Never, NEVER be disappointed when your team gives up zero goals through regulation and overtime. Never, NEVER be disappointed when your team gives up less than 20 shots through 65 minutes of hockey. Chin up folks, we deserved to win this one based on our defensive play alone. Henrik did make one or two amazing saves, but Fernandez wasnt bad either.

Another positive is how well the kids played. Our best forward line was probably Prucha Dubinsky Callahan (when they played together, when it was Betts in there, the line was invisible), our best defenseman was Marc Staal, and our young goalie gave up zero goals.

The Rangers played Ranger hockey. Like it or not, this will not be a team that will win games 9-7. This will be a team that wins games 3-1, 4-2, 2-1, etc. I loved the way the slot was always blanketed with Rangers, how you never saw a Bruin all alone in front of the net, and how the Rangers didnt over commit to the guy with the puck behind the net. We also saw 6 defenseman who played very well…yes, that includes one Marek Malik, who was a rock in his own zone for the full 65 minutes. If your D plays like that, then you will be just fine.

Also, in the excuse making department, let’s not forget we were playing without Straka, Avery, and Hossa, all of which were expected to be key offensive contributors to this team, and play top line or second line minutes. Thats a lot of loss to take on. Another thing to remember, we are playing a lot of young kids. Callahan, Staal, Dubinsky, Girardi, and Dawes do not have a single year of experience, and are all playing key, big time minutes. Then you have Claude Julien who is notorious for his defensive brand of hockey. It is what it is folks, a game we played well in our own zone, but couldn’t muster much in their zone.

I’ll take games like this every single day of the week over what we saw on Thursday.

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Last game, the Rangers gave up 5 humiliating goals most of which could be attributed to laziness, or a complete breakdown in systems play. Today the Rangers have given up 0 goals. Yes, theyve scored 0 themselves, however you can definitely see the commitment to making safe, smart plays. Its not quite New Jersey Devils hockey, because the Rangers aren’t just sitting back and trying to counter, they are attacking the man with the puck, and are applying pressure. What you are seeing is two teams who won’t give an inch. I’m surprised how well the Bruins are playing to be honest. I haven’t seen them this year yet, but you can see Claude Juliens style of defending in full force.

I like what I am seeing out here with the exception of the refs. Petr Prucha takes a left hand punch to the face 3 feet from the ref, and nothing is called. Then Fedor Tyutin gets his stick yanked out of his hands, and he gets called. That is just unacceptable. Yes the refs can’t get them all, but those 2 were pretty damn blatant, and were right in front of the refs, not away from the play.

Still though, with all that said, I like what I am seeing. Ive said it before, I’m more concerned when a team this star-studded is giving up 5+ goals a game like on Thursday. When they arent giving up many goals, then I am happy, no matter what their record is. That means they are making the smart plays, and are committing to what the coach has to say and is instilling in them.

Remember…The offense will come, its the defense that we should worry about.

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First and foremost, here was my reaction to that save by Henrik:

Anyways, I really liked what I saw in that period. It was the commitment to defense, and all 5 players playing all 3 zones. THAT is what I want to start seeing on a consistent basis. Even Jaromir, who I was furious at during the last game, came back strong to help out the forwards. It was a good period for the Rangers who played 30% of the period shorthanded. The 2 penalties that they took were polar opposites. The double minor on Jagr was totally accidental, and its a penalty I have no problem whatsoever killing. The penalty on Mara was horrendous. I mean, what the hell was he doing out there? It was like he knew he could get the puck, but was going to take a hit, so instead he slows up, says, HEY REF, LOOK HERE! then takes the most blatant holding penalty ive probably ever seen. Crap like that ticks me off. I’d bench him if Pock and Strudwick weren’t so damn terrible (so far this year).

The best player, by far and away in that period was Henrik Lundqvist. He made one of the most amazing saves youll ever see. It was a jaw dropper for sure. If you missed it, make sure you check the highlight reels, because that one is going to be all over it. The second best player in the period was Marc Staal. The kid is quickly becoming a solid dependable NHL defenseman….and even more, hes turning into a star defenseman right before our eyes. Good god the kid has a great head between his shoulders. Did you see the wicked hit he took? That impressed the heck out of me, because you know he realized he was going to get demolished, and he still made a picture perfect outlet pass and absorbed the hit. That is what star defenseman do, make the perfect plays under duress.

This was a solid period, I think we’ll see an even hungrier Rangers team build on this even more during the 2nd and 3rd.

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