Excellent 3rd Period Lifted Rangers to 4-1 Victory Over Panthers at BankAtlantic Center Saturday

The New York Rangers had their best 3rd period of the season to earn the 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers last night. After a scoreless 1st period Keith Ballard scored at 6:38 in the 2nd period to give the Panthers the 1-0 lead just as a Ranger penalty ended. The Rangers did a good job of killing off 4 minor penalties but could not control the puck as that penalty ended. As the Rangers won the opening faceoff of the 3rd period Marc Staal yelled to Henrik Lundqvist to leave the puck behind the net. Staal took the puck from behind the Rangers net, went coast-to-coast and scored on a snap shot as he crossed the blue line. I said to my Wife “that looked like a Brian Leetch play” and it sure did. It was Staal’s third goal in as many games and Lundqvist’s first assist on the season. The Rangers couldn’t get any offense going in the 1st period with only 5 shots but picked it up with 10 shots in the 2nd and 12 in the 3rd. Marian Gaborik led all skaters with 8 shots and had an excellent game with constant pressure in the offensive zone. With the 4th line forechecking Brandon Prust got to the puck in front and backhanded it into the net to give the Rangers the 2-1 lead at 9:36 in the 3rd period. That line continues to contribute. Captain Chris Drury scored the Rangers 3rd goal as he streaked down the slot at 11:06 in the 3rd period. Marian Gaborik added an empty net goal at 19:00 in the 3rd to secure the 4-1 win for the Blueshirts. It was Gaborik’s 41st goal of the season. Staal and Dan Girardi were solid on defense and led all Rangers with ice time. Lundqvist had 19 saves including 6 shots on the Panthers power play and looked very sharp in goal. The Rangers are in 9th place in the Eastern Conference and tied in points with the Flyers (aka Effers). The Blueshirts play a critically important home-and-home series to end the season with the Effers. I hope Ryan Callahan, Sean Avery and Brian Boyle are back by then. The guys from Hartford are delivering in the meantime. The three stars of the game were Marc Staal, Brandon Prust and Keith Ballard.