Rangers Crush Leafs 7-2 For 5th Straight Win

New York Rangers goalie #30 The King Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves tonight to win his 4th straight start in net winning the 146th game of his career.

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The 1st period was intense as the Toronto Maple Leafs came out strong with a nice shift out of former Ranger #28 Colton Orr, who looks like he has found his home with his new team.

Colton was an excellent player for the blueshirts, and earned a lot of respect from all of New York.

New York would start to take over as they were pouncing on any Maple Leaf player who would touch the puck.

The Maple Leafs would take a tripping penalty followed by a high stick to the face of #24 Ryan Callahan from their own #8 Mike Komisarek.

The Ranger's power play unit was flying on all cylinders as they produced a goal on a two man advantage from #24 Ryan Callahan assisted from #17 Brandon Dubinsky, and #12 Ales Kotalik.

It was R. Callahan's 2nd of the year he played a really effective first period, but to be honest I could say that about him every period.

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Even the games that Ryan fails to put up any points he finds a way to break through as the difference on the ice with all of his determination.

In later minutes New York got their 2nd goal on a beautiful shot from defensemen #6 Wade Redden.

Wade has a lot of talent, but has been inconsistent in time for New York maybe this will be the start of him turning a corner.

It was a matter of time before Rangers #87 Donald Brashear found his fight with Colton Orr, the two heavyweights started round one in the game.

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D. Brashear can really scrap, and manhandled C. Orr as he always does throwing him all over the ice

Right before the end of the 1st period New York goaltender #30 Henrik Hundqvist who was playing after having yesterday's game allowed a goal after being tripped by an opposing player.

Of course there was no call on the play as Henrik let the officials know how he felt about the situation, and rightfully so.

The Rangers would exit the first period with a 2-1 lead after they had out shot Toronto 15-8 at this point.

Both teams came out for the 2nd period, but New York answered the opening bell after the first intermission with a goal from #5 Daniel Girardi, who netted his 2nd of the season.

With over ten minutes left in the period Donald Brashear would throw a bad pass that kicked off Wade Redden's skate turning into a breakaway for Toronto's #12 Lee Stempriak.

L. Stempriak made an excellent move going to his backhand, but would be stoned by King Henrik who made some awesome saves in the 2nd period.

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Henrik was starting to get a lot more work on the ice, as Toronto began to take more shots on net.

New York would just continue to skate for open puck forcing the Maple Leafs to take another penalty, as they were out working them all game.

The Rangers kept up their team play on the power play continuing to work the puck around in the offensive zone, Ryan Callahan came very close to scoring his 2nd goal of the game, but fanned on the shot.

As the clock came close to 5 minutes remaining in the period the Rangers would have another questionable call from the referees as #21 Christopher Higgins would be called for interference.

Soon to follow New York's #10 Marian Gaborik would get 2 minutes for slashing as he broke the stick of Toronto's #22 Francois Beauchemin.

After killing off the two seconds on the two man advantage Toronto would still be up a man as they pulled within one with a goal from #55 Jason Blake.

Toward the end of the period the referees would finally get a call right as Jason Blake crosschecked Rangers captain #23 Chris Drury into Maple Leafs goalie #35 Vesa Toskala.

It was real dangerous play, I never understand why defensemen crosscheck opposing player's into their own goalie.

After two periods the Rangers would have the 3-2 lead, but the game was becoming more intense by the second.

There must be a memo that went around the league that informed all officials that you can do whatever you want to Marian Gaborik who is constantly being hooked or held.

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I guess the officials are going to give Marian the same treatment they give Sean Avery when they allow players to practically gang beat him behind the play by multiple players at a time.

New York has played so good that it hasn't really been noticed yet, but it is bound to happen where they will have a big game come down to a blown call.

The 3rd period was all New York, and Sean Avery as he managed to score 2 goals in the period dominating the Maple Leafs defense.

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S. Avery was the difference maker in tonight's game after Toronto had gone into the 3rd down by one he put in a quick goal that would stop the Maple Leafs right in their tracks.

His strong play would help the Rangers regain their fire, and intensity as Marian Gaborik seconds later put in his 5th goal of the season.

From that point on Toronto should have just left the ice as they were defeated in every way you could have imagined.

S. Avery would continue his strong play after that as he helped set up a beautiful goal even though he did not record the assist on the play.

Daniel Girardi wound up, and slapped a rocket from the point for his 2nd goal of the game to find the open net.

Just when you thought Sean Avery was done in the game he would put the nail in the coffin as he also put in his 2nd of the game on a power play to give the Rangers their 7th goal.

New York would finish the final minutes of the game, and go on to win their 5th straight by the score of 7-2.

Maybe after tonight the league will review the game, and look to protect Henrik Lundqvist the way goalies like Martin Brodeur are protected.

All the Rangers have to do to get a goalie interference call is breathe on the opposing goaltender or get pushed into him from someone on the other team.

It is getting out of hand with players constantly taking a run at H. Lundqvist, it is a matter of time before he could be seriously hurt.

The league needs to act, and either get on their officials to call the game down the middle, or to start suspending players because there is no competition in that.

If players are going to continue to take liberties with Henrik then why shouldn't the Rangers have the same luxury?

This is going to cause a real brawl one night if the referees continue to let things get out of control.