Magic In The Making?

Nobody gave the NY Rangers much of a chance to beat the Buffalo Sabres in Round 2 of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Admittedly, after going down two games to none in Buffalo, I was even starting to downgrade my expectations.

Then something magical happened. The Rangers started to figure Buffalo out. Their neutral zone play and relentless forechecking is starting to wear on Buffalo's young talented forwards. If Buffalo had a stud puck moving offensive defenseman, the Ranger gameplan probably wouldn't work, but without time to skate with the puck, the Buffalo forwards are turning the puck over with alarming frequency. This leaves time of puck control decidedly in the Rangers' favor.

Now, I don't know if the Rangers will advance past Buffalo. This series has the makings of a 7 game grindfest. But, unless Buffalo figures out a way to come with speed through the neutral zone into the offensive zone (which they did a few times in the last 10 minutes of Game 4), they are in danger of getting bounced.

And if there is a better goaltender than Henrik Lundquist in the NHL right now, I certainly don't see it. Henrik is absolute money between the pipes.

Lets go Rangers!!!