The Rangers were their own worst enemies and in the playoffs that will get you golfing sooner than later. One of the great things about this years Rangers team is that they seem to have the ability to turn the page and prepare for the next game overnight and not to dwell on a tough loss. Even though last nights loss stings alittle as two huge mistakes led to Capital goals by the leaving the crease and hesitation by the King Henrik Lundqvist (he didn't want to touch the puck outside the trapezoid for a penalty, we get it but when the goal is left open and a situation like that happens you have to take the penalty) and Brad Richards taking a penalty right after the Rangers just killed off a penalty that led to Ovechkin's game winner.  Now it's time to focus and get ready for game 3 in this now best of 5 series.

The Capitals coach is playing a game of cat and mouse in which he is sitting his top players which then gets him the matchup on the fly that he is looking for. It gets Ovechkin, Semin, and the boys alot less time than they used to get, but it has gotten them the home ice advantage as of now. Of course it wasn't just that which caused the Capitals to win, but it was easily a part of the puzzled that Hunter has put together. The Rangers all season have been a third period team and last night it seemed like the Capitals were fresher as the game wore on. It showed by the Rangers taking penalties late in the game that the Capitals "capitalized" on for the win.  Brian Boyle came back last night after missing 3 games with a concussion. It caused a change in the lines and put Anisimov on the bench for all but alittle less than 5 minutes.I know that Rangers coach John Tortorella is a finalist for the Jack Adams award for Coach of the Year, but not using Anisimov and his big frame against a large Capitals team might not seem like a great move by some. Maybe Anisimov got banged up or injured that hasn't been reported but I would think this series would motivate the Rangers Russian. 

We have all seen through his tenure that coach Tort's makes up his lines as the game goes on depending on who he thinks has the "juice" to get it done that night. There have been lines that are steady, but last night there were alot of changes on the fly. Why not stay with the lines alittle longer and relax alittle as this team has shown that it can figure ways out to beat teams just by doing the little things for the team concept.

Carl Hagelin---Brad Richards---Marian Gaborik/Chris Kreider--Derek Stepan--Ryan Callahan/ Artem Anisimov--Brian Boyle--Brandon Prust/ Mike Rupp--John Mitchell--Ruslan Fedetenko.  That Rangers third line can play defense, score, and wear down an opponent. The 4th line doesn't get used by Tort's so it is what it is. Once in a while add in one of the 4th liners into the 3rd line but let the top 2 lines do their magic. Sometimes shaking things is does just that to your own team, shakes their confidence. Play your game RANGERS and keep taking it ONE SHIFT AT A TIME!!!

LET'S GO RANGERS!!!!!