Bad Loss

It was a game we needed.

It was a game we led 4-1.

It was a game we had a five-on-three in the 3rd period and came away with nothing.

It was a game where we scored our needed 3 goals. We scored our 4th goal. But Hank wasn't in the net. Torts went with Valiguette. Again - I like the idea of resting Hank once in a while -but it sure seems to blow up on us when we try it. I have to say - if Hank had played we would have won. He would have found a way to stop at least one more shot than Valiguette.

It was a game where we had 6 chances in the shootout and came away empty. And this is after going 3 for 3 in our last shootout.

It was a game where the defensive pairing of Staal and Girardi in plus/minus were both -4. You can't win a game like that.

It was a game where the Penalty Kill stayed perfect and the powerplay was 2 of 10.

It was a game where Gomez fired a shot that beat the goaltender but bounced off the skinny end of the goalie's stick. An inch (ONE INCH!!!) higher or lower and that's a goal.

It was a game where Kovalchuk at 19:39 of the 2nd period - scored a swooping athletic game-changing unbelievable 360 wrap-around that was the prettiest goal I've seen since - well I don't know when I've seen a prettier goal.

It was a game where we did salvage a point.

It was a game that hurt. A game we had to have - a game we seemed to have won. But in the end...

It was a game we lost.