Simply put, the Rangers don’t win against a resilient Hurricane team without their Vezina winner. Lundqvist stole two points. Even if our team scored three goals in the second to break open a scoreless game, they won due to the goalie, who turned in one of his best games as a Blueshirt. Having just surpassed 500 games as a Ranger, Hank didn’t give the Canes anything the first two periods. He’d already turned them away time and again thanks to some sloppy play in front. 

Trailing by three, the Canes turned up the heat in a lopsided third. They fired from every angle and forced him to come up large. He’d stoned Jeff Skinner countless times and been a force on our penalty kill, which went five-for-five. It was one of those games where they needed their best to bail them out. Everyone was thinking shutout as the period went on. Especially with Lundqvist making save after save. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. A Brian Boyle turnover led directly to call up Zac Dalpe scoring his first. Skinner set him up perfectly for a one-timer inside the post. Watching it at our friend’s in South River, I was steamed. I really wanted him to get the shutout. Aside from that, I hoped they’d get four or five and make it easier on themselves. But as old buddy Harry says, they’re the Rangers. 

It might have been easier if Carolina replacement Justin Peters didn’t make a big stop early in the period to give his team a lift. The Rangers chased starter Dan Ellis after two. Two of the three goals came on a resurgent power play, which suddenly looks much better with the new acquisitions. Particularly Ryane Clowe and Derick Brassard, who both make things happen. Our guys are moving the puck quicker and taking shots. No surprise that Derek Stepan cashed his 13th two minutes into the second. A mistake by Ellis on the next shift allowed Stepan to set up Ryan Callahan for his 11th. With Ellis out of the net, Rick Nash forced a turnover leading to Callahan scoring into an open side 31 seconds later. 

Our team scored its second power play goal thanks to Nash. After receiving a pass from Mats Zuccarello, he skated out to the slot and buried his team-leading 15th. Mike Del Zotto, who continues to excel since Marc Staal went down- picked up the other helper. Our team made life more difficult by taking penalties with Carolina trailing by two in the final 10 minutes. But Lundqvist was sensational. He stopped 20 of 21 shots in a busy third. So much for him being hurt. It’s easily one of his finest efforts. Especially in the midst of a playoff race that’s coming down to the wire. 

With the Islanders winning again 4-2 over the Lightning, they kept pace to stay in seventh due to having a game at hand. The Islanders remained eighth. The Leafs inched a little closer to the postseason by edging the Devils 2-1. With both the Caps (Ovechkin hat trick) and Jets winning, each remain tied with 40 points. But Washington has played two fewer games and are first in the Southeast. Winnipeg scored four goals in the second to defeat Philadelphia, who remained 11th with 37 points. Here’s a closer look at the race:

EAST

                GP      Pts    GR

1.Pens     39       58      9 

2.Habs    38       55     10 

3.Caps    38       40     10 

4.Bruins  37       52     11

5.Leafs    38       46     10

6.Sens     37       44      11

9.Jets      40       40       8

11.Flyers 38      37      10

12.Sabres 38      36      10

13.Canes  37      34      11

14.Bolts   37      34      11

15.Cats    38      30      10