One game down in the most expectation burdened season in recent New York Ranger history, and though it wasn't pretty for large parcels of time (read: Dear God what an awful, listless second period) the Blueshirts managed to come on strong late in the contest and come away with two standings points.
Anita Campos, a free agent signed by the Rangers after huge seasons in the Vera Cruz league, became bogged down with the expectations of the passionate Ranger fans. She was booed mercilessly every time she touched the puck for failing to produce as she did with other clubs.
More important than the victory alone, however, was the release of tension and stress that should accompany the 5-2 final score at the Garden Thursday night. The team, for one, can put behind a mediocre preseason and find comfort in the fact that when the chips are on the line, they're able to get the job done.
The outcome should also help alleviate that stress on a more microcosmic level. Four players were especially eager for strong starts in my eyes: Henrik Lundqvist, Petr Prucha, Chris Drury, and Marek Malik. The former two, young Ranger stars hampered by slow starts in their sophmore campaigns, while the two others had different incentives for a strong start.
Henrik Lundqvist, an individual clearly incensed at instances of imperfection, as is evidenced by the glare he shot at Brandon Dubinsky last night when the Panthers tied the game at one, kept the Rangers in the game with the clutch goaltending Ranger fans have come to expect from the 25 year old Swedish netminder. His focus and big saves last night point to performance far removed from his early season struggles from a year ago.
The Trumbull, Connecticut native and lifelong Ranger fan Chris Drury was on the big stage at Madison Square Garden for the first time in a meaningful game. The heavy weight of a city's longing for another Stanley Cup resting, at least partly on his back, Drury will be looked to all season for production both because of his successful history and because of the lofty dollar amounts next to his name on his 5 year Ranger contract. Sending home the rebound of a Jaromir Jagr backhand had to be a great release for the veteran center.
Petr Prucha's game tying wrist shot that found its way under the arm of Tomas Vokoun was huge both in its context in the game and in an equally important one for the young Czech. Last year, unable to find the back of the net despite often being in great scoring position with the puck, Petr became visibly frustrated at times. When he finally was able to get his scoring touch going in the ninth game of the season I'm pretty sure he either kissed his stick or thanked Jesus in heaven above for the help.
Obviously a tepid start would do nothing to boost his confidence.
Lastly, someone who probably sobs himself gently to sleep every night spent in New York from October until May, was in desperate need of some stability. Marek and his often non-chalant puckhandling often cause scores of drunken fans to bellow out a friendly "Malik Sucks" in between their seventh and eighth Budweisers. Malik, booed even during the pregame introductions for the season opener (which I thought ample cause to take away his skate laces)eventually got on the Garden faithful's good side as he racked up three assists and earned the game's third star. Somehow, intelligence filtered its way into the building and Malik was cheered for his accomplishments. Let's hope for his sake that the trend continues and Malik's occasional gambles are forgiven in exchange for his generally steady play.
This was clearly only one game but for four Rangers who constantly put pressure on themselves to perform to the best of their abilities, it was just the start they needed.
