CHICAGO – The Blackhawks’ 2008-09 slogan is, “One Goal.”
Perhaps that should be amended to include, “Plus Two Referees.”
Look, the Rangers have brought a lot of adversity on themselves this season, but the mindless, bush-league exhibition here last night by officials Mike Hasenfratz and Dean Morton was impossible to assimilate. The referees somehow saw their way to awarding Chicago five distinct five-on-three power play advantages amounting to 5:15 of time.
“I haven’t seen anything like this in my 15 years in the league,” Markus Naslund said after the Rangers somehow surmounted it all to register a 3-2 victory on Chris Drury’s overtime winner at 2:23. “But no matter what, we were able to maintain control of ourselves, and that wasn’t easy.
“Really, I don’t know what to say. It was a good win. Let’s just sum it up that way so I can’t stay out of trouble with the league.”
Hasenfratz and Morton made a mockery of the game. It was as if they were cops on the traffic beat needing to write their quota of tickets to satisfy their desk sergeant. True, the Blueshirts did get the winner on a power play of their own after an Andrew Ladd slash on Brandon Dubinsky, but as the television replay demonstrated, the obvious call was made only reluctantly.
“We battled so hard, but they just kept calling things,” said Henrik Lundqvist, whose team snuffed the first four two-man disadvantages and 10 of 11 overall. “I’m almost not enjoying the win, I’m so upset about the calls.”
Be assured, however, that the 27-15-4 Rangers did enjoy their third straight victory – very much so.
“It took all of our guts and courage to stick with it and not flip out too much,” said Drury, who tipped in Wade Redden’s drive for the winner after having gotten the Rangers’ first goal on a five-on-three one-timer in the second period.
“I think we’re developing an identity here. When we need to be gritty, we are gritty. We hang in there. We’re not a high-scoring team. We can’t walk 10 feet without being reminded about that, but if we’re a team that needs to win 3-2 or 2-1, then that’s what we’re committed to doing.”
The Rangers were committed last night to maintaining their cool, and to attacking Chicago’s talented power play personnel. Drury, Blair Betts and Fred Sjostrom were the primary killers up front, bolstered by the defense that operated a man short after Dan Girardi went down with an upper body injury after being jumped in the second by Cam Barker.
“They have so many skilled guys, you can’t sit back against them, and we didn’t,” said Lundqvist, beaten on the power play by only Brent Seabrook at 15:31 of the third. “So many times this year [the penalty kill] has been the best part of our team.”
It’s onto Pittsburgh now for a match tomorrow afternoon against the Penguins that will complete this tour on which the players’ fathers – “Let’s Go Rangers!” they chanted in the corridor outside the postgame room – are accompanying the team.
Last night, Mr. Betts, Mr. Sjostrom and Mr. Drury had the pleasure of watching their respective sons, shine. Tomorrow, maybe some of the other dads will get a chance to see their kids play a little bit.
Rangers 3 Blackhawks 2