Jet-Lagged

After a very weak 3-3-3 record after the first nine games, the New York Rangers found a way to win four straight games in front of the Garden Faithful. I went to the game on Sunday, November 6th and I felt a buzz in the crowd the moment I took my seat. Hosting the Winnipeg Jets, whose 5-6-2 record doesn't do justice to their offensive power, the Rangers started the period sloppier than any of their previous three starts. The passing was off, they took two very weak penalties, and they couldn't muster much of an attack on the Jets. Once the horn sounded, echoed with the boos of aggravated Ranger fans, the Rangers ended the period with a pathetic five shots on goal. John Torterella must have torn their heads off during the intermission, because the team came out with grit which was absent the first twenty minutes. After a third aggressive penalty kill, the Jets lost their discipline as well with three straight penalties of their own. Derek Stepan, who's off to a great start, scored on a beautiful pass by Gaborik on a power play which seemed poised and in control. Stepan showed the patience and confidence to slow down the hard pass by Gaborik and scored the goal with relative ease, leaving Winnipeg goalie Pavelec rendered helpless. Although receiving a much needed power play goal, the Rangers failed to score on a very long 5-3, which was due to missing the net on ample shots. Despite an unsuccessful power play, the Rangers played great defense and held Jets to seven shots in the second period. The third period showed me how conditioned the Ranger team really is. They controlled most of the play and ended up with a beautiful two on one where Stepan made a beautiful saucer pass to Gaborik for his sixth goal of the young season. After controlling the play the rest of the game, with Marty Biron making a quiet 23 saves which most were harder than they looked, Gaborik backhanded his seventh in the empty net to solidify a gritty Ranger victory. Winning four straight, the Rangers head to Ottawa where they seek revenge on their third period collapse a few games prior at the Garden. The Rangers seem at ease with their forechecking style of play. Losing their alternate captain and defensive powerhouse Marc Staal doesn't seem like their slowing down defensively. With Ryan Mcdonough and Dan Girardi logging in the minutes and the young Del Zotto showing some offensive power, the Rangers press on forward looking for five straight. It helps having King Henrik in net and a back-up goaltender who gives them a chance to win every night he plays. With all those pieces, the Rangers are starting to look like a team.