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| Scott Levy/Getty Images |
The New York Rangers came into tonight’s matchup
looking to extend to a season high four game win streak, but were unable to
complete the deal losing 2-1 tonight against the Montreal Canadiens at Madison
Square Garden. There was no third period
magic in this one and interestingly enough the outcome moved the Rangers who
have been the best team when leading and trailing after two period to a paltry
3-7 when tied following the second intermission while Montreal moved to 8-0 in
the same situations.
The second period saw the Rangers come out strong, but
it saw the Canadiens finish it strong dominating the last five minutes of the
period including the goal by Spacek to tie it with 1:11 left. After Lundqvist robbed both Gil and Gionta
early he would be beaten by Max Pacioretty on a soft goal from the short side
and a bad angle over his right shoulder at 6:03 of the third for the eventual
game winner. Lundqvist has to stop that
one and it will lead to another day of hearing about how Henrik gives up all
these soft goals and costs the Rangers games. It is nonsense but he does
have to make that save. TThe Canadiens would hold on with a combination
of Auld saves and some luck with Wolski hitting the post with 2:50 remaining in
the period.
Rangers came out flying in the first period and after
multiple chances would get on the board with a beautiful goal. As was mentioned about 900 times during the
broadcast it started with Henrik Lundqvist stopping the puck behind the net and
giving it to Gilroy and Gilroy seeing a streaking Dubinsky down the right wing
boards playing a bank pass off the boards which lead Dubinsky into the
offensive zone and he would storm around Hal Gill and beat Auld far post with a
perfect shot at 4:15 of the first (video).
Montreal got on the board late in the second after
dominating play for a considerable amount of time a Jaroslav Spacek shot ends
up going through Lundqvist at 18:49. On
the play Brian Boyle took down Benoit Pouliot in front and he would fall into
Lundqvist and certainly had an impact on Henrik’s ability to keep the puck out.
This was certainly not the way the Rangers wanted to
start this very difficult week of games against four very good teams, but they
will have to shake it off and get ready for the scorching Canucks who come in
on Thursday.
- Dubinsky played yet another excellent game for the club, but he did get frustrated late in the game especially after this slewfoot by PK Subban that had no penalty called.
- Wolski certainly created his share of chances in his first game with the Rangers and showed how dangerous he can be offensively.
- Gaborik showed chemistry with Wolski and was extremely involved in the first period but mostly disappeared after that.
