So the Rangers weren't able to ride the waves off of the win over the Devils Tuesday. Some people want to give the Rangers a pass for last night, as the score was close, and it was on the road against the defending champs. But as it turns out, the Blueshirt have lost the second game of the last two back-to-back series they have played. They have five more of this kind before New Year's Day.

I don't think the game was as close as the 2-1 result would indicate, however. The Hurricanes hit FOUR posts. It appeared to me that the 'Canes were a few inches from making this a blowout, even with the Rangers getting relatively solid goaltending from Kevin Weekes.

They have another one of those back-to-backs coming up this weekend, with the Penguins up Saturday night in Pittsburgh, and then the Lighting visiting the Garden on Sunday. Tampa Bay are around .500 this year, but they have gone 4-1-1 in their last 6. The Pens, meanwhile, just recently snapped a 5 game losing streak with a win over the Flyers. These are two tough, but very winnable, games.

Here's the news:

NY Post: "We have to understand that now that we're playing better, it becomes even more imperative that we win these games," Tom Renney said after Rod Brind'Amour's goal at 13:55 of the third after a turnover following a Matt Cullen clean defensive-zone faceoff win provided the Hurricanes with the margin of victory. "We have to win these kinds of games because, if you lose, lose, lose when you're getting this type of effort, the belief system can break down."

NY Daily News: The Carolina chance that produced the opening goal was the result of one of the few Rangers defensive breakdowns of the game. Trapped up-ice on an attempted pinch, defenseman Karel Rachunek compounded his problems by chasing the puck rather than staying with his man, Craig Adams, early in the first period.

While this statement is true, Sandis Ozolinsh was cheating deep on the other side of the ice as well. Rachunek has to be a little more aware of who he is playing with, and better make sure someone is covering him.

NY Newsday: Ward attributed his turnover to "some confusion" and miscommunication with Fedor Tyutin. But Rangers coach Tom Renney said he wished Ward "had absorbed a check, had a battle over there, that's better than where it went."

Tomorrow will probably be pretty quiet as it is the second of two off days. But I'll check in if anything comes up.

HDH

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