The Rangers traveled to Detroit to play the Red Wings in a game between two of the Original Six, but came away empty-handed in a 3–2 loss. The Rangers finished the game with an intense drive, but were unable to skate away with any extra points in the standings.
New York came out with an explosive start taking full advantage of a rather sluggish Detroit team that had been shut out for the last two games. Within the first 30 seconds, Rangers forward Sean Avery tested Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard with a quick hard shot.
The Rangers continued to play with intensity throughout the whole game stepping up to the challenge. The Wings picked up their play towards the end of the first period and then were in full swing by the beginning of the second period.
“We’ve got to start on time; we got to get on it on right away,” Howard told Versus after the game when questioned about Detroit’s slow start.
The Wings struck first with a goal by Russian Pavel Datsyuk in the second period. The goal came on a play that had started with a pass between the legs of a Rangers defenseman.
This was Datsyuk’s first game back from suffering a broken wrist that forced him to miss 19 games. Clearly the skillful forward was sorely missed.
The Rangers weren’t able to get on the scoreboard until the third period, in which four out of the games’ five goals were scored. Youngster Derek Stepan scored the tying goal for the Rangers at 3:09 mark in the period but minutes later Detroit’s Jiri Hudler put the Wings back in the lead 2–1.
New Jersey born left wing Drew Miller gave the Wings a two-goal cushion at 3–1 before things became really interesting.
But less than a minute later Brandon Dubinsky got his 18th of the year from Marian Gaborik and Avery to make it a one-goal game.
The game finished with plenty of fury as the Detroit was called for two high sticking penalties leaving the Rangers a chance to tie the game with only three minutes left to play. New York had the advantage of a 5-on-3 for about 40 seconds.
But Detroit held resolutely.
Then with 1:30 left to play in the period Rangers pulled goaltender Martin Biron in favor of a sixth attacker. But, it just wasn’t enough as the Wings hung on for the win and moved to 18–0–2 when leading after the second period.
If the playoffs started tomorrow and not in nine weeks, the Rangers would be in it, but they are only four points away from not making it.
Next up for the Rangers are the Atlanta Thrashers on Friday night. Atlanta is one of the teams in the Eastern Conference who would be vying for a spot in the playoffs and will see the matchup against the Rangers as a critical four-pointer.
New York came out with an explosive start taking full advantage of a rather sluggish Detroit team that had been shut out for the last two games. Within the first 30 seconds, Rangers forward Sean Avery tested Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard with a quick hard shot.
The Rangers continued to play with intensity throughout the whole game stepping up to the challenge. The Wings picked up their play towards the end of the first period and then were in full swing by the beginning of the second period.
“We’ve got to start on time; we got to get on it on right away,” Howard told Versus after the game when questioned about Detroit’s slow start.
The Wings struck first with a goal by Russian Pavel Datsyuk in the second period. The goal came on a play that had started with a pass between the legs of a Rangers defenseman.
This was Datsyuk’s first game back from suffering a broken wrist that forced him to miss 19 games. Clearly the skillful forward was sorely missed.
The Rangers weren’t able to get on the scoreboard until the third period, in which four out of the games’ five goals were scored. Youngster Derek Stepan scored the tying goal for the Rangers at 3:09 mark in the period but minutes later Detroit’s Jiri Hudler put the Wings back in the lead 2–1.
New Jersey born left wing Drew Miller gave the Wings a two-goal cushion at 3–1 before things became really interesting.
But less than a minute later Brandon Dubinsky got his 18th of the year from Marian Gaborik and Avery to make it a one-goal game.
The game finished with plenty of fury as the Detroit was called for two high sticking penalties leaving the Rangers a chance to tie the game with only three minutes left to play. New York had the advantage of a 5-on-3 for about 40 seconds.
But Detroit held resolutely.
Then with 1:30 left to play in the period Rangers pulled goaltender Martin Biron in favor of a sixth attacker. But, it just wasn’t enough as the Wings hung on for the win and moved to 18–0–2 when leading after the second period.
If the playoffs started tomorrow and not in nine weeks, the Rangers would be in it, but they are only four points away from not making it.
Next up for the Rangers are the Atlanta Thrashers on Friday night. Atlanta is one of the teams in the Eastern Conference who would be vying for a spot in the playoffs and will see the matchup against the Rangers as a critical four-pointer.
