Periods One & Two

—With only three sticks to be found among five skaters, the Rangers suddenly fell behind the Putty Cats 2-1 mid-way through the second period, revealing the same mysterious tendency to lose focus for long stretches during a game, and their over-reliance on Henrik Lundquist, which plagued them at varous turns during last season.

—I’m sure he’s a great guy and family man if you were to get to know him that way. But Joe Micheletti’s performance as a New York Rangers color commentator (Joe on Scott Gomez’s puckhanding abilities: “Look how Gomez skates away from everybody!”) continues to suggest that if you took him out on a boat to go marlin fishing he’d spend the entire trip describing the blue of the water.

—Marc Staal’s Mom, who, along with Marc’s Dad were briefly interviewed during the game — they’d driven the entire distance from Thunderhead Bay, Ontario to attend the game (with three kids earning NHL salaries they couldn’t splurge on Jet Blue?) — is a babe.

—My pre-game prediction of a NYR victory — NYR 4, FL 3 — is in jeopardy as we approach the third period.

Third Period

Prucha, Drury, Callahan in quick succession find the back of the net as the team recovers their legs and the feel for the puck. Holy sh#t! The Ranger talent depth is a reality.

Final

NYR 5

FL 2