NEW YORK CITY -- Greetings from Floor 6 of the place they call "The World's Most Famous Arena.'' I don't agree with that at all.
Everyone knows the National Car Rental/Office Depot/BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise is more famous and has a name that rolls off the tongue. Seriously. Take a poll of your friends and neighbors. They probably think the Bank is more famous than MSG as well.
Panthers are coming off a hard-fought 4-3 shootout loss to these Rangers on Friday night. Rangers are coming off a 4-3 shootout win over these Panthers on Friday night.
So there you go.
Will be back online from my seat down low in the Garden, checking back throughout the game. Will also keep those who care about football current on those scores as well.
See you soon....
-- Trying to get The Goldie Report going today, but with the Giants playing, he might not be paying too much attention.
-- Was hoping to hear Steve Murphy -- our very own Bill Murphy's brother -- sing the National Anthem hear at MSG today, but he must be busy. Alessandra Guercio gets the honor today. Did get to hear Steve a few days ago when we came up for the Rangers-Luongos game. Good show by Murph II. Fans at MSG dug his rendition of both anthems.
UPDATE -- UPDATE -- UPDATE
-- Guess who's back in net? It's Andytown. Craig Anderson makes second straight start for the Panthers today; Lundqvist in for the Blueshirts.
GAME ON -- GAME ON -- GAME ON
-- First Potvin Sucks chant at 36 seconds. He ain't here today kiddies...
--Note: Rangers have won past three against FLA at MSG by 12-3 score...
-- Florida on the power play, NY's Aaron Voros into the box for slashing at 1:33
-- Two shots on power play, none get past Lundqvist...
--Rangers on the power play not with 11:54 in...Nick Boynton heading to the box, feeling shame...cross-checking...not that there's anything wrong with that...
-- Panthers survive the PP...
-- Going to have some time off in DC tomorrow....suggestions? Thinking about some Smithsonian action...
-- Will have a Goldie Report coming up in the first intermission. Basically will give Goldie his voice back since FSN decided not to broadcast this game. Also, Tuesday's game against the Caps is blacked out because of the idiotic Versus ban. Will be LIVE! from the phone booth starting around 7 on Tuesday.
--5:17 left in first...shots: Rangers 12-8
-- If you have never watched a hockey game at Madison Square Garden, put it on your to-do list. I've said it before, will say it again...this is a terrific atmosphere...great place....
END OF ONE AT MSG-PLUS, PANTHERS-RANGERS SCORELESS....
And now, another On Frozen Pond exclusive, the ever-popular Goldie Report, where TV play-by-play guru Steve Goldstein offers his thoughts on the Panthers when he's not broadcasting. Today, Goldie comes 'live' from Bokampers in Plantation:
I love the effort and energy today by the Panthers. They've played physical, evidenced by Keith Ballard's hit on Ryan Callahan. And Anderson has made key stops when the Rangers have put on the pressure.
I personally like Pete DeBoer going with Anderson in goal today and it paid off in the first. I just hope David Booth isn't hurt as he took a hard shoulder from Dan Fritsche.
I also like having Shawn Matthias between Nick Tarnasky and Anthony Stewart. This is a winnable game, but the Panthers MUST convert chances into goals. I give them an A for effort in the first. I hope the team is getting DeBoer's message of 'play hard or you won't play.' I like that.
START OF SECOND -- START OF SECOND
-- Florida gets its third power play chance of the game...Wade Redden into the box for hooking at 3:09...
-- PS: Think it's a little telling that David Booth is wearing an 'A' today and Jay Bouwmeester still is not?
--Ville Peltonen just had a terrific chance stopped by Lundqvist...could come back to haunt them...
PELTONEN MAKES THIS ONE COUNT...GETS PASS FROM DVORAK IN FLA ZONE, DRIVES UP ICE AND BEATS LUNDVIST..ITS 1-0 PANTHERS AT 9:55 OF SECOND....FLA 1, NYR 0
--Nueva York on power play...Jay hooks Markus Naslund at 12:44
GREAT WORK BY FROLIK AND WEISS TO GET PUCK OUT, WEISS GETS PUCK IN AT 16:01..PANTHERS LEAD 2-0
WHAT IN THE HECK? GREGORY CAMPBELL CHARGES IN, BEATS LUNDQVIST 12 SECONDS LATER...IT'S 3-0...AND LUNDQVIST IS GONZO...
--Wonder is Lundqvist pulled himself like he did the other night against the Luongos?
-- Fans cheer announcement that it's the final minute of the period...Dos Minutos!
END OF TWO IN NEW YORK...IT'S THE PANTHERS DOMINATING, UP 3-0...AS GOMER WOULD SAY, 'SURPRISE, SURPRISE!'
-- Don't run away just yet, more Goldie coming up!
The Goldie Report from Bokampers: Great effort continued in the second period resulted in three goals! Henrik Lundquist was chased out of the net by Peltonen, Weiss and Campbell goals. As I stated in my earlier report, the Panthers had to cash in on some chances and they did. They also limited New York's chances and Craig Anderson had had a relatively easy time of it. The effort has been great and not suprisingly the results follow.
Twenty minutes left and that's a long time. The Cats can't sit back and let the Rangers gain any momentum. The Campbell, Peltonen, Dvorak line is playing super two-way hockey the past few weeks.
Thanks Goldie. Have fun in Plantation....
HERE COMES THE THIRD -- THIRD PERIOD -- THIRD PERIOD
MAKE IT 4-0...MICHAEL FROLIK CLEANS UP ON A REBOUND SENT VIA STEPHEN WEISS...NOT A PRETTY DAY IN NEW YORK INSIDE OR OUT...
--OK kids, going to make a prediction and say the Panthers win this one. Going to pack up and head downstairs in a bit. Thanks for joining us today. Hope you enjoyed yourself. Also, big thanks to Goldie for checking in during his football game.
Will have more post game (taking the train to Washington tonight), including an update on David Booth's injury status. Be sure to check back in later today/night.
Drive carefully everyone. Peace in the Big East!
UPDATE: Here's Goldie's final report. Was in the locker room when he sent it to me. Thanks again...
Wow is a good word to sum up the Cats Sunday afternoon shutout. Pete DeBoer's message of playing hard or you wan't play and his sense of mediocrity being unacceptable is starting to get through to his team.
Anderson, Campbell, Peltonen, Weiss and Frolik are all making things happen on offense.
A huge confidence boost to win at MSG where the Cats usually struggle. It now sets up a big game at Washington Tuesday. Perhaps This team is finally starting to come together with four straight games earning points. And the games have been fun to watch! Funny how that happens when you win and have late comebacks!
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