Rangers - 5 Sabres - 3
Its funny how winning a game in regulation is more satisfying than a win in OT/SO, even when you play better in the game you win in extra time. Tonight was a perfect example of how a game plays out when things are going well. I didn't think the Rangers played well at all today. They weren't terrible, far from it, but they weren't great either. Lundqvist wasn't terrible, but he wasn't out of this world good tonight either, but they still go the two points against a desperate Buffalo team.
My one issue with the game tonight was the third period where we wilted a little bit. I don't know if it was because of the three goal lead or by design (conserve energy for tomorrow nights game), but I would have felt a lot better if we had kept the pressure up, scored the 5th goal and then played patty cake for the rest of the period. Buffalo is a good offensive team so giving up 40 shots to them is not a surprise (6 PP Opps for the Slugs.)
One things for sure, the game it self was highly entertaining through the first two periods. I'm not a fan of the Sabres, their fan base or Lindy Ruff (hes a hell of a coach though) but I have to credit them with the fact that they never play a boring game. Watching two teams combine for 70+ shots, 8 goals and a bunch of hits both ways will make for exciting hockey more often than not.
That leads me to my next point which I've reiterated time and time again - ANOTHER GAME WITH MORE THAN TWO FUCKING GOALS! Get this, out of the Rangers 31 shots, 21 of them were considering scoring chances! We're averaging 3.09 goals a game under Tortorella (including the first two games and a shut out.) Take out the first two games and you'd have a team tgat would be on pace to score 292 goals in a full season - Thats fucking remarkable considering the lack of actual legit goal scorer on this team.
I'm not going to do 3 up 3 down since I don't think anyone is worthy of a down but i'll point out some guys who I felt played well tonight.
Ryan Callahan - hes pretty much become a mainstay on the 3 up part of my posts here and if I had done it again hed be there again. One goal away from 20 and has flourished under Tortorella. I think Korpikoski is a better fit on his line rather than Sjostrom but Freddie is playing well right now so its hard to justify moving him down.
Marc Staal - I think he has 7 points in 11 games under Torts. Hes been amazing in his own end for quite some time now. Eric and Jordan are going to have to give him pointers on how to hit the net this offseason when he heads back to the sod farm because he misses the net as much as Bruce Driver and Michael Rozsival combined.
Nik Antropov - Another guy who has found himself listed in the 3 up section more than once. Antro is doing everything you can ask, including decking that fuckbag Patrick Kaleta. Hes quickly moving up my list of players to resign this offseason and at this point hes ahead of Zherdev IMO.
Nik Zherdev - Scored another fluky goal but what ever, they all count. he had one of the best shifts you could possibly have in what was otherwise a pretty dormant third period for the team. I love it when this dude moves his feet with determination and plays a chippy game, hes much better that way. There have been times this year where he is so creative that he fools everyone with a pass including his teammates, that happened twice tonight.
Paul Mara - I want him back next year, end of discussion.
Next up: Ottawa tomorrow at home. Senators are not a playoff team but they've been hot recently - its going to take a better effort than the one we had tonight to knock off the Sens.
