This team has been a roller coaster of emotions all season long and it's going to be that way right until the end isn't it? Prior to the Rangers puck drop with the Buffalo Sabres, the Penguins and Bruins played arguably one of the more exciting games to watch this season. Lots on the line as the season dwindles and this one was no exception. A back and forth game with shots 30-29, the Penguins came out on top thanks to a Jake Guenztal rocket off a perfect feed from Crosby. This set the Rangers up perfectly to finally gain some momentum and climb a little closer to Boston in the standings.
The Rangers did not let this chance go by as they came out strong against Buffalo, playing hard right out of the gate. About five minutes in it was Mika Zibanejad finding the back of the net off a perfect wrist shot. Everything looked good, of course until Jeff Skinner tied the game up about a minute later off a close up backhander. Wouldn't be long before the Rangers picked it back up and found themselves on the board again. This time from Kaapo Kakko who broke a lengthy scoring drought to make this game 2-1.
With three minutes to go in the third, our power play would strike, Mika Zibanejad getting his second of the night from a perfectly executed play created by Artemi Panarin for his 39th assist of the season which came from an Adam Fox pass for his 40th assist of the season. This statement cannot be overstated, Adam Fox for the Norris Trophy. These three players, along with the rest of our power play have moved the puck so well as of late.
To the second period we go and right out of the gate again, for his third of the night it was Mika Zibanejad, his third hat trick of the season. What a story he's been this year, at the start of it we weren't sure if we were ever going to see him score goals again. It certainly took some time but man, he didn't skip a beat once he got going and now he's back on top of the team stats where he belongs. Despite the strong start the tide would of course shift a bit and after some build up, Buffalo got back on the scoreboard with about five minutes to go. It was Victor Olofsson letting his slap shot go on the power play to cut the lead in half.
Final period, the only goal for the Rangers is to finish the game still on top, from this moment on until the final buzzer of the final game of the season, doesn't matter how it gets done, just find the win. The Rangers would head to the power play around the 13 minute mark of the period and it was Kaapo Kakko letting off a heck of a shot to net his second of the night, extending the Rangers lead. About three minutes later, Sam Reinhart found the back of the net, 5-3 Rangers. Again, just focus on keeping the lead and winning the game.
The Sabres would pull Dustin Tokarski early and make their final push, with under a minute to go, Kevin Rooney sent one right off the face off from one end of the ice to the wide open net on the other end, 6-3 would do it for this one. The Rangers now sit four points out of the final playoff spot behind Boston and with another game against Buffalo while they play Pittsburgh, have a realistic chance of being just one win behind. It certainly isn't going to be easy and with Boston having two games in hand, it's a little more difficult. Alas, the Rangers are keeping things interesting and keeping the hope alive for fans. It will be a tough stretch to wrap up the season but will be a ride nonetheless. Just keep playing hard and focusing on one win at a time.
Chris Feldman
Commentaires