Sad Day in NY as Rangers Bow Out

Ponikarovsky may be on way out after terrible playoffs.

The New York Rangers lost their third straight game and with it their secound round series last night. The Rangers finished fourth overall in the league this year and there were great hopes that they would make it to the conference final and possibly to the Stanley Cup final but it was not to be.

Ultimately the Rangers lost their season to the mighty Panthers power play. As is often the case in the the playoffs it was special teams upon which the series turned. The Panthers were absolutely leathal on the power play scoring 8 goals on 17 chances for a shooting percentage just under 50%. The Rangers on the flip side could only convert on 28% of their chances.

Goat Horn Awards:

1. Alexei Ponikarovsky

The undisciplined play of the young winger was a sight to behold. While contributing 5 points in 11 games he also managed to tally 78 - yes 78 PENALTY MINUTES - in just 11 games. With the Panthers feasting on the Rangers on the power play Ponikarovsky just kept handing them chances. In the final game he was demoted to the third line and still managaged to get 20 minutes in penalties! It's entirely possible that the Rangers may have won the series without Ponikarovsky in the line up.

2. Jocelyn Thilbault

8 Games - 3.47 GAA - .870 GAA

The Rangers made an early season move to get Thilbault with an eye towards the playoffs. When the playoffs came they went with Thilbault's experience and leadership over Dunham's excellent regular season performance and paid the price. He was eventually pulled in favour of Dunham but was put back in when Dunham got hurt. Then he proceeded to let in 5 goals on 27 shots in the final game.

Playoff Hero Awards:

1. Pavel Bure

11 games - 10 goals

The Russian Rocket was an unstoppable force. He was the most dangerous player night in and night out as he scored goals in bunches and flew all over the ice.

2. Rick Nash

12 games - 5 goals and 5 assists.

Despite playing on the third line the young sniper put up 10 points and was a major factor in every game. A breakout playoffs that Ranger fans are praying is just the tip of the iceberg!

3. Mario Lemieux

12 games - 3 goals - 9 assists - 12 points

Although the Rangers had hopped for a little more from Le Magnifique he provided consistent offence though out the playoffs and led the Rangers through a tough series against Carolina. He also steadied them amidst hard knocks against the Panthers such as losing Daniel Alfredsson and Mike Dunham.

The "What If" file:


What if: Daniel Alfresson had not been suspended?

What if Mike Dunham had not been injured in game 5?

These are the two question that will haunt Ranger fans for years to come. Even though Patrick Stefan was knocked out with an injury on the Alfresson suspension the series turned in favour of the Panthers. When Dunham was finally handed the reins in game 4 he perfomed admirably but was knocked out in game 5 - a game which the Rangers lost. A look at his stats suggest that he would have been been tougher on the Panthers than Thilbault was. He finished with 7 games a 2.21 GAA and a .916 GAA.

It's impossible to know if these to events hadn't occured what would have happened. The Rangers may still have lost but odds are the Rangers would have fared a bit better. Then again maybe not. Ranger fans can only wonder and agonize for the rest of the off season.