AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > April > 12
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Rangers earn Game 1
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When Kari Lehtonen decided to just drop that rebound in the crease, leading to the Rangers’ fourth goal, I said to myself, “Self, I hope this doesn’t end up being a one-goal loss.”
Well, sure enough, it was … although, frankly, the Rangers outplayed the Thrashers for most of the night. But that fourth goal is exactly the kind of goal that has been driving us crazy all season. The puck gets up around Kari’s chest, and instead of catching it, he acts like there’s a mosquito buzzing around his chin and swats the puck down to the ice at the side of the net. Easy rebound goal.
And that was the difference.
The Thrashers mounted a tense and furious attack in the final minute, but they spent so much time passing the puck around and then settled for a long shot from the blue line with too much traffic in front of the net. It looked like the Norman Dale offense — pass it off four times before you shoot.
The final scramble was close, but they couldn’t poke one in. And now we have to win four of six. Certainly not undoable, though not preferable. Though the Rangers pretty much controled this game, it wasn’t so dominating that we have to feel like there’s no way the Thrashers can win Game 2. If anything, the way the game played out, it showed that either team could win any game.
On the plus side, I loved Belanger’s goal … but I really loved his casual celebration, as if to say, See guys, no problem. And Dupuis showed again that he comes to play 60 minutes. I thought the physicality was adequate, there were a lot of big hits.
So we clean the ice off and prepare for Game 2. I wouldn’t even begin to suggest that this series is decided after this loss.
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