Yeah yeah, I know, we won, we beat the team I hate more than any other in all sports (tied with the Red Sox). Yeah, the Rangers played a gutsy game, and really dominated the Devils for most of the game. Yeah, the Rangers once again did the thing I hate most in sports by sitting on a lead in the 3rd. But forget all that for a moment. After watching the game, after watching all the post game stuff, and seeing the Avery - Uncle Daddy moment, all I wanted to talk about was, how well the game was reffed tonight.
I mean, seriously, let’s all take a minute to reflect back on a truly horrendous reffing experience that was forced upon us through the first 4 games of this series. But give credit to Fraser and Marouelli, they made all the right calls in the game, and none of the truly egregious plays went unpunished. Sure, they let Sean Avery get run all night long, but you know what? I am ok with that. Let the physical stuff within the game go as long as its not ridiculous. But call the things you have to. Have the guts to call the Penalty shot late in the game with the series on the line for the Devils, because you know what? That was a great call, and not a clear cut penalty shot play either. He could have called it just 2 for tripping, but I give him credit for making the right call and not wussing out. Give credit to the zebras folks, they called the game the way it should be called.
Now, I believe a hockey game was played tonight. Yes indeed. Thanks to a truly well reffed game, the Rangers closed out the Devils and sent Uncle Daddy home to his wife…er…sister in law….err…..pet midget….eh, whatever, either way Uncle Daddy is going him, and thats great. Because it was such a well reffed game, there was a lot of flow to this one. The Rangers really played well in the first, and in the second, despite giving up 2 goals in the 2nd to narrow the lead to 4-3. Let’s face it, there were 2 lucky, flukey, goals that got by Henrik that he really didn’t have a chance at. It happens, good teams overcome it. Rangers did just that, by playing a putrid defensive 3rd period. You know how I stand on this by now. The 1-4 is just retarded, all it does is lead to more problems (penalty shot anyone?!) and gets you away from a style of game that got you this far. I hate Tom Renney for this aspect more than anything. Playing exactly like they did in the first 2 would have led to more goals for, fewer chances against, and perhaps a power play or two. YOU DONT NEED TO SACRIFICE OFFENSE TO PLAY SMART DEFENSIVELY!!!!!
Ugh, but, I am not going down that road again, just search on the right for “prevent defense” or “1-4″ and im sure youll find any number of my previous rants on the subject.
Really, what more is there to say? The Rangers out talented a pretty talentless team. Those guys get by on blood, guts, and heart. They showed a lot of it to keep this series close, as you would expect of them, but in the end talent, and goaltending won out. Henrik gave up 12 goals, 5 of which were complete flukes. Uncle Daddy gave up bad goal after bad goal after bad goal, and im sure through all of it, he will still throw his teammates under the bus and blame everyone else but himself. What else do you expect from the biggest classless piece of crap in the NHL today? I give Sean Avery credit for even trying to shake the scumbags hand, honestly, I probably would have crosschecked the guy right on the kisser, but then again, I really hate his guts.
MVP of this series? Id give Co-MVP’s to Marc Staal, and Jaromir Jagr. In the end, Sam and Joe were right, the Devils just had no answer for the Dubi-Jagr combination. I don’t think Straka was much of a factor in this series (despite having some numbers), I think the Dubi-Jagr duo has just become an unstoppable pair, and with perhaps more room to navigate in during the next series, we might see an even more explosive effort by the two.
Now, we just sit back, and look forward to round 2. My personal preference would be if the Flyers and Bruins advance, then we play the Flyers, and the Pens can play the Bruins. Second choice would be if the Capitals and Bruins advance, then we play the Caps. Third choice would be if the Capitals and Habs advance, then we play the Habs. 4th choice would be if the Habs and Flyers advance, because then we have to play a red hot Penguins team that I want no part of.
One last thing. 11-1-1. Thats our record against the Devils this year. Ouch, talking about dominating a team…
