3 Stars
1st Star - Lundqvist's parents (For having sex at precisely the right time)
2nd Star - Rangers European scout Crister Rockstrom (For discovering Lundqvist and pushing for him during the 2000 draft)
3rd Star - Kevin Weekes (For getting injured and opening the door for a rookie named Henrik during the 2005-06 season)
Post Game Cocktail Recommendation
In honor of Lundqvist becoming the 12th goaltender in NHL history to achieve 400 victories as well as the quickest to reach that milestone, I give you The King's Cup.
Gif of the Game
I almost fell off my couch laughing at Zuccarello visibly upset with Stepan for dissing him during the post game victory celebration:
Congrats on 400
What else can you say to a man who has literally carried this franchise for the past 12 seasons other than "thank you."
Unless you watch him on a nightly basis, you can't truly appreciate his impact on the success of the Rangers during his career.
And on his big night, he came through as he has almost every night since first donning a Blueshirt.
After Rick Nash gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead with 14:24 remaining in the game, Lundqvist went to work as the Avalanche dominated the remainder of the game...
Without those three saves in particular, the Rangers comeback was likely all for naught.
You could tell he really wanted to lock down #400 in front of the Garden crowd.
Congrats to "The King" on his big night.
The Concussion Strategy
Interesting to see the Rangers use the little known "Concussion Strategy" on Calvin Pickard tonight...
Let's hear how the Avalanche announcers felt about it...
Well it did pay off for the Rangers as they were able to tally two third period goals on Pickard to complete the come from behind victory.
Will be interesting to see if they use this strategy going forward.
Friendly Fire
It's hard enough to beat an NHL team when you're healthy, so taking out your own players probably isn't the smartest idea...
Got to give credit to Clendening though. Guy gets stitched up & right back out there because hockey player.
He Hate Me
After the much maligned Kevin Klein's two goal outburst tonight, the Rangers defenseman plans on making some changes to his jersey...
I'm sure it felt nice for Klein to beat back his detractors for one night.
Mini Recap
Let me know if you've heard this one before, the Rangers fall behind and are forced to rally.
While I hate to make excuses for the Rangers having to play catch-up against the worst team in the NHL, this had trap game written all over it. An awful opponent, with the Columbus Blue Jackets looming on the horizon. No way the Rangers, winners of four straight, weren't looking ahead.
Give them credit, however, as they started quickly, but as has been the case for this franchise in recent years, a goal against in the final minute of a period seemed to turn the tide against them as the Avalanche controlled play in the second period.
I can only assume AV gave his players one of these speeches during the second intermission...
LOL!!!! Yeah right, AV likely read them a story and offered orange slices. Maybe it was Beukeboom, but whatever happened between periods inspired the team because they were firing on all cylinders to start the third period as the Rangers were going to the net with reckless abandon including Rick Nash, who, once again, proved how much more effective of a player he is when going to the net.
Unfortunately, similar to the Nashville game, the Rangers allowed their opponent to dominate the end of the game as from the Nash goal to the final horn, the puck was virtually in their own end (out shot attempted 24-15 in the 3rd). And that's where Lundqvist stepped in to literally save his historic night.
Nothing more than an empty net goal from the Miller-Hayes-Grabner line? Man, they suck.
While I'd love to focus on the five game winning streak all night, the Rangers schedule takes a crucial turn as the next four games are @BJs, @NYI, vs. WASH and vs. MTL. This next week is going to be a nice little litmus test for the Rangers. Let's just hope they pass.
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