N.Y. Rangers: Captain Callahan Leads Blueshirts Through Hurricanes

From the desk of:   RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

NEW YORK RANGERS - The Captain Leads. Ryan Callahan's Overtime Goal Propels Blueshirts Onto Postseason.


"THAT'S IT!" - Charlie Brown.


....Not the fact that the Rangers blew a 2-0 lead, (Good Grief!), and came back to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in overtime, and in doing so clinched a playoff spot.  I'm talking about Carl Hagelin's first period pass from the left circle to Derek Stepan filling the slot.  I haven't seen that particular set up from Torts' Rangers, it seems like, forever.  The play looked similar to the crazy-ass open skating style of western conference hockey.  Yech!


Captain Callahan got credit for the secondary assist on Stepan's goal.  In overtime, Captain Callahan scored the game winning goal on assists from Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh.  If that sounds more like a blast from the past, it should.  And that's the way it needs to be from here on out.  With many new players joining the fold, the Rangers garnered vastly different results this season.  The playoffs are the playoffs however, where good teams win, and lesser teams get weeded out.  If these Rangers are as good as last year's Rangers, throw the regular season aside, for the post-season will tell us.  But until this team reaches the Eastern Conference finals, the debate over departed players versus the imported ones will continue.


Brad Richards scored the game tying goal on a power play with three minutes left in regulation.  It was a huge score for him personally, and the team as a whole, considering their pathetic loss to the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, and that Winnipeg was ahead 2-1 over the Canadiens this evening, until Montreal pulled away.


Tuesday's loss by the way, was brutal - just brutal.  I'm glad I kept my mouth shut.  I can not say after today however, no harm done.  I disagreed with how Coach played Henrik.  I would have given Henrik Tuesday off.  Had the Rangers won, I would have given him off Thursday as well.  He started forty of forty-six games heading into Carolina.  This is all academic now.  Henrik will no doubt sit out Saturday's season finale against the Devils.



Mike.BTB