Mess' Return Spoiled
The first time around, he was honored with a scoreboard
tribute that brought the former captain to tears. This time
there was no tribute, no crying, just a good ol' beating in
the form of an 8-4 win over Mark Messier and his infamous
Vancouver Canucks.
"It doesn't matter who is coming in," said Mike Knuble.
In Messier's second trip back to the Garden, there were enough
new Rangers in the old house who didn't treat the former captain
with such reverence.
"I was a mess last year," said Adam Graves, who seized the first
20 minutes by the throat, scoring two goals and almost single-handedly
killing a penalty to bring the Garden crowd roaring to its feet. "I
couldn't concentrate. This year was maybe a little bit easier.
But it was certainly exciting. And I know I was thinking
about this game for a while."
Fortunately for the Blueshirts, they pulled out the win
after stinking up MSG with a 3-1 defeat to Washington on
the heels of a spirit-lifting victory over the Red Wings.
With a quarter of the season left, the Rangers need every
point they can muster up if they plan on sneaking into the
playoffs.
Wayne Ties Gordie
How many more records can one man possibly have? Add another
one to the record books as Mr. Wayne Gretzky tied Gordie Howe
in total career goals combining regular season and playoffs
totals in the NHL and the old World Hockey Association with
1,071 goals as he scored one in the win over the Canucks.
'Nuff said.
