After watching the Rangers play badly on Tuesday and go down 3-0 in this series, walking in to Madison Square Garden last night felt like walking in to a wake. I pride myself on being an honest person. I’ll admit that I thought the Rangers would not prevail last night. 

I give my friends Bobby Granger and Scott Wolke tremendous credit. They never stopped believing. I give no credit to certain of my seatmates from 409 who sold their tickets and bailed on last night’s game. They know who they are. Shame on them. They missed a great game and a lot of fun. I still love you guys anyway.

I felt badly on Tuesday that there were no balloons raining down from Section 409 at the start of the national anthem. Maybe it was bad karma that we failed to do the balloons.  Maybe it was a bad omen that John Amorante didn’t sing the anthem. Ordinarily I am not a superstitious person. I didn’t wear my Canterbury Cross on Tuesday either. It was a triple whammy.

Last night I made sure the balloons went down, the cross was around my neck and I was relieved to see Amorante walk out with the Color Guard to sing.  John was in good voice. Last night I quelled my nerves and commiserated with my Section mates about the Rangers predicament as we blew up a couple of hundred balloons. Keeping busy is the best remedy for anxiety.

The fans in the Garden did not disappoint their team. They were just as loud and brash as they were on Tuesday and during the Devils series. The Rangers didn’t disappoint their fans. Captain Jagr and his team showed their true colors while exposing the Pittsburgh Penguins for the cry babies and poor sports they are.

Evgeni Malkin slew footed Mara twice at the end of the game. That’s a suspendable offense. Predictably, there was no call by the on ice officials and no comment by the NHL. This same cheap shot artist was awarded a penalty shot on a phantom penalty. He was pushed in the back by the stickless hands of Ranger defenseman Dan Girardi. The puck forced in the net by Malkin’s diving body was declared a no goal. Malkins penalty shot attempt was soundly foiled by our Vezina candidate. Boo-hoo Pengiuns.  

Last night, no Ranger committed an egregious error or took a bad penalty that resulted in a goal. The Rangers played their game and Henrik Lundqvist posted a shut out. Amorante may have sang but this fat lady didn’t. The team without home ice advantage has to win two games in the building of them team with it. The Rangers still have to do that. I think they can.

The most important part of the game last night was the Rangers stick salute and the stars of the game, Lundqvist, Jagr and Dubinsky. If last night was the last time we will see this Ranger team on the ice at Madison Square Garden,  at least Ranger fans got to show their appreciation for these players and another successful season.