CBC-Sports

Rangers' new sheriff is on target. So far.

March 16, 2009 05:32 PM | Posted by   Mike Milbury  

When I'm not working for the CBC, I have the chance to do some broadcasts with NBC in the U.S. The past two weekends, we covered the Rangers vs. the Bruins and then the Rangers vs. the Flyers. Compared to previous viewings, the difference in New York's play these last two weekends has been considerable.

There's not much doubt that new coach John Tortorella has breathed life into what was a floundering hockey team. That's no slam on Tom Renney, who had some pretty good years in Manhattan, but it seems that Tortorella's approach has brought optimism and, with that, energy.

General managers labour over the decision to change coaches, but it appears that the time was right in New York to switch bench bosses. The Rangers' best players — Scott Gomez, Chris Drury and Markus Naslund, as well as Wade Redden — were but shadows of themselves.

With an anemic offence, particularly on the power play, New York was relying on goalie Henrik Lundquist to come up large every night. Worse, the Sword of Damocles seemed to hang over their heads so that every sign of adversity seemed insurmountable. Without the change in coaches, there was a strong consensus that the Broadway bunch was going to be going home without a playoff berth.

Give GM Glen Sather credit for recognizing that Plan A was not working out. And blame him for putting together Plan A, while you're at it. The game humbles us all, including the hall of fame GM and coach with a fistful of Cup rings on his resume. And befitting the competitive son of a gun that he is, Slats went to work.

Avery a positive influence. Really.

Not only did the coaching change occur, personnel moves followed rapidly. Sean Avery, who from the beginning told associates that he had made a mistake by signing with Dallas in the summer for the most cash as opposed to playing where he wanted to be, made an impact with teammates and fans akin to prodding a lazy cow.

The shock of passion and emotion from Avery brought an across-the-board positive reaction from his mates as much as it seemed to distract opponents and officials (hey, they know where he is every second).

Then Sather reached out to Phoenix to pluck defenceman Derek Morris to take some of the burden off of the struggling Redden. That, too, seems to have worked as the dormant Ranger power play has sprung to life, particularly in yesterday's 4-1 win over the Flyers in which New York scored three power-play goals.

Can it last? Will Avery implode? Will Naslund, still trying to deal with the mercurial Tortorella's direct approach, get the oomph needed to launch a hot goal scoring streak? Damned if I know.

I do know this, however. Sather has reloaded the gun and handed it over to a new sheriff who likes to shoot first and then ask questions. So far, he's been right on target, and the fans of Manhattan have a reason to believe this season can be salvaged.

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