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About Denis Gorman

HPT's Atlantic Division beat writer, Denis Gorman is based in New York City. He covers the Rangers, Islanders and Devils for Metro Newspaper and writes NHL freelance stories for Yahoo Sports.

A lifelong hockey fan, Denis is always willing to talk about the greatest sport the world has ever known.

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Rangers' playoff chances on life support Print
Atlantic
Written by Denis Gorman   
Saturday, March 27, 2010 00:00
Atlantic Division notebook:

The New York Rangers’ slim playoff hopes took a hit last week with losses to Montreal and St. Louis at the Garden, and to the Bruins in Boston. The Rangers sit in 10th place with 71 points and have 10 games remaining.
Avery
The Rangers were outscored 9-5 in the three losses, then bounced back with a 5-0 demolition of the Islanders and a 4-3 come-from-behind shootout win in Newark Thursday night. The Rangers trail eighth seed Boston by three points.

Wednesday night’s MSG Network broadcast of the Islanders-Rangers game was in 3-D. According to the Associated Press, it was the first 3-D sports event in the United States.

In other Rangers news:

The Hockey News profiled former Rangers defenseman and MSG Network hockey analyst Dave Maloney. … Canada World Hockey Championship GM Mark Messier, the special assistant to Rangers’ GM Glen Sather, named former teammate Craig MacTavish as the head coach of Team Canada on Tuesday. The tournament runs from May 7 to May 23 in Germany.

NEW JERSEY

Following an almost unfathomable 1-0 home loss to St. Louis last weekend, the topic du jour in Newark was offense – or the lack thereof. The New York Post speculated Monday that “the Devils may be guilty of trying to force-feed (Ilya) Kovalchuk into the system.” In Tuesday’s edition, the newspaper quoted head coach Jacques Lemaire as having said “Guys that have the potential to score, they have to bear down, OK?” That night, the scorers torched Columbus’ Steve Mason for six goals in the Devils’ 6-3 win. Zach Parise and Travis Zajac scored two goals each. Ilya Kovalchuk had four points (a goal, three assists) and Paul Martin scored a goal. The win was Martin Brodeur’s 40th of the season, the eighth time in his Hall of Fame-worthy career that he has reached that plateau. … The Hockey News’ Ryan Kennedy examined the takedown-ization of hockey fights. ... Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond and ex-Devil and current Blue Cam Janssen engaged in an old-fashioned heavyweight bout [video below] that the New York Post estimated lasted 2:40.

 

 

PHILADELPHIA

The broken bone in Jeff Carter's left foot may have also fractured the Flyers’ Stanley Cup aspirations. Carter was struck in the foot in the first period of Philadelphia’s 3-1 loss in Atlanta on Sunday. Carter leads the Flyers with 33 goals and 60 points, and is tied for fifth with 27 assists. In a statement released Thursday, GM Paul Holmgren said that Carter “will have a screw inserted to aid the healing process.” … The organization announced that it had come to terms with Colorado College forward Mike Testwuide. … The Flyers called up AHL goaltender Johan Backlund on Wednesday. … The Flyers have lost seven out of 10.

PITTSBURGH

Don Cherry criticized the league for not suspending Matt Cooke on his Coach’s Corner segment during last Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast. Cherry was also outspoken in his disdain for Cooke’s decision not remove his visor during the latter’s fight with Boston’s Shawn Thornton last Thursday. ... A 4-3 shootout loss to the Capitals on Wednesday was the Penguins' third straight. The Caps can sweep the season series on April 6 at the Igloo. ... Pittsburgh has killed off 34 of its 36 short-handed shifts entering Saturday's home game against the Flyers. ... Chris Kunitz scored his 100th career goal Sunday against Detroit.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

“This isn’t a wasted year.” These are the words of perpetually injured New York Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro, as quoted in Wednesday’s New York Post. DiPietro has missed more than a month due to swelling in his surgically repaired right knee, according to the newspaper. … The Islanders rebounded from their 5-0 non-competitive effort against the Rangers on Wednesday by beating Calgary 3-2 at the Coliseum Thursday night. Legendary Islander Bob Nystom was in attendance to see his son, Eric, record two points (a goal and an assist) for the Flames.

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Last Updated on Saturday, March 27, 2010 06:31