So now I know why so many of you are confident that this Ranger team will turn this season around big time. Stupid me. I forgot that we have the closest thing to a blockade, a sure save that exists in hockey today. Henrik Lundqvist, the Prince of New York, the Count of the Crease, and the eliminator of all things bad to the Rangers. He who has created the eleventh commandment: "Thou shall not score." For the third time in six games, Henrik Lundqvist has pitched a shutout. In these six games he has given up seven goals, one of which was a shootout goal, so its six goals in six games. Yet, his record for those six games is 3-2-1, a 1.0 GAA and a .951 save %. His season record is 5-6-1 with a 1.67 GAA and a save % of .937. Career with the Rangers Lundqvist has a 2.24 GAA and a save % of .921. Not bad for a seventh round pick.
Lundqvist shut out a Washington team that was averaging close to three goals per game and had put up seven goals in its last outing against Toronto in a 7-1 rout. He had to stop the most exciting player in the game today, Alex Ovechkin, who came into the game with eight goals along with seven assists for fifteen points. Ovechkin had six shots on goal as the Capitals fired 31 shots at Lundqvist though my old eyes caught about three more that weren't counted. I guess that's a thirty dollar saving for the donors of the charity. In two games against Washington, Lundqvist has given up only one goal.
Oh yes, the Rangers did score. In the second period Chris Drury deflected a shot by Marc Staal, who probably played his best game of the year, getting 16:31 of ice time. Rozsival scored the second goal on a 5 on 3 PP in the 3rd period on a feed from Gomez. The refs were on top of their game by calling two penalties twice on one sequence. The first was against the Caps when Brian Sutherby was whistled for hooking and then John Erskine was caught throwing an elbow. This double minor led to the Rozsival goal. They also nailed Fedor Tyutin for a hooking/slashing call at the 12:52 mark which gave the Caps a chance to get back into the game but Lundqvist would have none of it and he rose to the occasion with numerous saves that brought roars of approval from the fans with the shouts, "Hen-reek", "Hen-reek", "Hen-reek". The four minute power play ended with the crowd on their feet roaring his name.
ICINGS: What goes? Another night of about 5 thousand empty seats. Every section had some empty seats and I counted about five luxury suites that were totally dark, but still we get the 18,200 attendance number. I guess brokers don't go to hockey games. Met two young ladies from Massapequa on the train home and they informed me that Sean Avery spent the entire second period with them in section 408. They had a snapshot with him. Hopefully he will be ready for the Devil game.
Update:
Friday, November 02, 2007
Hail To The Prince
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This guy is perhaps one of the most consistent goalkeepers I've ever seen - and we're lucky to have him. What a critical management mistake to pay the likes of 8 mill. for Gomez and 7 (6?) million for Drury per year and go to arbitration with The King! I hope when they approach him in January that he is not affected by history - and is a true NYR believer and knows that his adoring fans consider him pivotal to the franchise.
His performance last night was astounding.
the dark ranger-I said jokingly earlier that he will go to free agency and sign with the Devils. I hope that I am wrong. The guy is unbelievable.
He has incredible vision. His eyes are his biggest asset. He sees everything in front of him.
wes-He doesn't miss much and his reflexes are great.