Five For Fighting: Battling Blueshirts take 5th Straight in Ottawa

Victory abroad!  Our Rangers traveled to Ottawa Canada and came out with a well deserved 3-2 win. Unlike our last meeting where the blueshirts tossed away a third period lead - this time we (just barely) protected our lead and won.

The Gas Line - yes - you heard the name here first: Gaborik, Anisimov, and Stepan are the G-A-S line - not just for their initials, but for the way they keep the hockey pedal to the metal - shift after shift.  On a night  where all other Rangers forwards were even or minus one, the Gas Line was an outstandng plus three.

The first goal was a great Stepan feed to Gaborik on the right side that the Gifted One easy slammed home.

The second goal was an interesting one.  Anisimov, who appears reborn on the wing, took the puck to the side of the goal mouth and - accidentally or on purpose - left it there as he cut across the crease.  The Senator's goalie stayed with Artem, not noticing that when Anisimov seemed to shoot - he no longer had the puck.  Stepan followed and was able to tap the unattended puck into the net from a foot away.

The third goal, in the third period, came on an odd-man rush.  Gaborik thought about getting fancy-passy but in the end fired it at the net himself and scored the eventual game-winner.

All told, Gabs had 2 goals, Stepan 1 goal and 2 assists. and 2 assists for Anisimov.

Offensive Lines:  elsewhere, the Ranger lines struggled offensively - and so John The Mad Shuffler Tortorella moved his lines around.  He put Prust up with Dubi and Richards, and dropped Captain Cally to join Feds and Boyle.

CreaseMonkeys: Henrik, once again, made some outstanding saves, outplayed his counterpart, recorded a .935 save percentage, and was the difference in a night where the Rangers were again outshot - this time 31-19.

Man-Up: Only 3 penalties the whole night,  The Rangers were Pointless on their lone Ranger powerplay, but perfect in 2 shorthanded defenses.

The Great Defenders:  the Blueline crew continues their stellar play.  Girardi again the workhorse, McDonah the surprise rising star, and Del Zotto returning to form.

SeanShots:  Avery tried to ignite himself and his teammates with an early fight - getting himself a 5 minute trade off penalty.  Beyond that he didn't get a shot on goal - and was the last trailing Ranger defensively on the Senator's 2nd goal.  He doesn't look like our Seanny.  I'm worried about him and his future with this team.  He's got a little window here to make a statement and so far, he hasn't,.

In Conclusion:  Well what do you know!  Our Rangers, after a 3-3-3 start have won 5 straight, are perfect in November, have found their top line and are looking like a team on the rise.

Future Foe:  on Friday it's Marc Staal's concussion-causing brother Eric and the Carolina Hurricane at the Garden.

Let's Go Rangers!