New York Rangers Preseason: Gaborik, Boyle, Stepan Impress In First Game

The New York Rangers have defeated the New Jersey Devils in their first preseason game of the 2010-11 NHL season.

First Period highlights

6:43- Marian Gaborik scores on a tick-tack-toe passes from Alexander Frolov and Derek Stepan to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.

13:11- Travis Zajac scores on a drop pass from Ilya Kovalchuck to tie the game at 1-1.

Second Period highlights

5:15- Alexander Frolov steals the puck in the offensive zone, finds his way around Martin Brouder to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead.

12:14- Ilya Kovalchuck goes top shelf on Martin Biron, tying the game at 2-2.

14:20- Brian Boyle makes a nifty move around Brouder to score the lead goal for the Rangers, making it 3-2. Assisted by Dale Weise.

Third Period highlights

18:14- Zach Parise scores a lucky goal late in the game to tie it at 3-3.

Overtime Highlights

3:12- Marian Gaborik scores his second preseason goal to win the game for the Rangers in overtime. The power play assists go to Alexander Frolov and Dan Girardi.

My three Stars of the game

The three players that impressed me most in this game were:

Third Star: Derek Stepan.

Stepan had an excellent game today, proving to John Tortorella that he can play at a NHL level. He played extremely well on the first line between Gaborik and Frolov, and he was also impressive while playing on a power-play and penalty-kill line.

I would not be surprised to see him make the team.

Second Star: Brian Boyle

Here is someone out to prove he belongs on the team, and he played extremely well in tonight's game. He started with a fight early in the game while sticking up for teammate Michael Rozsival, and followed that up with exceptional penalty-kill play, and an impressive goal.

It's no secret he is battling for a spot on the roster, and he definitely proved he deserves one.

First Star: Marian Gaborik

Gaborik had a very good game today, starting with a power-play goal early in the game, and following up with an excellent defensive play in overtime (stopping Parise on a breakaway) and skating back into the offensive zone and scoring the game winning goal on a Lazar beam shot.

We may be in for a very good season from Gaborik this year.