Coyotes Defeated Rangers 3-2 in Phoenix Saturday

The New York Rangers lost to the Phoenix Coyotes 3-2 on Saturday night in the desert. Ranger coach John Tortorella was saying how it’d be good for the Rangers to get out of town. I understand it but don’t like hearing it. Blueshirts goalie extraordinaire Henrik Lundqvist sat out with an undisclosed illness. Coyote captain Shane Doan opened the scoring by beating Ranger rookie defenseman Michael Del Zotto early in 1st period. Del Zotto was schooled in the 1st period and was -3 before intermission. He’s been getting schooled at the Garden too but this comes with the territory of being a rookie defenseman in the NHL at the age of 19. Last year he was stopping minor leaguers and this years he’s stopping the likes of Sidney (aka Cindy) Crosby. To think he’s the second coming of Brian Leetch is a bit premature. Goalie Chad Johnson played well after the 3 goal barrage. The Blueshirts took way too many penalties and you can’t score if on the penalty kill. Ranger Marian Gaborik scored his first goal in weeks on a nice give and go with Erik Christensen at 9:42 of the 3rd period. Sean Avery came down on a 2-on-1 and held up passing to Chris Higgins and slammed a wrist shot to the back of the net to bring the Blueshirts within 1 goal, down 3-2 at 11:50 in the 3rd period. Unfortunately too little offensive too late and the Rangers took another loss. Ex-Ranger forwards Lauri Korpikoski, Petr Prucha and backup goalie Jason LaBarbera played well for Phoenix. Prucha was on the ice against the Rangers first line, something Tom Renney would never think of doing. It’s nice to see Prucha playing better and getting ice time with Phoenix. Michal Rozsival had a “Penalty Hat Trick”, with 3 minors and the topper, a hi-sticking call on Petr Prucha at 18:05 in the 3rd penalty. With Johnson out of the net it was 5-on-5, less a goalie! The Rangers go from the desert to the mountains to take on the Avalanche in Denver tonight.