2nd period crapout

2nd_period_crapout.jpg
Originally uploaded by placidian.

Canadiens 6, Rangers 4.
guh. The visiting Rangers took a 2-0 lead into the 2nd period, and then they took a 20 minute nap. Les Habitants scored 5 goals, including 2 by former Ranger star Alex Kovalev, and knocked Henrik Lundqvist out of the game. (poor Henrik, you've been overworked!)
Anyway, the boys attempted a comeback in the 3rd period, but no dice.
The good news is, they're still in 6th place. Less than 2 weeks to go in the regular season...
Let's Go Ranguhs!!

Weekend Success!

Rangers 2, Islanders 1 (OT)
YAY!!!
First of all, thank Heaven for Henrik Lundqvist-- another spectacular job of keeping the visiting Rangers in the game; without him, none of this recent overtime drama would be possible.
So this post is 3 different photos of the celebration of Michael Nylander's game winner. (a redirection off of a pass from Brendan Shanahan) Here's one by John Dunn from the New York Times. Just look at all of those lovely Ranger jerseys in the background at Nassau Mausoleum:

He's very very excited:

The Rangers are in sole posession of 6th place!
YAY!!!
LET'S GO RANGERS!

Survival in Beantown!

Rangers 2, Bruins 1 (Shootout)
YAY!!! The boys tied it up with 1:40 to go, on a goal by Thomas Pock. Henrik Lundqvist kept the visiting Rangers in the game, stopping 40 shots. Jaromir Jagr scored the decisive goal in the shootout. He also forced the giveaway that led to Pock's goal.
6th place up for grabs this afternoon, with a win ove the Islanders, the Rangers move up!
LET'S GO RANGERS!

Shanny's Back!

Rangers 5, Flyers 0
YAY!!
[space for write-up]



LET'S GO RANGERS!

I think it's a goal... It is a goal!

Rangers 2, Penguins 1
YAY!!!
After 2 scoreless periods where the Blueshirts piled on the shots, but couldn't get any joy, Blair Bets tipped in a shot from the point at the start of period 3. Did we think that a single goal was going to be enough against Sid the Kid, et al? No, of course not. Pittspuke tied it up with a few minutes to go, and it was looking like the boys were destined for yet another 1 goal decision in ot/shootout. But with less than a minute to go, Jaromir Jagr led a rush into the offensive zone, threw a backhand pass to the slot, where it was deflected by a Penguin defender toward the goal. But did the puck go in?! The Rangers seemed to think so, (see above photo) and after a lengthy review, the replay official agreed! The only angle that showed the puck over the line was from the goal cam. When goalie Jocelyn Thibault lifted his pad, the puck was a couple of inches within the goal line. We never saw the puck actually crossing the line, but hey, I'm not arguing!
7th place is good for a YAY!!
LET'S GO RANGERS!

That's What I'm Talkin' About!

Rangers 7, Bruins 0. WOW! YAY!
After a string of squeakers where the Blueshirts either won or lost by a single goal, the boys finally got their phreak on against Boston on Saturday.
Michael Rozsival got the St. Patty's Day party started:

Rookie Ryan Callahan and Matt Cullen each scored a pair, Sean Avery had a goal and 3 assists, and Jaromir Jagr had 3 helpers. The boys scored 6 goals in the 2nd period, as the Bruins removed starting goalie Tim Thomas only to see his backup Joey MacDonald allow 4 goals on 11 shots.
Meanwhile, Henrik Lundqvist finished off Boston for his 4th shutout of the season. YAY!!!
New York regained a toehold on a playoff spot with the win...
LET'S GO RANGERS!

We Need More GOALS!.jpg

We_need_more_GOALS!.jpg
Originally uploaded by placidian.

Thrashers 2, Rangers 1. OT
guh.
C'mon boys, don't leave it all up to Henrik!

Oh Snap!

Senators 3, Rangers 2

Oh_Snap!.jpg
Originally uploaded by placidian.

guh. The Blueshirts had managed points in 7 straight games, but Ottawa put an end to that.
Let's Go Ranguhs!!

The Captain Comes Through!

Rangers 2, Hurricanes 1 (SO)
YAY!!! Marek Malik scored his 1st goal of the season, off of a feed from Jaromir Jagr– go big Marek!

When your team is missing large chunks of its offense (Brendan Shanahan, Marcel Hossa) and key members of its defense (Fedor Tyutin, and, at times, Marek Malik) it's nice to have a brilliant goalie like Henrik Lundqvist:

Matt Cullen scored on his shootout chance to put the boys up; Henrik did his thing, and then it was up to Jagr to seal the deal. He shoots... he scores!! Rangers win!!
YAY!!! Back into 8th place, with 13 games to go.
LET'S GO RANGERS!

Afternoons and Hockey Goons.

Penguins 3, Rangers 2 (OT)
guh. Well, 1 point for getting to the overtime, but several demerits for giving up a 2-goal lead in the 3rd period. Pittsburgh's pair of young superstars, Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, scored on the power play to force the extra session, and Colby Armstrong bounced in a shot off a Ranger defenseman for the win. guh. Hate to lose on a flukey goal.
Despite getting the 1 point, Rangers were overtaken by 2 of their challengers for the last playoff spot.

In other news, Chris Simon received a veeeeerrrrryyy loooonnnggg suspension from the league for his 'stickwork' the other night. Way to help your team, GOON.
LET'S GO RANGERS!

Simon Says, 'Suspend Me'!

Rangers 2, Islanders 1. YAY!!!
The visiting Rangers completed the 2-game sweep of the Fishsticks, coming from behind to tie it up on a power play goal by Paul Mara, and then in the 3rd period Petr Prucha scored the go ahead goal after this bit of ghastliness:

Chris Simon of the islanders took a hard (but clean) check into the boards from Ranger Ryan Hollweg, and reacted like a mindless GOON, giving Hollweg a 2-handed stick to the face. Way to go, you frakkin' idiot! Enjoy your suspension, (The NHL announced this morning that Simon is indefinitely suspended, pending next week's hearing.) you stupid maroon. Anyway, Simon was given a match penalty (for attempt to injure) and a game misconduct. Petr Puck scored on the ensuing power play.

With 20 seconds left in the game, Henrik Lundqvist swiped his stick at a puck that was about to cross his goal line, and after a lengthy official video review, the puck was ruled to have not entirely crossed the line. No Goal!

The Rangers are currently in 8th place, with 15 games to go. YAY!!!
LET'S GO RANGERS!

Winning Is Fun!

Rangers 2, Islanders 1 (SO)
YAY!!!
The Blueshirts put 57 (WOW) shots on Islander goalie Rick DiPietro, and were denied 56 times. Petr Prucha finally tied the game in the 3rd period, and that's the way it stayed through a frenetic overtime. So it all came down to the shootout, with the Rangers needing more than just the single point you get for a regulation tie. Matt Cullen (pictured above) managed to sneak a wrister past DiPietro, so it all came down to Henrik Lundqvist needing to end the shootout with a big save Can't you just feel the drama?!! Of course you can!
Henrik came through:

YAY!!
Rematch at the Nassau Mausoleum on Thursday night.
LET'S GO RANGERS!

Comeback=YAY!

Rangers 3, Blues 2 (Shootout)
No time for the usual recap, but: YAY!!!!
Winner:

Final Save:

LET'S GO RANGERS!

Another Shootout Loss...

Penguins 4, Rangers 3 (SO)
*sigh* Does this sound familiar? The Blueshirts play well early and grab a 2 goal lead; then blow the lead in the 3rd period, giving up shorthanded goals on consecutive power plays. OMG, are you frakking kidding me?!
guh.
When the Rangers (or any other team, for that matter) play the Penguins, they spend a lot of time and energy chasing around 19 year old sensation Sidney Crosby:

Sid the kid scored the only goal of the shootout, after a Jaromir Jagr miss.
A standings point for the Shootout loss, another game tonight. (Saturday) 11th place. C'mon boys:
LET'S GO RANGERS!