After Henrik Lundqvist let in the bad second Eric Cole goal and the Canes closed the gap to 3-2, I couldn’t help but think of that other “game we shall not mention” from last week. The Rangers had gone out to take an early 3 goal lead tonight only to see it dwindle to a one goal lead 5 minutes into the third period. Faced with the possiblity of another embarrassing collapse, I thought it might be time to pull Lundqvist and shake the Rangers up.

The Canes were coming on strong after Cole scored his second goal on the four minute powerplay, which by the way, was mistakenly called on Mark Staal instead of newbie defenseman Backstrom. Backstrom was whistled for two minutes giving the Canes a one minute 5 on 3 powerplay. The Rangers killed that and the remaining minute to come out of that penalty orgy with the score still at 3-2.

To their credit, The Rangers didn’t fold up like a cheap suitcase. They struggled through adversity and were rewarded with a beautiful goal scored by Brendan Shanahan. It wasn’t as though he did it alone. Some jump and snappy passing by his linemates Nigel Dawes and Scott Gomez  enabled Brendan to break in and score. The Rangers kept playing for the win and didn’t mistakenly try to sit on Carolina. Carolina was in the game and kept up the pressure until Eric Staal was assessed a two minute penalty in the last minute of the game for crosschecking.

Each team was at the mercy of the malfeasance of the Zebras McCreary and Dwyer. While whistles were swallowed for both sides at varying times, two aggregious and potentially dangerous boarding penalites went uncalled against Carolina’ for late hits on Rosival and Callahan. To add insult to injury, these incompetant referrees called the four minute highsticking penalty on the wrong Ranger player. When is the league going to hold these waste of space refs accountable? They let the worst transgressions go by the boards and called the ticky tacky stuff. The officiating in the NHL is a pathetic joke.

All things considered, I thought our new pair of Swedes deported themselves well this evening. They may not be Holmstrom and Lidstrom but, other then Backstrom excessive penalties, I thought Backstrom and Freddie “the Shoe” Sjostrom were decent. As usual, impatient Ranger fans are ready to throw Backstrom under the bus for all the penalties.

I am just happy that the Rangers were able to win the game against a tough Carolina team that is fighting for a playoff spot with the Capitals. All of the Rangers Eastern Conference adversies won tonight. Boston, the Icelanders and the Flyers all won. Every point counts now going down the stretch. We sit in 7th place, with The Flyers, Buffalo and the Fishsticks hot on our heels.

Let’s hope Tom Renney has a curfew for Saturday night. The Rangers have an early call for Sunday against the Flyers at 1230pm. Hey, if I have to show up early for this game the Rangers better damn well show up, too. ; )

Nice job boys! Keeping it moving forward!

Let’s Go Rangers!