Rangers fall to Lightning 3-2 in Shoot Out

And this is the downside of streaky.

The Rangers for the third time in 4 tries - could not stop a losing streak at 1. Despite carrying a 2-1 lead deep into the third period - ex-Ranger Dominic Moore rose up to bite them twice - with a late tying goal and the winner in the shoot out. It was some redemption for Moore - who earlier in the day had accidentally injured the Lightning's best player - Marty St. Louis - by shooting a puck that struck him in the face - putting St. Louis out of the game and stopping his personal consecutive game streak at 499.

Still - as losing efforts go - this was the good kind. The Rangers salvaged a point - and the game itself was very entertaining. In the OT the Rangers came in waves - but just couldn't find the back of the Lightning net.

Artem Anisimov looked like a first line center - scoring a huge goal to put the Rangers ahead 2-1, but immediately followed it with a bonehead celebration that incited and ignited the Lightning to come all the way back. Artem pointed his stick at Goalie Matieu Garon like a rifle and pretended to squeeze off a shot.

Tampa Bay didn't like the looks of that.

Fighting ensued - and the Lightning, who could have been lulled into another loss - woke up and fought hard the rest if the way.

There were goals by Anisimov and Callahan, and assists by Del Zotto, Dubinsky (who we hear is a bit overweight), Richards and Stepan. Mitchell, Richards and Gabby all missed in the shootout. In the end we were out hit, out shot, and lost 28 of 50 faceoffs.

It's heard to beat the same team twice in a short period of time. And we did get 3 of a possible 4 points. And we fought hard. So we take the point and move on. Our next task - stop the losing streak at 2.




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