Rangers OutBolted in shootout

It took 11 rounds to decide. Unfortunately for the Rangers, they couldn't send the home crowd totally happy for the holidays. Despite a highlight reel game tying goal by impressive rookie Derek Stepan, who somehow managed to tuck a puck past Dan Ellis with little wiggle room, the MSG hosts couldn't get that one big shot or save needed to win the shootout- falling 4-3 to the Bolts.

Their second consecutive loss (0-1-1) against a top eight seed though disappointing, wasn't that bad. Not when you consider that the Blueshirts dictated most of the match with a consistent forecheck, outshooting the Lightning 37-24. Credit Ellis, who outplayed Henrik Lundqvist to the tune of 34 saves and one more stop in the skill competition for giving Tampa Bay their second straight win over Gotham in the season series. Not that it's a rip at our goalie who for the most part, was solid despite just 21 saves, including a few money stops in sudden death on Steven Stamkos, Vinny Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis. Remarkably, it was Victor Hedman, former Ranger Adam Hall and shootout hero Ryan Malone who solved King Henrik in only his second shootout. The club's third this season. A sharp contrast from recent years where they relied too much on it.

The game also marked the debut of 23 year-old Norwegian Mats Zuccarello-Aasen. John Tortorella didn't shy away from playing MZA, starting him on the top line with Stepan and Brandon Dubinsky, who was instrumental in setting up the big goal that earned our club a point. Dubi played a strong game, around the puck on both sides making solid defensive reads against Bolt duo Stamkos and St. Louis late in regulation. As for Zuccarello who got nearly 18 minutes, he drew high marks from a pleased Tort who had a good chuckle when the gifted Olympian pulled off a triple deke to keep the shootout alive. MZA used his superb skating and skill to generate chances, including a shot from the left circle late which Ellis gloved. Despite his St. Louis-esque frame, the mighty mite didn't back down, even having a classic staredown with Hedman, who looked like a giant next to him. That kinda fight will benefit Zucc, who goes back down to Hartford to play the day after Christmas. It isn't known when he'll return due to the roster which largely depends on Marian Gaborik.

The club which has proven they can win without him played well enough to win. But a couple of mistakes wound up in their net from Stamkos and St. Louis. The Blueshirts fought back, scoring their two goals in 12 seconds off the sticks of Ruslan Fedotenko and resurgent Alex Frolov who finally seems to be getting it. With the game still tied late in the second, Lecavalier steered Tampa in front when he escaped a check to put home Pavel Kubina's feed. With Ellis standing tall, it looked like the Lightning would hold on. But Dubinsky and Stepan had other ideas, combining on the tying goal. A Matt Gilroy dump was turned over by a Bolt, allowing Dubi to free the puck and pass across to an open Stepan, who managed to tuck it in using the net and sliding it across the right post just passed the red line. A very poised play by the emerging Calder candidate. Our team doesn't score many great goals but that one should make NHL Network's Plays Of The Week just for the dynamic skill alone. Plus it came at a crucial moment.

Neither team could get another past either netminder with Lundqvist making two strong denials on Teddy Purcell late, forcing overtime. The four-on-four was exciting but both goalies showcased their skills forcing extras. Hedman (hi glove) and Erik Christensen (ridiculous Jussi Jokinen backhand deke tuck assisted by laughing Martin Biron) split a pair early. Then Hall beat Lundqvist stick side. A Stepan miss forced Henrik to keep the Lightning from making it three-for-three, setting the stage for Zuccarello. MZA didn't disappoint coming in fast before deking forehand, backhand, forehand putting it home with little real estate. A tremendous move which had Tort showing a rare grin. The goalies then took over with too many players going for moves instead of shots. Especially our guys who maybe got caught up in what our more skilled shooters did. Even Michal Rozsival tried a backhand deke. Gilroy also did but was rejected. Marc Staal's try was worse. Finally, Malone went conventional taking advantage of Lundqvist hanging in his crease- firing a perfect laser off the crossbar and in, allowing excited teammates to pour off the bench and mob him.

It was a well played game with only two minors. The Rangers see the Lightning again on New Year's Day following the Winter Classic. They'll hope the third time's a charm against the more skilled team they're battling for playoff position.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Artem Anisimov, Rangers (assisted on Frolov goal and played most spirited game)
2nd Star-Derek Stepan, Rangers (tying goal-10th of season forcing extras)
1st Star-Dan Ellis, Bolts (34 saves, 9/11 in shootout)

Rangers can't reward loyal fans on Thundersnow Day

Even the Thundersnow that blanketed the metro area with over a foot of the white stuff couldn't prevent the Rangers from doing what they do best. Finding a way to annoy their loyal fans (13,128) who braved the crazy wintry weather to support this mismatched team. I wasn't there to see it with good buddy The Mouth taking our place in Sec.411 with the crazies. Just wonder how many made it?

While the snow painted a wonderful Hallmark card here, our gang that can't shoot straight fell to the overachieving Predators 2-1. Without Marian Gaborik who suffered a lacerated knee during a shootout drill at the expense of Henrik Lundqvist (ser---ious---ly), the Blueshirts turned Dan Ellis into a Vezina candidate. The veteran netminder who shares the job with Pekka Rinne made 37 saves, including all 18 in the third to give Barry Trotz what he was searching for following last night's 4-3 shootout loss to the Islanders. A costly penalty contributed to blowing a one-goal lead with Mark Streit tying it with under 12 seconds left and John Tavares netting the winner. Here was the same team 24 hours later on short rest dealing with the blizzard better than our rested team that had three days off.

Why should that matter? Our team never is ready unless it's the Devils, who they get up for. Naturally, we got lazy turnovers and little finish against a well coached team that plays defense. Even if Ellis faced 38 shots, he was never really tested thanks to air tight coverage that made life almost as difficult as Jazzy Jim's treatment of the fans, throwing them a bone with a 25 percent food discount. Pa---the---tic!!!!! This man is a crook who deserves to be hung from the gallows Dark Shadows style. Alright. A tad overboard but at least there would be justice. Can March 7 just get here already?!?!?!?!?!

With Chris Drury moved up to the top line, the Rangers got a couple of early chances with the captain getting a couple of tricky shots on Ellis, which he got a piece of. For all the deserved criticism of Dru, he played a whale of a game tonight registering five shots in 22-plus. It was one of his best games this season even if he misfired on a breakaway off a Michal Rozsival pass, missing a backhand deke wide. The Preds used their cycle to generate offense with a couple of deflections from Patric Hornqvist and Joel Ward which Lundqvist shutdown. Speaking of Hornqvist whose 23 goals pace Nashville, how did they wind up with such a gem? He was taken dead last (2005-7th Rd. 230th overall). In the same draft best known for Crosby saving the Pens, the only player who's made it for the Rangers is Marc Staal. Almost everyone else has tanked with even the final link to Brian Leetch Mike Sauer wasting away in Hartford. Unbelievable!

Late in the first, Nashville agitator Jordin Tootoo out of all people scored the game's first goal when Kevin Klein's point blast went off him past Lundqvist. David Legwand added a helper after winning a draw that set it up. The first part of the second was ugly with a capital 'U.' That used to be what you dreaded in grammar school. Sleepwalking on skates, the Rangers allowed not one, not two but three breakaways in the first six minutes. After getting a little help from the goalpost on Martin Erat's chance following a dreadful Wade Redden turnover, the Ranger goalie stoned J.P. Dumont to keep the score 1-0. How brutal was it? Even Mr. Positivity Joe Micheletti ripped the team hinting that John Tortorella might've wanted to take a timeout.

Instead of being dead and buried, they got the game tied thanks to a loss of discipline from the Preds, who handed the Rangers a five-on-three. Well, the first call was bogus with Erat in the box for a trip Erik Christensen did on his own teammate. The second was a legit slash on favorite Steve Sullivan, whose hustle to negate an icing during the stanza saw the gritty right wing limp to the bench before returning. The guy's been through so much but plays so determined. If only we had a vet like that. Anyway, the vaunted power play almost blew it with their overpassing. But finally, Vinny Prospal cashed in by freeing up a loose puck from Ellis into the net for his 12th after an Olli Jokinen wide shot caromed to the crease.

Just like that, the game was tied. The Rangers had a couple of opportunities to go ahead but Ellis turned away Artem Anisimov and Prospal, who had a game high nine shots along with his marker. Sadly, it got decided when rookie Mike Del Zotto lost his cool earning an extra unsportsmanlike following a hook he disagreed with. Earlier on, he was taken down on a similar play with no call made. Perhaps it was comprehendable why he was upset. Regardless, he put his team in trouble and it wound up proving costly. With the club close to killing the entire four minutes, a Rozsival mishap allowed rookie Colin Wilson to tally unassisted. Following a big save by Lundqvist on Shea Weber, Rozsival went to clear the puck but it went off Ryan Callahan right to Wilson, who whistled it upstairs. A little bad luck but only Rozsival could do that. What a klutz. As Del Zotto skated back with face down, a furious Tortorella let him have it sending the poor kid to the end of the bench for the rest of the period (3:50).

“I just didn’t agree with the agree with the call,” the disappointed 19 year-old defenseman said. “It’s my own fault. I’ve got to control my own emotions there. I let them team down.

“I don’t think I said anything too bad. Maybe I’ve got to learn how to keep my mouth shut. … It was a dumb penalty and it was one that could have been avoided, so he had every right giving it to me and putting me in my place.”

“He is one of our better players,” Tortorella said. “We are trying to win a hockey game. He is certainly going to go back out there.”

Del Zotto was back out a minute into a third which saw the Rangers try everything to get it tied. An early power play failed. They still came hard at Ellis, who wasn't cooperating denying Jokinen from in tight to preserve the lead. The final five minutes saw the hosts put together a few strong shifts but the Nashville backstop on this night wouldn't give in. Of course, a Rozsival shot with Ellis scrambling to get back in position went off a diving Pred just wide earning jeers from an unforgiving crowd that hates him. There's always a target. Even if he tries harder than Redden, who stunk, it doesn't matter. You could say the same for the popgun offense which fired brick after brick.

They pulled Lundqvist for an extra with almost 120 seconds left but that didn't mean much as our guys failed to come close with Nashville playing superb D. A late Ward slash on an on-rushing Brandon Dubinsky with 3.6 seconds left gave them one last prayer. But Legwand won the faceoff with a last ditch centering feed floating in the air way wide to groans while a flustered Lundqvist and 'mates at the bench had their heads down.

Notes: Emergency Hartford recall Corey Potter was used sparingly by Tortorella as a seventh defenseman logging 8:28 (11 shifts) with one good chance that Ellis thwarted while taking a penalty. ... Rangers (26-27-7, 59 Pts) slipped to 11th in the East due to Atlanta's 4-3 overtime loss at Colorado. Niclas Bergfors had a goal and helper. With 22 games left, the Blueshirts trail eighth Tampa Bay by four points. The two clubs meet Sunday afternoon at 1. With eight losses in their last 10, the Rangers have to visit the Pens Friday.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Vinny Prospal, NYR (PPG, game high 9 SOG in 21:23)
2nd Star-Colin Wilson, Nsh (PP GW, 4 SOG in 14:17)
1st Star-Dan Ellis, Nsh (37 saves incl. 18/18 in 3rd)