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BRASSARD AT CENTER OF RANGERS' 3-2 PRESEASON WIN OVER FLYERS

Powe didn’t read anything into playing both of the first two games (most players, with a few exceptions, played only one game or the other). Rather, he preferred being in the lineup because it meant more opportunities to show the coaches what he can do.

“It just means I get a chance to go and prove myself. It’s a good opportunity for me. Obviously I had a tough end to the season last year,” said Powe, whose 2012-13 season ended with a concussion in the first round of the playoffs, his second concussion of the season. “It’s a fresh start this year, and I come back and kind of get my legs under me again and just get back in to the flow of playing games.”

MEETING HIS GOALS

Martin Biron made six saves on six shots faced in 31:22 of game action, and several were difficult saves, including a couple big stops in front on the Flyers’ top offseason acquisition, center Vincent Lecavalier.

“Some of the shots they had grade-A scoring chances,” Vigneault said. “So give (Biron) full marks. He came in there and he made the saves that he had to.”

Biron appeared calm and steady in net as he battles to protect his backup goaltending job from Cam Talbot and Johan Hedberg. Hedberg was brought in on a tryout when Biron missed the first two days of training camp due to a personal matter, but barring anything out of the ordinary, Hedberg now is on the fringe of the competition after failing to dress in either of the Rangers’ first two preseason games.

Talbot made 11 saves on 12 shots on Monday in New Jersey, then he stopped 10 of 12 shots against the Flyers on Tuesday night. Despite allowing the two goals, though, Talbot came up big with a shoulder stop on Flyers forward Jakub Vorcek with 16 seconds to play to preserve the win.

“At the end of the third period with a few seconds left, Cam did what you need from your goaltending,” Vigneault said. “He gave us a chance to win with a huge save.”

THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

-Swedish winger Jesper Fast opened a few eyes Tuesday night in his first-ever NHL action, throwing a good hit on his first shift, making a good move and firing a nice wrister a bit later, and throughout the night demonstrating an ability to stickhandle and slide smart passes in traffic.

His linemate and another first-time NHLer, center Oscar Lindberg, did not stand out, but he and Fast both showed poise with the puck in the offensive zone, and Lindberg clearly is disciplined in the other zones, effectively using his body and retreating to gather possession and support the defensemen.

In fact, that line’s ability to stay on the puck helped the Rangers control the pace for a large portion of the game.

Fast smiled when told he had been throwing his weight around a bit, saying he knows he’s “not a heavyweight” but tries to use his body to protect the puck. He was critical of his own game, particularly saying he needs to control the puck better in the corners when defensemen close from the side or behind.

But Fast certainly held his own in the first NHL action and did enough to get noticed.

Meanwhile, other young prospects chipped in, with Yogan assisting on Powe’s goal, defenseman Conor Allen getting the second assist and logging 20-plus minutes, and New York City native Michael Kantor throwing a game-high six hits.

“Unless I’m mistaken, I think we had four or five guys playing their first NHL game,” Vigneault said. “That’s a lot of kids at the same time, and I don’t think anybody was in awe. They went out there, they had real good support from their teammates, and they tried to put their best foot forward. All in all, I thought it was good game for a first (game) for a lot of those guys.”

BLUE LINE BLUES

Defenseman Dylan McIlrath, the Rangers’ 10th overall pick in the 2010 draft, had a tough night, mishandling the puck and allowing Maxime Talbot behind him on Philly’s first goal. Then McIlrath’s turnover in the defensive zone led to Sean Couturier’s game-tying goal 2:28 into the third.

McIlrath bounced back to pick up an assist on the Rangers’ winning goal when he wristed the puck toward the Flyers net. The shot was blocked, but Brassard slid a touch pass across the slot to Pouliot to hit the open net for a 3-2 lead 5:30 into the third period.

All the same, McIlrath’s night was frustrating due to his defensive mistakes. There are concerns about his skating ability – he had no chance to recover after the puck slid past him on the first goal – and his consistency defensively. His greatest strength is his physical play, standing an imposing 6-5, 220 pounds and using every ounce of that size to his advantage.

Not only do the Rangers have six capable defenseman already locked in at roster spots; it would benefit McIlrath anyway to start his season in the AHL and continue to hone his skills in the hopes of improving and eventually cracking the roster. For now, he’s still a ways away.

MORE VIGNEAULT ANALYSIS OF THE RANGERS’ VICTORY

On getting to the net (Pouliot’s goal, Powe’s goal are examples): “It was one of the things that we’ve been talking to our group about. Ya know, it’s a tough league to score, the quality of the goaltending on every team is real solid. To score goals, you’ve got to want to go in those tough areas and pay the price, and I thought tonight for the most part, we accomplished what we wanted to. Philly came at us real hard. We moved the puck in a fashion that I think enabled us to break their forecheck, and it was a hard-fought game. Both teams battled real hard.”

On whether pace of this game was quicker than first preseason game: “I think both games were a little different, but tonight, I thought we did what we had to do when we had the puck to try and generate some offense. There wasn’t a lot of room out there, and when we didn’t have the puck, we did what we had to do to try to get it back as quick as we could.”

On whether getting the win was important: “You play to win, but I would say – and I love to win – right now I’m focused on evaluating our players and evaluating the way we need to play, the way you need to play in this league to win and have success.”

New York Daily News LOADED: 09.19.2013

717295 New York Rangers

Vigneault not thinking about holdout Stepan

By Larry Brooks

September 18, 2013 | 8:23pm

Derek Stepan is out of sight, out of coach Alain Vigneault’s mind and off the published roster as the Rangers head west for four days of practice followed by four exhibition matches in five days while the unsigned center remains locked in a contract dispute whose end is not in sight, either.

“At this time now, I’m functioning as if he’s not here,” Vigneault said following Wednesday’s session during which the club worked exclusively on the power play. “I look at Oscar [Lindberg], the way he’s skating. I really liked Monte Cristo, Danny [Kristo]. I really liked Danny. I like young [Jesper] Fast, also.

“[In envisioning the team], I’m looking at duos, like Richie [Brad Richards] and Nash, I’d like to see if that can work out,” he said. “I’m looking at [Derick] Brassard and [Benoit] Pouliot; I’ve looked at [Dominic] Moore or Brian Boyle with Dorsett.

“Ryan [Callahan] is not here, Haggy [Carl Hagelin] is not here and Stepan’s not here,” said Vigneault. “I’m playing the guys who are here.”

Stepan and the Rangers, as The Post has previously reported, are approximately $1 million apart over two years, with the center seeking $3.5 million per season and management having offered approximately $2.9 million a year.

Johan Hedberg opted out of his tryout agreement with the Rangers Wednesday morning when told by Vigneault he might or might not get to play one-half of the club’s final exhibition game in Las Vegas against the Kings on Sept. 27 after Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Biron play the first three matches of the trip.

Cam Talbot remains on the roster and did accompany the team on its flight Wednesday to Banff, where the Blueshirts will encamp through Sunday, but unless something unforeseen intervenes, the Lundqvist-Biron goaltending tandem will remain intact.

“We talked with [general manager] Glen [Sather] and his staff and with [goaltending coach] Benoit [Allaire], thinking about how we were going to use Henrik, and we figured with four games in five nights the best way to get him ready was to play him the first game [on Monday] in Calgary and the game [Thursday] in Vancouver,” Vigneault said. “If he’s playing those two, and I want to give a full game to Marty [Tuesday in Edmonton], then there’s only one game left [in Las Vegas].

“So I called Johan this morning and said, ‘Listen, there’s a possibility you might get half a game but there’s also a possibility you might not get a game depending on how things unfold,’” Vigneault said. “A veteran player, a guy well respected across the league, I wanted him to hear it from me and I left the decision up to him.

“He decided to stay back.”

The focus of power play work as directed by assistant Scott Arniel was quick puck movement the length of the ice, outnumbering the opposition in puck battles, and getting bodies to the front of the net.

To that latter end, Chris Kreider, on a unit with Brad Richards and Rick Nash, went to the front in mimicking the role Ryan Kesler played in Vancouver when on the power play with Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

“The front is a good place to be but it’s not an easy place to be,” Vigneault said. “You take a lot of abuse and you get hit by shots that don’t get through.

“It takes a willingness. If he ever gets comfortable doing that, that’s so tough on the opposition’s goaltender and helps you offensively five-on-five and your power play so much.”

Vigneault said cap concerns aside, he would prefer to start the season with eight defensemen and 13 forwards. In praising young winger Danny Kristo, Vigneault referred to him as “Monte Cristo.”

New York Post LOADED: 09.19.2013

717296 New York Rangers

Derek Stepan's holdout forces Rangers to improvise

Published: September 18, 2013 7:21 PM

By STEVE ZIPAY steve.zipay@newsday.com

The Rangers, who left Wednesday for Alberta to continue their training camp and preseason schedule, are staying at the Banff Springs Hotel, a resort with a ghostly past.

And there's one question continuing to haunt the team: Whether a deal can be struck in the contract stalemate with top center Derek Stepan, who missed his eighth day of camp and did not make the journey west.

The restricted free agent's lengthy absence, which matches Brandon Dubinsky's holdout in 2009 that ended with a two-year contract, has been hovering over training camp and causing coach Alain Vigneault to plan around the AWOL center, evaluating other centers with a single winger and then "working in a third guy."

They include, Vigneault said, Brad Richards-Rick Nash; Derick Brassard-Benoit Pouliot and Dominic Moore and/or Brian Boyle with Derek Dorsett.

Complicating the equation is the current inability of Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin to even take contact in scrimmages while rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgeries. So Vigneault is left to evaluate some young forwards. "I look at [Oscar] Lindberg, the way he's skating. I really liked 'Monte' Kristo, Danny. I've liked young [Jesper] Fast also. Those guys are all pushing and they all have that skill level. I don't know if they're quite ready for the NHL, but you can tell they have an NHL skill level. I'm playing the guys that are here."

Those three were among the 39 players who boarded the two planes for several practices in Banff and a charity golf tournament to benefit victims of the floods in Calgary last summer. They will then play four games in five nights next week, in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver (where former coach John Tortorella now patrols) and in Las Vegas against the Kings.

One area became clearer when the goaltender rotation for those games was determined, and Johan Hedberg, on a tryout, became the odd man out and was released. Henrik Lundqvist will play the entire game against the Flames on Monday and the Canucks on Thursday. Incumbent backup Martin Biron, who played well against the Flyers on Tuesday, as did Cam Talbot, will play next Tuesday against the Oilers.

"We talked with Glen [Sather] and his staff, thinking how we were going to use Henrik," Vigneault said. "If he's playing those two and I want to give a full game to Marty, then there's only one game left. I called Johan to tell him, 'There's a possibility you might get a half game but also a possibility you might not get a game depending on how things unfold.' A veteran player . . . well-respected across the league, I left the decision up to him. He just decided to stay back."

Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 09.19.2013

717297 New York Rangers

Guest blogger: Patrick Hoffman … Pay Henrik Lundqvist!

19 September 2013, 5:06 am

By Patrick Hoffman

If you’re a true New York Rangers’ fan and follower of the NHL, you already know that you have perhaps the best goaltender in the National Hockey League.

Rangers’ fans know that their favorite hockey team needs to do everything it can to sign Henrik Lundqvist to a long and fair deal. While it does not always work out that way, this is something that simply needs to happen in order for the Blueshirts to have success going forward.

With that said, Lundqvist’s new deal is going to come down to dollars and sense, and everything does these days in pro sports. If you follow the game closely, you know that Chicago Blackhawks’ gave Cup-winning masked man Corey Crawford, a netminder who has played just 152 games, a six-year contract extension worth $36 million.

While there is no doubt that Crawford is a talented goaltender, this seems like an awful lot to pay a keeper who has not really proven a lot. Crawford certainly played well in the postseason last year in leading the Blackhawks to their second Stanley Cup in four years but other than that, he has not proven much else in this league so far.

There will be those that tell you that winning the Cup is everything when it comes to the NHL. While that is mostly true, there are certainly other standards in which goaltenders are judged upon.

Based on the criteria mentioned below, the “King” certainly deserves a contract that is worth more than what Crawford is going to earn over the next several seasons.

Wins

Again, we know that Crawford won the Cup last season but had the team put Ray Emery between the pipes, there is a good chance that the same result would have occurred.

Had the Rangers had a different netminder in their net, that win total might be a lot lower.

Consistency

In his eight years with the Blueshirts, Lundqvist has been nothing but consistent.

Besides winning at least 30 games each season he plays, he consistently posts some of the top numbers in several goaltending categories. Year in and year out, one can find Lundqvist in the top five or 10 in terms of goals against average, save percentage, shutouts, games played, and saves made.

It should also be noted that he is doing this on a team that does not provide a lot of offence, which means the pressure to perform is on Lundqvist every time he skates into the Rangers’ net.

Awards/Nominations

At the end of every season, it seems like Lundqvist is up for an award (s) whether it is an award given by the league or one given by his team.

When it comes to the NHL, Lundqvist has won or has been nominated for the following awards:

– Vezina Trophy Winner (2012). – Vezina Trophy Nominee (2006, 2007, 2008, 2012 and 2013). – Calder Trophy Nominee (2006). – Hart Trophy Nominee (2012). – Ted Lindsay Award (2012). – NHL First All-Star Team (2012).

In regards to the Rangers, Lundqvist has been named the team’s most valuable player for seven straight seasons. Without Lundqvist, the Rangers are not a playoff team nor are they club to necessarily to be feared whether it is in the Eastern Conference or the entire league.

When looking at what Lundqvist has done and what the market is showing now, Lundqvist deserves to get paid a hefty amount by the Blueshirts.

Rockland Journal News: LOADED: 09.19.2013

717298 New York Rangers

Rangers-Flyers in review

18 September 2013, 4:53 am by Michael Aker

When the lineup for the Devils game was announced this weekend, it was a very well thought out decision by Alain Vigneault and his staff to ensure that the second of the back-to-backs would feature tough guys like Haley, Dorsett, McIlrath, and Kantor to nullify any of the shenanigans the Flyers always seem to be up to five decades later no matter how many skill players they have in their lineup. That toughness would be needed tonight against the likes of Hartnell, Simmonds, Newbury, etc.

Also, after Monday night’s Devils broadcast, having Sam back is such a relief and always makes me appreciate how great Sam and Joe Micheletti are. Yes it’s not the classic Dynamic Duo of Sam and JD, and Sam isn’t as sharp as he once was, plus Joe has some quirks, but they’re still better than 90 percent of the announcing teams in the league, and to Rangers fans Sam Rosen is and has been the modern Mel Allen, the other male voice in our households for nearly 30 years.

Thoughts:

1) The skill and pace of this game was much more apparent than Monday night with players like Brassard, Pouliot, Zuccarello, Fast, and Lindberg in the lineup. Much more up tempo and much more time spent in the opponent’s zone. New York Rangers v Philadelphia Flyers

2) The Pouliot-Brassard-Zuccarello line looks to have chemistry and is one that might stay together to start the season until Callahan and Hagelin are back. Not sure if that’s a line that can hold up size and toughness wise over an 82-game grind and perhaps after, but for now, use it while it’s hot.

3) The first period was the Jesper Fast Show; A little bit of Hagelin with his speed, and a little bit of Callahan with his tenacity. He always wanted the puck or to get involved. Great power play passing as well. Like Joe said, if he can find ways to stay moving and avoid hits like that scary knee-on-knee (which luckily wasn’t serious), he can be a real x-factor on this team whether now or later.

4) Anton Stralman skating, passing, and defending as if he’s in midseason form. In the new NHL it’s very important to find young cheap free agents that other organizations have given up on like the Matt Moulsons and Marc Methots and to develop them as part of a core. The once unemployed Stralman is now an essential cog on the Rangers blue line.

5) Seasons change and friendships and relationships might come and go but in life there are four constants; life, death, taxes, and Kris Newbury taking one silly penalty per game.

6) The Adventures of Dylan McIlrath: While he did stick up for Fast after the knee-on-knee and did get the assist on Pouliot’s game winning goal, he also had some blunders (timing and puck confidence wise) like turning the puck over on the Maxim Talbot goal, and mis-timing a pinch and later a hip check along the boards. One game doesn’t mean it’s all over for him and people shouldn’t start bringing up Cam Fowler and Vladimir Tarasenko … again, but it’s going to take him some time, maybe even a full year before he even gets a cup of coffee as an NHLer.

New York Rangers v Philadelphia Flyers7) There once was a young skilled center on the Rangers, a former 12th overall pick named Dave Gagner (Oilers’ Sam Gagner’s dad for you younger fans) who just never really fit in or had his talents flourish while on Broadway. A change of scenery and fresh start in Minnesota led him to reach his potential. It’s still very VERY early but maybe 25 years later and we are seeing a similar story for Derick Brassard who has unlimited skills as showcased on the first goal, and his pass to McIlrath on Pouliot’s game winner.

8) The “Other” Rangers kids: Connor Allen played a solid and unspectacular game as he had in Traverse City and the training camp scrimmage which for a D-man is a very good thing. Keep an eye on his development this year in Hartford. Nice rush up the ice which led to Yogan’s shot on the Daroll “Lives To Fight Another Day” Powe goal (!!!!!). Yogan had some nice board work and skates well for a big man. He’s slowly (two to three more years perhaps) developing into what might be a third-line power forward.

9) Oscar Lindberg didn’t stand out offensively as much as Fast did, but as the game went on he was much more comfortable and generated some nice passes and scoring chances. Well done on the faceoffs as advertised, and he also made a huge play when he barely (but enough) raised Hartnell’s stick for what could have been a game-tying goal. The longer the Stepan saga continues, the more likely he’s on the opening night roster against the team that drafted him, the Phoenix (soon to be Arizona) Coyotes.

10) The whole hybrid icing incident was pretty comical with Vinny Lecavalier being confused, chirping at the ref, the crowd booing, and then the refs “correcting” the mistake and having the faceoff at center ice. They’ll get there and eventually we will see it become a regular part of the game. It’s as weird now as more penalties called and trapezoid were in 2005-06, but we’ve all grown used to that over time.

11) Another solid all around game for Dominic Moore who does all the little things. He’s going to be very valuable to the Rangers and be able to bounce up and down the lineup playing either center or wing and be placed in all kinds of situations especially late with a one-goal lead.

12) Neither Biron nor Talbot was that busy, but they made the saves they had to make, especially Talbot’s on Voracek. Will be very interesting to see the goalie rotation next week with four games in five nights and if the performance tonight puts any pressure on Hedberg.

13) While not in top notch form especially on the power play, to steal a line or two from Carp, Ryan McDonagh=monster, especially dealing with Hartnell all night, and Girardi=beast.

14) Something just isn’t right seeing Vinny Lecavelier wearing No. 40. It almost feels like an All-Star Game or charity event.

Rockland Journal News: LOADED: 09.19.2013

717299 New York Rangers

Rangers 3, Flyers 2 … post-game notes

17 September 2013, 10:33 pm by Carp in Hockey New York Rangers NHL Rangers Report - 50 Comments

Team Notes:

-The Rangers concluded a back-to-back set with a 3-2 victory against the Philadelphia Flyers tonight at Wells Fargo Center.

-New York improved to 1-1-0 overall in preseason action, including a 1-1-0 mark on the road.

-The Rangers out-shot the Flyers, 23-18, including an 8-3 advantage in the first period.

-The Blueshirts held the Flyers scoreless in three power play attempts against (6:00), and are now 6-6 on the penalty kill in preseason action.

-The Rangers out-hit the Flyers, 23-16, including six players who were credited with two or more hits in the contest.

Player Notes:

-Derick Brassard tallied two points, including the game’s opening goal and the primary assist on the game-winning goal, and posted a plus-two rating in 17:49 of ice time.

-Benoit Pouliot notched the game-winning goal at 5:30 of the third period, and posted a plus-two rating in 14:16 of ice time while making his Rangers debut.

-Darroll Powe registered a goal, was credited with three hits, and won 5-8 faceoffs (63%) in 11:38 of ice time.

-Martin Biron turned aside all six shots faced through the game’s opening 31:22 to earn Third Star honors.