'Ollie The Goalie' Kolzig returned to the past and stopped the Rangers cold in DC last night with 41 saves and the Rangers road streak of three straight came to an end. The Rangers broke the shutout at the 18:09 mark of the third period with Nylander's 7th of the year.
The Rangers, as they do so often after a big game, came out flat and sloppy. They were out shot in the first period 17-5, and committed five penalties. One was a major fighting penalty where Donald Brashear took the measure of Colton Orr. That fight seemed to take a toll on Orr, or was it Renney? Orr got only 2:18 of ice time the rest of the way. While the Rangers killed the other four penalties in the first period, and overall killed 7-7, they could never recover from their first period doldrums. The Rangers lead the world in coming out flat in the first period following a good game. How will they come out against the Devils Tuesday night?
However the story was Kolzig. he stopped 16-16 in the second period and 20-21 in the third. The Ranger score was on a PP with Lundqvist pulled. They were 1-4 on the power play. Lundqvist was brilliant in the first period stopping 16-17 shots. He was burned when Ozolinsh put a blind pass on the stick of Boyd Gordon for the Caps first score. The third goal was scored when Matt Pettinger undressed Malik in front of Lundqvist. Now you know why Lundqvist plays so well in the shootouts. There is no one in front of him.
The Devils come in two points ahead of the Rangers having played one less game. While the Rangers have scored nineteen more goals than the Devils, 60-41, the Devils have allowed sixteen fewer goals than the Rangers, 43-59. Is this the immovable force vs the irresistible object? The Rangers are under .500 at home, 2-4-1-0. the Devils are under .500, 3-4, on the road. Will this be a yawner or a barn burner? One thing for sure. We will see a lot of Devil fans, sitting in Ranger fan's seats. Contrary to Garden voices, the Rangers have not sold out for the season, otherwise why are there always single seats on sale.
ICINGS: Will Kasparaitis be back? Will Malik sit? Will Thomas Pock ever play? What are we waiting for Oh No Ozolinsh to accomplish? For these and other answers please visit your local Madison Square Garden. You still think Brian Leetch is too old to play for this team?
AP - Rangers' streak snapped
Daily News - Rangers Put Loss In Perspective
Newsday - Dawes And Pock Could Be Bound For Hartford
Tired End To Decent Trip
NY Post - 4-Get About It
Hartford Courant - Pack Score 5 On Power Play
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Bump In The Road
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Since we're stuck with Ozolinsh why not try and use him on the powerplay more?
Maybe a root canal on Malik's sore teeth might root him out of the lineup for Pock.
paul-I say we go for Pock for Malik and Kaspy for Ozolinsh.