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Rangers Flirt With Disaster, Win Game 4 |
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Twenty years to the day that the NY Rangers defeated New Jersey 4-2 in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final. New York captain Mark Messier, who had guaranteed the win, scored a natural hat trick that night. The Rangers went on to beat Vancouver for the Cup.
On Sunday night at MSG, the Rangers found a way to overcome adversity. They are now heading to Montreal with a commanding three games to one series lead. They will look to eliminate the Habs on Tuesday night.
The Rangers committed five penalties while they were 200 feet from their net.
All told, New York took eight penalties combined. Benoit Pouliot rung up for holding the stick just 30 seconds into overtime.
The Rangers are lucky that they won Game 4. Championship teams can't make a habit out of taking eight penalties in a playoff game.
Thankfully for the Rangers, the Montreal Canadiens have been putrid on the power play in this Rangers series. Their entries haven't been good, their recoveries have been, and they are not getting pucks on Henrik Lundqvist. Rebounds have been an issue too.
Penalties not withstanding, the Rangers found a way to overcome their poor discipline and to win Game 4 when soon-to-be 39 year old Marty St. Louis scored the 3-2 overtime winner.
Montreal rookie goalie Dustin Tokarski has made several ten-bell save on St. Louis previously in the series. Not the case on the OT GWG when St. Louis buried a Carl Hagelin high cheese, glove high.
Thanks, NBCSN
Carl Hagelin and Derick Brassard scored on breakaways.
The Rangers now take a 3-1 series lead to Montreal.
Thanks, NBCSN
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Edgars Kulda went through the entire NHL draft last June. His name was never called. The Edmonton Oil Kings left winger is currently ranked #145 by Central Scouting for the 2014 NHL Entry Draft in Philly In late June. Kulda has been full value for his Oil Kings at the Memorial Cup tourney in London. So much so that his stock is climbing by the hour with the NHL Scouting Combine about to commence in Toronto this week. Suffice to say, Kulda is a fast riser and played a leadership role for the Memorial Cup champion Edmonton Oil Kings. The native of Riga, Latvia scored four goals in five Memorial Cup games. He excelled on both sides of the puck and in all three zones. At 6’0 and 180, Kulda can fly up and down his left wing.
Kulda has flown under the radar in Edmonton largely due to the fact that the Oil Kings are loaded with stars like Curtis Lazar, Griffing Reinhart, Mitch Moroz, Henrik Samuelsson, and Brett Pollock.
I’m happy for Kulda. He’s risen above the adversity and sadness of losing his great friend and fellow Latvian Kristains Pelss, who drowned accidentally in Latvia last June. Pelss was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers and was a member of their AHL club in Oklahoma City.
Its easy for me to get behind and cheer for a kid like Kulda. He could have easily regressed after being passed over at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. The sudden death of his friend Pelss no doubt weighed heavy on his heart.
He’s not the most talented player, nor is he the most deftly skilled. However, NHL scouts like Kulda’s drive, determination, skating, shot and nose for the net. Scoring 30 goals in the rough and tumble Western Hockey League is no small feat. Kulda has scored 30 goals this season.
The Buffalo Sabres have 13 first and second round draft choices in the next two entry drafts. Tim Murray should invest a 2014 second rounder in Kulda. He'd look great riding shotgun for Zemgus Girgensons for the next ten seasons.
Ted Nolan knows a thing or a hundred about getting maximum performance out of young players. Especially Latvian players.
Kulda was named MVP of the 2014 Memorial Cup tournament. He scored 4 goals and added 3 assists in 5 games played.