By BRETT CYRGALIS
So the first team to score had won the first three games of this series coming into Game 4 tonight at the Garden. When Scott Gomez scored his first playoff goal as a New York Ranger 12 minutes into the first period, it looked good for the Blueshirts. They played their best period of the series and were dominating the game on both ends of the ice.
Of course, this is the playoffs, and this is the Devils. So it went back and forth, back and forth, until the game came to the final five minutes, tied 3-3.
Then Marc Staal, scapegoat of Game 3 when the game-winning OT goal went in off his skate, put a hard slap shot in between Martin Broduerâs legs and put the Rangers up for good.
Gomez added an empty netter by winning the final face-off and having it deflect down the ice, making the final 5-3. As that puck floated toward the net, you could see with it the hopes of the Devils going down the tubes.
So as much as the referees wanted this win not to happen, it did. They made so many mistakes tonight it was incredibly hard to overlook. I know their jobs are hard, especially with the new rules. Theyâve been officiating the same game with the same rules for however many years, and then these major changes are dropped on them.
I expected them to make mistakes in the first year. Hell, Iâll give them year two. But now itâs the playoffs of the third year back from the lockout and they have made absolutely no progress. Tonight it almost blew a major playoff game.
Letâs get a quick rundown. First, and almost most devastating, was the non-call on Zach Pariseâs slash of Henrik Lundqvistâs stick the resulted in Mike Mottauâs game-tying goal in the third period. With all of the drama (and penalties) that have happen in front of Broduer, how can you not make that call?
Miss it? Could they have missed it? If they did, they should never be allowed to referee another NHL again. If they decided not to call it, someone should check their bank statements and see if the name Lamoriello appears under deposits.
(Quck note: What a move by Mottau. So he used to be in the Rangers farm system, huh?)
And now Broduer. Always respected him because of his skill and demeanor, but if I have to watch him dive once more I might puke. He got called for one of them tonight, but when Jaromir Jagr grazed his head, he acted as if Scott Stevens blind-sided him.
Then, in standard awful-officiating practices, the scrum that evolved afterwards resulted in the obligatory off-setting minors. Jagr did nothing wrong, then got jumped by a bunch of goons thinking they were defending their âinjuredâ goaltender. Jagr went to the box for âroughing,â as well as Johnny Oduya â just to make things even. You know, Oduya on the penalty kill is as important as Jagr on the powerplay (yea, thatâs supposed to be sarcastic, and would be if Jagr would play up to his potential on the PP).
So that scrum necessitates penalties, but how about every time Brandon Dubinsky (again, another brilliant game) gets punched and pulled in every direction after every shift? Nothing. And in the first period he gets called for an off-setting holding penalty when David Clarkson decides to take him out of the play?
Clarkson made a smart play and was trying to get Dubinsky to fight him. Dubi has played so well that if he fights, he leaves the ice and thatâs only good for the Devils. Of course, he was just trying to get back to the puck as Clarkson held him, and when Dubi pushed back to try and get out of the situation, they were both called on holding.
If Iâm forgetting anything â which I know I am â I need to move on because of frustration.
When it gets down to it, this was an enormous win for the Rangers. The good play was almost team wide, and the way it ended was wonderful vindication.
As previously stated, Marc Staal has been the best defenseman for the Rangers this series. He is physical, has great defensive stick skills and his positioning is right on cue. His offensive skills, in terms of handling the puck, are really above average and his one real weak point â his slap shot â was the thing that won the game tonight. If we want to get technical, it pretty much won the series.
Tom Renney stated yesterday that he thinks Staal has no problem moving on from mess-ups like Sunday.
âHe might have to come to me,â Renney told rangers.nhl.com when asked if he went to console Staal after Sundayâs play. âBut itâs over. Thatâs the beauty in this kid that he doesnât let things live long in him. Heâs such an even-keeled guy and has such intensity that goes a little bit unnoticed because of the nature of his game, which we like, because we know itâs there.â
Yea, itâs there. And a lot more.
Dan Girardi also played his best game of the series tonight. That sequence which lead to Gomezâs first goal was all Girardi. He dove to keep the puck in, just missed a great assist to Gomez on his first try, then got it back and completed the play. Good to see him getting it going.
Martin Straka also played his best game of, not just the series, but of the last month. His goal was something I think he needs to get it going. Always reliable on the PK, I hope he now gets it going even strength.
Honorable mention go to Ryan Callahan (great forecheck, great hustle as always), Jagr (skating hard, getting the puck to the net, puck control) and, of course, Lundqvist. The Swede goalie again had a bit of trouble with rebounds, and the jump save is becoming a sight for sore eyes. Yet, he made every save he had to, and many that kept his team in the game.
The Blueshirts are now up 3-1 and are ready to try and seal this thing off on Friday in Newark. If not, well then theyâll just bring it back to the Garden, where the fans were great tonight.
Standing for the last three minutes? I was waiting to hear Sam Rosen tell me this was non-series-clinching win that would last a lifetime.
What it will do is last until Friday, when the Rangers need to get things done and keep their momentum flowing.