Rangers Edge Flyers (aka Effers) 4-3 at Garden in Playoff Atmosphere Friday

The New York Rangers held on to beat the Flyers (aka Effers) 4-3 last night at Madison Square Garden in front of a raucous crowd. With the win the Rangers stay in the playoff race and need to beat the Flyers (aka Effers) Sunday afternoon at the Wachovia Center. There a few ways the Blueshirts can get in but the best way is another win. In the opening minute in the 1st period Marc Staal gave the puck away to Mike Richards who buried it behind Henrik Lundqvist to give the Effers the 1-0 lead. Staal has been excellent all season and I commented to my Wife how we never saw him do that even once this year. Watching Daniel Carcillo phony it up 3 times in trying to draw a penalty was a joke! At 7:22 in the 1st Chris Drury scored a power play goal on a tip in from an Erik Christensen pass across the crease. Three minutes later the Ranger 4th line was on the ice, won a face off at the right face off circle in the offensive zone and Jody Shelley buried the puck on another great pass from Brandon Prust. What a great goal on a line that continues to work hard every shift. Brandon Dubinsky scored his 20th goal of the season at 6:58 in the 2nd period to give the Blueshirts the 3-1 lead. The Effers cut into the lead on goals by Danny Briere and Mike Richards to tie it 3-3. The game winner was scored on a giveaway by Chris Pronger by Marian Gaborik at 16:54 in the 3rd period. Gaborik picked up the puck and with speed got past Pronger on the left side and threw it to the net. It was tipped off a Flyer into the upper-right corner of the net. That gives Gaborik 42 goals on the season. Brandon Prust had almost 13 minutes total ice time and Michal Rozsival led all skaters with over 25 minutes. Ryan Callahan gave dirty Chris Pronger a hard body check into the back boards behind the Ranger net and bounced off him. Callahan lumbered to the bench in pain and played only 8 minutes. Flyer Scott Hartnell tried his act on Artem Anisimov midway through the 3rd period. Dan Girardi protected AA and took care of business. Henrik Lundqvist was great in net and had 24 saves on 27 shots. It all comes down to the Sunday 3:00 matinee in Philadelphia. The three stars of the game were Marian Gaborik, Mike Richards and Henrik Lundqvist.