Saturday, January 13, 2007

Four Great Periods

Well, the New York Rangers seem to have beaten off whatever funk they were in and have played four straight outstanding periods of hockey. Unfortunately, they only have one win to show for it.

After two periods against Ottawa Thurday night, they were down 5-0. Tom Rennie must have given a helluva a speech, because they stormed back and scored four unanswered goals, until Ottawa suddenly found their skates and netted one into an empty net for a 6-4 win.

Today against Boston, on the premiere weekend of Hockey "Night" On NBC, the Rangers fought off a furious defensive Boston first period and scored a 3-1 win, Jed Ortmeyer scoring the final goal on a penalty shot, his first goal after returning from a pulmonary embolism last week.

Finally, the Rangers decided to stiffen up and play a little defense, and I don't think it's any coincidence that they've played brilliantly in four periods where they've worked the other team deep into their own zone, and come up with the puck.

They had allowed 11 goals in the past two games, hearkening back to a week or so ago when they were giving up goals like Britney Spears was giving up beaver shots.

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