Big Win Could Be a Springboard For Blueshirts

There was a moment last night during the Rangers 6-3 win over the Islanders, that they almost lost control. There was a moment when the season, and the playoffs, flashed at them, right before their very eyes. Kind of like the way one's life flashes before theirs when they have a brush with death. And that was what happened to the Blueshirts in the opening minutes of the 2nd period last night, at Madison Square Garden.

After taking a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from Brandon Prust and Erik Christensen, the Rangers gave the lead right back to the Islanders on goals from Matt Moulson and PA Parenteau, in the first 4 minutes of the second period. All the momentum that the Boys in Blue had built, all the life in the building, had been sucked out.

But then the Rangers responded. And in the process, possibly saved their season.

About 8 minutes after the Islanders tied the game, Ryan Callahan, as he has all season long, put life back into the Garden, scoring his team leading 21st goal of the year, and putting the Rangers back on top, 3-2. The Rangers would go to score 3 more times in the final frame, on 2 goals from Marian Gaborik, and 1 from Bryan McCabe (his first as a Ranger). And as they put the final touches on their fourth win in the past five games, the Blueshirts moved back into sole possession of 7th place in the Eastern Conference, 2 points ahead of the Sabres, who lost to Carolina in Buffalo. The Rangers are now just 5 points behind the Montreal Canadiens, who also lost, and come to the Garden, Friday night, for a huge showdown that could not only determine seeding, but can either make or break the season. The Blueshirts have not beaten Montreal at all this season, so Friday would be a good time to change that. They also had not beaten the Flyers, before a 7-0 stomping over them, back on March 6th.

With just 11 games remaining in the regular season, this is the time for the Rangers to start putting space themselves and the other teams in the playoff hunt. They have only a 4 point lead over 9th place Carolina, who has a game in hand. But the 'Canes are not the problem here, the Devils are. And with another win last night, New Jersey is now only 8 points behind the Blueshirts, and moving up the standings virtually everyday. The Rangers need to do all that they can to ensure that the last game of the season (at the Garden, against the Devils), means nothing. Because if the Devils keep playing the way they are right now, it would not bode well for them.

Last night was huge. The Islanders always play the Rangers tough. No matter where they are in the standings. And the Rangers had a moment last night where they almost let the Isles take control of their season. A moment where their very playoff lives, flashed before their eyes.

But then, just as quickly as they had that moment where they almost lost control, the Rangers regained it very quickly, and possibly saved their season. We'll see if they can build off this, and start cementing their spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, come Friday night against the Canadiens.