Live Blog - Islanders @ Rangers

Well folks, now that the Rangers are in the playoffs, it will be interesting to see how they come out and play. I’m hoping for an exciting game with a lot of goals because the Blueshirts need a win to remain in the hunt for home ice. And frankly, it would be embarrassing to lose to this Islanders team to end the season series. I want to see a thoroughly dominating game by the Rangers. Lets get it on…

7:06 pm: Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award presented to Brandon Dubinsky.

7:18 pm: Slow pace to start this one. Shanny and Jagr both getting decent looks, only Shanny’s on net. Not to many hits, but the fourth line did a good job of keeping the puck in the offensive zone during their shift.

7:20 pm: Hollweg put on some nice moves. Just shows that he can be successful against the Sound Tigers. Intensity has picked up real quick.

7:24 pm: Islanders putting the pressure on, getting some decent opportunities. Putting some pucks on net, Henrik hasn’t had any trouble though.

7:28 pm: GOAL Islanders 1-0. Quick wrister gets through the legs of Henrik. Puck didn’t look screened, Henrik should have been able to stop that one. He got a piece but it still slipped past him.

7:30 pm: Just a fair warning. Bill McCreary is the ref tonight, this should be interesting.

7:35 pm: Nice couple saves by Hank. Rangers just look lethargic, maybe it’s the back to back games. Maybe it’s cause they clinched yesterday. Either way, the only player on the Rangers skating with some intensity and purpose is Ryan Hollweg.

7:38 pm: Penalty on the Islanders. Both teams miss 2 on 1 opportunities, Jagr draws penalty. Let’s see if the PP success can continue.

7:42 pm: Penalty on Islanders, boarding. First PP got some nice shots, rebound chances. Let’s see if the back to back PP can score a goal.

7:43 pm: Penalty on the Rangers, Gomez. 4 on 4 hockey for one minute. High stick was the call, right call.

End of 1st: Frantic finish to the first. Dubi misses great chance from Jagr. Islanders regain full strength and get a breakaway. Puck skids wide as Henrik gets plunged into the net. Islanders lead 1-0 at the break.

8:06 pm: Rangers GOAL! Dan Girardi wide open look from the point just after the Rangers regain full strength. Great way to start the 2nd, great PK turns into an odd man rush and a goal. Tie game 1-1.

8:10 pm: Islanders GOAL. Henrik makes the stop than can’t find the puck. Poked in by Satan. Islanders lead 2-1. Delay of game penalty right after on the Islanders. Rangers fo on the PP.

8:14 pm: PP gets no shots. Way to many passes and the Islanders PK wasn’t giving an inch.

8:17 pm: Henrik having real trouble finding puck on rebounds. Islanders should have had their third goal right there but Hank did a good job of just sitting on the puck. Penalty upcoming on the Islanders, boarding is the call.

8:22 pm: Best PP of the night for the Rangers. Dubielewicz made a couple of nice saves on a Rozsival shot and Jagr chance. Still no PP goals for the Rangers tonight.

8:24 pm: Rangers GOAL! Nigel Dawes gets the goal off a deflection from an Islanders skate. It’s all about putting pucks on net folks, thats what Dawes does best. Game tied 2-2.

8:29 pm: Penalty called on the Islanders. Fifth PP chance for the Rangers. Drury draws the call.

8:31 pm: Islanders SH Goal. That was unbelievable. Rangers get not only a man up, but a 5 0n 3 and give up a breakaway SH goal right off the face off. Islanders lead 3-2. That was absolutely inexcusable.

8:35 pm: Rangers continue the 5 on 3. About 3,000 shots are taken and Dubielewicz able to make some spectacular saves. Rangers shoot themselves in the foot by allowing a goal when they were up two men.

8:37 pm: Rangers penalty upcoming. Maybe the Rangers PK can get a SH goal.

End of 2nd: This should be a tie game at worst folks. Rangers give up a goal when they are up two men. All five goals in this game have been weak. Frustrating.

9:01 pm: Rangers GOAL! Jaromir Jagr! Beautiful 2 on 1 breakaway with Jagr and Straka. There’s that chemistry that we have heard so much about. That was a beaut. Tie game 3-3. Jagr has 6 goals in the last 7 games.

9:05 pm: Scrum in corner. Hollweg vs. the Islanders. Can’t say for sure but I’d give the Fish Sticks a slight advantage. Rangers go on the PP, there seventh of the game.

9:10 pm: SCORE UPDATE Devils trail Philly 3-0. These two points against the Islanders are huge if the Rangers can win and the Flyers hold on.

9:13 pm: Rangers are showing new life. They are firing on all cylinders. Credit Dubielewicz for having a fantastic game because he is just getting bombarded with shots. 42 shots so far.

9:25 pm: Penalty upcoming on the Islanders, to many men on the ice. Rangers eighth chance at the PP tonight.

End of Regulation: Rangers climb back to push the game to OT. Huge point, keeps the Rangers in contention for home ice advantage if the Devils don’t come back. Although, the second point is even bigger because the Rangers wouldn’t have to win in regulation against the Devils if they get it.

9:37 pm: Rangers called for hooking penalty, Gomez to the box. Terrible call. Rangers PK needs to step up and hold off to a shoot out. There’s the call I have been expecting all game, bad, bad call.

9:41 pm: GREAT PK by the Rangers. Two SH opportunities and the Rangers take it to a shoot out. Big point up for grabs, Henrik vs. Dubielewicz. Let’s Go!

Rangers lose 4-3 in OT.  Great effort by Dawes and Sjostrom to keep it alive.  Two of the shots Henrik should have saved, no doubt about it.  The one point is important but to get home ice the Rangers will have to beat the Devils in regulation.  Not the greatest game for the Rangers but they are able to get a point.  Devils struggled tonight against Philly, a prequel to the playoffs in the last game of the season on Sunday.