|
|
|
HEAD COACH
|
|
John Muckler
|
ROSTER
|
|
C - Wayne Gretzky, Manny Malhotra, Petr Nedved, Marc
Savard, Christian Dube. LW - Brent Fedyk, Adam Graves,
Darren Langdon, Kevin Stevens, Eric Lacroix. RW - Todd Harvey,
Mike Knuble, John MacLean, Niklas Sundstrom, Mike Maneluk. D -
Jeff Beukeboom, Brian Leetch, Stan Neckar, Peter Popovic,Ulf
Samuelsson, Mathieu Schneider, Ruman Ndur, Chris Tamer, Rich
Brennan. G - Mike Richter, Dan Cloutier.
|
INJURIES
|
|
Jeff Beukeboom, d (out for remainder of the season);
Petr Nedved, c (torn ribcage muscle, day-to-day).
|
TRANSACTIONS
|
|
None.
|
GAME RESULTS
|
|
3/22 Tampa Bay L 6-3
3/24 Florida W 2-1
3/27 Philadelphia L 3-1
3/29 NY Islanders W 3-1
4/02 Anaheim L 4-1
4/04 New Jersey L 4-1
|
STANDINGS
|
|
Atlantic Division GP W L T PTS GF GA
New Jersey 76 42 23 11 95 230 186
Pittsburgh 77 36 27 14 86 232 210
Philadelphia 77 34 25 18 86 219 188
NY Rangers 77 32 35 10 74 209 213
NY Islanders 77 21 46 10 52 177 230
|
TEAM NEWS
|
|
by Gregg Jensen, New York Rangers Correspondent
|
|
YEE-HAW, I'M WAYNE GRETZKY!
Wayne Gretzky scored the game-winner against the Islanders at the
Garden on 3/29, giving him 1,072 goals in his professional
career. He is now pro hockey's all-time leading goal-scorer.
Gretzky is the Rangers point leader again this season, despite
missing a month with a neck injury. Just a shame that #99 has to
endure a season like this so late in his career when he should be
contending for a Cup.
BLUESHIRTS' "PLAN" JUST ISN'T WORKING
One year ago today, in their 77th game of 1997-98, the Rangers
were eliminated from the playoffs. Now, if they lose tonight in
Philadelphia in the 77th game of 1998-99 while the Bruins and
Sabres both win at home, the Rangers will be eliminated
from the NHL's 16-team post-season tournament for a second
consecutive year.
WHAT NOW?
The Rangers have a busy summer ahead. First order of business
would seem to be to re-sign Brian Leetch. If contract talks drag
on into June, say so long to #2 come July 1st. If they
find themselves in a situation similar to the Mark Messier
fiasco, they will be going into the 1999-2000 season with their
third Captain in four years.
YOU HEARD IT HEAR FIRST...COME JULY 1st-LEETCH WALKS!
Second on the agenda is OPEN THE CHECK BOOK! The Rangers MUST
sign a bona fide goal scorer. They also need to beef up
defensively. Beukeboom may not return next season---if ever, and
they lost Ulf Samuelsson to the Wings. I would love to see Theo
Fleury in a blue shirt, but why would he come to N.Y. when he is
on a team that could contend for the Cup every year for the next
five years? The Rangers are more than just one player away from
contending, they are about four players away.
Going into this season I was very optimistic about the team, and
remained so up until the 6-3 loss to the lowly Lightning
on March 22. I know now that this frustrating season is all but
over. Hopefully, with the crop of young talent they have, next
year will be an exciting year, a playoff year. I do think Gretzky
will be back. He is so close to 3,000 points (900 goals/2,100
assists). He has one year remaining on his contract with the
Rangers for five million. The Rangers should exercise that option
after the end of the season.
|
|
