Rangers 3 Maple Leafs 2 (OT/SO)
YAY!!!Coach Tom Renney made a decision to rest Hardworking Henrik for the first time all season, and so backup goalie Steve Valiquette got the nod against Toronto. Performing in front of his parents near the town where he grew up had to have been a thrill. He held the Leafs to just 2 goals in regulation time, coming through in a huge way for the Rangers, getting the rare road victory. Here he is after the game, talking about the life of being backup to the 'king':
[“One thing I’ve learned, when the other goalie’s playing, I kind of make the save along with him,” Valiquette said. “It sounds weird, but it’s the easiest way to transition into a game and it doesn’t feel as foreign. When Henrik makes the saves, I make them with him.”]
The newly constituted line of Shanahan, Gomez and Avery scored 2 goals on one shift, I think the Blueshirts might have something there, yay! Naturally, a full day's work for Sean Avery involves being an obnoxious pest to the opposition. Here is dancing around with Darcy Tucker, shortly after they had both left the penalty box for earlier transgressions:
Now about the shootout. Valiquette was perfect, Nik Antropov and Mats Sundin, while the first 2 shooters for New York were successful: Brendan Shanahan...
... followed by Marcel Hossa:
LET'S
GO
RANGERS!
