Rangers 3, Capitals 2 (shootout)
A few too many highlights from this insane night at the Garden, New York winning their 5th straight (their longest streak in 4 years) and further establishing their status as CSTB’s “Most Exciting Team In The Tri-State Area That Wears Ice-Skates”. Jason Ward’s short-handed goal (the Rangers’ first of the season), Jed Ortmeyer (above) scoring off Dominic Moore’s rebound in the 2nd period…. Alexander Ovechken’s incredible sliding stop on Ortmeyer’s breakaway in the 3rd….Jaromir Jagr losing his illegal stick in OT (presumably borrowed from Sammy Sosa)…Lundquist and Kolzig putting on a clinic during the shootout …..culminating in Marek Malik’s preposterous between-the-legs winner in the 15th round, his first goal of any sort in 44 games.
This was a brain-fryer of the first order, and coming in the same week as Michigan State/Gonzaga’s hoops masterpiece, there’s not much else to say other than those who’ve paid their cable or satellite bills this month are for once, getting their money’s worth.
these shootouts must stop. there used to be something special about the penalty shot. this sucks. makes overtime redundant too (and I was never the biggest fan of that either). a tie is a tie is a tie.
I’m not quite sold on having the shootout in the NHL, either, but the shootout in last night’s game sure was fun to watch. Jason Strudwick’s do-or-die goal in the 14th frame of the shootout (if he doesn’t score, the Rangers lose right then) followed by Malik’s goal was like having two bottom-of-the-ninth home runs in the same night.
as you pointed out on sidearm delivery, Malik’s “whatever” reaction to the goal was almost as incredible as the shot itself