Adam Herman at Blueline Station has a great write-up on Sean Avery's veteran move to snap his stick before a defensive zone face-off yesterday to buy his linematches some extra time to catch their breath after a long shift...

"It's stuff like this, or the stick flailing against Brodeur, that makes people hate Sean Avery. He knows what he was doing. The Capitals knew what he was doing. Everyone watching the game knew what he was doing. And the refs knew what he was doing. Yet what could anyone do about it? It's sort of like the movie Ferris Bueller, where Principal Rooney knew exactly what Ferris Bueller was doing, only he couldn't really prove it or do anything about it. If Pavel Datsyuk or Shane Doan does this then everyone talks about what a "veteran move" it is and how it's just another reason they're great leaders. But Sean Avery does it, and everyone wants to punch him in the face because of it."

Here's the video...



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Dan Steinberg at the Washington Post reports that Bruce Boudreau dissed Madison Square Garden and Rangers fans following Washington's 3-2 loss to the Rangers in Game 3...

"Well, the one thing, its reputation is far better than the actual building," the coach said. "I mean, it's nothing. The locker rooms are horrible. The benches are horrible. There's no room for anything. But the reputation of being in Madison Square Garden is what makes it famous. Also, our building's a lot louder, too. So I mean, they can say what they want, but it's not that loud in there."

...the sad thing is Boudreau is probably right. Which is why MSG is currently under-going renovations. Boudreau didn't even mention the rat droppings that have been reported in the concession areas.

...as far as the loudness of MSG versus the Verizon Center again Boudreau is probably correct. Because ticket prices are so high the real fans are priced out meaning corporations are filling those seat with non-hockey fans. Having said that with the Rangers winning last night I expect MSG to be absolutely rockin' on Wednesday night.

...would love to see Rangers use this quote during Game 4 to get the fans in a frenzy.

...h/t to Steve Zipay.

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The NYRBlog reader Chris sends me this pic of his Rangers themed breakfast. As Chris told me, everyone needs a little Rangers in their diet to start the day...


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...thought this was just an awesome goal cam pic of the Rangers celebrating their Game 3 victory.

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...as replays have proved Toronto made the right call.

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Bergen Record
- Rangers beat Capitals, 3-2, in Game 3 at the Garden
- Sullivan: Brandon Dubinsky had to be the one to bring N.Y. back from brink
- Coach miffed over his Caps, officials’ calls
- Rangers notes: The goal that got away

New York Post
- Narrow Capitals' lead in series with win
- Rangers beaten . . . by clock
- Lundqvist digs in come crunch time
- Dubinsky center of attention
- Prust tactics get 'pest' of young goalie
- Caps need to think outside the penalty box

Daily News
- Rangers make it a series with Game 3 win
- Dubi declares 'stache stays
- Bondy: No stars, Rangers rely on grit

Bergen Record - Rangers get back bounce

New York Times - Rangers Strike on Late Error by Capitals

Newsday
- Dubinsky's goal lifts Rangers past Caps
- Struggling Dubinsky comes through
- 'No goal' was correct call
- Staple: Rangers turn 'Oh, no' to 'Yes!'

Wall Street Journal - Late Goal Breathes Life Into Rangers

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Updated, 10:13 p.m.:
Here's John Tortorella's post game presser...



Original Post:
Rick Carpiniello at the Rangers Report has these post game quotes....

Brandon Dubinsky:

"We just battled in the corner there and we converged there and I just was able to get the puck to myself. I was trying to bring it hard to the net and I saw Danny coming in the back door. I just thought if I jammed, he'd come in and help it. A fortunate bounce over the goalie and into the net.

"I thought we were better than we were in the first two games. We took the body and were physical all night. We got our forecheck going. We were able to make more plays, I thought, and get more shots and bring more pucks to the net than we have in the first two games."

Ruslan Fedotenko on the disallowed goal:

"We didn't put our heads down. Just, 'Let's go get another one.' I thought we had pretty good life in the lockerroom."

Brian Boyle:

"That's big. As angry as you were after Games 1 and 2, and all those redundant questions we had to answer, it's good that we can be happy with this one. But it's the same mindset. We're going to focus on Game 4. We'll enjoy this, just like we were angry about the other ones, but Game 4 now."

Vinny Prospal:

"We only scored one goal in the previous two games combined, so you have to do something to manufacture offense. I mean, the overall team effort is always good, and Hank gave us a chance every night. We just have to manufacture some offense as well."

Dan Girardi:

"I just think we played a better overall game. We played our game. Getting on bodies, cycling down low, using behind the net there to create some offense. When we do all those things right we have a chance to win every night, and it helped us win tonight."

Henrik Lundqvist on feeding off the crowd:

"Absolutely. It's just a great feeling to be back here and play playoff hockey in front of our own fans. It's been two years. That's why you work hard all year. You want to be here and feel ghat excitement, atmosphere. I love it.

"I feel a lot of pride to be here right now. You work hard all year to be here. I took it very personal last year when we didn't make it. I felt I could have helped the team more."

Here are Game 3 highlights:



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The New York Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals by the score of 3-2, today. The Capitals now lead their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal matchup 2-1. For a recap and box score go to Yahoo! Sports and newyorkrangers.com.

...we have a series folks!!!! Not sure why it took two games for them to find the formula that's worked all year but better late than never I guess.

...and setting the tone right away was the Avery-Boyle-Prust line. They pretty much announced right off the bat this this was going to be a different Rangers team than the Caps had seen so far in the series. Torts got away from Avery late, but now is not the time to complain.

...apparently all you need to snap out of a funk is a porn star moustache. Biggest goal of Dubinsky's young career.

...the reason you have vets like Prospal on the team are for playoff games like this. He's been there, knows what it takes and is in the right place t score a big time goal tonight.

...goals like that from EC make me more mad than happy. Please use that amazing wrist shot more often!!!!

...defense did an outstanding job of pinching today and keeping numerous pucks in the offensive zone. Haven't seen that much offense being initiated by the Rangers defensemen all year. Really liking Gilroy's game right now.

...between the missed shot on the 5-on-3 and the penalty late in the third that lead to Knuble's goal Gaborik is lucky the Rangers won today because he would have been the goat big time.

...if the Rangers had any semblance of a power play they'd make life a lot easier for themselves in these close games.

...not a ridiculous amount of work for Hank today, but he was there when needed.

...15 of 19 in the faceoff circle for Drury. No, he's not needed. That's sarcasm folks.

...got to assume the players fed off the energy of the Garden Faithful because MSG was rocking.

...the series takes Monday and Tuesday off and then right back at it on Wednesday for Game 4.

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Update, 2:15 p.m.:
For John Tortorella and Bruce Boudreau pre-game thoughts click here.

Here's video of Boudreau (via The Blueshirts Blog)...



Original Post:
The New York Rangers host the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series at MSG starting at 3:00 p.m. Washington leads the series 2-0. For a preview go to Yahoo! Sports.

Rangers Game Notes

TV: NBC; Radio: 1050AM ESPN Radio, XM 204

Probable Lines:
Fedotenko-Dubinsky-Gaborik
Prospal-Anisimov-Stepan
Avery-Boyle-Prust
Wolski-Christensen-Drury

Staal-Girardi
McDonagh-Sauer
McCabe-Gilroy

Goaltenders:
Henrik Lundqvist - 0-2, 1.76 gaa, .920 sv%, 0 so.

Michal Neuvirth - 2-0, 0.43 gaa, .980 sv%, 1 so.

Opponent Notes:
- Michal Neuvirth has stopped 46 of the 47 shots he's faced in the first two games.

- Washington has blocked 53 shots in the series so far.

- Five times the Capitals have led a series 2-0 in thier history, and four times they failed to advance.

- The Capitals are 1-for-4 on the power play in this series.

- Alex Ovechkin had a team high six hits in Game 2.

Eastern Quarterfinal Series Schedule:
April 13 Rangers 1, Capitals 2 (OT) at Washington
April 15 Rangers 0, Capitals 2, at Washington
April 17 Rangers vs. Washington, 3 p.m.
April 20 Rangers vs. Washington, 7 p.m.
April 23 Rangers at Washington, 3 p.m.*
April 25 Rangers vs. Washington, TBD*
April 27 Rangers at Washington, TBD*
* -- if necessary

Opponent Blog:
Rock the Red

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