Battle Of Hudson

As the Buffalo Sabres fans had a day off after the emotional 2-1 win at Carolina on Sunday, the focus was shifted to Madison Square Garden, where the Boston Bruins were in town to play the New York Rangers.

Now granted, the Carolina Hurricanes are the focus for the Sabres right now to ultimately clinch a playoff spot in the 2011 Eastern Conference playoffs, but one couldn’t think it would be nice to have another team behind the Sabres in the standings.

As the game started, the Bruins jumped out to a 3-0 lead, and it appeared that one of the arch rivals of the Swords was actually going to help us on this Monday evening.

But about 2 hrs after this, it was clear as day: Never trust a team from Boston when you can do the work yourself.

In recent vintage Boston Bruins fashion (a trait they have seemed to learn from some Ottawa Senators team of the past), the ‘Ruins’ had an epic collapse yet again, as the Rangers stormed back and won 5-3 in front of a raucous crowd at MSG.

To not give the Rangers credit for crawling back into the game and ultimately winning it is unfair, but Boston showed yet again, they cannot be trusted for help.

Tonight the Buffalo Sabres entertain the Tampa Bay Lightning, in yet another 3rd game in 4 night stretch that seems endless (something this league needs to fix, less games perhaps? Never, that is TOO easy!). Tampa Bay won the first two meetings of the season, and Jhonas Enroth, the hero of the win at Carolina, will be in between the pipes again.

NOTES:

The Sabres are 6-1-2 over their last 9 games.

If the Buffalo Sabres win tonight, and the Carolina Hurricanes lose in regulation in Motown against the Red Wings on Wednesday, the Sabres will clinch a playoff spot.

Ryan Miller remains day-to-day and there appears to be a possibility he can return by the weekend.

The Sabres host the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday and close out the season at Columbus. Strange to see an Eastern Conference team close out a season against a ‘Western’ conference team like Columbus. Hear that Uncle Gary? Change the division and conference names!

It was all too fitting. The Rangers again in a hostile environment taken to a shootout versus the hated Flyers. Considering what was at stake in Game 79 with Carolina playing Buffalo later, it was easy to flashback to Game 82 a year ago when mere mortal Brian Boucher outdid Henrik Lundqvist in the skill competition, getting his team in the playoffs and soon on a run that didn’t end until Game Six of the Stanley Cup to Hawk hero Patrick Kane.

Would the same cruel fate happen again? Luckily, Olli Jokinen wasn’t available for Sunday’s critical 3-2 shootout triumph that allowed Lundqvist and his Ranger teammates to breathe easier. Most importantly, thanks to Erik Christensen and Wojtek Wolski, who each beat Sergei Bobrovsky in the first two rounds, the Rangers had their revenge- gaining the valuable extra point that puts them at 89 entering another huge match tonight when Boston visits MSG. Coupled with the Sabres’ 3-2 overtime win over Carolina, the Rangers are eighth two points clear of the Hurricanes, who also have three games remaining. Both teams have 33 wins in regulation/overtime. However, the Canes own the season series, which becomes the second breaker if they wind up tied at season’s conclusion.

Here’s the deal. Win tonight and the Blueshirts put immense pressure on Carolina, who will then trail by four. Do it in regulation/OT and they’ll also lead the Hurricanes by one under the new format, which would make it even more daunting. Thanks to rookie Marc-Andre Gragnani’s first NHL goal that caromed off two Canes past Cam Ward, it prevented Carolina from staying only a point back while keeping the seventh Sabres a point up on us. Well, technically two due to more reg/OT wins.

For John Tortorella’s resilient club who erased the lifeless performance in Long Island with a more familiar gritty style that’s made them rootable, they can’t concern themselves with what the Canadiens, Sabres and Hurricanes do. The focus must be about taking care of business, which includes tough Northeast division winner Boston later on Versus at 7:30 ET. A game that should be no picnic with the Bruins still vying for higher position in the East, trailing the Flyers and Capitals by four with an extra game being played today. The Bruins are difficult anyway with Vezina frontrunner Tim Thomas, former Norris winner Zdeno Chara, power forward Milan Lucic and a bevy of smart forwards who get in on the forecheck and can strike quickly.

Figure it to play out similarly to Lundqvist’s league high 11th shutout on March 26 in Beantown. The Rangers could be without goalscorer Ruslan Fedotenko, who only played five minutes in the third after getting banged up. If the undervalued key addition can’t go, Whale call up Kris Newbury will replace him, likely on the fourth line with shootout aces Christensen and Wolski. Sean Avery, who only played five minutes, would see more shifts playing with Brandon Prust and Brian Boyle.

The Rangers matched their team record set in ’93-94 by recording their 24th road win. They finish the 2010-11 regular season 24-16-1 (24-17), hoping it’s not the final time they play away from The Garden. Now, they get the last three at home in a place that hasn’t been as easy. Entering tonight, they’re 18-16-4 on home ice. In other words, a losing record (18-20). In what’s going to be a chaotic week, nothing can be assumed. Even if Carolina gets the Red Wings Wednesday before finishing with Atlanta and Tampa Bay, the goal is simple. Hold serve with the Garden Faithful throwing all their support to get this hard working team in the playoffs. With the basketball tenant, the Knicks clinching their first postseason since ’03-04, there’s even more scrutiny.

The Rangers have the Bruins, Thrashers Thursday and the Hudson rival Devils Saturday, who you know would love nothing better than to end their season. Here’s a noble suggestion. Win the first two to not put themselves in an unenviable position.

Nobody ever said it would be easy. Not with a young roster that’s been carried down the stretch by Lundqvist, who will make his record 24th consecutive start. They’ll need the same level of sacrifice and commitment to get it done from Staal, Girardi, McDonagh, Sauer, Callahan, Dubinsky, Boyle, Prust, Anisimov and even Prospal who’s shown so much coming back from a knee that could end his career. Even Gaborik got the uniform dirty yesterday, coming hard on the backcheck to break up scoring chances. If only No.10 would remember his main duty and score a couple over this do or die stretch.

It’s time for the boys to stand up and fight for their right at home. Go all Beastie Boys and defend their turf. Do so and they’re back in the postseason for a fifth time in six years since the lockout. Do it not and it will be a long offseason. It’s up to them.

Yes, Raleigh is approximately 700 miles from Buffalo (depending on how you drive there). The culture is different, where Buffaloians live and die with the results of the Buffalo Bills and the Buffalo Sabres, and fans in the Carolinas are generally more concerned with drafting in NASCAR then Cam Ward.

And today, the crucial battle was played in Raleigh NC between the Buffalo Sabres and the Carolina Hurricanes.

You could not tell based on the reactions for the Sabres.

In what has become a home away from home for the Sabres, Buffalo grinded out the biggest win of the year to date, with a 2-1 OT win at ‘Buffalo South’ and stunned the Hurricane faithful.

For whatever reason, Carolina fans have taken to message boards to complain over and over about the behavior of Sabres fans at their arena for the Canes games.

Do not believe me? Here is an excerpt from a article in the Charlotte Observer:

“I find every Buffalo game unpleasant,” said Chuck Wright, a Hurricanes fan who skipped the Hurricanes’ earlier home game against the Sabres for that reason. “There are a lot of Buffalo people who live here now for jobs and the lifestyle, and they’re big Sabres fans and big Bills fans, and that’s fine.

“But some of the behavior is just – I don’t want my kids exposed to it, the F-bombs and over-the-top type behavior. It’s like they’re trying to prove something because they’re on enemy turf.

Well I wonder if they take a look in the mirror at how their fans react at NASCAR games, at College Football and Basketball games in the state of North Carolina. Would Chuck Wright be complaining about their behavior?

Highly doubtful.

Why do Canes fail to see this? Because Buffalo fans care more about hockey then they do, and they cannot match it. End of story. And THIS is why it pains me that the Canes have a Cup, and the Sabres had 4 defencemen out for Game 7 of the 2006 Eastern Conference Finals.

Are there some Sabres fans at these games that probably don’t belong? Sure, as a longtime Buffalo sports fan and witnessing issues at Ralph Wilson Stadium for the Buffalo Bills games and to a much lesser degree, at Sabres games, there are some fans that deserve to be tossed.

And I will be damned as a Sabres fan for almost 28 years now if I will sit back and watch our fans painted with a broad brush. The majority of our fans are loyal, and respectful. Maybe Canes fans should look in the mirror at how some of them act at the games too.

But apparently in Carolina, it is a one way street.

Canes fans: Enjoy the off season, because it is coming fast.

There’ll be plenty of scoreboard watching praying today. This is what it’s come to for the idle Rangers who don’t play till tomorrow’s predictable NBC clash at the Flyers. Just dandy. You know Philly is licking their chops from that 7-0 humiliation that also came on NBC. They should be in a foul mood after falling to the Devils last night with the Jersey kids getting a Patrik Elias hat trick. Speaking of the Devs, they’re still alive and visit Martin Brodeur’s favorite target hometown Montreal.

Believe it or not, Ranger fans will be rooting for their most hated rivals. With the Canadiens only two up (technically 3), the Devils can do us a favor if Brodeur does what he usually does. Plus they are playing for pride, having not been eliminated yet. So, they should be amped up with Zach Parise finally back in the lineup. Will the Zach Attack score in his return? Ranger fans don’t care as long as the Hudson rival wins. Doubly important for Brian’s Sabres, who have to deal with Alex Ovechkin and the Caps in D.C. That should be no picnic. Though Washington isn’t playing for much, it looks like Swedish wonder Jhonas Enroth gets the start with Ryan Miller still banged up. Buffalo also plays tomorrow when they visit Raleigh for a pivotal match against those Canes.

Meanwhile, Carolina looks to win again when they visit Long Island. Yes, the same Islanders who dismantled the Rangers in what amounted to their Stanley Cup, now must be counted on to stop the Hurricanes. How many disgruntled Blueshirt fans actually think that’s going to happen? Exactly. If we don’t win tomorrow, we’re screwed. Then, it’s Boston next on Versus with the Thrashers and Devils left. Of course, if you heard Brian on the No Goal Sports show Friday on BlogTalk along with myself, The Program’s own Chris Wassel and quirky Dan Wheeler, you’d have thought the Sabres were done. The usual stuff from the most classic person I know for way too long. 😛 If you dare, catch the replay here. But I must warn that the first two hours were our baseball predictions and other assorted banter before puck took over in the witching hour.

The cool thing about tonight if you’re not locked into a compelling Final Four that features Cinderella VCU versus Butler and powerhouses UConn and Kentucky, is every game comes on at 7. So, there’ll be plenty of flipping. Between that, the Final Four and the always must watch Hockey Night In Canada feed featuring the Leafs and Sens, it will be chaotic. By 9:30, we should have a pretty good idea what the standings look like. Perfect timing since I’m heading out to celebrate a birthday party for a close friend in the city.

Fasten your seatbelts.

Just for the record, it snowed today. This isn’t some cruel April Fool’s joke. As I somewhat predicted, mother nature is getting the last laugh. Be that as it may with baseball opening up in frigid conditions, the Rangers are in their own cold spell. A night removed from a lackluster effort that allowed Jhonas Enroth to shut them out in Buffalo, the Blueshirts turned blue with a humiliating performance against the chief rival Islanders at Nassau Coliseum, getting wasted literally 6-2.

For a team who has responded to every challenge, this was mind boggling. How could they fall so flat in a critical game against a team that they knew wanted to beat them in the worst way, possibly wrecking the playoffs? You would’ve thought it was a meaningless exhibition with nothing on the line. Heck. They’ve given better efforts in preseason than what was on display in Long Island yesterday. Their second consecutive loss and third in the last four have suddenly put the Rangers in a bind. Only three points separate them from ninth Carolina, who visits the Islanders tomorrow before the Blueshirts’ next game- a doozy on NBC at the Flyers. Can someone say panic button?

Making matters worse is that if the Hurricanes win as expected, they’ll hold the crucial tiebreak due to more emphasis on regulation and overtime victories. Sure. They can only be a point out but given the way our team’s playing and a schedule that includes hated rivals Philly and New Jersey which btw ends the season (hopefully not for good), the Rangers just made it a whole lot more difficult on themselves. They’re no longer a lock even if the Canadiens continue to fade down the stretch. Even if we tie them, they hold the edge. So, that won’t do.

It’s basically start scoring again and win or tease a loyal fanbase to death a second consecutive year like Bill Murray’s classic Phil character from Groundhog Day. I’ve seen this story before and don’t feel like going through it again. Let’s put it this way. Since I’ve followed hockey, I never missed the playoffs. While that may not apply to the circus and pony act at 33rd and Seventh, I want the postseason. The way this team’s competed warrants it. That’s why it’s so alarming how putrid they were versus the Islanders, who were without stud rookie Michael Grabner, whose girlfriend finally gave berth to a baby boy. Congrats to Grabs!

If they somehow complete this collapse, I will not watch one second of the playoffs. I’ll take a long vacation kinda like our resident Devil blogger Hasan after the crap his team pulled. It’s not about us competing for a Cup. But about all the losing this franchise puts us through. I’m sick and tired of hearing about how at least we’ve seen them win one Cup. I’m only going to say this once. Our franchise has been around since the league’s inception. They won their first three in less than 20 years! One Cup since in 70 years is pathetic. I am so fed up with all the hoopla about ’94. Great. We’re another three years from the 20 Year Anniversary. Will our team which at least seems to be heading in the right direction, have finally won two rounds? Let’s hope so. This ain’t no April Fool’s joke.

If this team is serious about erasing last year, then they’ll kick the Flyers’ ass in two days on national TV. I know we embarrassed them last time. So, they’ll be hell bent on revenge. However, all season our team’s had tremendous character, which is once again being tested. One more push and they accomplish their goal. No small accomplishment for one of the league’s youngest rosters.

Now to what was supposed to be a game. What was that? It sure didn’t resemble the hockey club we’ve cheered for. The Rangers got beat so badly by the Islanders, it would’ve been a first round TKO. Forget Vinny Prospal’s first goal in six that actually put us ahead. The Islanders flat out dominated from start to finish, winning every battle. They forced turnovers, buried chances and took advantage of one of the biggest jokes of a power play that was so bad, they went 0-for-8 including a lifeless 5-on-3 that could’ve actually given them a two-goal lead. You really wonder if they practice it sometimes. Forget the improvement with Bryan McCabe. Our PP is back to sucking. No shock that suddenly they can’t put the puck in the ocean. It is so predictable that the Islander penalty killers just waited for the forced diagonal passes and cleared with ease. You’d have thought they were playing a video game.

If not for Henrik Lundqvist, the Islanders score the first three off odd-man rushes because that’s how sloppy the Rangers were. It really begged the question how John Tortorella could not have them ready to play. That’s two games in a row that they weren’t prepared. I know Tort’s done an admirable job, getting this core to buy in. The development of kids like Ryan McDonagh, Mike Sauer and Derek Stepan cannot be understated. Neither can the 160 by Brian Boyle and ultimate warrior Brandon Prust. The team takes on Tortorella’s personality. That’s why it’s so disappointing how poorly they played. In a rivalry game where you knew it was basically the Islanders’ Cup even though they’re much improved, it’s stunning how bad our guys played.

The Isles’ first two goals 33 seconds apart from Blake Comeau and Radek Martinek confirmed our worst fears. Anyone who watched the first could tell who the better team was. The Islanders kept giving us opportunity after opportunity, losing discipline over Marian Gaborik’s dirty hit that knocked out Frans Nielsen for the rest of the game. Gaborik isn’t that kind of player and was fortunate to not get tossed, instead receiving a four minute boarding double minor. What was his excuse for doing little else after setting up Prospal’s sixth? It amazes me how a player with his talent can just disappear when he feels contact. I’m not going to go overboard like others who want him to become the next Scott Gomez. Gaborik’s our most skilled forward. Those don’t grow on trees. So unless they can get a good return back over the summer, you don’t trade that kind of elite player. He’s just been terrible but let’s not forget the bum shoulder and concussion. It would be nice if he scores a couple of big ones over the final four.

Here’s my frustration with the coach. Tortorella sometimes makes baffling decisions like dressing Erik Christensen after a dreadful game at Buffalo in which he committed two turnovers on an important power play. How do you dress him after that? If he’s not playing with Gaborik, Christy’s a waste. Granted. Wojtek Wolski is the latest ex-Yote that’s underperforming. Surprise surprise. Michal Rozsival plays every game for a Phoenix team that’s making the playoffs. The trade wasn’t the problem because it allowed Sauer and McDonagh to grow into our most reliable D pair. No. That’s not a misprint. Marc Staal and Dan Girardi are an adventure at times in their end. Guess who leads the team in plus/minus. The kid duo by a country mile. Wolski should’ve played yesterday. Mats Zuccarello did before he was banished to Connecticut. I’m no genius. But what was the point of playing him if he was going down? MZA had struggled for a while. Why did they wait so long? Now, they can’t even recall anyone. From the timing, it sure seems like they’re making Zuccarello the scapegoat. Genius. A first-year European who possesses skill and he’s the one that’s the problem. The move is fine as he’s lost confidence. Hopefully, it will come back.

Issue two I have with Tortorella. Your team stunk it up the first 20 minutes and blew power play after power play with Al Montoya keeping the Islanders in the game. Gotta love the irony. Former No.1 pick who was mishandled here suddenly gets a shot and finds a home, getting extended a year and then exacts revenge after how we chased him in the prior meeting. On Tort, our power play just ended and Comeau puts home a rebound to tie it. Then, off a faceoff in which nobody picks up Martinek with the Red Sea parting, he blisters a shot top shelf on Lundqvist on the next shift. How do you wait until it’s 4-1 off a bizarre goal from P.A. Parenteau in which Staal basically set him up, before calling timeout? Anyone could see that our team wasn’t right. When the opponent goes from down one to one up that quickly in a hostile environment amidst all the Ranger support, that’s usually a good moment for a breather. Settle down the team and get them to refocus. Instead, Tort waited until it was too late with mere mortal Jesse Joensuu scoring and then Parenteau cashing in while Staal stood and watched.

Final issue on Tort. How on a crucial five-on-three does he not send out Brandon Dubinsky? If you’re going with five forwards, how is your leading scorer not out there? Dubinsky is good in the corners and in front. We had no net presence. Tortorella even forgot to give Boyle a shift. When it’s not working, throw some different looks.

Once Lundqvist didn’t return for the third, the game was over. Chad Johnson ensured that by giving up goals to Matt Moulson off a great move from John Tavares and Islander legend Trevor Gillies. April Fool’s became April Fools. This was a complete disgrace. Of course, Jack Capuano sent out the wolves to avenge Nielsen with Michael Haley bloodying Sean Avery, Zenon Konopka and Brandon Prust battling to a draw and those featherweights Dylan Reese and Ruslan Fedotenko throwing ’em. Jack Hillen and Dubinsky also fought earlier in the chaotic stanza. With the score 6-2 thanks to a Prust tally with 14 seconds left, there was Gillies looking for vengeance. Prior, Dubinsky and Matt Martin jawed before the refs tossed each. They also never allowed Gillies to get at Prust following his goal on the next faceoff. I understand the Islanders being mad that Gaborik injured Nielsen with a dangerous hit from behind. However, the point was made. Why even have Gillies out there? He’s not even an NHLer. It reflects poorly on an organization that at times, doesn’t get it. The Islanders are better. There’s no need to goon it up. Maybe Mario Lemieux had a point. I loathe him too but come on.

Skate off the ice with the win and enjoy it. You just may have ruined the Ranger season. Truthfully, they may have accomplished that all on their own.

Prior to yesterday’s 1-0 shutout loss to Buffalo, Ranger coach John Tortorella termed it, ‘Just another game.’ Perhaps his team took that to heart as in heartless cause that’s the only way to explain how lackluster the Rangers were with a chance to bolster their playoff chances further. In a game they knew meant plenty with the Canes taking care of the Habs in Raleigh to get even closer, Tort’s club inexplicably mailed it in- allowing Swedish rookie Jhonas Enroth to cruise to a 23 save shutout (1st of career).

In a season filled with feel good moments, this was disturbing. For a fourth straight game, the Ranger offense was MIA with Marian Gaborik unable to fill the net due to the tight checking Buffalo applied. No doubt, the Sabres were hungrier after coming off a disappointing loss in Toronto the previous night. With the Rangers well rested, mustering up energy should’ve been no problem. Instead, they were two steps behind, often making life easy on Enroth, who was able to see every shot in only his 10th career start. Unlike the ridiculous Joe Micheletti, we’re not going to give too much credit to the 22 year-old netminder. Sure. He made a few key saves but never had to fight through traffic or be under siege the way Henrik Lundqvist did in making 34 stops.

Unfortunately, Lundqvist was the only positive continuing his run of impressive play with just Tim Connolly beating him on a laser via the man advantage, following a dreadful Brian Boyle turnover. All year, Boyle’s been one of the club’s most consistent players but his poor decision on a 3-on-1 not to pass back to an open Ryan Callahan proved costly. Instead of getting a chance shorthanded, the Rangers were caught when Boyle’s attempt was blocked, allowing the Sabres to transition with Connolly beating Lundqvist for the game’s only goal. The team hasn’t taken many penalties lately but Marc Staal’s cost due to Boyle’s blunder.

When you’re unable to score goals, the mistakes are magnified because there’s less margin for error. The Blueshirts simply have to be better in tonight’s monster showdown with the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. There’s only five games left with the Canes three out with an extra game left. Don’t forget too that the new tiebreak favors Buffalo, who steered ahead due to one more regulation/overtime win. Even scarier is that Carolina is right there. The Rangers can’t afford not to show in what should be a chaotic atmosphere with their biggest rival looking to play spoiler. The Islanders can finish. Whether or not Michael Grabner plays due to his wife being in labor, remains to be seen. It will be a rematch from last time when the Rangers punished the Islanders with recently extended Al Montoya getting the hook in a blowout win at MSG. The pressure is on.

Full marks to Lindy Ruff’s club for responding with a yeoman effort to get two crucial points, drawing them even in points (87). The Sabres were better all night, getting superb performances from Tyler Myers, Thomas Vanek, Jason Pominville and Andrej Sekera, who blanketed Gaborik despite five shots, which Enroth had no problem with. Buffalo was harder on the forecheck, firing from all angles- forcing Lundqvist to be good. They wanted the game much more. Something that didn’t sit well with Tortorella, who blasted his team’s effort.

“They were the more desperate team than we were, for what reason I don’t know,” Tortorella said. “It’s not so much losing as how we played. We played better in the third. The first two periods are unacceptable.”

“When preparation and opportunity meet, he [Enroth] did a heck of a job for us tonight,” Ruff said. “He’s a cool customer.”

Forget the disallowed goal that negated Artem Anisimov’s third versus the Sabres in the series. Yes. It would’ve put the Rangers ahead. However, it was the right call even though Callahan was pushed into Enroth by accident. So, the incidental contact ruling was fine. Something the future Ranger captain alluded to, mentioning that if it happened to us, they’d want that call too. The bottom line is they didn’t come to play. Erik Christensen was putrid, with a couple of lazy turnovers on a power play. Gaborik skated but never got the quality chance needed to beat Enroth, even if his last one was from in tight. The Sabres forced the Rangers to the outside, winning every loose puck battle.

Despite no Jordan Leopold or Jochen Hecht, it was Buffalo who wanted it more. They should’ve been tired. You wouldn’t have known it the way they played in front of Enroth, who got the start in part because Ryan Miller needed time off due to taking a high Dion Phaneuf shot. As often is the case, a team responds when their backup is in by sacrificing. Every Sabre knew how vital this one was with the Hurricanes doing what they had to in roasting the Habs 6-2, highlighted by a pair of markers from Calder candidate Jeff Skinner. Had they lost in regulation, one point would’ve separated the clubs. Instead, Buffalo has a little cushion heading into the weekend with the Canes one of their games Sunday.

“He gave us a chance to win,” Pominville praised of the cool customer in net. “We’ve come to know what to expect out of him, and he delivered it tonight.”

It won’t be easy for the Sabres who first visit Washington Saturday before the big showdown with the Canes in Raleigh. However, they made life a little better last night. For the Rangers, it’s put up or shut up. Outside of the Draft Line and rookie Derek Stepan, they generated little. There are no excuses. Tort’s club has been resilient all season. The Islanders are standing in the way. It should be interesting.

The stakes couldn’t be any higher. When the seventh seeded Rangers visit Western New York tonight against the eighth Sabres, two points separate the teams with six games remaining. The Rangers enter with 87 points, winners of eight of 10- bringing a 23-14-1 road record that ranks only behind the Canucks, Flyers, Bruins and Red Wings. The Sabres have 85- their lead over ninth Carolina down to three due to a 4-3 loss in Toronto combined with the Canes’ 3-2 shootout triumph in D.C.

Speaking of those Canes, they’ll be in Montreal playing at the same time. You can bet there will be some scoreboard watching. Even with the emphasis on what’s in front of each, some peeking at the festivities north of the border. It should make for quite a couple of hours if you’re a fan of any of these clubs jockeying for playoff position as we count down to the final frantic week.

For Buffalo, they must have short memories after losing to bitter nemesis Toronto in a very exciting game that saw them combine for seven goals. The Sabres fell behind by two twice before rallying to tie it on lightning strikes from Jason Pominville and Rob Niedermayer 30 seconds apart in the third to stun the Leafs. But Toronto leading scorer Mikhail Grabovski shelved his 28th just past Ryan Miller to keep the Leafs alive in the race. With 80 points and only five left, they’ll need to keep winning and get help.

It was a blown opportunity for the Sabres to push ahead of the idle Blueshirts due to the shootout tiebreak that puts more of an emphasis on regulation/overtime wins. Instead, Lindy Ruff’s club made things more complicated for themselves with Carolina very much in play with a lot depending on what happens a few hours from now.

“I had a chance to set the tone on my end and didn’t do it, and it just kind of went from there,” lamented losing goalie Miller who wasn’t pleased with a goal he allowed to Leaf captain Dion Phaneuf from the blueline that got the ACC jumping. Figure the rating Vezina winner to be locked in after permitting four on 35 shots while rookie James Reimer made some clutch stops late for his 18th victory. It’s probably too late for the 23 year-old former ’06 fourth round pick to put his name into a packed Calder race that includes headliners Jeff Skinner, Logan Couture, Corey Crawford along with the Islanders’ Michael Grabner.

Whenever the Rangers and Sabres meet, the goalie battle is always the main attraction, pitting Henrik Lundqvist against Miller. Though Miller’s having a down season, he’s fully capable of shutting down the opposition on any night. There’s plenty of incentive against his sizzling counterpart who enters 8-1-1 with a 1.67 GAA, .936 save percentage and three of his league-high 11 shutouts coming over the past 10 starts, boosting his Vezina candidacy against stiff competition featuring Tim Thomas (9th SHO in 3-0 win over Hawks), Carey Price (27 saves for 35th W in 3-1 win over Thrashers) and Pekka Rinne. It will be King Henrik’s 21st consecutive start.

UPDATE: In a stunner, the Sabres are expected to start Jhonas Enroth. The 22 year-old Swede doesn’t have much experience with nine career starts. Eight have come this year with the ’06 second round pick 5-2-1 with a 2.77 GAA and .906 save percentage. Respectable numbers but he hasn’t started since 3/13, winning a wild 6-4 conventional shootout over Ottawa with 34 saves.The timing seems iffy. Maybe Ruff’s trying to send a message to his team that last night was unacceptable. It should be noted that historically, the Rangers don’t fare well against unknowns. So, if in fact Enroth is in, who knows.

Both teams know they can’t rely on help from the Habs- a team they’re still trying to catch. Montreal ended a near record futility of being blanked three straight times by pulling out a 3-1 home win over Atlanta, all but ending the Thrashers’ season. Montreal has 89 points but owns the new tiebreak over the Rangers and Sabres. This is the final meeting between the state rivals with the Rangers holding a 2-1 edge. The last time they played at HSBC was the infamous season opener featuring Derek Stepan’s hat trick debut, highlighting a 6-3 win. The other two games at MSG both were decided by identical 3-2 margins with the Blueshirts taking the second meeting on an Artem Anisimov OT winner while Buffalo returned the favor in regulation with Jochen Hecht’s tally holding up.

“There’s enough there. Doesn’t matter what team,” Tortorella told Jim Cerny on a nyranger.com feature. “I know everybody is concerned about the standings, but we can only worry about us.”

Figure it to be tight.

As the season races down the stretch with desperate teams scrambling for the postseason, it’s been hard to keep track of. What, with the chaotic West that at one time included the Wild and Blue Jackets before fading out. In the Wild Wild West, they’re down to just 9 fighting for the remaining seven spots. The NHL leading Canucks already clinched a playoff berth. Nine points better than East leader Philly, it looks like Vancouver will win the President’s Trophy- putting even more pressure on a franchise that’s never won Lord Stanley.

While that’s a great story for another day, 11 points separate second Detroit from 10th Dallas with less than two weeks left. It’s probably far fetched that the Stars and Flames can leap frog the Red Wings and Sharks, who both have 97 points. However, there’s still enough time for each to throw a wrench into the middle of the pack led by Phoenix (93) that features the Kings (92) minus Anze Kopitar (broken ankle-out 6 weeks), Nashville (92), the Ducks (89) led by emerging Hart candidate Corey Perry (leads league with 44 goals) and the defending champion Blackhawks (88), who are hanging on by a thread.

Here’s a closer look at the Western race:

                  GP   Pts   GR
+*1.Canucks 76   109   6
+2.Wings      75     97    7
+3.Sharks     76     97    6
4.Yotes       77     93    5
5.Kings       75     92    7
6.Preds       76     92    6
7.Ducks      75     89    7
8.Hawks      74     88    8
9.Flames      77     87    5
10.Stars       74     86    8

+division leader
*clinched playoffs

One of the new underlying factors in case of tiebreakers is how many regulation/overtime wins a team has excluding shootouts. A perfect example of this new format is the Rangers, who despite having one more win (41) than Montreal (40) still are ranked seventh due to four less games won in reg/OT. The Blueshirts have eight shootout wins, which means you subtract eight and come up with 33. The Canadiens have only won three via the skill competition, which explains why they still boast four more victories (37) under the new rules. If the two Original Six clubs finished tied in points, the Habs would get the edge for sixth. Right now, each has 87 with six games remaining. Unless Montreal continues to struggle, the only way the Rangers can finish ahead of them is by having more points. Eighth Buffalo has also benefited from the shootout, winning five to Carolina’s four. If the Hurricanes can make up the five point deficit which features a pivotal 4/5 game against the Sabres, that extra shootout win could work against Buffalo.

Here are teams who could be affected by the new tiebreaker:

TRACKING SHOOTOUTS
                      GP   Record   Wins      Reg/OT   Pts
1.Los Angeles  11    9-2        43          34           92
2.Pittsburgh     12    9-3        45          36           98
3.Calgary         16    9-7        38         29            87
4.Rangers        11    8-3        41          33           87
5.Nashville       10    6-4        41          35           92
6.Tampa Bay    12    6-6        40          34           91
7.Buffalo          6      5-1        38         33            85
8.Chicago         10    5-5        40         35            88
9.San Jose        10    5-5        44         39            97
10.Dallas           11   5-6        38         33            86
11.Anaheim       6     4-2        42         38            89
12.Detroit          8    4-4         44         40            97
13.Phoenix        8     4-4         41         37           93
14.Carolina        9     4-5         35         31           80
15.Toronto        9     4-5         34         30           78

Note: Of teams in playoff position, only the Flyers, Bruins and Canadiens have less than four shootout wins.

It’s very possible that the Sabres could finish ahead of the Rangers due to the format. The two Battle Of New York clubs meet Wednesday in Western New York. Here’s a closer look at the Eastern Race:

                    GP   Pts   GR
+*1.Flyers     75   100   7
+*2.Capitals   76    98    6
+*3.Bruins     75    94    7
*4.Penguins   76    98    6
5.Lightning    75    91    7
6.Canadiens   76    87    6
7.Rangers      76    87    6
8.Sabres        75    85    7
9.Hurricanes   75   80    7      
10.Maple Leafs 76 78    6

+division leader
*clinched playoffs

Playoff Note: The most points the Canes can get are 94. Leafs-90 Thrashers-90 Devils-87

In any year, winning down the stretch is crucial. If the Rangers and Sabres take care of business along with the Canadiens, then there’s little hope for the Canes or long bets like the Leafs, Thrashers and Devils sneaking in. The remaining schedules for the bottom part of the race:

6.Montreal 87 Pts 6 GR-3/29 Atl 3/30 @ Car 4/2 @ NJD 4/5 Chi 4/7 @ Ott 4/9 @ Tor

7.Rangers  87 6 GR-3/30 @ Buf 3/31 @ NYI 4/3 @ Phi 4/4 Bos 4/7 Atl 4/9 NJD

8.Sabres    85 7 GR-3/29 @ Tor 3/30 NYR 4/2 @ Wsh 4/3 @ Car 4/5 TB 4/8 Phi 4/9 @ CBJ

9.Canes     80 7 GR-3/29 @ Wsh 3/30 Mtl 4/2 @ NYI 4/3 Buf 4/6 Det 4/8 @ Atl 4/9 TB

10.Leafs    78 6 GR-3/29 Buf 3/31 @ Bos 4/2 @ Ott 4/5 Wsh 4/6 @ NJD 4/9 Mtl

11.Thrashers 76 7 GR-3/29 @ Mtl 3/31 @ Phi 4/2 @ Bos 4/5 @ Nsh 4/7 @ NYR 4/8 Car 4/10 Pit

12.Devils    73 7 GR-3/30 NYI 4/1 Phi 4/2 Mtl 4/5 @ Pit 4/6 Tor 4/9 @ NYR 4/10 Bos 

Let’s face it, I’d rather not talk about tonight’s game in Buffalo (which so far looks like what I feared it would…the mother of all letdowns now that we’re really out of the playoff chase) or the prior two games of our road trip where we only got one point in a drab scoreless tie in Pittsburgh that ended with a shootout defeat. First of all, I didn’t see either game for different reasons – I caught Limitless at the theater Tuesday, then saw maybe one of the ten best live sporting events I’ve ever been at Friday with the Kentucky-Ohio State regional semi at the Rock.

Having not attended a basketball game yet at the venue where I’ve been to over a hundred hockey games, I lucked out both with my seat (on the aisle with nobody directly in front of me and a nice corner view in the lower bowl), as well as with the second game – which was an instant classic. Sad but true, I’m more excited to attend tomorrow’s regional final than I am to go to any of the Devils’ last few home games. Although I will try to enjoy them as much as possible seeing as if it looks like the last three games I’m going to will be my last in 208, barring a miracle before Friday.

Not that I can knock the team at all, after the Titanic-like disaster of John MacLean‘s tenure led to a historically bad first half, we got more excitement than we had any right to expect in the second half. Yes, this will be our first non-playoff season in fourteen years – but given everything that’s gone on, from the cap issues to start the season to Mac’s tenure and the unfortunate end to Jamie Langenbrunner‘s career in New Jersey to go along with the meniscus injury that caused leading goalscorer Zach Parise to miss the last 63 games, the deck was stacked against us from the start. With the team’s second-half run under Jacques Lemaire, there’s every reason to think that with even a competent coach and a healthy Parise next season that we’ll once again be competing for the division and be a contender to go deep in the playoffs.

Yes, there are still deficiencies – starting with the offense. Even with our two-month winning bonanza, the Devils are going to be last in the NHL in goalscoring by far. While some of that can be attributed to the loss of Parise as well as $100 million man Ilya Kovalchuk‘s nightmare first half, there are issues to be worked out. This season might have proved that those issues can be solved from within though. Clearly we need more scoring from the right wing and on defense but rookies Mattias Tedenby and Matt Taormina (injured for most of the season) look capable of filling those voids. Indeed, the most meaningful part of the Devils’ second half run has been the kids – led by Tedenby and fellow rookie Jacob Josefson up front, as well as defensive revelations Mark Fayne and Taormina. Even lightly regarded Anssi Salmela stepped up in his first half-season as a regular to fill a void on defense in the second half.

While the rookies earned their keep, vets like Martin Brodeur, Brian Rolston and Henrik Tallinder also had bounceback second halves and proved they can still play – a development almost as meaningful as having the kids step up. Indeed, the goaltending tandem of Brodeur and Johan Hedberg was one of the league’s best in the second half, though Hedberg has strangely been put on the back of a milk carton since his eight-game winning streak ended and Brodeur returned to the lineup. At least there should be a few more Moose sightings down the stretch now that the team’s playoff run is officially over.

Both goalies were helped by an improved defense, perhaps the best the Devils have had in the post-lockout era. Considering the potential career-threatening injury to Bryce Salvador, season-ending one to Taormina and defection of Mike Mottau during camp this came as somewhat of a surprise but with the addition of vets Tallinder and Anton Volchenkov in the offseason to go along with the kids stepping up, the Devils look to be in good shape for years to come. Even if the Devils likely still need another puck-mover to go along with Taormina (if you want to consider him ‘proven’ after 20 games) and might have to replace Andy Greene – the team’s biggest UFA in the offseason.

Perhaps the two biggest questions of the offseason will be the RFA status of Parise as well as the seemingly never-ending coaching search. After MacLean’s failure it seems unlikely GM Lou Lamoriello will go with another first-time head coach in what could be Brodeur’s last season. But aside from Lemaire himself – if he can be talked out of retirement for a third straight offseason – what other vet coaches are out there who are really appealing? Michel Therrien? Ick. And certainly Parise’s injury complicates matters toward getting him signed to a long-term deal. To that end, it’s a good thing he is coming back for the last seven games this season. At least management can see how their best player has responded to such a long-term absence and Parise himself won’t have to go eleven months between playing games.

Parise’s return will also help soothe some of the pain for fans attending the Devils’ last five home games this year. Ironically as the Devils’ on-ice fortunes took a turn for the worse this year, their off-ice issues started getting better due to both the team and fans taking initiative. As Facebook, Twitter and the like continue to grow the Internet, the Devils are trying to make the most of this by launching Mission Control. What’s Mission Control, you ask? Basically a volunteer staff of dedicated fans (called ‘Devils generals’) who use social media to advertise ticket discounts and promotions, as well as inviting suggestions from the fans how to improve the whole gameday experience.

I’m sure the full impact of Mission Control won’t be felt until next season since the Devils only began this in the last several weeks but already there have been some changes for the better, with a new feature involving one song played before every game that’s a ‘random’ tweeted request – Runnin’ with the Devil by Van Halen was one (that should always be played at Devils games), as well as a couple of Springsteen songs. Also an improvement was the return of the ‘Jersey’s Team’ marketing, at least inside of the arena. Not to mention the anticipated change of the intro this year – which stunk horribly.

Perhaps the most tangible improvement for the gameday experience has come from a different movement though, a fan-inspired idea called the Supporters Section. Basically the idea orginated on various message boards involving a section where Devils fans could stand and chant the whole game. Similar sections do exist with other teams – I think the Isles have one called ‘Loudville’ and the Blues are also promoting something similar now with ‘Bluenatics’ – but somewhat surprisingly the idea of this section really caught on in the midst of our darkest days in December. Fans get offered discounted tickets in a designated section or two with the accepted idea that it will be a standing, chanting section.

Admittedly I thought some of the chants were hokey at first – like the ‘I believe that we will win’ one that seemed like it would be too unwieldy and wouldn’t rhyme…but hearing it at games, somehow it works and it’s caught on big-time, especially since the Devils were doing nothing but winning for two months. For the most part, the section’s been an unqualified success and now it appears as the Devils are going to offer partial or even season tickets in a designated section for next year in the 100’s (balcony/mezz area). Having a full-time designated section should only help, since in certain games the supporters got spread out over two sections. Plus the link to the tickets spread too well, and people who had no idea what the section was meant for wound up sitting there for Retro Night as some people bought seats in the section with the express purpose of selling them at a huge profit. If you want to see the Supporters in action one more time before the season ends, they will be standing and chanting at the April 6 game against Toronto.

Generally ticket prices themselves are always a bone of contention between fans and management, I’m sure my fellow blogger can give chapter and verse on MSG’s current gouging of Knick and Ranger fans. While there are still issues with the Devils having among the highest ticket prices in the league for a bottom-half attendance team, at least things should improve in some areas next year with price slashing in the balcony and mezz to the tune of $22 season tickets behind the defending net and $28 tickets behind the net where the Devils attack twice. Considering those areas were a ghost town this year – at $56 face and $39 for season ticket price, that should only help matters, as does the anticipated move towards tier pricing (charging more for Ranger games and Opening Night than for a mid-week tilt against Florida for example).

Still, some things could be improved. Having the entire upper bowl remain at $29 season ticket price when the upper corners were also a ghost town most nights was odd enough but now with all the mezz and balcony sections slashed below that, it seems ridiculously dense to freeze upper-level prices in all but the center ice area. There really has been no official indication of sth prices anywhere but the balcony yet as the Devils are pushing this new discount hard, but it doesn’t seem like the overall price of the uppers will change.

Of course this doesn’t include the extreme corners, still at $15 a seat for ‘priviledged’ season ticket holders. Unfortunately it doesn’t look as if I’ll be in their ranks anymore, partly due to the fact the Devils gave my friend (the actual account holder of my tickets) such a hard time about transferring the tickets to me the last couple of years that now when it finally looks as if someone’s willing to help us, the friend’s been too busy to send a transfer letter so it looks as if I won’t be able to retain the season tickets once the deadline expires Friday. I will miss the characters of 208, no question. Then again I’ll just miss Devils hockey period, going six months without it after the season ends April 10.

As far as attending games next year, I’ll probably wind up getting a partial plan elsewhere and going to a few more games via the secondary market and discounts, doubt I’ll know in what fashion I’ll be going to games next year until the Devils do finally come out with prices for all sections. Going to games shouldn’t be an issue for me in any case, although on principle I don’t want to start paying $30 for seats near where I paid $15 for so the uppers are probably out for me unless it’s center ice. And most nights I don’t like sitting in the mezz when it is a ghost town although hopefully the influx of new and relocating sth’s there helps fix that.

Being a season ticket holder elsewhere is probably out since aside from the few ‘perks’ they give you – access to team-related functions among them – price-wise it probably isn’t advantageous to be a season ticket holder elsewhere in the building when I can get a partial plan (with an option to purchase playoff tickets) for the bigger games and pay below face for other games on the secondary market. That latter point is a big bone of contention with other sth’s incidentally, especially with all the team-related discount and giveaway tickets factoring into the mix the last few seasons since the team got more agressive on offering discounts.

Whatever may come, I don’t plan on missing much next season. Things should be improving on and off the ice and I’m gonna be a part of it, one way or the other.

King Henrik isn’t done shutting out opponents. Neither is his run towards a first Vezina, which could finally be in the cards. His 26 saves against a potential first round opponent, the Bruins boosted the Rangers to their eighth win in 10. Lundqvist pitched his career and league leading best 11th shutout, allowing rookie Derek Stepan’s 20th goal to stand up in Beantown.

Until a late second period surge that included Patrice Bergeron bumping into Lundqvist shorthanded, his day had been routine thanks to outstanding defensive efforts from everyone. Both the D and forwards were in synch, keeping the Bruins on the perimeter while the Blueshirts forechecked vigorously.

Sean Avery was back in for Mats Zuccarello and had a solid afternoon, playing mostly with Erik Christensen and Wojtek Wolski on the fourth line. When John Tortorella sent the trio out, they did a solid job along the boards, generating a couple of chances including a Marc Staal shot that Tuukka Rask shutdown. Filling in for Tim Thomas, the second-year Finn was outstanding finishing with 22 saves. The only blemish a nifty Stepan redirect of a Mike Sauer shot due to a controversial faceoff. I didn’t catch it but apparently the refs screwed up. Guess we’ll hear more about this later.

The Rangers misfired on three power plays, including one Marian Gaborik had all day to shoot but remarkably chose a low percentage pass to a covered teammate. That kind of play was particularly frustrating for our star, who after the nice stretch of five goals in five games has cooled off. It would also be his silly boarding penalty that awakened the Bruins from their mid-day nap. Though they didn’t capitalize thanks to strong penalty killing with Brian Boyle returning after being hobbled by Ruslan Fedotenko accidentally bumping into him. Boyle and sidekick Brandon Prust didn’t miss a beat nor did the rest of a PK that got the job done. In particular, Dan Girardi who was big all game with some outstanding work alongside partner Marc Staal while improving rookie tandem Ryan McDonagh and Mike Sauer stifled the B’s.

A Girardi clean freight train on Lucic frustrated the big power forward, who eventually got duped by Brandon Dubinsky into a phantom slash. By then, Boston was finally playing better, ratcheting up their trademark physicality. One reason why I don’t want to see them early assuming we make it. With nothing happening on the power play, Staal misjudged a puck, allowing the Bruins to come two-on-one. Brad Marchand got the puck to a streaking Bergeron, who had a step on Staal and crashed into Lundqvist after he denied the centerman’s shorthanded bid. In truth, there was nothing Bergeron could’ve done as his momentum carried him into Henrik, who stayed down for a good minute before looking punch drunk when trainer Jim Ramsay came out. Amazingly, the guy I said is tougher than he looks stayed in and saved his best for last.

While Justin and I searched for birthday cards for a girl’s party tonight, Lundqvist was doing his best to stifle an all out Boston assault. At least it wasn’t criminal. 😛 When we got back to the car for the final eight minutes, the Bruins were like bees getting in Lundqvist’s path. But he stood up to every challenge, denying the dozen shots sent his way. When he wasn’t robbing someone, his hustling Ranger teammates were sacrificing their bodies in full playoff mode, blocking some 16 shots in one period. That’s got to be some sort of record for a regular season game.

The last four and a half minutes was all Bruins. They fired from everywhere with a couple of times, it sounding like Kenny Albert was ready to say, “They score.” But that moment never came as me and Justin looked at each other. In between all the huge saves Lundqvist made were crucial blocks by Boyle, Girardi, Sauer, Callahan and countless others. That’s what’s defined this team from Day One. Not the flat account they gave the other night versus Ottawa. It’s that kinda resiliency which makes this the most rootable Ranger team I can remember in over a decade. Their work ethic wins you over along with the desire to get it done, which has always been Tortorella’s mantra.

The last three games, our offense has cooled considerably, scoring only once in each yet we’ve come away with five of six points- thanks in large part to Lundqvist who has half his four shutouts over the three since Martin Biron went down. The 28 year-old Swede has started 20 straight and notched four of his league high 11 blankings. The way he has stepped up is what you expect from your best player. Make no mistake about it. It’s Lundqvist who’s defined this run with some of his finest work during his sixth season. One which started shaky with Biron even giving him a few nights off. There have been peaks and valleys but when the chips are down, Lundqvist’s stepped up like a real King.

To win his first Vezina, he’ll have to beat out a strong cast that features Tim Thomas, Carey Price and Pekka Rinne. All worthy candidates who have had great seasons. Only Price has been the most valuable, which is why I’d throw him and Marc-Andre Fleury in for the Hart if that’s still permitted. In a down year offensively aside from The Sedins, where would the Habs or Pens be without their goalies? Enough of this Corey Perry MVP talk when his team may not even make it. Steven Stamkos still is in the convo as well.

What about Lundqvist, who on a team minus a 60-point scorer, more often than not becomes the story when his team looks in trouble. How about the shots he’s taken, which scared the beejesus out of Garden Faithful. I thought he looked woozy after the Bergeron incident. Of course, he stayed in. The same man who responded to his coach’s challenge earlier this week following another collision with Benoit Pouliot. The man has so much pride and must do it under the spotlight. Sure. The other candidates are good. But if it really is coming down to goaltending and pressure without much of a security blanket, then it should come down to Lundqvist versus Price. You can make a pretty good case for Price, who’s also suffered some pepperings from us and recently these same B’s who couldn’t solve our goalie.

Counting today’s yeoman effort, The King is up to 33 victories, 11 shutouts, 2.24 GAA and what would be a new career best in save percentage (.924). It’s all but impossible to ignore how he’s performed during this run. Over the last 10 games, Lundqvist’s 8-1-1 with a 1.67 GAA, .936 save percentage plus three shutouts. This is the kinda superior goaltending our team’s needed just to reach this point. Last year, they fell one point shy with the skill competition doing us in. Today’s win matches the points (87) they had last year with six remaining. Now, the Rangers get three days off to rest their franchise netminder, who hopefully will be fresh for a crucial test in Buffalo Wednesday before paying a visit to Long Island the following day.

Ryan Callahan is the heart of this team. Brandon Prust the warrior. Brian Boyle the soul. Brandon Dubinsky the axe. Henrik Lundqvist is the backbone. It’s time for him to win the Vezina.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Derek Stepan, NYR (20th goal of season for GW-5 20-goal scorers for NYR-06-07)
2nd Star-Dan Girardi, NYR (outstanding defense, four hits, four blocked shots in 26:24)
1st Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (26 saves-league leading 11th SHO, career No.35)