Hockey: points
Tavares named First Star of the month
February, 1, 2012
Feb 1
1:27
PM ET
By Mike Hume | ESPNNewYork.com
Perhaps to the chagrin of so-called housebound "agraphobes" everywhere, New York Islanders center John Tavares was named the NHL's First Star for the month of January.
It was a tremendous start to 2012 for Tavares, as the award wraps a 31-day stretch in which he notched a league-best nine goals and 13 assists, and earned his first trip to the All-Star game.
Tavares currently sits tied for fourth in the NHL points standings with 53, six behind league-leader Evgeni Malkin.
It was a tremendous start to 2012 for Tavares, as the award wraps a 31-day stretch in which he notched a league-best nine goals and 13 assists, and earned his first trip to the All-Star game.
Tavares currently sits tied for fourth in the NHL points standings with 53, six behind league-leader Evgeni Malkin.
After falling 4-1 to the Flyers Saturday, the Rangers may have missed their chance to sweep the Eastern Conference's three elite teams. But given the Blueshirts' upcoming slate of games they could certainly soon join, or even pass them at the top of the standings.
Over their next six games, the Rangers only face one team currently in the Eastern Conference playoff picture (meeting the Tampa Bay Lightning twice, the first coming Thursday). This is one of those prime opportunities that good teams use to fuel their playoff push. If the Rangers can get on a six-game run, they'd have 53 points with exactly have their schedule (41 games) remaining. That would put them on pace for 106 points, which would have placed them second in the East last season. Heck, tack on 12 more points in the next six and the Rangers could pretty much play .500 hockey with a few one-point losses mixed in and probably cruise into the playoffs.
Is it likely? Maybe not. But with the way the Rangers have been playing, it's certainly possible.
Here are some other notes from around the Rangers' media.
Afternoon Links
Over their next six games, the Rangers only face one team currently in the Eastern Conference playoff picture (meeting the Tampa Bay Lightning twice, the first coming Thursday). This is one of those prime opportunities that good teams use to fuel their playoff push. If the Rangers can get on a six-game run, they'd have 53 points with exactly have their schedule (41 games) remaining. That would put them on pace for 106 points, which would have placed them second in the East last season. Heck, tack on 12 more points in the next six and the Rangers could pretty much play .500 hockey with a few one-point losses mixed in and probably cruise into the playoffs.
Is it likely? Maybe not. But with the way the Rangers have been playing, it's certainly possible.
Here are some other notes from around the Rangers' media.
Afternoon Links
- Larry Brooks writes that the Rangers are facing an energy crisis with Ryan Callahan out of the lineup.
- Andrew Gross reports that Vinny Prospal is getting closer to a return, but Derek Boogaard is suffering from headache issues. Plus some reaction from head coach John Tortorella on the play of Michael Del Zotto.
- Jesse Spector tweeted about the new-look lines for the Rangers.
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Katie Strang
After spending the past two seasons as the Islanders beat writer for Newsday, Katie Strang joins ESPNNewYork.com to cover the Rangers, Isles and Devils. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.
Mike Hume
Mike Hume is a general editor for ESPN Insider, for which he coordinates NHL coverage, including the NHL Draft Blog. He has followed hockey since The Whale skated at the Civvy, and has covered the sport since 2004.
