Gaborik returns…

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With the Rangers in a mild early season swoon, having lost 5 0f 6 heading into yesterdays contest with the Bruins, no one was quite sure when or if Marian Gaborik would return?

Much to the delight of the Ranger faithful, Gaborik took warm-ups and then proceeded to let head coach, John Tortorella, know that he was good to go. And although his presence in the line-up didn’t exactly spark an offensive outbreak, it was his nifty one timer from high in the slot that that gave the Rangers all they would need on this afternoon.

In what was a rather mundane matinee, it was the two goaltenders who excelled when called upon. And that wasn’t often as the Bruins outshot the Blueshirts 29-23.

Lundqvist superb again.

The one shot that did elude the Bruin netminder, Tim Thomas, I’m not sure Gaborik got all of it. The one-timer fluttered end over end, beating a screened Thomas high over his left shoulder. But as they say in baseball, it looks like a “frozen rope” in the boxscore!

Indeed the Rangers needed it as they have now scored just 4 goals in their previous 3 games. Certianly not a recipe for consistent winning, and one that privately has to concern Tortorella.

The coach was upbeat with the win, commenting, “we found a way to win.” He also thought that his team played better in the neutral zone. To beat the Bruins he said, “we needed a patient, grinding type game.” And that’s exactly what he got from some his role players, singling out Ales Kotalik, saying, “Koti played one of his better games.” Tortorella was also quick to praise Chris Higgins for his work and ability to grind when asked as well. “I thought Higgins had a really good game,” the coach told reporters.

Matt Gilroy continues to play like he’s been here awhile instead of a recent BU graduate. He logged just over 22 minutes of ice time and is consistently called upon to kill penalties. He’s quick to physically ride opponents off the puck in his own zone as well as move the puck quickly to the forwards. And he should only get better with time and experience as the season winds on.

Lastly, Henrik Lundqvist, who has done so often, was outstanding and almost becomes an afterthought in that everyone has come to expect this type of play. With 21 career shutouts on his resume, who could argue with that logic?

But for all the happy faces around MSG yesterday, the Blueshirts are going to have to find a way to score more, especially on the road, if that feel good atmosphere is going to stick around.