Justice Served in Big Apple

The New York Rangers handed out some big city style justice on the Chicago Blackhawks last night after the 'Hawks got away with robbery two nights ago.

The Rangers had gone down 4-3 despite outshooting the 'Hawks 41 - 32 in Chicago and, as has become the expected with this team, controversy reigned. It seems that the wrong line up had been given to the referees before the game and, therefore not all players were dressed and some were not put on the lines on which they normally play. The team put in a valiant effort and coach Roger Neilson was evicerated in the media for his clerical error.

The Rangers, with the correct lines intact, came out flying last night. Young defenceman Jonathan Girard poked the puck off the stick of star winger Petr Sykora and buried a wrist shot at the 48 second mark. The team never looked back as they rolled to a 7-2 victory.

When the smoke cleared Taylor Pyatt had two goals (for 11 total and 18 points in 20 games since joining the Rangers), Mike Dunham had notched his 17th victory raised his save percentage to .911 and dropped his GAA to 2.5, and Alexei Ponikarovsky had turned in a dominant two point +3 effort.

After several tough seasons, a brutal start, and a roster overhaul the Rangers are starting to look as though their string of victories is no fluke. Dominant defence, goaltending, and opportunistic scoring have been the norm for the last 25 games and the crowds are starting to return to Madison Square Garden to see their heroes play.

On a related note David Burns was declared officially recovered from the nervous breakdown he suffered in Toronto earlier this season.