with a 3-3-2 mark
• New York is 13-1-2 when leading after the first period and 23-0-2 when leading after the second
• The Rangers rank fourth in the league with a .267 win% when trailing after two periods (4-10-1), and their four third period comeback victories are tied for eighth in the NHL; New York has trailed entering the third period in 15 games this season, which is the fewest in the league
• New York leads the NHL with a .760 win% when out-shooting their opponent (19-6-0)

• The Rangers lead the league when scoring first, posting a 27-1-2 mark (.900 win%) in those contests; Their 27 wins rank third in the NHL

THE HOT LIST:

• Henrik Lundqvist is 7-1-0 with a 1.10 GAA, .960 Sv% and three shutouts in his last eight games
• Lundqvist has allowed one goal or less in 12 of his last 22 games, and has held opponents to two or fewer goals in 30 games this season
• Martin Biron has held opponents to two or fewer goals in eight of his 14 starts this season
• Ryan Callahan enters the contest with a five-game point streak (six goals, one assist over the span), and has tallied 12 points (nine goals, three assists) in the last 13 games
• Ryan McDonagh enters the contest with a three-game point streak (two goals, one assist over the span)
• Marian Gaborik has tallied 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in the last 14 games
• Brad Richards has tallied five points (one goal, four assists) in the last five games
• Derek Stepan has tallied six points (one goal, five assists) in the last seven games
• Michael Del Zotto has tallied seven points (two goals, five assists) in the last 10 games
• Artem Anisimov has tallied six points (three goals, three assists) in the last seven games
• Carl Hagelin has tallied nine points (two goals, seven assists) in the last 13 games

• Marc Staal has tallied two points (one goal, one assist) in the last three games

MILESTONES APPROACHING:

• Ryan Callahan: 1 goal from 100 NHL career
• Steve Eminger: 4 points from 100 NHL career
• Marian Gaborik: 4 games from 700 NHL career
• Ryan McDonagh: 4 games from 100 NHL career

• John Mitchell: 3 games from 200 NHL career

MILESTONES RECENTLY ACHIEVED:

• Artem Anisimov: 100th career NHL point (2/14 at BOS)

INJURIES:

• Michael Sauer (concussion, 12/5) — 32
• Ruslan Fedotenko (injured, 2/9) — 4

Total Man-Games Lost: 172

The post RANGERS GET A FIRST HAND LOOK AT NASH first appeared on Howlings.

BY: Adam Gavriel

As a fan of a hockey team playing in the NHL it is important to remember that the season is one of the longest out of all the professional sports. The 82 games span six months from October to April, and if you’re lucky your team will be playing through June which would make it an eight month season. Baseball’s 162 games and playoffs span from April to November, seven months. Football’s sixteen games and playoffs span from September to February, 5 months. Only the NHL and the NBA (when they’re playing) can boast an eight month regular season to playoffs marathon. With this, as a fan it’s important to remember that all teams will experience their ups and downs as the season goes on, and it’s a long one.

Just look at the Blue Jackets out in the Western Conference. Off to a horrid 4-13-2 start, they still remain only twelve points out of the top eight in the conference. Get that team a consistent goalie and wait for Jeff Carter and Rick Nash to click and you’ve got a team that can put together some wins and get right back in the hunt.

What about former Ranger’s head coach and now the Edmonton Oiler’s bench general, Tom Renney’s? How about his squad? They started the season 5-2-2 and surged to the top of the Western Conference, since then they’ve struggled going 5-5 and lost their footing falling all the way back to 8^th place.

How about the East? The Bruins got off to one of their worst starts in a VERY long time and coming off of winning the Stanley Cup last season no less. They found themselves sitting in 15^th at the start of the season when they went 3-7. Today they sit in 7^th place with an eight game winning streak, the hottest of any team in the NHL.

Which brings us back to the Rangers. They got off to a very slow 3-3-3 start and then fired off seven straight wins after to move to 10-3-3 and first in the Conference, for a short time anyway. The Rangers couldn’t keep pace with Boston’s eight game win streak dropping the game Saturday night’s game in Montreal. In fact had the Rangers won that game, with Pittsburgh and Philadelphia losing as well Saturday, the Rangers would be in first in the East today.

Recall the 2009-2010 season when the Rangers started on a seven game win streak after dropping their season opener in Pittsburgh. Gaborik got off to a blistering start that season scoring five goals and adding six assists in that seven game streak. However we all know how that story ended, Gaborik turned out to be the Rangers leading scorer by a long shot recording 42 of the Rangers 222 goals that season, ~19%. Not to mention ultimately the Rangers would be eliminated from the playoffs by the rival Flyers in a shootout on the last day of the season.

The 2009-2010 season shows just how much of a marathon the season is and how important it is for Management, the coaching staff, players, and obviously the fans, to remember that the season is a long one, the longest in the professional sports world. Seven game winning streaks can only take you as far as 7 games, and out of a 82 game season it’s not much. On the other hand it is important to remember that every point matters. As Rangers fans we can attest to this better than any other team in the league as for the past 2 seasons the Rangers playoff fates have come down to the last day of the season. This is why it’s important to level the highs, and stay off the bridge when the lows pop in their ugly heads.

The Marathon that is the NHL is already under full scope for the Rangers this year. In the young season the Rangers haven’t gone two straight games without gaining a point, and only the seven game winning streak boasts times the Rangers have won 3 straight games. In 2009-2010 after their 7 game winning streak only 9 times the remainder of the season could the Rangers string together 2 or more wins. Conversely they also went 9 times when two or more losses came consecutively. And still, they found themselves one skills competition save or goal away from the playoffs.

When the lows come, it’s important to try and find some positives to take away. When the highs come, it’s important to know that things can always be better. Teams don’t go from Stanley Cup contenders to goats because they lost one game after a 7 game winning streak. What does separate the winners from the losers however is how the winners react to winning and losing. The highs will end, as will the lows, but the main thing to come out of both of them needs to be “what did you learn.”

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