Predictable

My son's words to describe another big game where winning was expected and needed. Alas, our heroes came out flat against a team they had shut out the night before. Hey Pundit, why so gloomy? After all the Rangers have gotten at least one point in the last nine games. Last night it was the power play, 2-7, that helped us. Tonight it was the power play, 0-8, that killed us.

Of course, other things killed us also. Henrik Lundqvist played as bad a game that I have seen him play since he came to the Rangers. A case could have been made that he should have had a shutout as all three goals were stoppable and Satan's goal was the worst of the trio. Forget the shootout, it should never have reached it. In the shootout Lundqvist was torched by rookies Okposo and Comeau and Number One Star Richard Park. While Dawes and Sjostrom scored, Shanahan and Prucha were stopped and the game went to the Islanders who were playing their last game of the season.

Also contributing to the defeat was the curious decision by coach clueless to leave five forwards out for the full two minutes on a Ranger five on three power play. Besides its ineffectiveness it also gave up a short handed goal to Richard Park who easily sped by Shanahan to give the Islands a 3-2 lead. Shanahan was probably not fully recovered from his lower body injury, whatever the heck that was, but what was everyone else's excuse. What was coach clueless's excuse for not getting his team up to beat an AHL team? My friend in the next section suggested that perhaps there was a little too much celebration after their playoff clinching win and that caused the Rangers to come out flat. Hopefully, the spirits weren't flat.

So now the Rangers go to the Rock where they face Brodeur and the law of averages to try to get a win that would have them finish fourth with the home ice advantage over the Devils. A Ranger loss and a Bruin win would drop the Rangers to sixth place and a date with the Washington Capitals. That wouldn't be a nice date, that would be a nightmare. So, on the last day of the season, the Rangers are faced with a must win over the Devils whom they have beaten seven times, three in OT. But that is what happens when your clueless coach can't get his team up for a game against a bunch of minor leaguers. That is also what happens when your goalie, who has carried us most of the way, has a bad game. We need the Prince to show up Sunday afternoon. I will be there, hopefully so will the Prince. If he doesn't show up, it will be a short playoff season.

ICINGS: The hockey sportswriters gave their three stars to Straka (3). Jagr (2) and Park (1). I found that baffling. My three stars were, #3, Okposo; #2, Park; and number one goalie Dubielewicz.

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