FINALMENTE!

So I get home late from one of the sloppiest played Ranger game in years, eleven turnovers, and my wife, Maryann, hits me with, "The Capitals got cheated." That was a goal they scored that the ref called off. Why did he call it off she asked? I replied that the ref waved it off because he lost sight of the puck. What was he watching, she wanted to know? So this morning she hits me with the same story, "Washington got jobbed last night." Washington got jobbed? Does she realize how many times over the years the Rangers got jobbed? Jobbed by stupid owners, incompetent coaches, inferior players, dumb refs and goalposts and crossbars. I still hear 'Bones' Raleigh's shot clanging off the crossbar in the 1950 Cup Final and Detroit coming back on the ensuing play to score and win the Cup. So you need a little luck once in a while.

It was ugly, but it was a desperately needed win. It was good seeing the team in a circle at the end of the game raising their sticks. The Rangers were outshot 40-27 and they blocked 22 shots. Tyutin had five blocks. The Caps came out gunning, putting nineteen shots on goal in the first period and scoring when Lundqvist failed to control a loose puck.

The Prince was magnificent in the first period stopping eighteen of the nineteen shots. His glove save on Zubrus, when the Rangers were playing short for four minutes, brought the crowd to their feet with a standing O and roars of Henreek, Henreek, Henreek. In the third period he did the same stopping Ovechkin on his doorstep with more roars from the crowd.

He was our Prince again. The Caps scored three times in the second but The Prince came back strong in the third with a perfect eleven shots, eleven saves. He hasn't given up this many goals (4) since fifteen games ago. His GAA is now 2.12, second behind Hasek's 2.09. His save % dropped to .926 which puts him behind Tim Thomas and Cristabal Huet's .927. However, they have played in twenty fewer games than Lundqvist.

The game was also a duel between the old gunner, Jagr, and the new gunner, Ovechkin. The old gunner won handily with a goal and an assist to remain one point behind Joe Thornton in the scoring race, 97-96. And what a goal he scored. Defenseman Shaone Morrisonn is still checking his skates to find out why they failed him as Jagr blew right around and put in as beautiful a goal you will ever see past a weary Olaf Kolzig. You think Jagr enjoyed it a little extra sticking it to his ex-mates and all those stories about him not giving his all when he played in Washington? Jagr now has nine game winning goals this year which ties Mark Messier (1996-97) and Don Maloney (1980-81) for the Ranger team record. By the end of this season Jaromir Jagr will have established all kinds of Ranger scoring records.

The Ranger defense corp pairings played like they just met each other for the first time. And I know I've said this in one way shape or form before but is there a more insignificant hockey player than Tom Poti? Isn't it time with Ozolinsh aboard, who scored his first goal, from the point, on the power play, to sit Poti? If you don't believe me about him, next time you go to the game watch him every time he is on the ice and pay attention to what he does or doesn't do. Isn't Jason Strudwick an improvement? Isn't Thomas Pock an improvement? My grandson would be an improvement and he is only seven and skates for the Snow Devils. Go get them Nicholas.

ICINGS:

Red Storey, one of the great refs of all time passed away at the age of 88. He ref'ed the Stanley Cup finals from 1952-1959 and retired after the Montreal Canadiens-Chicago Blackhawks 1959 final after league President Clarence Campbell claimed he choked in the finals. NHL.com has a great story by Mike Wyman on him. Read it. It's a wonderful story about a great human being. Rangers post Olympic final 24 now stands at 2-4-1-1 with Toronto, Boston and the Flyers coming up on this homestand. To all my Irish readers, Happy St. Patrick's Day. In fact to all my readers, you don't have to be Irish to enjoy St. Patrick's Day. Stay well and safe.

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