Your New York Sports Blog

After playing a home and home Tuesday and Thursday night each team came out with 1 win a piece. The Rangers, however, came out with the slight edge accumulating 3 points to the Islanders 2. The 1st game on Tuesday night went to the Islanders who won the game 4-3 in a shootout taking the shootout 2-1. It was a disappointing loss for the Rangers who were playing in their home, Madison Square Garden, and who were facing the Islander's backup goaltender Wade Dubielewicz. With both teams rallied the next game moved to the Coliseum.

After beating the Rangers Tuesday night Wade Dubielewicz earned a 2nd start against the Rangers. This time the angers got off to a quick start scoring 1:29 into the 1st period on a breakaway goal from Brendan Shanahan. The Rangers notched one more goal that period and that was all they would need. The went on to take the game in regulation winning 4-1 and goals by Shanahan, Avery(2), and Gomez. Henrik Lundqvist had a spectacular game stopping 26 of 27 shots and gave him his 30th win of the season.

This was the 3rd straight year Lundqvist won 30 games which is only the 2nd time in NHL history that a goalie won 30 games in their 1st 3 seasons in the league. Lundqvist has been amazing all year and even though he has had some bashers who are quick to jump the gun he is only 26 and one of top goalies in the whole league. Ron Hextall is the only other player who can say they won 30 games in their 1st 3 seasons and Henrik is likely to get a 3rd straight Vezina nomination for the best goalie in the league.

Overall it was a great home and home leaving the Rangers in 6th place with 79 points and the Islanders in 11th with 71 points 5 points out of 8th.

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