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Game 46: NYR 3 BOS 2 OT, Gabby Does It with 3.6 Sec to Go |
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In what could end up being a Conference Finals preview, Marian Gaborik scored on the Rangers third backhand try past Tuukka Rask with 3.6 seconds to go in overtime for a 3-2 Blueshirts' win.
I am going to make this a short one as I have less than an hour left on the Internet access I bought for the day at 8.99 per, gotta love hotels these days. As we all have said this year, nearly every time the Rangers have had to step up their game, they have. Coming off a poor overall effort against the Penguins and facing a tough Boston team, New York answered the bell. A back and forth game was knotted at two late in the second and remained that way the remainder of the game. The turning point was the hit by Andrew Ference on Ryan McDonagh that rightfully drew a major, misconduct and three-game suspension. It came on a player who basically was defenseless given the way he was turned and is something the league, unsuccessfully so far, has tried to eradicate. The problem is we seem to continually seem to be seeing this and the frequency of it hasn't diminished like it should have by now. Fortunately, what originally looked to be a long-term absence may not even be one game as McDonagh could suit up tomorrow night. You could argue that Ference could have been given more, but if Ovie, who is a repeat offender only got three games, then Ference getting three is not suprising. After Rask made repeated saves and with time winding down, Gabby buried a rebound to give the Rangers the win.
I see that much of the comments the past two days, other than on McDonagh, have been on who the Rangers should pursue, defense or offense. Fortunately McDonagh isn't hurt badly, but given the setback to Sauer, who likely will be shut down for a while due to concussion symptoms and struggles Staal is going through as he returns from a similar injury, that expected depth may not be the case. Woywitka is nice, but do we feel confident with him in the playoffs? What about Stralman? A guy like Gleason as Ek mentioned makes sense, but as Alex pointed out when discussing the forwards who could be acquired, cap room is a huge factor in whoever is gotten. That said, in my opinion, some veteran depth will be key.
Adam made the following comment after most people posed going after Martin St. Louis: "I think Sather is going to look at Prospal, Selanee, and Whitney at the deadline. I would love Marty though. Him playing with Gaborik or Richards. I would have no problem giving up our 1st round pick plus a top prospect like Erixon for him. What do you guys think it would take to get him." I love going after any of the three. The question, as posed by Alex, is cap room. Prospal obviously is the cheapest, plus like St. Louis, he knows Torts' system. Any of the four would be a nice fit as a top-six forward and in my opinion, if you are going get someone, get the, early so they can be incorporated into the offense and team, especially it it's Selanne or Whitney. While we all love the prospects this team has, if you believe, as I do, that this team has a chance to be special, then you need to do whatever it takes, within some reason, to strengthen it for the playoff run.
I will be brief on Tim Thomas. Part of living in America is the right to speak your mind and follow your own beliefs, it's called Freedom of Speech, the First Amendment. While I respect that Thomas decided to exercise his rights under that amendment, in this case, your views have an impact on taking away the focus of the day from your team and placing it solely on yourself, which is unfair to the team. I respect his opinion and freedom to make that call, I just think he could have expressed his views yet still gone rather than take away from the honor his team received.
Apologies for any spelling issues, blog was done on iPad.
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