Gomez - Drury

Yea it seems about that time to review these signings from last summer. Gomez and Drury rank respectfully 1 and 4 on the team's point scoring list. Gomez of course has been the best player on the team and the catalist for the offense for the past couple of weeks. He was also able to jumpstart a slow out of the gate Shanahan who is third on the team in points currently, and it seems like he is doing the same for Jagr who has been able to put up a few assists here and there followed by 2 goals last night. Gomez didn't have the greatest start but has come on the last 2 months and has easily become the catalist for whatever line he is on. Where as Drury has been a solid player as well. Not as noticable sometimes out there on the ice, as some would hope but he is still making a difference on the ice. His plus/minus leaves something to be desired. Drury is one of only 3 Rangers that are in the double digits on the minus side (Orr and Girardi are the others). ESPN doesn't have faceoff statistics which I am assuming he probably leading the rangers if not in second place. Drury's value actually lies elsewhere though. Yes, he is having a decent point season chances are will be over 50 points and has a chance to get over 60; but he is a last second type of guy. He is the player who scores the goal in the last minute when you are facing elimination to force another game, another period or ends the game. All in all there is real no way to judge Drury's season until we get to the second season. So all in all, despite all the lack of scoring this team is doing these 2 are still producing and playing well.

As for Orr's hit last night, good clean hit. Orr had his hands down and caught Cullen with his head down. I liked Cullen when he was a Ranger last year but you do not skate across the middle with your head down in the NHL just ask Eric Lindros. Even if the league has protected against those hits in recent years you still shouldn't even consider doing something like that. Espeically against the Rangers 4th line whose calling card is backchecking and defense, besides the toughness side of things with Hollweg and Orr. Keep your head up and shit like this won't happen. The NHL should never start protecting players who can't learn to keep their heads up when skating across the middle. I mean hell they teach you how to stick handle in minor hockey when you are a kid, and it starts with your head up. Many players have spent countless hours staring at the boards while trying to keep control of the puck at their feet to stop that exact thing. Keep you head up and this shit wouldn't happen. Players like Crosby or Heatley may have made that pass but would not be skating there looking back over their shoulder not keeping their head up. Here is the video.



Hands down, heads down. Stupid penalty from the refs as well but they are trained to protect the players and give the team the Rangers are playing every advantage as possible. Citing last week as the Refs and Marion Gaborik took out the Rangers.