32-18-5: Close Call
Note: I said I would root for whichever team won tonight for the rest of the season until they were eliminated from Stanley Cup contention. And that’s what I’m gonna do. But, don’t think for one second that I’m not still a Rangers fan. They’re now my #2 team. Until the Coyotes win the Cup or are eliminated from winning it this season. Hopefully they win so that all this isn’t for nothing.
Note: there is a video embedded within this post, click here to view it.
The Coyotes improved to 32-18-5 after holding on for dear life against the New York Rangers. The Rangers seemed to be very moved by the pregame ceremony inducting Teppo Numminen into the Jets/Coyotes Ring of Honor. This is because they seemed very distracted through the first period and allowed the Yotes to score three on them.
The Yotes allowed themselves to get complacent after jumping out to a three goal lead and allowed the Rangers to score two. They almost tied it up with a short handed goal with about a minute left in the game, but the puck that was swatted at by Gaborik hit the post and deflected out of danger.
The near capacity crowd at Jobing.com Arena (click for gallery)
Breakdown:
- The Coyotes first goal came as a direct result of Shane Doan’s persistence in getting to the net mixed with a gaffe by rookie defenseman Michael Del Zotto. Rather than play the body, Del Zotto went for the puck and Doan was able to get it back after losing it momentarily. He then put it 5-hole and Johnson was not able to close the legs in time.
- Just 41 seconds after the first goal, a Del Zotto error led directly to another goal. MDZ was unable to keep the puck in at the point and Taylor Pyatt made the outlet pass to Robert Lang who rushed the puck up the ice before making a beautiful pass to Mikkel Boedker who burried his first goal of the season with a nifty move in front of the net.
- The third goal was just a bomb by Sami Lepisto from the blueline that Johnson was screened on. It was his first career NHL goal.
- The first Rangers goal was a result of a blocked JovoCop pass that Marian Gaborik turned the other way and had a give and go with Erik Christensen.
- The second was a nasty wrister by Sean Avery that resulted from Avery knocking the puck away from Jim Vandermeer at the blue line.
- Vernon Fiddler had one of the best penalty kills I’ve seen in a while when he blocked about five Chris Drury shots in the span of 30 seconds.
- Petr Prucha drew three penalties on the night, but I’d like to talk about the third. The third penalty he drew was a high sticking infraction against Michal Rozsival. At first, I was really pissed off at Rozsival because at that point I was still a Rangers fan and annoyed that he took a penalty so late in the third. Then I saw the replay and it showed that Pru embellished the contact sealing both the Rangers’ and my fate.
The Coyotes next game is tomorrow night in Dallas at 6PM EST/4PM MST.
About the author: Eric is an engineering student from Long Island, NY. His all-time favorite Rangers are Mike Richter and Petr Prucha. Currently, his favorite players are Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan Callahan, and Marian Gaborik. Related posts:
