RANGERS WIN 4-3!!!!

Looks like # 12 in the power rankings might not be so accurate any more. The Rangers with their 3rd straight victory, and a strong road performance over one of the East's elite teams, have really shown me something. The young defense is going to be exposed every now and then, but for the most part whenever it is, Hank is still back there to make the save. We've seen tonight's game played many times over the last few years. When the Rangers led 2-1 in the 3rd, the old Rangers would have taken their foot off the gas, laid back 5 defenders in their zone, and hoped to run out the clock. The soft goal from Hank would have been the end of them. The Rangers would have played for Overtime and the point. When backstrom scored on the powerplay, putting the Rangers down 3-2, the Rangers would have folded. They didn't have the firepower to come back and win. But with Gaborik, the Rangers now do.

Gaborik has points in every game. His 3rd and 4th goals of the season came in the 3rd period, bringing the Rangers back from the depths of a miserable loss to a disguting city and ever worse fan base, and instead lifted the Rangers to a statement victory that the rest of the league should take notice of. 6 points for Gaborik in the first 4 games, Rangers have to find a way to keep this guy healthy. I don't know how they are going to do it, but as long as he is out there, the Rangers can beat anyone right now.

Nugman's stars of the game:

Honorable mention: Hank - solid as always. Aside from the soft goal, came up with some big saves against the best offense in the NHL. 25 saves on 28 shots and another win for Hank.

# 3 - Ryan Callahan: Described in more detail in one of the posts below, Callahan brought his usual fantastic effort all night long, especially on the penalty kill. His dynamic work killing a 4 on 3 caps advantage, and then scoring the Rangers first goal to tie the game off three-or-more was a major turning point in the game.

# 2 - The Rangers Penalty Kill Unit: Chris Drury can accept the award for the group that held the best power play in the NHL to a 1 for 9 performance (11%). The Rangers had trouble all night staying out of the box (Voros and Brashear with "Hollwegian" penalties in the 3rd period, meaning penalties that are not only incredibly damaging to the team, but also epicly stupid) and the penalty kill unit was tested all night long. Fighting off 2, 5 on 3's, shutting out Ovechkin, huge night for the penalty killers.

# 1 - Gaborik: A lot of guys were excellent tonight. Callahan's effort was great. Drury's defense was fantastic. Prospal worked very hard and brought a lot of intensity. Kotalik showed some great hands. But Gaborik is the difference. (Which by the way, I need a good nick name for him. Until I hear a better one from one of our followers, I am calling him "The Difference") Every game the Rangers play, for the rest of the season after tonight, when they are down by a goal, every guy on that team knows that at any moment, Gaborik can take over and get the game tied, or the Rangers back in the lead. Having a guy like that makes everyone else play better. Huge 3rd period from Gaborik, picked up his goalie, picked up his team, and a big win for the Rangers organization early in the year.

3 Goals for Hank: 3-0-0 on the season when the Rangers score 3 goals or more (the Rangers have scored 3 or more in 3 out of 4 games...an offensive orgy)

Ovechkin SHUT OUT: Ovechkin's first game? 3 points. His second game? 3 points. His third game? 3 points. Tonight?....nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Rangers stopped Ovechkin for the first time this season, big team effort.

More on the Rangers, and around the Eastern conference later this evening, early tomorrow morning. Big win for the Rangers.