Saturday, May 5, 2007

And I thought 34 seconds was bad...

Try 8 seconds.

The New York Rangers certainly did.

And, unlike the Shark game which only tied the series up at 2 - 2, this game was the pivotal game 5.

How pivotal? Well, when two teams head into Game 5 with the series tied up at 2 apiece, the winner of it goes on to win the series 80% of the time.

That is a real stat, not just one of my made up percentages for dramatic effect.

The Rangers broke a scoreless game and grabbed a 1 goal lead with less then 5 minutes to go. The home Buffalo crowd was stunned silent. This series would end in 6; the Rangers would close it out at home.

Chris Drury, who is not only my favorite non-King hockey player but also happens to be one of the most clutch players in the NHL come playoff time, buried a game tying goal with 8 seconds left, also burying the Rangers in 6 theory.

Maxim Afinogenov made it official in overtime, scoring the game winner just a few minutes in.

How quickly the tides can turn. One minute you are cruising to victory, not only in the game, but likely in the series; and the next, you are on the brink of elimination.

Please try and tell me there is anything better than playoff hockey?