Players To Watch
by Matt Pennino
Players To Watch
Opening Nightmare
One year ago, on opening night, the Rangers began the 2002-03 season with an emphatic 4-1 win over the previous year’s Eastern Conference champs. At the time it was at optimistic moment in an otherwise disappointing sixth straight season without the playoffs. By contrast the 2003-04 season opener was anything but optimistic. The Rangers blew a 3-1 second period lead with three goals against in eight minutes and a listless performance that made light of the preseason talk about new systems and a new dedication to defense.
At the final whistle, the Rangers had given up five goals to a team that was missing their four top scorers from the previous season and went a miserable 0 for 8 with the man advantage. Of the three goals the Blueshirts did score, two were from sharp angles and were the result of fortunate deflections that beat the otherwise steady Dwayne Roloson in net. All in all it was a night of disappointment for fans and team members alike.