Don’t drink a C4 at 5 pm folks or you’ll be wired at 11:30 pm itching to write a blog about the New York Rangers. Whatever, worth it. We already spoke about my disdain for West Coast games so I’ll spare you, we just got one more left, and then it’s back to Broadway.

The Rangers were dominated out of the gate and when I say dominated I mean Angela White Lexington Steel DOMINATED. Luckily, just like ya boy called out the other day, the Oilers are not a good hockey team. Its a crying shame because Leo and Connor are once in a lifetime talents and it looks like my boy Nugent Hopkins is quietly having himself a career as well.

The boys from Broadway came out flat, the Oilers were playing fast and we just couldn’t keep up. The Oilers scored 2 in 19 seconds but luckily Krieds was able to get us on the board going into the first intermission 4-1.

After everyone’s favorite fastest 150 seconds we cut over to Mike Rupp in the studio who I guess works the bitch shift when Hank and the A-Team want the night off. I didn’t even realize he was working for the Rangers but Rupp is the boy so I’m always happy to see him.

(Never forget Rupper was the real MVP of the Ranger’s first Winter Classic)

Anyways, Rupper made a point to basically say what I’ve been saying in that the Oilers are not a good hockey team and the Rangers just need to be patient. Patient they were and they came out hungry in the second. We only got out of there with one goal, but the chances were there and the beast was awoken. Igor also got his groove back after a less-than-stellar first but he was able to hold the Oilers scoreless through the 2nd and 3rd. That’s the stuff I love to see. Reset, clear your head, and focus back up.

Good for Campbell on Edmonton between the pipes tonight, my dude made some unreal saves keeping the Oilers in the game. He couldn’t stop the Swedish DJ with the good hair though who scored on a beauty of a powerplay goal to tie things up with about 7 minutes left in the 3rd. I said it yesterday, I’ll say it again now, and I’ll say it from my float on the way to City Hall in June, this team is going to be dangerous. I don’t know what happened but things are clicking offensively and I’m not gonna question it.

To OT we go.

Overtime was pretty high-octane. Some great chances by Chyitl and Leo respectively. Fuck it, we’re still new and figuring out what works and what doesn’t, let’s have some fun and do some live real-time analysis.

Z just took a shit penalty against Mcdavid with about a minute left in OT. Mcdavid is playing mad right now and just took an incredible shot that Igor stopped. This is where we need Igor this is where he earns my respect. He did it in the playoffs and I am fairly confident after this come back he’ll do it now (editor’s note post-shootout, he did and he did it BIG). And another gigantic save. This live blog thing was better in theory I think idk we’re still learning here. Long story short, we’re going to a shoot out so let’s see some magic happen.

Nugent Hopkins up first and just completely undresses Igor. Nuge was a stud and continues to be a stud and I’m happy for him since he was pretty quiet as a first overall. Kakko is up next and he too undresses Campbell. People shit on Kakko as the most unproductive of the kids, but I truly do believe in him. IGOR JUST STUFFED MCDAVID HOLY SHIT EAT IT CONNOR. Bread got lazy and dumped one wide, kind of disappointed in that but after the last 2 games what else can we ask from this guy? Leo also missed so now its anyone’s game lets have some fun. Mika Z up next lets see it. Nope, wide right. Tyson Barry went and missed as did Vladdy T. For Vlad’s first SO chance as a ranger I was hoping for something a little more than that. HOLY SHIT what a save by Igor. I’ll tell ya what tho, Igor is too flashy. He thinks he’s Patrick Roy the way he flashes the glove. I’m all for a little bit of hot-dogging but some times Igor does it and it rubs me the wrong way. Yamamoto (I think thats how you spell it probably not) got stuffed by Igor. AND LAF FINISHES THE JOB AND WE’RE GETTING 2 HOLY SHIT THAT WAS A HOCKEY GAME.

7 in a row, 8 out of the last 9, I really want to sit here and say don’t look now blah blah blah, but the East is just such a juggernaut we’re gonna have to do more. We’re sitting pretty in a true playoff spot and not a WC but still, the playoffs are gonna be an absolute dogfight.

What a game, truly. The first period really had them looking like they were just counting down the minutes until they got on the bus to Calgary but nope. This is something I think like can’t be taught. Vegas had it the year they went to the cup, these boys just don’t roll over and die they fight until they can’t anymore and that’s one of the things that can carry us far into May and hopefully June. I am so glad I didn’t go to sleep after that abysmal first period.

2 games and 4 points down, and 1 more to go. Sounds like Halak is going to be getting the call to give Igor some much deserved rest after 2 great games on the West Coast. Let’s go into Calgary tomorrow (yuck 10 pm start but at least it’s Saturday night) and sweep this road trip keeping Halak’s streak alive and bringing things back home for a President’s Day bout against the Jets.