More Defeats! Rangers lose to Wings 3-2

Can we please play Philly again?  The Rangers, after a 5 day layoff, played a spirited 1^st period – took a 2-0 lead and then proceeded to hand the game back to the Detroit Red Wings,

ultimately losing the contest 3-2 and upsetting my friend Chris Crease to the point that he had to mute the sound in order to emotionally get himself through the game.

Things started well enough.  Kevin Klein got the Rangers on the board with his 5^th goal of the season – his best offensive year ever and we’re still early in the season.  Assists by Hayes and Hagelin.  

Then, at 14:48 is was Nash, on a breakaway off a great feed by Brassard. 

And then – well, you might as well have switched off the TV.  The Red Wings got two in the 2^nd and the winner in the 3^rd.  Cam Talbot played okay – but the Rangers just couldn’t hold the lead or extend it or regain it or tie the score. 

The worst sequence was the extended 5-3 man advantage that the Rangers had in the third period but couldn’t capitalize on.  All together the Red Wings were shorthanded from 9:13 to 14:37 of the third period – more than 5 consecutive minutes – but the Blueshirts could not find a way to even the game at 3. 

A bad night – and a continued fall from grace.  With the Capitals beating the Devils tonight the Rangers tumble out of 3^rd place in the Metro and lost their playoff spot – though they do have the game at hand. 

Next up is Monday and the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Tough times in Ranger town.