I haven’t set foot in the Nassau Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum (hereinafter referred to as the Mausoleum) for a Ranger/Icelander game in two seasons.  The reason is simple. Whenever the Ranger’s play at the Mausoleum,  Murphy’ Law is always in effect.  I always walk out disappointed and angry for having given my money to the Fish.

Tonight’s game was no exception. The curious thing is that fate stepped in and saved me from myself and the Rangers from a certain doom, as I am the kiss of death when in attendance in Nassau. I was supposed to be at the game. In fact, I was supposed to be two rows off the glass at the center ice. 

My very good friend Scott called me yesterday asking me if I wanted his tickets to tonight’s game. He had a scheduling conflict. Seems the girlfriend had gotten other tickets and, being the great guy he is,  he felt obliged to fore-go the game in favor of  her show.  As Tom Renney once said of Marty Straka, Scott’s the kind of young man you hope your daughters will bring home to meet you.

Scott Fedex’d the tickets to my office this morning. When I opened the envelope, I found he had enclosed tickets to the Ranger/Fish game in March, not tonight’s game. When I called to let him know, he told me the tickets to tonight’s game were at his home. He could not leave work and get them. So, two prime seats sat empty at the Mausoleum. That’s okay. Their probably used to being empty.

I love Scott dearly but he’s always in too much of a a rush. He’s always dashing off somewhere, always on the go. Ah, youth! I just feel badly that he’s out the money, a considerable sum, because of the gaffe.  Still, he’s such a great guy I am sure the hockey gods will bring him better luck in the future. 

For those watching the Rangers from home,  I’ll bet an M-80 going  off under your old easy chair wouldn’t have woken most viewers up during this game.   In another low scoring affair, the Rangers took a 2-1 lead after two. It was shut down hockey the rest of the way.

Chris Campoli scored the only Fish goal in the final two minutes of the first period. What is with the Rangers? They are like a trail horse going back to the barn at the end of periods. I can’t count the number of times this season that the Rangers have been scored on in the final minutes of play. Surely they must  have as many late goals against as shorthanded goals against.

No matter.  Unlike the game in Buffalo on Friday, the Rangers were able to score the go ahead goal and shut the Icelanders down in the third period. It wasn’t entertaining. It wasn’t exciting, except for the heroics of Henrilk Lundqvist. The Rangers earned two more points and are back atop of the Atlantic Division thanks to, of all teams, the Penguins. 

Once again, the Icelanders played better then their record.  The premature departure of Icelander goaltender Joey MacDonald, Ranger Killer, was a bonus for the Rangers. In this five game segment, the Rangers earned 7 points out of a possible 10. I’ll take it. With three games left before the All Star break, the Rangers are 26-15 and 4 and have 56 points. Boring=Success.

I will also be taking a break. I’ll be in LA on Thursday hoping to score tickets to the Wings/Kings game. On Saturday I will be cruising to sunny Mexico. I’ll be back after the All Star game.

Until then, Let’s Go Rangers!

Posted under New York Rangers