Rangers Win Big Game 4-3 over Islanders at Coliseum (aka Mausoleum) Tuesday

The New York Rangers defeated the New York Islanders last night 4-3 at the Coliseum (aka Mausoleum). Thanks to my friend for taking me as it was worth the trip from NJ. Michal Rozsival wore the second A as alternate captain with Callahan out. The 1st period was slow for the Blueshirts and the Islanders took the game to them. The Rangers committed a couple of dumb penalties and one cost them. I was telling my friend that I love Mark Streit, defenseman for the Islanders, and a couple of minutes later he scored a power play goal on a slap shot from the top of the left faceoff circle. Blake Comeau added another goal at 12:09, Islanders up 2-0 where Henrik Lundqvist wish he had that one back. The Rangers definitely missed Ryan Callahan and Sean Avery in that 1st period, both still out with injuries. The Blueshirts were outshot 9-4 in the period. The Rangers committed two more penalties to start the 2nd period and did a great job killing off a 5-on-3 for a minute. That turned the game entirely toward the Rangers. The Rangers scored 3 on goals by Vinny Prospal at 1:14, Olli Jokinen at 12:57 and Marian Gaborik at 17:15. It was great to see Gaborik score his 40th goal of the season. John Tortorella kept switching lines looking for a spark and found it in the 2nd period. P.A. Parenteau seemed to be on the ice the entire game. The Rangers had 15 shots in the 2nd period. Defenseman Marc Staal scored at 5:05 in the 3rd period, Rangers up 4-2. The defensemen pinched in all game long and it paid off. Islander Blake Comeau scored his 2nd goal of the game at 13:27 to bring the Islanders within one. That was another goal that Lundqvist should have stopped. It was a very good, tough fought game. Lundqvist had 25 saves on 28 shots. The Rangers power play looked awesome late in the 2nd period where Islander goalie Dwayne Roloson made huge saves. The three stars of the game were Olli Jokinen, Vinny Prospal and Blake Comeau.