Red Wings Drop Rangers 3-1, Dec. 6th '09

Game Highlights:


After putting up a heroic effort, making some brilliant saves in the first two stanzas, it was a goal-line shot from Dan Cleary that put the Red Wings on top.

I can't really blame Henrik Lundqvist for letting in a shot like this after some of the saves he made earlier in the game. The Rangers skated good as a whole, but were maybe a half-a-step behind Detroit for a large part of the beginning of the game. Also look at the power play for blame. The Red Wings gave the Rangers three juicy opportunities in the third period on the power play to make the game 2-1 before Cleary did, but the Rangers just couldn't capitalize.

* Brian Boyle scored a text-book tip-in from Chris Higgins. I had yet to see Tortorella put these two together and hopefully he builds on their speed/creativity.

* Ales Kotalik missed on a wide-open net in the first. Sean Avery missed on a wide-open net in the third. Ryan Callahan missed on a penalty shot. Very hard work but no finishing - sound familiar?

* Overall - an immensely frustrating loss for a team that could keep up with Detroit's battle, miss two open nets, and then lose to a bad goal.

* Kudos to John Tortorella for playing Sean Avery on the Gaborik/Prospal line!

Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan Callahan, Sean Avery Post-game:


John Tortorella Post-Game: