Henrik Lundqvist had been the best player on the ice for the Rangers after 20 minutes making 15 saves in the first period. Lundqvist has seen plenty of rubber from the League’s most potent offense. Especially on the Sens powerplay which had been stymied on its first three opportunities.

Eventually the dyke had to spring a leak and the Sens scored on their fourth powerplay of the game when Dany Heatley notched his sixth of the season at 8:23 with Chris Drury in the box for delay of game. Seconds later, 17 seconds to be exact, the Sens went up 2-0 as Chris Phillips shot from the top of the faceoff circle changed directions on the way to the net and found its way behind Lundqvist. Faster than I can type these words the dyke has come crumbling down as Patrick Eaves moved in alone after scooping up the puck at the Sens blueline and scored his first of the year at 9:15.

That’s three goals in 52 seconds baby Blueshirts! The fastest three goals in Senators history.

Colton Orr and Brian McGrattan go toe-to-toe shortly thereafter. The heavyweights put on a great show and we’ll call that tilt a draw.  The fight fires up the Garden faithful but it’s the guys on the ice who have to follow Orr’s lead. After 40 minutes they are down 3-0.

Tonight marks the first time this year that the Rangers have allowed the opposition to score more than two goals in a game. The Rangers offense has yet to figure out Ottawa goalie Martin Gerber. The anemic forwards are 0 for 5 periods. That’s 100 minutes without a goal!

After having an easy time of it against the Capitals last night the Rangers battle the Beasts of the East tonight at MSG. Tonight’s game against the Ottawa Senators is a better barometer of what to expect from the Blueshirts this season. Coach Tom Renney isn’t tinkering with a winning formula and is icing the same lineup that disposed of the Caps.

Even though the Sens Big Three of Spezza, Heatley and Alfredsson lead the league in scoring rookie coach John Paddock opened the game with Mike Fisher slotted in between Heatley and Alfredsson.

Long-time Ranger goalie John Vanbiesbrouck was one of four inductees Friday night into the US Hockey Hall of Fame. The Beezer – the winningest American born goalie in history – compiled a 374-346-119 record in his long and storied career. Drafted by the Rangers in 1981 Vanbiesbrouck earned four AllStar game nods along the way and a Vezina Trophy with the Blueshirts in 1986 as the games best goalie.

Also joining Vanbiesbrouck into the Hall were Bobby Carpenter who played 28 games with the Blueshirts in 1986-87, one-time Diablo Aaron Broten and college coach John MacInnes.

Dear Scott Gomez,

I think I owe you an apology. You see, I was not at all thrilled when I heard my beloved Rangers signed you. In fact, I remember gasping in horror. I loathed you. I couldn’t bare to breathe your name. Instead I referred to you as “that Alaskan f*ck” (please note that I have nothing against Alaska or Alaskans. I’m sure you’re lovely people and I would love to visit your beautiful state one day. It just happened to be one of the only details I knew about you).

After this evening’s game, I decided to reevaluate my hatred. I came to the startling realization that I can no longer remember why I hated you. It is surely tied to the fact that you played on That Team Across the River. But I no longer remember what you have done to hurt me.

So tonight, after your first Rangers goal and an all-around fabulous effort, I have decided to extend an olive branch. Keep those points coming and I will be your biggest fan in no time– but screw up tomorrow night and you’re dead to me!

Welcome to New York

Jaromir Jagr set up all the goals the Rangers would need to win this game. With three first period helpers Jagr – 1532 points for his career – led the Blueshirts (2-2) to their second straight home victory while Washington (3-1) had their first taste of defeat this season.

Jagr set up powerplay goals by Scott Gomez (1:33), Martin Straka (13:26) and Michal Rozsival (17:59). After being AWOL against the Islander Wednesday night the power play dominated tonight’s game. In total the Blueshirts scored on three of eight chances with the man advantage. By contrast, the Capitals after scoring on one of two powerplay chances in the first didn’t see their third powerplay opportunity until late in the third period. Two more powerplays had Ranger fans on the edge of their seats. With Kolzig on the bench for an extra attacker – on top of the man advantage – the Caps swarmed the Rangers net but the D stood tall and Lundqvist made the late saves to seal the Caps fate.

Next up for the Blueshirts is the defending Eastern Conference Champion Ottawa Senators. The Sens, smarting from a 5-3 loss to the Canes Thursday night, will try to avoid back-to-back losses since they…uh…choked in the Cup final last spring.

Blueshirt star of the game as brought to you by rangerspress.com is who else but the Captain himself – Jaromir Jagr. Having passed Paul Coffey on the all-time scoring list Jagr can now set his sights on another retired defenseman – Ray Bourque. The Bruins great ended his career with 1579 points. Jagr should be well clear of that mark by the All-Star game.

Until next time baby Blueshirts…puck on!

After peppering Olaf Kolzig with 20 shots in the first period the Blueshirts kept firing at will in the second throwing another 17 shots at the beleagured Caps goalie.

Both teams had great chances and the action was end to end. The one bit of nastiness occurred midway through the middle stanza when Brian Pothier took a vicious slash against Ryan Hollweg’s ankle. There was no call on the play as none of the zebras on the ice saw Pothier’s stickwork. MSG faithful let Pothier and the refs hear about the non-call by chanting something that rhymes with glass bowl.

It looked like the Rangers added to their total as Tomas Fleischmann was sitting in the box with 3:02 to go in the second. Fedor Tyutin blasted one from the point on the ensuing faceoff but the goal was waved off following review after it was determined that Petr Prucha deflected it with a high stick.

Michal Rozsival scores on the powerplay late in the first to put the Blueshirts up 3-1. Cheating in from the blueline, Rozsival took the feed from Jagr at the side of the crease for his second goal of the season. Chris Drury picked up the other assist on the goal scored at 17:59.

John Erskine picked up a double minor for high sticking at 10:47 and the Blueshirts capitalized (pun intended) at 13:26 to go ahead 2-1. Martin Straka picked up Marcel Hossa’s rebound and scored from a near impossible angle off the side of the net. Hossa and Jagr picked up the assists.

Earlier Alexander Ovechkin had tied the game at 7:46  to atone for his earlier penalty by putting one upstairs past Lundqvist while the Caps had the man advantage. Mike Green did all the work on the play to feed the Caps superstar inside the hashmarks. Former Blueshirt Tom Poti picked up the second assist on Ovechkin’s goal.

All four goals in the game have come on the powerplay.

Jagr’s third assist moves him past Paul Coffey into 11^th place on the NHL’s all-time scoring list.

With Ovechkin in the box for tripping seconds into the game Scott Gomez has finally showed the Blueshirt faithful why he will be a player to watch this season. Taking the feed from Shanahan, Gomez scored his first goal since crossing the Hudson with all his millions to put the Rangers up 1-0 at 1:33 of the first. Jagr collected his third assist of the season on the play.

Former Ranger Michael Nylander was welcomed back to MSG with a chorus of boos.

Glenn Anderson and Rick Middleton were signing autographs this morning for the grand opening of the awkwardly titled NHL Powered by Reebok store on 6^th Ave. Anderson was nattily attired in a Rangers jersey while Middleton inexplicably showed up in a Bruins jersey. If the NHL really wanted to move merchandise they could have had Anderson change into a Leafs, Oilers or Blues shirt every few minutes.

The Stanley Cup also made an appearance with fans lining up outside the store waiting to have their picture taken with the Cup. Another line was formed of fans waiting excitedly for autographs from said alumni and yet another line was formed with fans hoping to unlock their dreams and win NHL merchandise and memorabilia. Fans also had a chance to test their trivia smarts for prizes and pose alongside the Zamboni parked on 47^th Street.

Even the weather cooperated this morning as it was cold and windy leaving the XM satellite girls shivering in their t-shirts.

Michael Nylander will be back tonight, only he’ll be donning a Caps jersey instead of a blueshirt. The Swedish center slipped away in the off-season when he and the Rangers couldn’t come to terms on a deal. Instead, the Rangers went for the younger Drury and Gomez. So far this season Nylander has a power-play goal and a game-winning assist while Gomez has no points and Drury has a goal and two assists.

We’ll have to wait and see tonight if Jagr and his new linemates can get it together against Olie the goalie and the Caps or if Nylander and his new partner Alex Ovechkin (who is looking to score his 100th goal) will dominate the blueshirts.