Live Blog: Game 29 – Rangers @ Canadiens

The Rangers, coming off of a huge win against Pittsburgh last night, go into one of the most hostile arenas in the NHL to face Montreal.

Rangers (18-8-2) continued their dominance in the shootout last night, maybe a regulation win is in order against the Canadiens, who come into the game with a record of 14-6-4, 2nd in the Northeast.

Montreal is coming off back to back wins, one against Northeast Division leader Boston and the other against the Thrashers, a game in which Montreal came back to win after blowing a 3 goal lead.

Two big names to watch out for tonight, Saku Koivu and Carey Price.

Price, as you remember, let up three early goals before being pulled the last time he faced the Rangers.  Problem is, that was way back in February.  Now, Price has a 12-4-3 record, a .920 save percentage, and 2.41 GAA.

Koivu is leading the Canadiens in most offensive statistical categories.  He leads the team in points with 21, assists with 14, and is second in goals with 7.

For the Rangers, the newly assembled, “Steve Gelbs requested”, line of Zherdev, Gomez and Naslund look to have another productive night after their debut against the Pens.

Can I get 5 to 1 on a Petr Prucha hat trick tonight?  Anyone?

Rangers @ Canadiens, let’s do this.

7:12 pm: Nice ceremony for the 100th year anniversary of the Original 6.  Plenty of great Rangers and Habs getting honored on the ice.

7:19 pm: My favorite part of playing teams from Canada…Oh Canada!

7:23 pm: Blair Betts late scratch, upper body injury, Dawes in.  Dawes on the 2nd line with Drury and Cally.  Korpedo down to 4th line center.

7:27 pm: Great passing between Zherdev and Gomez to set up the great chance for Naslund.  Rangers looking very good early on.

7:30 pm: Drury unable to clear the zone, Habs get an extra chance on the possession and Mara takes the first penalty of the game.

7:36 pm: Hey everybody, Rozsival shot it! Nice pass by Dawes….Lundqvist with two excellent saves, this one after a Cally turnover.

7:38 pm: Habs score off the rush. Kostitsyn with the goal, poor job on D by Girardi and especially Redden.  His troubles continue.

7:40 pm: Well this could be a long night.  Kalinin muffs the puck after a solid shift for the Rangers.  Habs pick it up for the odd man rush and the goal.  Habs 2-0.

7:45 pm: Rangers just look lost on the defensive end.  Habs are passing the puck at will, no one is picking up a man.

7:53 pm: Ugh, this is just embarassing.  Rangers are puck chasing on defense, Habs shooting at will.  Rangers not being phyisical at all, can’t get anything going at all.  Habs now lead 3-0.

End of the 1st: Rangers are down 3-0.  Not playing defense.  No sustained pressure on offense.  Getting outplayed up and down the ice.  Enough said.

8:20 pm: Rangers come out and still refuse to hit anyone.  Another turnover in their own zone leads to the 4th Habs goal.  Henrik is livid, yelling at Renney after the 1st period and now at his teammates after that goal.  Habs lead 4-0.

8:28 pm: Its at these times I feel bad for Henrik.  Just getting pelted with pucks, no help from his defenders, he deserves better.

8:31 pm: Rangers get their first PP of the game.  You know what that means, Habs have a better chance at 5-0 than the Rangers do at 4-1.

8:33 pm: Prucha vs. Lapierre…Where did that come from?  That’s like a featherweight against a middleweight.  Prucha really working hard to earn a spot.

8:38 pm: THANK GOODNESS!  Rangers score on the PP, Mara gets the goal.  Rangers trail 4-1.  Still a long way to go.

8:46 pm: Gomez v. Koivu?  What in the world is going on?  Gomez and Prucha dropping the gloves in this one.

8:49 pm: Wade Redden out for the remainder of the game with an injury.  I know, I know, you wouldn’t have noticed if I didn’t say anything.

8:50 pm: GOAL!!!!!!!!! NIK ZHERDEV IS UNREAL!!!! GREAT PASS FROM ZHERDEV TO DAWES WHO FINISHES FOR THE GOAL!!!! ALL STARTED BY A GREAT DEFENSIVE PLAY BY DRURY!!!! Rangers down 4-2.

End of 2nd: Well, the Rangers finally show some life.  Unfortunately, they waited until they were down 4-0 to do so.  Early in the period the Rangers looked sloppy still, and were not getting any bodies on Montreal.  Petr Prucha gets into a fight, Rangers score.  Scott Gomez gets into a fight, Rangers score.  A little feistiness coming from some unusual places.  Little different scenario going into the third.

9:10 pm: Thats exactly how the Rangers couldn’t start the period.  They did.  Can’t clear the puck, another second chance for the Habs.  Montreal 5-2.

9:19 pm: Rangers just refuse to hit people.  Habs continue to shoot at will.  Add that to all the Rangers turnovers, just makes things to easy for a good Montreal team.

9:25 pm: Where’s the fire?  I know the team is tired, but come on, act like you’re trying just a little bit.

9:29 pm: It’s amazing how good Henrik can look when the team is losing so badly.

9:31 pm: Well, the Rangers are 3 for 3 on the penalty kill, so that’s nice.

9:35 pm: Ok guys, only a few minutes left in this one. The Montreal fans singing “Nah Nah Hey Hey (Goodbye)”.  Unfortunately, I cannot stay until the end as I have an event to attend too.  Steve and I will be back with a new show tomorrow.  Two games with two very different outcomes to discuss.