The Rangers season is over after a 2-1 loss to the Caps in game 7 last night. Despite managing only 14 shots through the first two periods, the Rangers played arguably their best two periods of the series. Washington was tentative and the Rangers were loose, poised, went after the puck and got it every time.
The final period was a different story all together. A pathetic one shot on goal. After Sergei Federov's backbreaker with a few minutes to go, they could not muster anything. It was so bad they did not even get a chance to pull the goalie and were pinned in their own zone most of the final minutes. You almost hoped the two great saves Lundqvist made after the goal in the closing seconds would turn into a rush the other way and a miracle goal. No chance.
Had the pleasure of watching the game with many Ranger fans at the Ziegfeld Theater. They handed out thundersticks just like in game 3 and I politely refused. Just like game 3, the thundersticks were popping in the last few minutes and even a blue bulb was tossed at the movie screen. The atmosphere was great and the fans were into it, with "Let's go Rangers" and "Hen-rik" chants right throughout. Boos for any image of Ovechkin or Brashear (who served the first of his six game suspension). Outrage at every non-call against Sean Avery. It was fun to watch a game surrounded by so many fans, making it feel like a home game.
Instead of on to Boston, Gary Bettman gets his wish and has his Pittsburgh-Washington series, thanks to a Devil loss as well, another shocker of a game. Folks, we could be Devil fans, that loss was as crushing as it gets.
Arriving home, I caught the 9th inning of the Mets eventually losing the second game of their series with the Marlins. As Derrick Coleman once said, "Whoopdie-damn-doo."
