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Game 78: NYR 4 MTL 1, Magic Number Is 3, Possible Clincher Tonight |
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Tonight could be the night. The magic number is three (update: now 1), with Pittsburgh losing 6-4 in an early game against the Flyers, the Rangers have a shot at clinching the conference and the division.
After a brief lull, the Rangers have picked it back up again. The win over Montreal on Friday was their third in a row, giving the team 50 wins for the third time in their history, and first since that magical 93-94 Stanley Cup winning campaign (91-92 being the other). The squad looks to be clicking on all cylinders and in all components of the game. Friday, they have two even strength goals, as well as two on the power play for the second straight game, which is a sight for those who had to endure watching what passed for a PP until recently.
Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik have tremendous chemistry. Richards ranked second in the NHL in scoring during the month of March with 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists), trailing Evgeni Malkin by one point. Gabby got number 39 in the win and obviously needs just one more for 40, which would be the second time in three years as a Ranger he has notched that total. Two nice pieces on Gabby in the Post and Newsday, as to how his commitment to the system has permeated the team and helped result in his bounce-back campaign. Others who joined in on the fun Friday were Michael Del Zotto, who had two goals in the third for the first time in club history since James Patrick in 1998 (thanks Bucci for that) and Derek Stepan, who hit the 50-point mark again.
Two other goals in reach, one season and one team oriented are most wins in a campaign and the President's Trophy. St. Louis fifth home loss of the season, an unreal number, left them one point behind Vancouver, who had a comeback win last night, and the Rangers. New York has a game in hand on the Canucks and could take a two-point lead with a win tonight.
A story by Rick Carpinello, which angered me tremendously, could have the Rangers open the playoffs on the road. Someone tell me this won't happen as it hearkens back to the days where the Rangers were moved due to the circus, which might have cost them at least on Cup during the 50s. If this doesn't raise your blood pressure as a Rangers fan, nothing will. (Update: look's to be an April Fools Joke, if so, my heart rate has now come back to normal)
"Because of Knicks games that can’t be moved in a condensed NBA season, a contract for a concert series (Springsteen) which Madison Square Garden cannot break, and pressure from NBC Sports to alternate Rangers games and Flyers-Penguins games in the first round of the playoffs, word is starting to leak out of a potentially drastic step.
The Rangers are considering giving the OK to the NHL to start their first-round series with two games on the road, despite earning the home-ice advantage. The league and the Rangers are negotiating a scenario in which the Rangers would play the first two games on the road, then come home for three consecutive Garden games, go on the road for a Game 6 if necessary, and have home ice again for Game 7.
The league has spoken to one of the teams fighting for the No. 8 spot and of course has gotten the OK from that team, though it’s not clear if that was Washington, Buffalo, Ottawa or Florida"
As Jimbo said, "The real season begins April 11th we all know, but I think years down the line we are going to look back at this regular season pretty fondly." True, but let me be celebrating a Cup and I will really look on this season fondly. That said, the story lines this year have been great, especially as the team has coalesced and grown together as a unit, despite some key injuries on the blue line and lack of production from others.
On a side note, Happy 70th Birthday to my dad, who helped instill the love of the Rangers in me. I love you, Dad. A nice gift would be a win and conference, division clincher tonight.
Let's Go Rangers!!!
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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