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| Captain Callahan a key cog for Rangers |
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| Atlantic |
| Written by Bill Weisbrod |
| Friday, 23 March 2012 19:27 |
Ryan Callahan plays with an all-out style that has a lot of positive rewards for the New York Rangers. Although his style may lead to injuries, it clearly has made Callahan among the more important cogs for the Eastern Conference leaders. New York Rangers captain Ryan Callahan’s all-out style of play creates a lot of positive outcomes for his team. Blocking shots, giving and taking hits, and gung-ho trips to the front of the net and the corners all serve to inspire teammates and win games. But Callahan’s game does not necessarily lend itself to staying healthy for an entire season. Bruises and broken bones are among the results of constantly blocking shots in the NHL. That creates a sort of catch-22 for the Rangers, because a major part of Callahan’s value lies in his all-out style of play. But when that style lands him out of the lineup, the Rangers miss their fearless leader dearly. Compounding the dilemma is the fact that Callahan has emerged as an offensive force in his sixth NHL season. So not only does the team miss his contribution with the so-called “little things,” but the goal-starved Rangers also badly need Callahan’s scoring acumen. The captain, who turned celebrated his 27th birthday on Wednesday with an overtime game-winner against Detroit at home, has already set career highs in goals (27) and points (51). Callahan has played in 67 of the Rangers’ 74 games this season, after dressing in 60 and 77 games in the previous two years. But Callahan has clearly earned coach John Tortorella’s respect, enough to have been named the team’s captain last summer. And it seems impossible that Tortorella would encourage the winger to play any style but the one that has cemented his role in the NHL. And the coach has not been  shy about praising his winger.Tortorella told reporters Callahan was the team’s “best player,” throughout the win over Detroit. And earlier in the season, Tortorella weighed in on the captain’s recently displayed offensive acumen. "I think sometimes people think he's just a shot-blocker and a guy who can bang along the boards and forecheck and finish checks," Tortorella told reporters after a win over the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden in February. "I think Cally has a little bit of a chip on his shoulder that everybody thinks he's a one-dimensional guy. He isn't. As he keeps growing as a player, he's certainly showing that." Callahan’s game has grown in the 2011-12 season. To the point that the Rangers can hardly imagine life without him. NOTESOn Wednesday, the New York Islanders announced that goaltender Evgeni Nabokov has been signed to a one-year contract extension. ...The Islanders franchise is already trying to drum up interest for its preseason game at the new Barclays Arena in Brooklyn. Tickets for the exhibition against the New Jersey go on sale on March 29 before the 2011-12 regular season ends. ... New Jersey Devils center Travis Zajac has been practicing with the team since March 16 and his return to the team’s lineup is considered to be imminent. He has played in only eight games this year while attempting to return from an offseason Achilles injury. ... Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Andrej Meszaros underwent successful back surgery on Wednesday. He is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. ... The Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin, with 45 goals and 50 assists in 66 games, entered Friday with a 10-point lead in the NHL scoring race. Claude Giroux of the Flyers is second with 85 points (27 goals and 58 assists 58 in 70 games). ... Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello suffered a fractured wrist after blocking a shot at home on Friday against Buffalo. He is out indefinitely.Photos by Getty Images
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| Last Updated on Saturday, 24 March 2012 12:30 |
