Rangers Recap: Rangers Outlast Thrashers 5-2 in Atlanta

With their backs against the wall, the Rangers were able to find a team in worse shape then they are, and thanks to two goals from Vinny Prospal and a three point night from Marian Gaborik, the Rangers defeated the Atlanta Thrashers 5-2 in Atlanta tonight.

Johan Hedberg has dominated the Rangers throughout his career, but Prospal was able to break through early and put the Rangers ahead. After Gaborik put the Rangers ahead by two, Prospal bookended it with his second goal of the period, and the Rangers had their first three goal lead in five games.

Atlanta came on late in the first, with the Rangers up by three, and were able to get on the scoreboard early in the second thanks to Rozsival and Redden being on the ice. Rozsival left Redden on the wrong end of a two on one in front of the Rangers net, and when Redden went down to block the shot, he stumbled, and Clarke MacArthur made it a 3-1 Ranger lead.

The Thrashers controlled play for most of the second period, despite the 3-1 lead you never got the feeling the Rangers were in control, but Michael Del Zotto was able to put the Rangers ahead by three again with goal in the period's final minutes.

Atlanta made another push in the third, pulling back to within two after Rozsival and Gilroy were caught on the same side of the ice and Ron Hainsey was able to convert.

Rangers held Atlanta off after that, mostly thanks to (SPOILER ALERT) Henrik Lundqvist. He made a couple of big saves in the third, and kept this game from being as close as it should have. Ryan Callahan added an empty netter, and that was all she wrote.

Final Thoughts:

• Obviously we'll take the win, but it was overall a pretty unimpressive victory. Like I said above, the Rangers made numerous defensive lapses, with Rozsival trying to rally the Thrashers on several occasions. This was more a case of the Rangers being able to kick a dog while he is down.
• Rangers bumped by Devils on their own network again, who makes these decisions? The Mets?
• Gabby with three points, let's hope that's a sign he is feeling better.
• I didn't see the "Structure" we kept hearing about, unless Tortorella meant that men's clothing store that used to be around.