A Post, a Kick and a Penalty Bounce Rangers in OT versus Detroit

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

The post came in the first period, when Marc Staal made a great move to the left, beat Jimmy Howard, but hit the near post and the puck bounced away.

The kick also occurred in the first period, as Justin Abdelkader redirected a pass from Henrik Zetterberg into the Ranger net with what appeared to be his skate. The refs on the ice allowed the goal, because it looked like he swung his stick at the puck and that is what put it in the net. They took a look at it in the War Room in Toronto and lo and behold it came back as a good goal.

Surprised by that Ranger fans, well I am not. Every 10 times a disputed goal that involves the NY Rangers goes to Toronto to be looked at, eight times it comes back with the Rangers on the wrong side. This was just another example of that bias generated by the NHL. I can count on the fingers of one hand, how many times in the last 3 years that the War Room in Toronto has sided on the side of the Rangers over disputed goals. It even cost them Game 2 of the Cup Finals last year, when a CLEAR GOALIE INTERFERENCE was NOT called and the subsequent replay in Toronto did nothing.

The Rangers find themselves on the losing end of these arguments ALL THE TIME!

The penalty in question took place with 46 seconds left in regulation as Derek Stepan was called for a hold on Gustav Nyquist, as the Red Wing clamped his elbow down on Step’s arm to keep it there. This was a very borderline call to say the least and to call it at that time in the game was completely a “hometown call”.

This gave the Red Wings a power play at 4-3 since Justin Abdelkader and Derick Brassard were already in the box for coincidental minors of hooking and slashing.

This penalty carried over into the OT and saw newly acquired defenseman Marek Zidlicky score a crazy goal that bounced off of Ryan McDonagh and Cam Talbot and into the net.

A post kept a goal from being scored, a kick helped a goal be scored and a penalty gave the Red Wings the ability to score the game winner. Home town calls at their best last night at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit for the Detroit Red Wings cost the Broadway Blueshirts that extra point. I just hope that extra point DOES NOT come back to HAUNT the Rangers as they fight for the top spot in not only the Metropolitan Division, but the Eastern Conference as well.

Scoring:

DET: Justin Abdelkader (14), Assisted by Henrik Zetterberg & Jonathan Ericsson

NYR: Dan Girardi (3) PPG, Assisted by Rick Nash & Derick Brassard

OT: DET: Marek Zidlicky (5) PPG Assisted by Pavel Datsyuk & Henrik Zetterberg

Team Stats                              NYR                              DET

Shots on Goal                         40                                  31

Power Play                              1 for 3                           1 for 2

Hits                                         15                                  21

Face Off Wins                        25                                  33

Giveaways                              8                                    8

Takeaways                             4                                    7

Blocked Shots                         14                                  6

3 Stars of the Game:

3^rd Star: Rick Nash: 1 Assist

2^nd Star: Marek Zidlicky: 1 Goal

1^st Star: Jimmy Howard: 39 Saves on 40 Shots for a SV% of .975

Goalie Stats:

Jimmy Howard: 39 Saves on 40 Shots for a SV% of .975

Cam Talbot: 29 Saves on 31 Shots for a SV% of .935

Broadway Bits:

Dan Boyle played in his 1000^th NHL Game

Dan Girardi continued the scoring of Defensemen, as he notched his third goal of the season

Both Rick Nash (22) and Derick Brassard (38) notched Assists in the game

The single point that the Rangers took away from this game propelled them back into first place, as they now have 85 points on the season.

39-17-7 in 63 games is where the Broadway Blueshirts stand

They are tied with the Islanders in points, but have 2 games in hand

They are four points in front of Pittsburgh

They are five points in front of Washington with 2 games in hand

The Rangers do not play again until Sunday evening in Chicago, as they face-off against the Blackhawks at the Madhouse on Madison at 7:30 on NBCSN