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Thursday, December 8, 2011

Rangers Drop One Late To Lightning


The Star Of Anise Outshines The Old Time Hockey Code. Live And Learn

Tough loss at home for the Blueshirts, but we did grab the regulation point. We DOMINATED the overtime, but Garon stood tall for them and made his best saves in the 5 minute sudden death, not to mention Cally hit a post. The truth is we should've never let this game go to the extra frame, and despite all the time spent in the penalty box and the lack of shots we put on net, we had this game in our grasp. Unfortunately we sat back on the last PowerPlay and it was probably our least aggressive look of the whole season. Amidst the lackadaisical atmosphere, pesky ex-Ranger Dominic Moore took advantage of the situation, grabbed a puck near our bench, gained a step on McDonagh and ripped a perfect backhand over Lundqvist's shoulder. Harvard guys are pretty smart I guess.

The real controversy of the game was obviously the Anisimov celebration and the melee that followed. Let me say this: AA got excited after he scored a goal. He's been getting excited lately. He's been scoring lately. His Kneeling Marksman/Front Line Civil War Soldier celebration was probably a bit excessive, but I would bet anything that he wasn't taunting Vinny Lecavalier, who took offense to the gesture and charged Arte, along with the Lightning players on the ice and Downie, who jumped off the bench to get in his two cents in the form of a left handed shot to the head. What is that all about?

At first I thought he was going for this:


I could see him taking this approach next time, classier:


OVie took a lot of heat for this one, baa ziiiiinnng!


At least it wasn't this:

BASEketball Opening Scene from Christopher Corpening on Vimeo.



It was only a celebration. Calm down. He didn't run any goalies, or cheapshot anyone. And it's not like we're in Tampa. We're at the Garden, OUR HOME. If Anisimov crossed the line, and LeCavalier's pride was offended then Vinny should've taken care of it 1 on 1 if he could--I'm an advocate of the players policing themselves. Of course maybe he was too winded from getting dusted by Del Zotto on a full ice sprint that resulted in a great assist on the goal. Other than that though, deal with it. That Downie can jump off the bench and join in, or Stamkos can take a cheap shot with the refs holding Anisimov is just wrong.

Regardless of the celebration, or the momentum shift that may've taken place, the Rangers didn't play a full 60 and that's too bad because we had this game in hand with the 45 or so minutes we did play. Rough night for Ryan McDonagh on defense, but I know he'll bounce back. In fact in the post game, Torts remarked that he's only played in about 45 NHL games which is incredible when you think about how solid he has been for us.

On to Buffalo this Saturday.

4 comments:

  1. You said it all Gearheart. I agree that goal they scored that took us us to OT should never have happened. Lots of energy in the game with the rumble and all. We are solid, it just got by us.
    AA stuff - He was reactive to the goal he scored. Not sure it was rubbing it in anyone's face but I guess there is a fine line between sportmanship and reactiveness. The other team was frustrated because of their lack of wins and that could make you pick up on things that would never bother you if you were in a winning position. So lets keep on keeping on and pour it out at the next game. Cally is awesome. Dubbie needs a goal. Mike Del Zotto is doing a fine job. Go Rangers.

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  2. Roxy, your knowledge of the game is stupendous. GH-1 has taught you well. I agree with you on all points and I like what Avery said after the game. He said that the rangers did not lose because of AA's actions, they lost because they did not seal up the game when they should have. They let Tampa hang around. It's a game where lessons need to be learned and I'm sure Torts has made his points clear. Time to move on and prepare for Saturdays tilt against Buffalo. Lets git it blue!

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  3. AA definitely was not showing anyone up. He was just celebrating, but then again it was exaggerated enough to piss off the opposition. In any event we lost a game that we should't have and now we just move on.

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  4. Well put... Anisimov didn't know what he was doing was considered a 'slap in the face' towards TB. When he went into the locker room after the melee, he said to the Rangers PR guy "What I do wrong, I don't understand! In Europe it OK!". He saw someone over in Europe do that celebration and figured he'd try it out. I think he was trying it out for the HBO cameras that are following them around.

    Also, as Roxy GH said, DZ is doing a fine job. Finally. He definitely deserves the props for sticking up for Lundqvist when Moore decided to throw a slash out there. He seems he's becoming the player we all hoped he would one day be. Let's hope it continues and it continues to improve.

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