I love West Coast hockey games almost as much as I love getting shoes thrown at me.  Anyways, I’ll be putting down my thoughts on tonight’s game for as long as I can stay up…

Agree 100% with my cohort that starting Vally tonight is the right move.  Personally, I don’t think they get him enough starts.  I know, crazy talk

Update 10:42 PM – Excellent scoring chance by Naslund.  The alternate captain doesn’t make a lot of noise, but he has quietly been very steady in his production.  Also doesn’t hurt having a player with Zherdev’s creativity alongside him.

Update 10:52 PM – Handzus???  It’s amazing how three years of absurd NHL scheduling causes players to fall out of your universe.

Update 11:02 PM – Kings 1, Rangers 0.  Rangers give up a rare power-play goal.  They are getting tremendously outshot in this opening period

Update 11:10 PM – Rangers 1, Kings 1.  Chris Drury puts one through with under a minute to play.  Chalk one up to Nigel Dawes who won’t get an assist on the goal but forced the issue and caused the turnover, opening the door for the captain to get his 2nd goal in two nights.

Update 11:15 PM – End of 1st period.  The Blueshirts were outplayed most of the period and can thank Vally for a tremendous start.  The Rangers have a rare commodity with Vally in a backup goalie that actually relishes, accepts, and ultimately excels in the role.  He understands his role on the team better than perhaps any other player.

Update 11:49 PM – So like me, I’m sure many of you were scratching your head as to why Michael Roszival was taking that penalty shot, but a dazzling array of moves by the embattled defenseman.  An interesting call awarding the Rangers a penalty shot.  Maybe it was penance for not calling one on Callahan.  Rangers 2, Kings 1.  Rangers have a great opportunity to go up two goals here.  Or perhaps they should just decline whatever is left of the remaining penalty.

Update 12:04 AM – End of the Second Period: Rangers 2, Kings 1.  The Blueshirts played much better in the middle frame than they did in the first, and are pretty fortunate to go into the final period with the lead.  Steve Valliquette has been outstanding in goal, and Jason LaBarbera has been Jason LaBarbera.  The difference has been just that, seeing that the goal Drury scored should have been stopped.  The Rangers have taken advantage of the sparse amount of chances provided.  Expect strong, defensive hockey in the third period.

Update 12:20 AM – Nigel Dawes gets credited with the primary assist on Chris Drury’s goal.  His extra effort now isn’t nearly as noble compared to what it was just a few hours ago.  Accusations of him being a sellout have already begun….

Update 12:24 AM – Kings 2, Rangers 2.  So much for strong, defensive hockey.  Dmitri Kalinan gets caught quasi-napping in front while Dustin Brown pops one in.  The ex-Buffalo Sabre defenseman has had little to hang his hat on this season, and has become a major liability in the defensive-zone (see Kalinan Count in right column).  Thats a pretty major issue when you are a defensemen.

Update 12:41 AM – Joe Micheletti brings up a very valid point in that Roszival’s penalty shot goal was a power play goal.  A interesting point, considering now that the Rangers hottest power-play options are penalty shots taken by the team’s defensemen.

Update 1:00 AM – Final/OT: Rangers 3, Kings 2.  Michael Roszvial blasts one from the right point to beat Jason LaBarbera and give the Blueshirts the OT win.  Hats off to Rosie, who came up big offensively in two spots tonight.  On a team of forwards whose production waxes and wanes, contributions from the blue line are as important as ever.  One can only hope this can jump-start the rest of the Rangers.  Good Night all

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