Two of a Kind

 

Patrick Hoffman (HV)

 

The main theme of the New York Rangers 4-0 sweep of the third-seeded Atlanta Thrashers was control.

 

In Game One, the Rangers controlled the majority of play by keeping the puck in the Thrashers zone, blasting away at Kari Lehtonen and playing smothering defense as they tried to hold onto their 4-3 lead late in the third period. In Game Two, the Rangers again controlled the play but were held to just two goals thanks to the play of Thrashers’ goaltender Johan Hedberg.

Games Three and Four were more of the same for the Rangers but the keys to the Rangers controlling the series was the play of Michael Nylander and Jaromir Jagr.

Michael Nylander had a career year for the Blueshirts as he scored 26 goals and assisted on 57 others. He continued his strong play in the Rangers’ first round sweep as he led the team with four goals and tied for the team lead with seven points.

 

In Game Three, Nylander exploded for three goals, including the first goal just 32 seconds into the game.

 

“He’s a tremendous player to play with and I love playing with him,” captain Jaromir Jagr said after the Blueshirts Game Three victory. “It was great to see him finish the chances that he had.”

 

Nylander, who often hesitated to shoot the puck during the regular season, certainly did not do that in Game Three. Jagr hopes that Nylander will continue to fire away.

 

“It’s great to see him finally shooting the puck,” Jagr said. “I am going to give him a tape of the game and tell him to watch it over and over again.”

 

Jagr was no slouch himself as he also posted seven points (2 goals, 5 assists), including four in the Rangers 7-0 blowout in Game Three.

“I am just enjoying every moment I have a chance to play here,” Jagr said after the Rangers’ series clincher. “I love this organization. I love the players I am playing with.”

Besides putting up points, Jagr is also starting to accept his leadership role and hopes that he can help lead this team to the Stanley Cup one day.

 

“When I was young, Mario gave me the Cup,” Jagr said. “I always wanted to help the younger guys like Mario helped me.”

Together, Jagr and Nylander have a chance to lead this team to the Eastern Conference Finals if they can keep up their hot play.

“The last 20 or 30 games of the regular season, the way we played, we can play anybody,” Jagr said.

 

 

Photo: Jaromir Jagr © Andris Jansons (HV)