Rangers win 3-1 and are on the door step of their 4th straight trip to the postseason. Backed by a brilliant game from the Captain, the Rangers can knock out Florida Thursday night with a victory against the Flyers.My stars for the Rangers:
1 - Chris Drury, 2 goals, a handful of other tough shots on the night, lots of ice time, he was excellent tonight. When the captain of the rangers steps up and carries his team in a must win game, it always brings a smile to my face, and brings back the same unforgettable memory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdN-QCOUPMU )(Although that game was "slightly" more important)
2 - Nick Antropov, 1 goal, was in front of the net causing havoc all game long. His diving effort on the second goal gave the rangers a lead they would never relinquish, and if it weren't for some fantastic saves in the third by price, perhaps Antropov ends up the star of the night.
3 - Ryan Callahan, 2 assists, non-stop motor. The guy never stops. All game he is hitting, hustling, creating turnovers, and setting up two huge goals.
4 - Hank, 24 saves in 25 chances, wins his 36th game of the season (Career high 37), he didn't have to be great all game, but there were a few minutes in the first and third period where the Rangers needed Hank to stand on his head, and he did.
5 - Gomez, Naslund, Avery - All three strong games, took over in the second period, and kept the puck in Montreal's zone for the majority of the second and third periods.
The rangers had a great win tonight, but it needs to be mentioned, they played a tired team tonight. The schedule has been unfavorable all season long to the Rangers, but tonight they got a break, got a home game when they badly needed it, against a tired and injured team, and they took advantage.
So what does this do for the playoff standings? Well first thing is first, DO NOT LISTEN TO SAM ROSEN. (Who famously two seasons ago not once, not twice, but THREE times at the end of a rangers-islanders game said, "We just checked again, the Islanders have been eliminated from the playoffs", the islanders went on to win their last 4 games and were playing in round 1 a week later) Tonight, Rosen says "We checked with the league office and a rangers win eliminates buffalo" (I check the standings...and it absolutely does not), as the game ends, Rosen says, "Ok, we've checked with the league office again, Buffalo is still alive", how is this hard?! IT IS MATH, and very simple math.
The Rangers win gives them 91 points and sole possession of 8th place in the east. The Rangers control their destiny as their magic number is ONE. Buffalo plays tomorrow night, if they lose (in regulation or OT) they are eliminated. Then Thursday night the rangers host philly. If they win on home ice, then it doesn't matter what Florida or Buffalo do, they are BOTH eliminated.
Also worth noting, with the win, the Rangers are now 1 point behind Montreal for the 7 spot. Montreal is going to play Boston thursday night. A boston win, and a rangers win against the flyers, and the Rangers will go from the brink of missing the playoffs, to taking hold of the 7 seed. The rangers need to win thursday first, but then they have an interesting situation the final game in philly. Do they start hank and go for the 7 seed (and a first round matchup with Washington), or start Vally, rest some of the guys, and look for Boston? Boston is the better defensive team, with more consistent goaltending, but Washington has Ovechkin...and the guy can win games/series by himself.
For now, just win Thursday. Win and we are in. (Also, losses by Buffalo and Florida and we are in)
Little Side Notes around the league:
- Congrats to the New York Islanders. Really classy organization showing a lot of pride right now. After a season where they have lost 2 out of every 3 games, playing .333 hockey, they are finishing strong and really giving their fans something to be proud of, losing in Carolina tonight....NINE TO ZERO....9-0. In fairness to the Isles, sometimes scores can be misleading....they got outshot 57-12.....this score was not misleading
- For those of you that own a TV, I hate sportscenter, I pretty much hate everything about ESPN, the said, it will be worth the effort to sit through a half hour of announcers promoting themselves with bad nicknames and showing how funny they can be announcing video highlights to check out the goal Danny Heatley scored tonight for Ottawa. My knee jerk reaction is, that's one of the five greatest goals I have ever seen scored. (Not taking into account game situation, just the actual goal itself) Check it out.
Posts
Great stuff, Nugs. I really like when you're able to post during the game.
ReplyDeleteThis is a different Ranger team when they play at home. And yes, they were catching a tired and hurt Montreal team. But I'll take it.
I really liked Antropov's goal - great hustle for that headlong slide and the shuffleboard style cue shot.
Now we need to finish the job Thursday. But for tonight - enjoy the win. It's been a while and we really needed it.
HUGE WIN!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I could watch the Messier gaurantee video all day, that thing gives me goosebumps.
I am still undecided whether or not it would be better to face Boston or Washington first round. And while that is a 2nd concern right now (number one being getting at least the 8 seed) - there do seem to be a lot of pros and cons to playing either first round - that being said - playing Boston and winning the series - ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo - that would be wonderful
I agree with Will - very Big Win - and the Messier video was very cool.
ReplyDelete(Also - I was trying to find the Ottawa goal that Nugs was talking about - but couldn't. Does anyone have a link for that?)
And Will, as for Boston and Washington - I understand what you're saying - but talking about this now triggers two of my personal bad luck phobias: (1) counting chickens, and (2) being careful what you wish for.
I'll post more about this later.
By the way - I don't remember ever seeing a goal exactly like Antropov's before - a belly-sliding shuffleboard poke. None of our goals were conventional - but all hustle goals - which I like.
ReplyDeleteI want Boston first round. How many of those games are going OT? I am putting the over/under at 4. Total goals scored in 7 games? Probably 16. If the Rangers can hang on against Philly, that will be a great series.
ReplyDeleteThis team isnt winning the cup this year, not without a power play or a jagr-type threat on the ice, but it would be gratifying to send the Bruins fans, still freshly covered in sawdust from the woodwork, back under their respective rocks in Southie. Then Washington can do to us what Pittsburgh did last year.
Did anyone else notice that Subway ad on the glass behind the goals? I've been reading that it was electonically inserted - like the ads on the backstop in baseball games. That's bad enough - but I think they were deliberately swinging the camera to maximize its screen time.
ReplyDeleteRaymond - you may be right on this one. I'm going to post a little later today and will bring up a similar point. I think it's much better for us to get the Bruins in the first instead of the second round.
ReplyDeleteAnd you may be right about the Rangers not winning the cup - but all I can say is that there are plenty of years when a team wins the cup that I never thought would get that far. Why not us?
I refuse to say Ray is right about us not winning the cup, but I will say it is "unlikely". Not too many teams with an "AWFUL" power play win the stanley cup.
ReplyDeleteThe Boston Series would be great. Like the devils, every game would be tight and low scoring. It makes the series a coin flip which is always a great situation to be in if your the 8 seed. Washington could blow us out of the building any given night, but Theodore could also allow 6 goals and quit on his team.
I noticed the subway ad running a lot in the second and third period. I am pretty sure it would have to be electronically put in, because the people behidn the glass might be just a "little" ticked that they are staring at the back of an ad all game. I definitely did not enjoy seeing it, and had no desire at any point to go buy a sandwich.