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Orr, Hollweg surprising heroes as Rangers blank Lightning

Feb 10, 2007 - 5:32 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The New York Rangers had no problem creating offense against the Tampa Bay Lightning. However, most of the goals came from unlikely sources.

Tough guy Colton Orr and Ryan Hollweg scored for the first time this season and Marcel Hossa also netted a rare goal as the Rangers ended a four-game losing streak with a 5-0 victory over the streaking Lightning.

Recently acquired Sean Avery tallied in his home debut and Henrik Lundqvist made 29 saves for his second shutout of the season for the Rangers, who also halted a three-game slide at Madison Square Garden.

"Orr scores that goal and Holly scores that goal, it's big goals," Avery said. "Anytime those guys do that, it takes a lot of heat off guys like Jags (Jaromir Jagr) and Straks (Martin Straka) and guys like that."

"It's part of hockey," Tampa Bay enforcer Andre Roy said. "Whenever the third or fourth line gets a goal, it's good for your team. So it was probably good for them and gave them a little bit of momentum."

Despite the lack of scoring from Orr and Hollweg, New York coach Tom Renney understands they contribute in other ways.

"They're here because we believe in them," Rangers coach Tom Renney said. "They're here because we believe they belong here. They add something to our lineup that I think we really need. The fact of the matter is that we also believe they can play hockey, and that's important."

Playing in his 66th NHL game, Orr opened the scoring 4 1/2 minutes into the game with his first career goal. The rugged right wing entered with just one other point, an assist recorded last season.

"I've been thinking about it a long time," Orr admitted. "It was everything it was made out to be."

Hossa doubled New York's lead with 8 1/2 minutes left in the first period, netting his second tally in three games but only his fourth in 53 contests this campaign. Without a point in his first 52 contests of 2006-07, Hollweg made it 3-0 at 8:28 of the middle session, ending an 84-game goalless drought.

"Everybody can score. Sometimes it's how much you play," Hossa said. "(Renney) was running all four lines and everybody was in a tempo. So everybody was playing good."

Hollweg's tally, his third in 105 career games, was his first since December 18, 2005 against Colorado.

"I think when you get into those kind of droughts, the worst thing to do is to overthink and then blow it," Hollweg said. "I think I bring a physical aspect to the game as well, so even if I'm not producing point-wise, I still have to play my game. (Scoring) definitely needs to be a part of my game, and hopefully it comes more often."

Known more for his ability to agitate than to score, Avery scored in his second game with New York after being acquired from Los Angeles on Monday, making it a four-goal bulge with 5 1/2 minutes remaining in the second and chasing former Rangers goaltender Johan Holmqvist.

Jagr, who assisted on Hollweg's goal, capped the scoring early in the third. But the outcome already had been decided, as Lundqvist turned aside 13 shots in the first period and eight in the second before stopping another eight in the final session to notch his fourth career shutout.

"We've been playing pretty good a lot of games until the third period," Lundqvist said. "Then we start playing on our heels and waiting to see what's going to happen. Now, we took charge and managed the puck, and we put them under pressure. That's the way we have to play."

All four of Lundqvist's blankings have come against Southeast Division opponents.

Holmqvist allowed four goals on 16 shots and Marc Denis came on to make seven saves for Tampa Bay, which had won seven in a row on the road and four straight overall.

"We just weren't at our best tonight," Lightning defenseman Cory Sarich said. "They capitalized on a couple of opportunities. Their goaltender played well, that's why it ended up 5-0."

Shortly after ignoring Lightning enforcer Roy's request to fight, Orr received a pass from defenseman Fedor Tyutin in the left faceoff circle and put a backhander between the pads of a surprised Holmqvist at 4:28 of the first period for his memorable goal.

"It was just a good start to the game," Orr said. "We had a good forecheck going and Toots made a great pass and I was able to get it on net and have it go in. It feels great."

Lundqvist understood Holmqvist's frustration, having seen Orr's unpredictable shot many times in practice.

"I don't know if (Orr) knows where it's going," Lundqvist said. "You think you can read from his stick, but he's got the weirdest shot on the team, for sure. He scores a lot in practice, that's the thing. ... I get frustrated every time. ... I'm really happy for him, the way he played tonight. The goal, he definitely deserved that. Hopefully he can keep going and make it two tomorrow."

Hossa made it 2-0 at 11:32, getting a feed from blue-liner Michal Rozsival, who carried down the right wing, and beat Holmqvist with a wrist shot from the high slot.

"Rosey just gave me a pass in between the slot and I just shot it right away," Hossa said. "It was just a simple play."

A turnover by Tampa Bay defenseman Paul Ranger in the middle period led to Hollweg's breakthrough tally. Ranger's attempted pass in the neutral zone hit the skate of teammate Dan Boyle, allowing Jagr to pounce on it.

The former Hart Trophy winner turned and led a 2-on-none rush before dishing across the top of the crease to Hollweg, who tapped in the puck for his first point of the season.

"Jags made a good move to take Holmqvist out of the play, and he just dished it over," Hollweg said. "I wasn't going to make a mistake on it. ... He looked at me, he saw me there and I knew he was going to pass it to me. That's the kind of guy he is and I was totally ready for it."

"It would have been kind of selfish if I didn't pass the puck," Jagr said. "It's good for everybody (to score). I would have compared it to when a big, fat guy scores a touchdown in football. Everybody loves it, they love the celebration. I want to see it, too. I want to see a big guy dancing."

The assist was career No. 886 for Jagr, who climbed within six of tying Hall of Famer Dale Hawerchuk for 18th place on the all-time list.

Avery netted his 11th of the campaign at 14:25 of the second, taking a pass from Michael Nylander and beating Holmqvist high to the glove side with a wrister from the top of the slot.

"Michael made a great pass to me," Avery said. "All I did was close my eyes and kind of shoot, and it went in. ... It's exciting. My first (home) game was the way I wanted to play."

Jagr sealed the win at 3:32 of the third, unleashing a wrister from just above the right circle that sneaked past Denis and trickled toward the goal line. Hossa waved at the puck while standing at the right goalpost, but it had enough momentum to cross the line before Denis was able to smother it with his glove.