It's been a few days and I'm still thinking about what happened and what could have been. It seems that I'm never really prepared for the end of a season.
First off.....congrats to the Pens and their fans. They won the series and advance to the Conference finals to face the Flyers.....be careful what you ask for.
I'm gonna take a few days off as I have been sick as a bird the last two weeks or so and need some rest, something I can't seem to get even while sleeping.
We'll have plenty of time to discuss what happened and what's going to happen in the off season. For now, a season ending "Beer Me" to all (even though I'm not feeling much like beer these days)
----}- Bird
The Rodent and I sat down and recorded a podcast last night. The first in quite a while.....get it now to help kill time between now and tomorrow's game five.
Get it here.
It's damn near 93 minutes long.
----}- Bird
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Give credit where it's due, Jagr is as good as it gets. Damn if he didn't deliver tonight. He was in on all three goals and IMHO was in on a lot more.
The boys gave me what I asked for........and I salute them for it! I am still proud to be a fan of the New York Rangers. I asked for a stick raise at MSG for a win and they delivered. A deal is a deal and no matter what happens from here on in.....I got what I asked for.
In addition, I now have hope for game five.......hey, it could happen.
Either way, your NYRs shutout an opponent when it mattered most......a standing ovation is in order! Congrats to Henke on a brilliant performance. Congrats to the MSG faithful who spurred it on. Hot damn, it's a series now.
That's not to say we got an A game tonight. The Rodent correctly points out..."To tell you the truth, I'd have awarded Malkin the goal which the replay did not conclusively resolve. But if I'm in stripes I'm pointing my arm at the net and am daring Toronto to overturn my ruling."
He's right ya know. That was a goal.
Even if it has to be the last time this year....(and I'm not so sure it is) ....
BEER ME !
----}- Bird
"It's not impossible," Jaromir Jagr said. "Let me tell you one thing - there's been millions of playoff series over the years, and you're going to forget a lot of them.
"You're going to remember maybe overtime of Game 7, or the Finals, but if you can do something special, people will talk about it forever.
"Outside this room, I don't think many people believe we can do it, and I don't blame them. What's important is that we believe. And I think we do."
My goal is set a bit lower....I want one win, tonight. You can't win 4 times in one night anyway. I just want one tonight....then we'll talk about the next game. I just want a next game.
See ya tonight.
----}- Bird
Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that forward Sean Avery suffered a lacerated spleen in Tuesday night’s game, and will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.
He was taken to St. Vincent’s hospital after the game, and was admitted following a CT scan. He is expected to make a full recovery during the off-season.
I hope for the best for Sean.
----}- Bird
There were times that I just wanted the coach to tap me on the shoulder so I could get on the ice.....and help. Don't get me wrong, I'm not suggesting that I have any ability at that level (or ever had), all I'm saying is that I felt helpless. I wanted to jump the guy who was roughing up Jagr in the first. Mara got there before me as my television screen prevented me from getting on the ice.
If the above seems silly to you, you might not be a passionate fan of the NHL. Most of you probably had the same feeling last night.
Jagr was a beast. If Thursday night is his last game in the NHL (not too far fetched from what I'm told) then I wish to say how proud I am to have him as captain of our NYR. The guy is a hockey player....and you know that's the highest compliment one can bestow on another.
I have popped onto a few message boards to read the posts and they are filled with anger, finger pointing and the like. I seldom see a comment on how well the Pens have played. You people know hockey better than that.
I will not be discussing next season. We have some unfinished business to deal with. I'm not suggesting a four game winning streak (hey, it could happen) but I am hoping for a win in game four. If this is Jagr's last NHL season, I want his last game at MSG to be a win. I want to see the sticks raised in victory one more time.....just because we can. It'll help take some of the sting away. Let the Igloo be the site for JJs last game. It seems fitting if in fact JJ plays in Europe next year.
Assuming this series ends with a Pens win, Hockeybird will take a few weeks off. I'm tired.
----}- Bird
That one hurt.
I'm not going to complain about the Hollweg penalty because in reality that shouldn't have had an impact on the outcome. Had the Rangers scored on their 5 on 3s, this wouldn't be a topic at all.
The Pens did what they had to in order to win the game, plain and simple. The Rangers tried.....I have zero issue with effort or passion. It happens, that's hockey.
Once again, hats off to the Pens and their fans......another win, fair and square. I have heard that the forth win is the hardest to get......and while I no longer expect a series win, I don't want to see this playoff series end at MSG. I don't expect the Ranger players do either.
Atta boys to the MSG faithful who did their part......same for the players. Some times it's not in the cards.
----}- Bird
