Rangers fall to Canes 4-3, Fail to Clinch Playoff Berth
@RNYRF Staff Report
Failing to put 60 solid minutes of hockey together the New York Rangers failed to pick up 2 important points in the standings to clinch a playoff berth last night in Raleigh.
Coming into the contest just a win away from clinching a playoff berth, whether it being from a 4 day layoff or the emotions surrounding Eric Staal's return to Carolina the Rangers failed to get going in the opening period. Henrik Lundqvist kept the Rangers in the game early on facing a barrage of shots from the Hurricanes. New York failed to get a shot on goal for almost the first 10 minutes of the period a downfall that Rangers fans have seen too many times this season. Canes' Patrick Brown broke the ice 11:05 into the period with his first goal of the season putting the home team up 1-0. The Rangers "sleep walking" through most of the period seemed to "awaken" in the final minutes of the first but trailed heading into intermission. Looking like a totally different team the Rangers came out firing on all cylinders cashing in when Mats Zuccarello tied the game at 1 just 1:36 into the middle period. The goal, Zuccarello's 25th of the season gave the fan favorite his 200th NHL Career Point. Under 4 minutes later on a beautiful power forward move by Rick Nash the Rangers took the lead over Carolina 2-1. Canes' defenseman Justin Faulk tied the game at 13:27 until Rangers' Chris Kreider on a move that looked almost exactly like Nash's put the Rangers ahead again 3-2. The Rangers went to the locker room with the lead to end the second period. Failing to keep the momentum and looking like the team that started the game the Rangers once again blew the lead in the closing period when Jeff Skinner scored to tie the game for the home team 4:22 into the period. Just 5 minutes later Carolina retook the lead on a goal by Victor Raask that would hold up for the Carolina win at the buzzer.
Failing to gather the 2 points the Rangers fell to third place in the Division one point behind Pittsburgh and two points ahead of the Islanders, both having won their games last night.
The Rangers return to action on Saturday to take on the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden
NYR Alumni Birthdays 4/1
Jason MacDonald RW (2003-2004) Hib Milks LW (1931-1932) Reijo Routsalanen D (1981-1986) Guy Trottier RW (1968-1969)
TODAY IN NYR HISTORY APRIL 1
1962: Rod Gilbert scores the first two goals of his career in his first playoff game as the Rangers defeat Toronto, 5-4, in Game 3 of the Semifinals at MSG.
1994: Mike Richter records his 38th win of the season, breaking Ed Giacomin's single season record. Richter would finish the 1993-94 season with 42 wins.
2013: Henrik Lundqvist passes Ed Giacomin for second on the Rangers' all-time wins list with his 267th victory with a 4-2 win over Winnipeg at MSG.
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