Fuck.  That was a truly disappointing, anger-inducing game at the Garden.  The prospect of writing about it has my blood boiling already, but spewing out some Ranger related rants will hopefully help the rage subside.  After last night’s 3-2 loss to the Capitals, the Blueshirts head into Washington having split the first two games of their series.  But it woulda/coulda/shoulda went down a lot differently.  Two posts in the third period, one gifted goal, one bad call that led to another, and the list of Ranger-made mistakes is a long one.  We handed them that one, then tried to take it back, then had it stolen from right under our noses.  Infuriating stuff for a fan base that just wants to see one win come easily.  Is that so much to ask, Marian Gaborik?

So it’s blame game time.  Tossing blueshirted bodies under a bus is about the only thing that can quench my thirst for blood right now, so let’s start IDing the suspects for their crimes against Ranger nation.  First, Stu Bickel.  What the fuck were you thinking with that cross point pass?  You’ve played defense before, right?  I mean for fuck’s sake that was so goddamn ugly it made that child-fucking troll from yesterday look bangable.  Leaving MDZ, who could have done better breaking it up, back on an odd man rush is about the easiest way to ensure you’re going down a goal.  Take a seat, Bickel, you earned that pine pony ride.  Somebody call Steve Eminger stat!  And then came the swing play of the game – Kreider missing a post-penalty breakaway that would have tied it up at one, only to see it come back down and end up in the Rangers’ net.  Culprit on this one?  Henrik fucking Lundqvist.  Heavy is the crown, huh?  WHAT THE SHIT WERE YOU THINKING!?!  Get back in net, you’re worse with the puck than Bickel is.  Lazy thinking gifted them a chance and Washington took advantage.  This one was all on Hank so I can’t really fault the kid, but it broke my heart to see McDonagh kick that in.  Excruciating to watch, those instant replays were…

When the Rangers tied it up half way through the third, it looked like the stage was set for a comeback.  I was daring to dream of an 11 o’clock hour where instead of being insanely frustrated, I was insanely content being up 2-0 and watching Thunder Gun Express hang dong.  But no.  Ovechkin just had to score and salute the crowd with his hand cupped to his ear.  He just had to take that dumb little ‘Ovi Sucks’ chant and shove it right back down our throats.  Right off a lost face off, right after a shit call that should have seen the Capital player banished to the box for embellishment as well, right when it felt like things were turning our way.  Throw in a couple clanged posts here and a huge Holtby save there and wa-la!  You’ve got yourself a stolen hockey game, folks.  Despite never having led, we woulda/coulda/shoulda won that one.  Blame Hank, blame the basically invisible Gabby, blame Torts if it makes you feel better.  The only thing that’s going to make me feel better is a Game 3 win, and if the Rangers play with even half the anger I’m harboring right now, we’ll get it.  Until that happens, keep clear and leave me the hell alone.  Ugh, writing didn’t help shit.  I’m a ticking time bomb of misappropriated rage right now… @Osgood_StoolNYC