Rangers @ Islanders - Post Game Recap

Rangers 4 Islanders 1

As I said in my last post a quick start would be real important towards winning this game, and thats exactly what the Rangers did scoring right after their power play expired. Dawes, who has been flying all game, had a great rush to the net, got Dubie-whatever out of position leading to the Gomez deflection goal off a shot from Staal.

The best part about this period was that the Rangers didn't let up after they took the two goal led. They kept the pressure on the entire time and never really gave the Isles a chance, proving that the second period was just a fluke.

Three Stars:

3) Brendan Shanahan- Got the Rangers off to a great start setting the tone of the game with the early goal. With a great veteran savvy play, he caught the entire Islander team sleeping and snuck behind the D for an easy breakaway goal from a great pass from Dawes.

2) Sean Avery- Despite a terrible high sticking penalty which could have spelled disaster, Avery played a great game scoring 2 goals. He scored a goal off a great deflection and should have had another but somehow missed the net. Apart from his offense he also set the tone of the game right off the start getting in anyones face he could find after every whistle he was on the ice for. He also added the empty netter at the end while almost having his head taken off by Johnson, just disgusting. But hey, it reflects their team.

1) Nigel Dawes- Nigel just played outstanding tonight. He was noticable every shift he was on the ice and although he didn't score, he set two of the Ranger goals with great individual plays on both. He's really turning into a great player, and a very important one for this team.

Other Notables: Hank, Jagr, Gomez

Big win for the Rangers in more way than one. They will be moving into the 6th slot in the east with Boston being destroyed by the Leafs and they will also have the possibility of gaining two points and move only four points behind the Penguins, the division leader and NUMBER ONE seed in the east, as they trail the Panthers. Could you imagine with how bad this team had been at times this year that they have the possibility of going into the playoffs as the number one seed? But lets not get ahead of outselves. Huge win, but thats all it is, keep it up.