Slaughterhouse Third & We Win!

"The King" of The Jungle always beats a Panther in a death-match, and it was proven tonight. The New York Rangers took the Florida Panthers for a ride and ate their young, winning 5-2.

The evening began with an unexpected and welcome appearance by our own #2, Brian Leetch - three months earlier than when the Garden will be retiring his number to the rafters on January 24, 2008. The Garden went mad!

The achievements were numerous. Newcomer Chris Drury scored the game-winner and added two assists in his Rangers debut. Defenseman Marek Malik picked up three assists. Petr Prucha indicated there would be no early-season slump like a year ago, rifling home the first of the four-goal outburst. Youngster Ryan Callahan continued to build on his success last season with a beautiful goal, and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist was brilliant with 27 saves, keeping the team in the game until the third-period eruption.

With the victory, the Rangers began a season 1-0-0 for the third straight year heading into Saturday night's first road game at defending Eastern Conference champion Ottawa. The beat writers have predicted the Ottawa Senators against the Rangers will be some of the best hockey this season and the most anticipated race in the Eastern Conference.

Welcome Chris Drury, redemption for our Marek Malik, and our fourth youth-line played hard and proved to all why they were the choice prospects to place in the NHL.

The Dark Ranger salutes. Bring it on, Canada.

tdr

Blueshirts Open Season Tonight, Eyes on the Cup!

The New York Rangers debut their season, 7PM EST, against the Florida Panthers in the home season opener tonight at The World's Most Famous Arena. More eyes will be watching than ever as the Blueshirts "on paper" are predicted (and targeted) as a real Stanley Cup contender. On the ice is always a different matter. Aside from the talk by hockey fans, critics and experts in the NHL, it all begins and ends with the players on the ice and the locker room is abuzz.

Brendan Shanahan has said of this upcoming season, "Every year there's probably about half a dozen or maybe eight teams that have the players to win the Cup, but only one of them can win. We're one of those teams right now."

Chris Drury is quoted, "I think it's a good thing for me, because I always want to give more and I always want to be at my best. As a New York fan -- Rangers fan, Yankees fan, Knicks fan, whatever it is -- they always expect more, 110 percent. And they always expect you to be at your best, and that's where I always want to be, so it's a good match."

Sean Avery ends with, "Florida is dead to me. I will eat their young." (he never really said this, but I am sure he'll demonstrate it this evening)

The puck drops at 7pm EST at Madison Square Garden. Who would win in a fight? "The King" of the Jungle or a little tropical Panther? We'll know soon enough.

tdr

(press here to download complete game notes for tonight)