Rangers Looking for First Hat Trick

The New York Rangers season is off to a bit of a rough start. True it is only
nine games old. And, although,with a 3-5-1 record in those nine games all hopes of a
great season are not lost, things need to change.

One thing that really needs to change is the offensive, ummm, offensive production.
For example the Rangers to this date in this infantile season do not have a player whe
has had a hat trick. "Well most teams don't" you might say. But you miss my point(Yes
there is one). The vaunted, heralded, insert other adjectives here, offense isn't as much
as looking for a player to score three goals in a game. They are still waiting for someone,
anyone, to notch his/her third goal of the season. With names like Jagr, Drury, Gomez,
Shanahan, Straka, Avery and, Prucha among the corps of forwards one would think that
at least one of them would put the puck in the net at least once every three games.

Heading into last night's game three Rangers were tied for the team lead in goals scored.
Scott Gomez and Michael Roszival were joined at the top with injured teamate Martin
Straka, all having two goals apiece. Ranger fans were on the edge of their seats, some more
prominent than others, as to who might take a stranglehold on the inter-team goal scoring
lead. Instead of someone among the names up on the marquis taking the lead, another name
joined them. One who nobody outside of the MSG broadcast booth could have even thought
capable of joining this illustrious triumvirate.

Last night's first minute goal by Nigel Dawes was the first goal for the Rangers after being
shutout the previous two games by Boston and Pittsburgh. Dawes repeated his feat roughly
55 minutes later to finalize the scoresheet for the evening. This is where it gets fun though.
Dawes' second goal gave the Rangers 2 goals aggregate in the three games. Henrik Lundqvist
did not allow a goal against Boston for 65 minutes (He gave up one in a shootout), and allowed
a second period powerplay goal against the Penguins. Lundqvist shutout the Devils last night.
So over the course of three games Lundqvist allows one goal and has a 1-2 record to show for his
troubles.

So the Rangers head into a Saturday evening at the Garden that will be brought to you with all the pomp and circumstance with the announcement of, "Madison Square Garden presents the New York Rangers and the Toronto Maple Leafs", with the incredible sub plot of, WHO THE HELL IS GONNA STEP UP AND START PLAYING SOME DAMNED HOCKEY!!1!!!1!