Player Grades: Blackhawks @ Rangers

NASLUND-GOMEZ-DRURY:

The top line had a relatively quiet game. While playing a role in the first Rangers' goal, two-thirds of this line--Gomez and Drury--were both on the ice for the second Hawks goal that pulled them to within one.

Naslund: B; While getting on the scoresheet with a secondary assist on Redden's goal, didn't do a whole lot to get noticed tonight. He didn't play a bad game by any stretch, but he didn't get the chances one expects him to have.

Gomez: B; Made effective use of his speed to create a number of Ranger chances, but didn't have many of his own, nor did he factor in on any Rangers scoring. Again had a few moments of non-chalant puck carrying. He was also on the ice for the aforementioned goal against in the third period.

Drury: B+; Drury's heads-up play to send the puck on goal created Redden's first period goal. He created a number of chances, though, like his mates, was largely quiet after a quick start early on.

How much of a relief is it for Rangers fans that the first line can have such a forgettable night, yet the Rangers pump four goals into the net? That certainly hasn't been the case in recent years, but it shows off the depth the team now has.


ZHERDEV-DUBINSKY-VOROS:

The shift that typified this line's effort came five minutes into the second. All three used physical play and pressure to keep the puck in the Chicago zone. Eventually Dubinsky gets a pass over to Voros who bangs a goal home.

Zherdev: A; Let's get the negative out of the way early because other than being on for Chicago's first goal, Nik had himself a fantastic game. The Garden crowd got to see a few glimpses of the magic Zherdev's world-class skill can create. On three separate occasions he drew an "ohh" from the Garden crowd--once with a slick drag move to set up a chance, again for the little flip to himself he did at center ice to get by a defender and finally for rifling home a goal.

Dubinsky: A+; Dubi was active: hitting, creating chances and notching both a goal and an assist in the game. Nevermind the fact that the line was on for a goal against, their play in the rest of the game more than made up for that fact. Dubinsky's hard work helped create a turnover that led to his goal and also led to the Voros marker.

Voros: A; Aaron Voros was given a spot on the second line for the way he plays the game. He didn't change up his strategy just because he was bumped up on a scoring line and he most certainly didn't disappoint. His work and pressure helped create both of the line's goals. Solid effort all around. He used his size but didn't have to fight or land a huge hit to have a major impact on this game.

DAWES-KORPIKOSKI-CALLAHAN:

Dawes: C; Dawes played another fairly invisible game. Much credit goes his way for coming to Ryan Callahan's aid when the latter was hit after the whistle--especially given the fact that he's about 5-foot-five--but other than that, Nigel wasn't noticeable in the least. His play didn't stand out for anything negative either, but still a grade of C denotes average performance and that's what Dawes' game was tonight.

Korpikoski: B-; In the early goings Lauri was helping his mates create some chances. Though, as the game progressed, he, like Dawes, faded into the background. Nothing wrong with his contribution, but it wasn't noteworthy either.

Callahan: B+; The Rangers coaching staff is fond of saying that Ryan Callahan needs to play a certain way to be effective on this team. The game he played is most likely just the type of effort to which they're referring. He fought early on, was physically active and used his speed and shot to create Rangers chances. Typical Ryan Callahan stuff despite not tallying on the scoresheet.

SJOSTROM-BETTS-ORR

Troika of C's for the fourth line. They didn't have a bad game by any stretch, as they weren't on for any goals against, but they didn't have much of an impact on the tilt either. Maybe that's a good thing for the fourth line, eh? I don't think either of the bubble forwards--Dawes, Sjostrom--made a real case to stay in the lineup. Prucha, anyone? He's so sad-looking in a suit.

Sjostrom: C;

Betts: C;

Orr: C;

ROZSIVAL-REDDEN

Rozsival: B; Rozsival made heads-up passes to spring his mates in on goal. He also had a few chances of his own. He was, however, burned by Brian Campbell on the first Chicago goal and was on for the second as well.

Redden: B+; He absolutely buried the chance that Drury set up. He was on for both Chicago goals but he was offensively engaged and made several solid plays in his own end. His ability to start the rush also helped create Ranger chances.

STAAL-MARA:

This pair was as steady as they come.

Staal: A; Had a very noticeable game in his own end. He did nothing overtly flashy, but he did all of the little things solidly. One play that was a microcosm for his steady night on the blueline a few minutes into the second period where he single-handedly thwarted a Hawks' rush by angling wonderkid Kane into the wall. Again, no end-to-end rushes, or bone rattling hits, but a solid night.

Mara: B; Made some solid defensive plays to break up Chicago opportunities, got in a bit of a tussle with young Jack Skille and otherwise did nothing negative in his own end.

GIRARDI-KALININ:

Girardi: C; Girardi had a quiet game as well, which is typically not the case for the young man. His usual one-armed, stiff-arm tactics went largely unseen and the only time his presence was really apparent was the one aggressive play he made just outside the Rangers blueline that let the Hawks in for a 2-on-1 down low.

Kalinin: C+; When a defenseman with Kalinin's risk-reward ratio doesn't pass through your mind more than a few times in a game, things can't be all too bad. He had one fairly glaring turnover that led to a Hawks' chance, but other than that, he did his job as a depth defenseman.

HENRIK LUNDQVIST: A; Very sharp once again. Had to turn away more than a few quality Hawks chances at the Rangers were occasionally sloppy in their coverage. He turned away 30 shots in total and was a large part of the Rangers victory.