Despite being in a three-way tie with the Senators and Islanders, the Rangers are still eighth due to Ottawa having an extra game left and the Islanders holding the first tiebreaker with 17 regulation/overtime wins. For those keeping track, the Rangers have 16 and the Sens 15. Both the Islanders and Rangers have eight games remaining while the Senators have nine. The Isles take on the Bruins tonight while the Sens visit the Flyers. The Blueshirts don’t play again until Saturday’s big showdown at Nassau Coliseum. 

If there is one thing our team has, it’s Lundqvist. With finally a break in the schedule, look for John Tortorella to ride our horse down the stretch. The Rangers play once over the next five days. In order to make the playoffs, they need Hank to be at his best. When he’s allowed two goals or less in 2013, King Henrik is 16-2-3. It’s when he permits three-or-more that our team struggles. Even if it’s not on par with a career best ’11-12, more often than not he gives them a chance. Few goalies are more dependable.

In the second straight meeting against the Leafs, Lundqvist made some clutch stops, finishing with 23 overall. Both Toronto goals were off turnovers. As usual, Ranger killer Phil Kessel was involved. He scored the game’s first goal courtesy of a poor backhand turnover from Ryan Callahan, which he batted past Hank. Until Ryane Clowe battled Mark Fraser to a draw, the Rangers were lifeless. The speedier Leafs were all over them. Thanks to Lundqvist, the deficit remained one until Carl Hagelin got to a Ryan McDonagh rebound in front for his ninth. It was only his second in the last 21. Partially due to all the line juggling. At least Tortorella made a switch when they needed it.

Spurred on by Hags’ goal, the Rangers finally started pushing back. Eventually, another play the tireless Swede started led to their second straight goal. This one a beauty off the stick of McDonagh. After Derick Brassard dished for McDonagh, he danced around two Leafs and unleashed from the high slot- beating James Reimer through a Callahan screen. The kind you expect from our captain following a rare mistake. 

As has been the case throughout, our team couldn’t get the all important next goal. Instead, they wasted two power plays by doing what they do best. Killing it all on their own. The Leafs did nothing on either. It was self inflicted. Being that it was only my second game and probably last unless they go deep, there were instances where I screamed for them to shoot the puck. How many times must we see Rick Nash try to stick handle through three guys? Nash has one of the deadliest shots but rarely uses it. Between that and McDonagh not letting go of a wide open shot, it was frustrating. The only instance they got set up time was when frequent target Mike Del Zotto carried the puck in. Sadly, they still couldn’t muster a shot. You’d think Reimer was Johnny Bower. 

I don’t care how many toe saves he made. You are supposed to fire from every angle on a guy who practically lost his job to Ben Scrivens. That was last year. Too often, our team tries to make the perfect play. That philosophy must change. Fittingly, the two powerless failures allowed the Leafs to get life. Off another putrid turnover, Kessel tied it. This time, it was Dan Girardi, who made a bugaboo. Why Arron Asham was on with our team protecting a one-goal lead is debatable. But Girardi was miserable all night and his giveaway proved costly. It allowed James van Riemsdyk to set up Kessel’s second.

As usual, no one scored again until the shootout. In a game they really should’ve won in regulation, they were on their heels clinging for dear life in overtime. The Leafs are a dangerous team. Minus Marc Staal, our D has suffered. Girardi looks worn down and McDonagh’s been hit or miss. Del Zotto’s been our best defenseman since Staal’s injury. Yet he gets killed. He took a pounding again. But was better. It doesn’t help that Tortorella already is restricting John Moore’s ice-time (8:41). He’d rather trust Steve Eminger. You can’t make it up.

I didn’t have much confidence entering the skill competition. Lundqvist had to stop all three Leaf shooters. Thankfully, he did so it didn’t come down to Kessel. The only goal came from Mats Zuccarello. MZA rewarded Tortorella by doing what Nash should have. Faking, then going five-hole on Bower Reimer. He’s now six-for-12 in his career in shootouts. When Lundqvist shut the door on Mikhail Grabovski, a big extra point was clinched.

3rd Star-Carl Hagelin, NYR (goal, assist-love him)

2nd Star-Phil Kessel, Tor (2 goals-13, 14-dangerous but wasn’t in Carlyle’s top 3) 

1st Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (23 saves incl. 3/3 in shootout-delivered again)