Gretz Round 1 Game 2

[JiriHrdina]

A couple teams rebound,

A couple teams are in trouble.

Day 2
9 LIGHTNING 2 PANTHERS 1 (2OT)
10 THRASHERS 6 CANADIENS 2
11 PENGUINS 3 HURRICANES 0
12 RANGERS 4 CAPITALS 2

[OILFAN #81]

THRASHERS TAKE A 2-0 SERIES LEAD!

(AP - Montreal)

There were alot of similarities between game 1 on Tuesday Night and game 2 Thursday Night in the Thrashers first round series vs the Montreal Canadiens. The Thrashers won game 1 6-4 and followed it up tonight with a 6-2 win. The main similiarity was the strong play of the duo of Robert Lang and Shawn Horcoff. The two combined for 7 points in game 1 and followed it up with 6 points in game 2.

"Again it feels great to contribute. Robert, Scott and I have had success these first two games and it's great that our line is generating offense. We got 5 of the 6 goals tonight and that feels great. The biggest thing is just to get the win and head home up 2-0. We have a couple big games in our building now and we want to put more pressure on them and win the next game." - Shawn Horcoff

Another similarity was that the Thrashers offensive output chased goalie Tomas Vokoun from a 2nd straight game. Vokoun was pulled after giving up the 5th goal.

The Canadiens opened the scoring on a Keith Tkachuk goal but 1 minute later the Thrashers tied it up as Shawn Horcoff scored with 40 seconds left in the period. The second period was all Thrashers. The Thrashers scored 3 goals in 3:14 to take a 4-1 lead. Robert Lang scored the first 2 of those while Martin St.Louis converted a beautiful passing play to make it 4-1. Kimmo Timonen made it 4-2 late in the 2nd. The 3rd period saw Scott Walker and Shawn Horcoff score two more goals to put the game out of reach.

"I'm happy the way we played tonight. I thought Marc bounced back in goal after a mediocre game 1 and our offense was there again tonight. Lang and Horcoff are really producing offensively and St.Louis has done well in these first two games too. It feels good to be in that underdog position as the pressure is on them. We came into this building knowing it was going to be a tough atmosphere and to go home 2-0 is huge for us. We are only half way there though. We are still looking for two wins against a good club. We know they will come out hard the next two games in our building." - Thrashers GM Sutaria

[MJK]

Oh well I have me some Northern Lights to watch! Good job TB...I obviously can't compete!

If you beat me I will be cheering for you!

[Goffie]

Kolzig and Spezza both rebound after subpar game 1 performances to lead the Pens to victory. Spezza scores a goal and sets up another, Saku Koivu and Andrei Markov both have huge games as well. Kolzig shines stopping all 25 shots he faced for the shutout, after struggling in game 1. This series now heads back to Pittsburgh deadlocked at 1-1. Game 3 is gonna be a good one, as this series is shaping up to be a battle.

[Knut]

Caps outshoot the Rangers, but lose..

Series is at 1-1 ... going to be alot of close games i think.

Schnieder is expected back next game.

[Hanna Sniper]

[flambers]

Rangers 4 - Capitals 2

Unlike the first game, this game was much closer in shots. The key item for the Rangers was to get a Win in one of the first two games. This was accomplished with a great effort by the team.

Game Stars
1 - Miroslav Satan (RAN)
2 - Jason Williams (RAN)
3 - Chris Osgood (RAN)


Chris Osgood has badly outplayed his counter part so far in the series. The key question is will it continue?

The hardest working player today was Andy Sutton, Andy had 3 assists and was +2.

After the game MacT announced this is the first time in the series that the lineup is now 100% heathy hopefully that continues.

Rangers predict this will be a tough series ...........

[droopydrew19]

Originally Posted by MJK

Oh well I have me some Northern Lights to watch! Good job TB...I obviously can't compete!

If you beat me I will be cheering for you!

This series is far from over. You spurned the hockey gods heading into it and it cost you 2 games.

Gotta love Karma. Will the real Panthers please stand up?

[MJK]

Bah! The hockey Gods can kiss my a$$!

[flambers]

Originally Posted by MJK

Bah! The hockey Gods can kiss my a$$!

Never give up.... I still would bet your series will go 7 games.

[MJK]

Ya it might. I am not giving up but I seriously don't mind if I lose contrary to what most people think.