In the previous two Ranger wins (3 and 4 games ago, respectively) of this Quarterfinal grudge-match-turned-personal, Henrik Lundqvist was the game's no. 1 star both times. Since then, the King has stepped down from his throne in the 4-0 beating and 5-3 mockery delivered by the Ovechkin-fueled Capitals, having been pulled in the third period of Games 5 and 6.
The Washington Capitals have rode the individual successes of their reigning-MVP superstar, Alexander Ovechkin, into the post-season, featuring huge individual effort and heavy scoring. The Rangers have rode the successes of their NHL-leading penalty kill unit, centered by work-a-holic Blair Betts, into the post-season. Our catalyst superstar was strategically removed from the Roster, at the cost of projected ~12:30 ice time to an easy scratch in Donald Brashear. What if, (and depending on the outcome of tonight's finale, there may be plenty of "What if's" to write about in the coming months), one of our low-minute goons returned the courtesy and eliminated the Capital's catalyst for success?
Not to suggest that the Rangers should target no. 8 with a violent Brashear-like career-ending hit, but merely "What if?"..
With the Artem Anisimov call-up (Anisimov being the sooner-expected Next Big Thing out of the Broadway), we will have exhausted the dugout and now sit staring at our loan batter goaltender with our hands grasped and eyes solemn. With an empty bullpen, a ravaged play-book, and destiny still in our heroes' hands, we sit with one last opportunity after whiffing two.
Strike 1 whizzed by the plate while the Rangers just stood there, dumbfounded.
Strike 2 was fouled into the stands (directly behind the away bench at the Verizon center).
Now it is the bottom of the ninth and we are tied up.
Last chance. Make this one count.
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