Rangers Recap: Rangers 3 Canadiens 1

"God don't want me yet man, I got more feet to taste"

If you're a Howard Stern fan, you'll get the reference. If not, it basically means: We're not done yet.

The Rangers came out flat in this game, and played a pretty sloppy first period. I think the early penalty took a little wind out of their sails, and just couldn't seem to get it together in the first period.  Drury got a goal in the first, then Dandenault tied it late in the period.

When the Rangers came out for the 2^nd period, they were a different team. They immediately went on the attack, and by the midway point of the 2^nd period, it looked to me like the Habs were out of gas. The Rangers were relentless, cycling, shooting from all angles, and really got their legs under them. Antropov got a goal early in the 2^nd, and the Rangers never looked back. Chris Drury picked up his 2^nd goal of the game 7 minutes later to give the Rangers a 3-1 lead.  The Rangers outshot the Habs 15-4 in that 2^nd period.

The Rangers didn't back off in the 3^rd, they kept their foot on the gas the entire period, which I was really impressed with. The Rangers smelled blood on the Canadiens, and didn't let them off the hook. Overall the Rangers outshot Montreal  44-25.

So by virtue of the Flyers big win over Florida, the Rangers can now clinch a playoff spot Thursday night at home against those same Flyers.

Game Thoughts:

• I have to give credit where it's due. Chris Drury played an amazing game last night. 2 goals, he was shooting from everywhere, and flying all over the ice. In other words, he was a "presence" on the ice. Great game by Drury, and a well deserved 1^st star.
• Ryan Callahan started his night by accepting the Steven J McDonald "Extra Effort" award, and then went out and showed why he won it. 2 assists, 4 hits, played with great energy all night long.
• A solid night from Henrik Lundqvist. He made 24 saves, including a few big ones during rare Habs flurries.
• Great job staying out of the penalty box, only 3 penalty kills. Of course the downside is that means only 5 minutes of ice time for Blair Betts.
• The Ranger defense held Alexei Kovalev to one shot on goal. Yeah, you read that right, one shot on goal.
• Speaking of Kovalev, at one point in the 3^rd period, he was being checked by Nik Zherdev, and I swear it was like watching old Biff Tannen talk to young Biff Tannen in "Back to the Future II".
•  The Canadiens were just pummeling Sean Avery all night long, and there wasn't one penalty called from it. Not that it should shock us, but I thought I would mention it.

All in all a fantastic effort by the Rangers, and they are going to need another one on Thursday.