We needed this one - but we didn't get it

And that is the problem with yesterday's pre-hatched poultry assumption error (counting your chickens before they hatch).

The Rangers ran right into a red hot Montreal Canadien team that has now won 6 in a row and ended up falling 3-1, despite a great performance by Lundqvist (and an empty netter at the end).

We just couldn't get or keep possession of the puck. We were outshot 34 to 20 - and it's almost impossible to win in that situation - even with Henrik Lundqvist.

The Goalies: Hank kept us in the game - and was the victim of a very unlucky bounce 6 minutes into the third as Sergei Kostitsyn's shot hit Artem Anisimov right in the ankle - and then deflected past Lundqvist for the deciding goal. In all Henrik faced 34 shots on goal and saved 32 of them. Montreal's Halak stopped just 19 shots - but that was enough for the win.

Special Teams: This was our downfall. On five powerplays the Rangers not only didn't score - they only managed 3 shots.

The New Veteran Rangers - Gaborik? Jokinen? Prospal? Christensen? Fellows? Nothing - and it is killing us. If our big guns can't score - we can't win.

Your Returning Rangers - The whole show again with another goal by the energized - or is it enraged - Sean Avery. Sean did a pretty cool deflect ion off a Matt Gilroy shot with his back to the Canadien goal. Drury had the assist.

The Kid Rangers - as mentioned Gilroy - who has had a better all around rookie year than Del Zotto in my opinion - got the assist as it was his shot that Sean deflected in.

Defense on Offense? One assist.

In conclusion: If we don't, make the playoffs - this will end up as a key reason why. Montreal has opened up some real distance now - we're 7 points behind them with 12 games to play. We've got to set our sights on 8th place Boston now - play hard - and hope the ice chips fall our way
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Scoreboard Last Night: The Flyers lost in OT and fall to 7th, 6 points ahead of us. Boston unfortunately beat the Hurricane to grab a 3 point lead on us for the 8th and final spot - with a game at hand. Atlanta beat Buffalo and move just 2 point behind us. At least Tampa and Florida lost.
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Next Up: Rangers get the Blues when St. Louis comes to town Thursday. They are just about all must wins now.
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Where we stand. 9th place. 3 points out of 8th, 2 points out of 10th.