Rangers - 4 Canadiens - 3 (SO)
I'll be honest, I found my self getting pissed off more often than I should have been watching a game in which we never trailed in. The Rangers, for stretches carried the play and looked like they were playing against a pee wee team. They were the better team tonight, and they deserved the two points but I'm upset that they allowed the Habs to get a point in a game they had no business getting a point in.
But again, this is a game that a month ago, we lose 3 or 4 to 1. That goal that Lundqvist gave up with less than 5 minutes left to go would have probably been the game winner for the Habs under Renney. Thats the beauty of Tortorella, Lundqvist doesn't have to be perfect under him and can still get wins.
The PP didn't look that great today (though they hit a crossbar on it) and Carey Price actually played a pretty good game today for the Habs. Lapierre was pissing the hell out of me which means that he was playing a good game for the Habs.
All in all this game had the feel of one that was going to be a huge let down and when Gomez took that penalty with less than two minutes left to go I thought the Habs would end it in regulation for sure. The PK was excellent again today, killing 5 of 6 and they've killed something like 40 of their last 44. Most importantly,aside from the two points, the team scored more than 2 goals in regulation once again!
In the shootout - Naslunds move was jaw dropping. Nice to see that he can still wow you when there is no one else on the ice.
Three up Three Down
Up: Ryan Callahan - Was everywhere on the PK, forecheck and potted his 17th goal of the season. Hes been the team MVP this year as far as I'm concerned. He does everything you could ask for from a
third line player and will always be worth more than he'll be paid. Props to Dubinsky on making a great play getting to the net before Cally banged home the rebound - If Dubi keeps on doing that the goals will come.Nik Antropov - Best forward on the ice. Scored another goal and almost had a 2nd. Antropov has hit 3 posts as a Ranger! He was causing havock in the offensive zone, throwing hits making plays, I'm really starting to like his game. Sweet shot in the shootout too.
Wade Redden: I can give this to the entire Defense minus Rozsival but Redden had a great game after a rough first 5 minutes. He made a great pass to Drury which set up the first goal and showed great poise and patience breaking up a 2 on 1 while the Rangers were on the PP. He also fired a few good shots on goal.
Down: Chris Drury - Yeah he some what made up for his awful gaffe by scoring the shootout winner but that is the third time in a little over a week that Drury has failed to get a puck in deep and the other team was able to score a goal because of it. He needs to simplify his game big time, its obvious that he is trying to do too much.
Henrik Lundqvist - The Bell Centre has been a house of horrors for Hank and today was no different. Obviously he wasnt at fault for the first two goals against but the third goal against was as soft as they come. Maybe he was doing an homage to Marty honoring fatso for breaking the all time wins record.
Michael Rozsival - I don't know what the hell he was doing tonight. He was throwing careless passes up the middle all night long, would take the puck to the middle of the ice in his own zone while being pressured and looked like he was skating with cement in his skates. Really hoping that we find a taker for him this off season, we've got more than capable bodies in the minors that can do what he does for much less than hes making.
Honorary Down: Montreal Fans - If you watched the game you should understand this one. A Hab player falls, they think its a penalty. Every single time a Montreal player skates the puck past the opponents blue line the crowd is louder than the crowd at the Coliseum when the Isles score a goal. Atleast I didn't hear any of those stupid soccer chants tonight.
Next game: Saturday at home against Buffalo. The last time the Rangers played a home game on Saturday they scored 6 goals, hopefully they can replicate that again. 6-3-1 in the last 10 games should be more than enough to get this team into the playoffs.
