Sunday, March 09, 2014

Matinee Idols

I was always a fan of Sunday afternoon games. Maybe it was because, early game, early home, early bed and work the next day. But now it doesn't matter all those things, but I still love the matinees. This one was particularly entertaining. Original six team, Detroit Red Wings. Many historic battles, 1950 anyone? Battle for position. Big, young crowd.

It was all that and more as the Rangers behind Henrik Lundqvist shut out the Red Wings 3-0, at a packed and noisy Garden this afternoon. It was noisy and it didn't need the artificial noise. Larry danced and had two young lovely assistants to join him. And there were a few, maybe many, Red Wing fans, witness the jerseys, who didn't get much to cheer about. Boyle scored early in the game, his 5th, and Chris Kreider added two, his 15th and 16th.

The win moved the Rangers three points up on the Red Wings, into a tie with Tampa Bay for 5th in the East and a point ahead of Philadelphia for 6th in the East and one point ahead of Philadelpia in the Metro Division. So the Rangers are in a dog fight for the playoffs with 17 games left. Is this season going fast or what?

The win put the Rangers a tad over .500 at home (16-15-4). The Red Wings, a good road team, fell to 17-11-4. The win was Lundqvist's 300tth of his career and he now is one win away from Mike Richter's franchise record of 301 wins. Lundqvist is hot. He is now 12-4-1 in his last 17 games and has held opponents to less than 2 goals or less in 12 of his last 17 games. Moreover, he is 14-5-2 in his last 21 games with two shutouts. The King truly reigns!



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