The Rangers closed their season and sent Sam Rosen off with a win. Unfortunately, New York only received one power-play, and failed to score, depriving us of "it's a power play goal" one more time. But Sam may have called Chris Kreider's last tally as a Ranger and could it be the same for Mika Zibanejad, who lit the lamp twice? The long offseason now has begun.
1) The game meant nothing to each team and had a pre-season type feel. Mika and Kreider got to have one more more moment together, appropriately paired by coach Peter Laviolette, for potentially just such an event. Much has been and will be written about both, so if this is the end, we at least got one more score, and then some, between the duo.
Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves to notch his sixth shutout of the season and 21st whitewash of his career. The 20 goals for Zib feels like the glass is less than even half full, given expectations and what was needed. Same can be said of Kreider's 22 tallies. At least they sent Rosen off a positive note. I am a big Mika and Kreider fan but the duo looks to have run its course, which is why a move is needed and will occur.
2) Rosen: Every Rangers player wore No. 40 in warmups in honor of Rosen's last game. In addition, MSG paid tribute - rightfully so - to hum much of the night, as did the team at the end of the contest. The final score, 4-0, was a perfect bookend as the numbers combined match the number of years Rosen was the voice of the Blueshirts.
I know Sam may have lost something off his fastball but the outpouring of emotion in every place he went is evidence to the classy manner he did his job and the people he touched along the way. The year did not go as well as it should for the Rangers but Rosen showed the same enthusiasm we have been privileged to have the prior 39 years. Hopefully next year, they raise a banner in his honor.
The New York Rangers honor the legendary broadcaster Sam Rosen by wearing his name and the number 40 for every year he's been the voice of the Blueshirts - including a patch with his iconic call of "It's A Power Play Goal!"@NYRangers | #NYRpic.twitter.com/e0C1iDIcZH
3) Breakup day is Monday, which is good as I am out of pocket for the weekend. Of course, that doesn't mean something might not happen then, but I expect we may have clarity on the coach's status by then. Others will have to wait. I am curious to find out who was banged up, besides Braden Schneider, who played injured all year, though that is far from an excuse for the team's overall collapse. But it could explain some of the declines in production.
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