Henrik *clap clap* Henrik *clap clap.
Game 7
NHL playoffs
Nothing like NHL and game 7 and the intense nature of the game. The on your edge, anything can happen in 3 seconds because of the speed and skill of the best of the best in the world at their sport. Add to that, the mystique of MSG, 19,000 fans who are starting to feel 1994 is the new 1940. A true sell out. Every ticket sold was used. Animosity between the teams because of one suspension and one should have been a suspension. Win or go home. All for the best trophy in all sports, the Stanley Cup
This is why I bought season tickets, to be there for these moments. The series between the Rangers and the Senators from Ottawa has been tense to say the least. My Ranger year has been a little Dodgy, 4 games 1 goal witnessed, 0-4 record. I was a little nervous about this and needed to change my routine. I dusted off my 35 – Mike Richter Jersey, got a hamburger and non Canadian beer. Pregame, my friend Chris and I tried to figure out when the “A-hole” chant to Chris Neil would happen. It did off the bat: 19:02, second shift of the game for the teams. Right on time. The Ranger fans mocked the Ottawa fans count down from 11:11 to 11:00 with an “5.4.3.2.1 Alfie Sucks” chant referring to Daniel Alfredsson, one of the more disliked players around the league even though he plays for a team that few people outside the hockey world knows even exists.
The game started and the first period ended same as the series has gone 0-0 with both goalies playing out of their minds. If I never have to watch the Rangers play vs. Chris Anderson (G-OTT) I will be fine with it. You would think he is in the same category as Patrick Roy and Dominik Hasek after his performance in this series.
The second period is where the scoring happens. Two ranger defensemen going to the net with 2 great goals, a power play goal by the Senators. Trapping, jostling and great hockey. Staal with a great finish off the wonderful play by 17 day veteran Chris Kreider, a slick passes pass from Derek Stepan and the goal. The Dan Girardi, who missed an open net in the first period, scored top shelf…so top shelf, if he was a foot further back, it would have been in the stands. Ottawa answered with a nice goal setting up the last act.
- Girardi puts the Rangers up 2
The Third period was nerve racking. The Senators seemed to be on a 15 minute power play. The Rangers missed two or three open nets. In the end, the Rangers played their hockey; kept the puck out of the zone and won a thrilling 2-1 game…not we get 36 hours to rest until the Washington Ovechkins come to town.
view from my seats, the best tradition in sport, the end of series handshakes
Let’s Go Rangers!