Well, I predicted an 8-2 drubbing, instead I got a 2-1 nail-biter…
Unfortunately that was the only video of the famous “just a bit outside” quote that I could find. Anyway, this game wasn’t all that great. For about the 4th game in a row the best line on the ice was once again the 3rd line, which seemingly didn’t get enough minutes, and again for the 4th game in a row the Rangers found themselves down 2 men for almost 2 minutes. Discipline was severely lacking tonight for sure, but at least part of the blame goes to the refs who truly called a terrible game. I am saving a piece for tomorrow or day after for the refs, and trust me, a nice dissertation is coming on that topic.
Defensively the Rangers played pretty strong for all 3 periods, even the bad 2nd was played well in their own zone (for the most part), and the goaltending we got tonight was back-to-normal typical Henrik Lundqvist. Offensively though, the Rangers still did not seem in synch. They got some chances, sure, but they didn’t cycle the puck, and sustain the pressure enough for my liking against a severely depleted Sabers team.
I am not hanging as much on this win as I should. I think the Rangers needed to come out here and make a statement, by only taking 2 or 3 penalties, and just wiping the floor with these Sabers, instead they won a game you expected them to win, and didn’t really do it in a convincing manner.
So I guess the best way to describe this win, is with 1 word. Meh.
