N.H.L. Roundup: Gaborik and Biron Help Rangers Defeat Jets
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Biron said Sunday night when asked if he was O.K. with starting once every three or four games. He had just stopped all 23 shots he faced in a 3-0 victory over the Winnipeg Jets at Madison Square Garden. “You’ve got to be ready and do what you’ve got to do,” he said. “We’re all pros in here.” The victory over the road-weary Jets was the Rangers’ fourth straight, and it completed their six-game homestand. The shutout was the 27th of Biron’s career, and his first as a Ranger. Biron was making his third start of the season, and it seems as if Coach John Tortorella may not give him the 25 or so starts that would save Henrik Lundqvist from playoff exhaustion. Still, Biron has been a pivotal figure in this young season. He stopped 24 shots in a 5-2 victory over San Jose on Oct. 31 that helped awaken the Rangers after they listlessly dropped the first two games of the homestand. Biron was also largely responsible for a 2-1 victory in his first start, a <a href="http://www.uggaustraliasaleukforyou.co.uk"><strong>uggs uk</strong></a> 27-save effort against the Jets in Winnipeg on Oct. 24. On Sunday, Biron seemed flawless, not that it was too difficult against a Jets team playing the sixth game of a seven-game trip. He excelled in the game’s first half, when groups of Jets came dogpiling in on the Rangers’ net in search of a goal. Biron held fast, at one point stretching out from goal post to goal post, at another racing to the blue line to clear a puck and deny a breakaway to Winnipeg’s Bryan Little. The Garden crowd chanted “Marty, Marty” in tribute. Derek Stepan scored a power-play goal midway through the game for the Rangers, and he set up Marian Gaborik’s goal off a two-on-one break 8 minutes 31 seconds into the third. Gaborik added the final goal into an empty net with two seconds to play. Last season, Biron’s first as a Ranger, he was strong in compiling a .923 save percentage in a backup role. But a shot from Stepan during practice broke Biron’s <a href="http://www.uggsclearancesalestores.com"><strong>uggs</strong></a> collarbone, and he missed the last five weeks of the season, having played only 17 games. Lundqvist finished the season without a break, and seemed tired in the first-round playoff loss. “It wasn’t easy,” Biron said. “I hadn’t been on the ice facing shots in so long — it just feels like it was yesterday that I got injured — but I’ve got to be ready. That’s the mentality I’ve had through this whole process.” FLAMES 2, AVALANCHE 1 Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 32 shots, and Mark Giordano and Curtis Glencross each had a goal for visiting Calgary. Kiprusoff made several key saves in the third, including one on Paul Stastny at the doorstep. (AP) CANUCKS 6, BLACKHAWKS 2 Henrik Sedin had a goal and three assists and visiting Vancouver converted five of six power plays as the Canucks (7-7-1) handed Chicago its first regulation home loss. (AP) STARS 5, HURRICANES 2 Jamie Benn scored twice after assists by Loui Eriksson, including a short-handed goal, for visiting Dallas. Kari Lehtonen had 30 saves to improve to 10-1-0. Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward (5-4-2) stopped 10 of 14 shots before being pulled for Brian <a href="http://www.cheapuggsonsaleuk4u.co.uk"><strong>cheap uggs uk sale</strong></a> Boucher. (AP) LIGHTNING 4, PANTHERS 3 Dominic Moore scored the only goal of the shootout for visiting Tampa Bay. Florida had three first-period goals, a burst that was capped by Mike Santorelli at 15 minutes 21 seconds. But after goaltender Dwayne Roloson relieved Mathieu Garon, the Lightning rallied. (AP) BLUES FIRE PAYNE AS COACH St. Louis changed coaches after a disappointing 6-7 start, firing Davis Payne and hiring Ken Hitchcock. (AP)
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