Posted by Joy Russo
So, I tried to make it home before the start of tonight's second round. There is a two-lane road that leads you away from the ESPN "campus" (sorry, all those satellite dishes give me the creeps), and, unfortunately, someone was caught speeding.
One of life's biggest mysteries, along with those missing socks at the laundromat, is when people rubberneck when they see those flashing red and blue police lights.
MOVE ALONG PEOPLE! THERE'S NOTHING TO SEE HERE!
Needless to say, I missed most of the first period of the Rangers-Sabres tilt. Bad hockey editor.
When I did turn on the TV, it was with about 4:00 left in the frame. The Sabres' Tim Connolly made this sick move on Michal Rozsival up the left wing and got a point-blank shot off on Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who made a huge save to help keep things scoreless heading into the second period.
That's when I knew we were in for a dandy of a game ... and series.
• While waiting for the second period to start, I am seeing commercials for other Versus sporting events. There is a cool commercial for Professional Bull Riding. No, I am not kidding. I'll admit I know nothing about "PBR," but the music rocked.
• Sean Avery's all-black mouth piece scares me.
• Just over two minutes into the second period, the Sabres are putting the pressure on and cramming the net. Luckily for the Rangers, Lundqvist has been in position each time. Unfortunately for the Rangers, they got called for another penalty. If this keeps up, it'll only be a matter of time before Buffalo converts. Henrik can only do so much.
• Sabres ... a little weak on that latest power play.
• Rozsival is out of the lineup with a leg injury. At least we didn't get the ambiguous "lower-body injury" ruling.
• The folks in HSBC are awful quiet with just over 12:00 to play in the second period. This would be a good time for the Rangers to take advantage.
• I wonder if more people will be tuning in to the hockey game tonight now that Sanjaya is out of the "American Idol" race. I never watched the reality show before this season. A certain shock jock gave me a reason to watch, and actually made it fun. Now, Sanjaya's gone ... and appearing on every talk show possible. At least, he's not singing on them.
• The only other time the Rangers and Sabres met in the playoffs was in 1978. Back then, it was a best-of-three format. That's AWFUL! Please, Mr. Bettman, don't go back to that deep, dark place. It would be like watching an NBA first-round matchup between the Hornets and Hawks in the mid-1990s.
• Midway through the second period and the crowd continues to boo Avery and Jaromir Jagr each time they touch the puck.
• A car commercial is blaring and bragging about how it has a cup holder that heats and cools drinks as you drive. Umm, and this is supposed to be better than those butt warmers? Isn't this some kind of fire hazard? What happens when one of the 100 Dunkin' Donuts napkins I get with my cup of coffee falls in there?!
• The Rangers are on the power play with 9:18 left in the period. They've managed to control the pace and they finally have a shot on the man advantage. Outside of a sweet behind-the-back pass from Jagr to Marcel Hossa, and a great save by Ryan Miller, the Blueshirts strike out.
• Sabres get another power play and they finally convert. Like we said, it was only a matter of time. Can't blame Lundqvist here. That was one wicked deflection from Thomas Vanek. And where are the hot wings, Buffalonians?!??! Detroit's got octopi. You've got wings. Follow me, follow me to freedom!
• I would like to take this opportunity to remind all of our readers that there will be a momentous event on July 4, 2007. The premiere of "Transformers." Hello, my name is Joy, and I am in love with the Transformers. And yes, I am peeved as much as the next person that Soundwave will not be making an appearance. Don't know what Michael Bay is thinking there. Any boom box-transforming-robot deserves a chance at the big time.
• So, the Rangers are down 1-0 now. One thing that has impressed me about them down the stretch and in the first round was that when they got down a goal or gave up a lead, they haven't panicked. We'll see if they can do the same against the mighty Sabres.
• Oops. 2-0 for the home team. Ales Kotalik fires a high wrist shot past Lundqvist. Two goals within two minutes for the Rangers. Great puck movement before this tally, too.
• There's the chant: "LET'S GO BUF-FA-LO!"
• And there goes Vanek again. Not bad for a guy who couldn't earn a spot in the lineup last postseason. The Rangers are playing "not to lose" now.
• Third period under way ...
• Not the way to start off the third period. Avery in the box. The PA announcement of the penalty draws a big roar from the crowd ... followed by their taunting of "AVE-RY!"
• A 5-on-3 for the Rangers at 6:27 of the third period. Jagr, Brendan Shanahan, Martin Straka, Nylander and Avery all trying to get something going ...
• ... and they come up empty. The Rangers have to try and end the period on a strong note. At this point, there is a slim chance for a comeback win, but New York can set the tone for Game 2.
• And there's Hossa. The Rangers are on the board when just under 10 minutes left in the third.
• Lundqvist stones Vanek on the backhand try for the trick with 7:42 left. The Rangers netminder is still putting out solid play in the net.
• With 6:13 left, we have a review. Jason Pominville tips in a shot as the net is knocked out. Refs are on the phone with officials at the rink, officials in the Toronto war room and with the Anchor Bar, putting in an order for suicide wings.
• After over four minutes on the review ... Finally, it's a goal. 4-1.
• 47.8 seconds left ... Shanahan scores. The goal likely sends a message, similar to Sidney Crosby's late goal in Game 1 of the Sens-Pens series, that the Rangers will come back fighting in Game 2.
So, the game has come to an end. 5-2, Sabres. Where was Jagr? He was pointless with just two shots on goal. Where was Avery? He did say those hits were going to hurt more than before. Guess we'll have to tune in for Friday's Game 2 to see if the Rangers can come back in Buffalo. And next time, I don't plan to get caught in traffic.
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