Rangers vs. Renney
A potential turning point in Edmonton
Posted on Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 3:15 PM
By Stan Fischler
Why should a Rangers game in Edmonton (Thursday night) be viewed as a potential "Turning Point" for the Blueshirts and Oilers?
ANSWER: Because each of the respective teams has betrayed disturbing trends.
With Tom Renney looking on – along with head coach Pat Quinn – behind the Edmonton bench, the New Yorkers will attempt to prove that their last eight games have been a mere unfortunate blip on their 82-game schedule. In that time they won just two out of eight games after launching the season as if the sky was the limit.
The 4-1 loss on Monday night in Vancouver hardly was cause for smiles, other than the fact that Chris Higgins scored his first goal.
At this point in time, what's worthy of notice is the Rangers' record after sixteen games this season and last when Renney ran the Seventh Avenue Skaters.
Under Nice Guy Tom, the Rangers were 11-4-1 for 23 points. Under John Tortorella the club is 9-6-1 for 19 points.
As we all know, the blazing beginning in 2008-2009 eventually damped out and Renney exited Stage Left before the campaign was even over.
The concern now among Rangers fans with whom I chat is that a similar fadeaway could take place after so many encouraging signs in the early days of Autumn. Likewise, the Oilers have shown signs that they are driving along the Oblivion Turnpike, and their most recent debacle on Long Island merely reinforced the point.
That is precisely why the Thursday collision could have long-term ramifications for each club. A Rangers win could set the stage for another solid road effort against the Flames with The Good Ship Blueshirt being righted in time for its return to MSG port on November 12 against Atlanta. However, losing to Edmonton would springboard Torts' troops into flaming Calgary where the home club simply cannot wait to wreak revenge on Sean Avery – in particular – and the rest of the Rangers, in general.
Bear in mind that home coach Brent Sutter has had a hate on for the Blueshirts since his playing days on Long Island, and even more so since the New Yorkers humiliated his Devils at Prudential Center in the 2008 playoffs.
Of course, Tortorella has more on his mind than the man who double-crossed New Jersey and skiddadled to Alberta. The coach has to wonder about a scoring drought which has engulfed his club to the point where Ryan Callahan is zip-for-ten-games and Brandon Dubinsky – who looked sensational at the start of the season – has a paltry one red light in 14 games.
Chris Drury blamed Vancouver's winning goal by Rick Rypien on poor rush coverage, and the newest alternate captain, Vin Prospal, suggests that scoring "dirty goals" would help the cause.
No names at the Cafe Discreet, but Torts refused to specifically call out the Rangers who he argues have had a "totally unacceptable" work ethic and some others who "are not smart."
How much patience the team has with Michal Rozsival – who The Maven expected to rouse from his less-than-super-duper play – remains to be seen.
And that, my fine feathered friends, is why the Edmonton game is a MUST!
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