Flames Defeat Rangers 3-1 at Pengrowth Saddledome on Saturday

The New York Rangers lost to the Calgary Flames 3-1 under new coach Brent Sutter. Sutter left New Jersey to coach the team where his brother is general manager. I love nepotism! Henrik Lundqvist sat for the second game in a row where head coach John Tortorella kept saying it was just rest for Hank. Lundqvist said there was something bothering him and the added rest will help. Early in the 1st period Flame Curtis Glencross came across and slammed his shoulder into Chris Drury’s head that sent him off the ice. One of the refs was right behind the play along the left boards and “must have missed it”. Give me a break. The Instigator Rule keeps goons from paying back but the NHL is not stopping dirty play. I haven’t seen Donald Brashear in ages so I have no idea when the Ranger enforcer will be back. Somebody has to help out the Captain there and make the bastard pay. Brandon Dubinsky left the game as well after blocking a slap shot in the 2nd period. Two top centers off the ice for the Blueshirts doesn’t bode well for them. The Rangers played a good, grinding it out type of game but could only manage 1 goal scored by Dan Girardi at 17:16 in the 1st period. The power play went 0 for 4 but had their chances, especially in the 3rd period with Marian Gaborik crashing all around the net. Steve Valiquette played well but the 3rd goal allowed was too much for the Rangers to overcome. In pained me to see Nigel Dawes get 3 assists for the Flames. I can’t remember him having that kind of game for the Blueshirts. He would simply disappear during games. The Rangers could not get that lucky bounce to go or the open net tip in when they needed it. Flame goalie Miikka Kiprusoff was excellent in stopping 32 of 33 shots on goal. The 3 game Western Canadian road trip was not successful at 1-2-0. The Rangers return to the Garden this Thursday to host the Atlanta Thrashers. The Flames moved from Atlanta to Calgary back in 1980. The three stars of the game were Flame goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, Flame Nigel Dawes and Dan Girardi.