A Strong Win In Carolina

Hey everyone.  This evening, the Rangers played down in Raleigh where they faced off against the Hurricanes and came away with a solid 3-1 win which gives them a 3 game winning streak for the first time since Mid-October.  Once again, loads of smart play and just enough offense plus some top notch goaltending by Lundqvist were the big keys today.  After sitting for 2 straight games, Tortorella dressed Redden and Kotalik for this game and both played much better after the benching.  I guess the message was received by the two of them.  The defense played well limiting the Hurricanes scoring chances and got goals from Gaborik, Dubinsky and an empty netter from Staal, who played extremely well.

What I’m seeing is that this team looks like they are starting to build off of these wins and are beginning to make the climb up the standings as they have gone back over the .500 mark also.  The team played like one in these last 3 and I’m wondering if they maybe have turned a corner, but I guess I will wait and see if carries over to the games at home, where they have not played as well and are currently 2 games under .500 there.  They need to make the Garden a place where opponents fear coming into going forward and I believe that can go a long way to maybe them making the playoffs.

Anyway, their next game is at MSG on Wednesday evening where they will face the Panthers in the first game of another 3 game home stand where they will also see the Isles on the 26^th and the reeling Flyers on the 30th before they head back out on the road on New Year’s Eve to face the Hurricanes after which they come home for another 3 game home stand to begin the 2010 portion of the sked.

Well folks, that’s it till next Wednesday.

Your NYR blogger,

Howie

Tags: Dubinsky, Gaborik, Kotalik, Lundqvist, NHL, Rangers, Redden, Staal