Two teams looking for the playoffs, two teams needing points, two teams from different conferences, and the road team walks away with two points. After a game in which Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist played a ridiculous game against their archrivals the New Jersey Devils, Lundqvist would play just as well in a 2–1 loss to the Nashville Predators.
The problem with this game was that Gaborik, minus the Rangers, hit a brick wall with the name of Dan Ellis and a rookie defenseman who let his emotions get the best of him.
Rangers would fall into a 1-0 hole at the 17:45 mark of the first when Jordin Tootoo would find the back of the net and take goal advantage in the second. Vinny Prospal would level the game at one in the second he would drive home when Jokinen was credited for the assist.
After Rangers tied the game at one, Del Zotto would commit a hook penalty that he did not agree with and alert the referee. His comments on the call result in an unsportsmanlike penalty and a double minor for the Rangers. Because the Rangers did a great job of killing the penalty, the Predators were able to connect on the second penalty for a 2-1 lead.
Del Zotto walked slowly out of the penalty area back to the bench and he knew his coach would have words for him, as you can see from Tortorella’s anger, he gave Del Zotto a full ear and benched him for the rest of the period though opened it from the beginning. of the third Tortorella would then say that Del Zotto has been one of his best defenders this season, plus Rangers needed his offensive ability to score a goal in the third.
Well, the Rangers came out strong in the final session throwing a flurry of shots at Predators netminder Dan Ellis for 18, but couldn’t find the back of the net on any of those opportunities. Another loss by one goal for the Blue Shirts, in games I have to say they have played well. But since these games go by fast, the Rangers need to find a way to get points.
Rangers’ last four games have been lost by one goal. The Rangers could easily have found a way to win some of those games, but mistakes lead to losses in a tight playoff hunt in which every team is fighting to improve their position or get in.
The Rangers are still on the outside looking in with two more games left before the Olympic break. Up next is the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, ruff one. They then ended up at the Garden on Sunday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Lightning in a very important game as the two teams are only four points apart. Tampa Bay is in eighth place, while the Rangers are in tenth. A very big game indeed.
