By a thread...

RANGERS BUFF GOES TO SNUFF AGAINST SABRES...

Well, we knew it would be a tough game. Perhaps we didn't expect it to be this tough and hoped our momentum would carry us through. An off night from Ryan Miller could have perhaps helped. No such luck, and the slugs clinched the Northeast Division against us with that win.

Read the official recap here.

Coming in to this one, we had been given some confidence that things had finally clicked in regards to our team, its temperamental coach and the "minutes for merit system" were promised at the start of the season. The newly discovered secret weapon of a spirited 4th line had been making a name for itself coming into this game and last night was no different. Brandon Prust continued to prove why he deserves a contract next season. P.A. Parenteau also made a case for his good in small doses reputation. That, however, is where our offense ended. The big guns were never really able to generate their expected output. The returning Ryan Callahan played his usual gritty, high energy game as he entered the area in front of the net to screen Miller, despite having to add a knee brace to his equipment...but it wasn't enough.

Miller made great saves for Buffalo when it counted...and our boys in blue were exposed for the one trick ponies they were, as our 4th line and Hartford imports couldn't carry the offense. We then got beat up the ice on every rush. Often the back checking forwards stumbled into the zone - if they got there at all... only adding to the confusion. Dan Girardi looked horrible on defense as he spun in different directions hoping a Buffalo player, any Buffalo player, would hand him a clue as they flew past. After 3 goals, Torts was ready for a change and brought in Alex Auld to replace Henrik Lundqvist. It's a coaches decision, and while its not the popular one, it was clear that it had little bearing on the outcome; as even the best goalies get flustered after they are faced with rush after rush and uncontested screenings from guys the size of coke machines.

Whats worse that the fly-girls from 'Philthadelphia' still managed to win their game, rising past Boston and gaining some distance from us. The good news is they can't gain anymore ground between now and our games on Friday, then Sunday. Our game in hand is tonight against Toronto. A win tonight is necessary for the home and home series to mean anything. We're hanging by the proverbial thread now, ladies and gents. Funny, it doesn't feel much different, does it? If we lose tonight or Friday... All I can say is prepare for Sunday... Bloody Sunday.

Who Won During Oscar Night?

NYR 1,  Sabres 2  OT

Things are hurting at The Garden. 

The playoffs are looking further away from reality, with ridiculous inflated ticket prices in bad times, our star player has a cliched' groin injury, the Olli Jokinen experiment is a bust, the Fire Sather rally had only 100 or so passionate fans bitching about bad trades and an unsavory future, Sean Avery is invisible and doesn't win us games when he's on the ice anymore, Chris Drury left it all on the table in Vancouver and we lost another winnable game making it three losses in a row. 

In dropping to the Buffalo Sabres last night, they looked like the Rangers of two seasons ago - a team that doesn't consistently score and perform under pressure, a team that is so scared to take risks that they spend the majority of the time defending their own zone, at times unable to even clear the puck.  In other words, nail-biter hockey.

Official recap here.

Marian Gaborik was back on the ice last night against the Buffalo Sabres, having slashed his thigh before the Olympic break and during the Games supposedly played despite the injury and further damaging his stereotypical groin (the much known, much-joked-about groin injury while playing for the Minnesota Wild season-after-season).  For whatever reason, Gaborik - much like Jagr in the later years - seemed to have some strange non-scoring effect on his teammates.  While hurt, The Blueshirts managed 16 goals over the two-games prior to the Olympic break and two-games after without Gaborik on the ice.  A strange phenomenon.  Coach Torts attempted to shake-up-the-lines (familiar Renney tactic) to realign the chemistry to no-avail.  Gaborik is obviously in no condition to play as of yet, so it shouldn't take a Don Cherry to tell you to rest and bench the guy.  'Hurt History' is a telling thing.

The scoreless first and second periods were business as usual for Blueshirts fans -- many opportunities on both ends, good hockey followed by horrible hockey (especially the droopy dog second period), until Sabres' Adam Mair gave Buffalo a 1-0 lead with 5:57 left in regulation.  The teams played fairly even, Buffalo trailed 22-21 in shots during the scoreless 40 minutes and had the only two power plays.

Dubinsky rescued the Rangers from a second shutout in two days when he crashed the net and scored his 16th goal to make it 1-1 with 1:23 remaining. New York had gone 149 minutes 30 seconds without a goal, dating to the second period of a 5-4 home loss in overtime to Pittsburgh on Thursday night.

'Team In a Box' Henrik Lundqvist was out-dueled by rental-USA Team and full time Buffalo goalkeeper Ryan Miller, Henrik 30 saves to Miller's 35 saves. 

The Rangers (29-28-9) are sitting in 9th place in the Eastern Conference - 2 critical points away from playoff eligibility, with about 4-5 teams all fighting for the 6th, 7th & 8th slots.  The odds are stacked against us as Philadelphia, Montreal and Boston seem to be getting stronger in the league, while we continue to 'change up the lines' and further seek for passion & chemistry.   John Tortorella is beginning to show the hopelessness in his post-game comments, frustration overcoming strategy, but an honesty of how his veteran players are not coming through for the organization.  Sorry Torts, the supernatural Garden curse will always win.

So with a little hope, the Rangers will entertain THE ROCK in Newark on Wednesday and light up the place as we have historically done against the NJ Devils.  DARK will be there hovering over M-ARRRRR-TTTYYYY with two-dozen ribs dangling over the net --- if Avery is no longer willing to go there, I'll do my part.

tdr

Buffalo's Woes, Rangers 2, Sabres 1

Two wins out of eight games is certainly better than ten losses in a row.

This was the case as The New York Rangers handed the tenth to the Buffalo Sabres last night, obviously hurting without their now-Blueshirt Chris Drury. Though disappointed in Drury's performance as a Ranger this season, I felt satisfied in that we were able to acquire him (big deal! - double meaning), that we finally beat the team responsible for knocking us out of playoffs last season and contributing to their double-digit loss streak - a horrible achievement for any hockey franchise.

The win leaves a slightly less bitter taste in Ranger fans' mouths, as we take the win with a 'grain of salt', as this team needs to demonstrate more than a win here or there. Three in a row would get some of us back.

I had tickets. I was supposed to be there. Work, work, work. Needless to say, I couldn't be there and I am not able to comment on the game, but was pleasantly surprised by the updating scores through text messages.

I highly suggest you link to the following terrific NYR sites for information on the game, including the next two games against the Boston Bruins back-to-back this Saturday and Sunday. I highly recommend visits to Scotty Hockey, The Ranger Pundit, Pucks on Broadway, Blueshirt Bulletin, or the bias official website NYR. Perhaps one of our guest bloggers will make an appearance on the blog!!?

I will not be posting this weekend as The Dark Ranger will be in Toronto researching and meeting with various hockey spies, seeing family, visiting the Hall of Fame and enjoying the company of certain hockey retirees.

More to come from the Darkest of Hockey Bloggers on the net.

tdr