The Rangers take on old coach John Tortorella and his Blue Jackets tonight at the Garden. Vitali Kravtsov is scoring down in Hartford, and the Leafs goalie struggles only make Georgiev that more attractive. The latest Blueshirts buzz.
Kravtsov heating up
Vitali Kravtsov, the Rangers star prospect is starting to heat up for the Pack. He has 2 goals in his last 3 games and this streak should continue as long as he maintains his commitment to shoot. During this span he has 10 shots in those games, including 6 shots against Utica on Wednesday.
Leafs Goalie Woes
Since Darren Dreger confirmed our reporting that Toronto was kicking the tires on Georgiev, Leafs nation has been saying the Rangers are overvaluing him. And while they admit they need to improve their backup situation, maybe they should realize their 32 year old number 1 is struggling too.
I wonder if Leafs nation still thinks Kasperi Kapanen is too much for the 23 year old Georgiev?
Pre-Game Notes:
John Tortorella is back in town to take on the Rangers.
- All-Time: 19-15-1-3 (8-5-1-3 at home; 11-10-0-0 on the road)
- 2019-20: Today’s game is the second of four meetings between the Rangers and Blue Jackets, and the first of two meetings between the two teams at MSG. The Rangers have posted a 1-0-0 record (0-0-0 at home; 1-0-0 on the road), following their 3-2 win on Dec. 5 at Columbus. Alexandar Georgiev made 45 saves to earn the win, and Brendan Lemieux, Jacob Trouba, and Artemi Panarin each registered a goal in the contest. The Rangers were 1-for-2 on the power play and 5-for-5 on the penalty kill in the contest. Following tomorrow’s game, the Rangers and Blue Jackets will face each other on the following dates: Feb. 14 (at Columbus), Mar. 24(at MSG).
- John Davidson served as the Blue Jackets’ President of Hockey Operations for seven seasons (2012-13 – 2018-19). During Davidson’s tenure with Columbus, the team made the Stanley Cup Playoffs four times, including three consecutive seasons (2016-17 – 2018-19), and established single-season franchise records with 50 wins and 108 points in 2016-17.
- Artemi Panarin played two seasons with the Blue Jackets (2017-18 and 2018-19). He registered 169 points (55 goals, 114 assists) in 160 games with Columbus, and he recorded the two highest single-season assists and points totals in franchise history (59 assists in 2018-19 and 55 assists in 2017-18; 87 points in 2018-19 and 82 points in 2017-18). Panarin is also tied for first in career Stanley Cup Playoff goals (seven) and points (18) in Blue Jackets history.
- Brandon Dubinsky played parts of six seasons with the Rangers (2006-07 – 2011-12) and won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award during his rookie season in 2007-08.
- John Tortorella served as Rangers Head Coach for parts of six seasons (1999-00; 2008-09 – 2012-13). During his tenure with the Blueshirts, he was named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s Head Coach of the Year in 2011-12. Four players on the Rangers’ current roster were coached by Tortorella during his tenure in New York: Henrik Lundqvist (2008-09 – 2012-13), Marc Staal (2008-09 – 2012-13), Chris Kreider (2011-12 – 2012-13), and Micheal Haley (2012-13). Tortorella served as an Assistant Coach with the Rangers for the majority of the 1999-00 season.
Notes courtesy of NYR
