Marian Gaborik had carried the Rangers on his back all season long. But with the season hanging in the balance, John Tortorella put him on the bench.
Gaborik had 42 goals, more than double the tally of any other Ranger, and his 86 points dwarfed the totals of runners-up Vinny Prospal (58) and Brandon Dubinsky (44). So with the Rangers down 2-1 to the Flyers in a game-ending shootout in a win-or-go-home contest for both teams, Tortorella decided to go with … Olli Jokinen?
When asked by the New York Post if he wanted to explain why it was Jokinen and not his star, Tortorella did not mince words.
"No," he said.
According to the Post, Gaborik was slotted to go fourth, if the shootout went to extra shooters. The decision begs the question: Why trust him in a sudden-death spot but not as the anchor when he would have been guaranteed a shot?
Jokinen was 5-for-9 this season in shootouts, but he had yet to score one for the Rangers since he was acquired from Calgary. Gaborik had only converted one of his five attempts on the season. It’s the ultimate question for a coach: go with your best player or listen to the numbers.
Tortorella followed the stats with his second shooter, as midseason call-up P.A. Parenteau kept his shootout streak perfect (3-for-3). But with Gaborik available, the coach instead call upon Jokinen, who built up a head of steam before charging down the ice and waiting to fire a backhanded flick that was turned away by Philadelphia netminder Brian Boucher.
Boucher was under the pile of Flyers while Tortorella, Gaborik and Jokinen could only watch from the side, their season having come to an abrupt end before their Slovakian savior even got a chance to shoot.
Sports fans love playing the "what if" game, but for Rangers fans, this is one they just might want to leave alone for a while.
