New York Rangers: Repeat Performances Needed

Sometimes it can be too easy to get wrapped up after an exciting win, but New York Rangers fans should know by now not to fall into that same trap.

We've all been there before and have all suffered through that same period of false hope, especially after watching a game like the one from Sunday night. We all think this could be the game in which the Rangers might finally put it all together and completely turn the season around.

The Rangers beat the Canadiens 6-2 with a complete performance from everybody on the team.  Starting with Henrik Lundqvist, to the usual contributors Marian Gaborik, and Vinny Prospal, to the rare secondary scoring from Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, and Chris Drury, the Rangers fought for a well earned victory at Madison Square Garden.

Even Wade Redden showed some fight—both figuratively and literally—as he dropped the gloves with Benoit Pouliot in the second period. The fight was only Redden’s second tussle in a Rangers jersey.

After virtually no offense in their last three games, the Rangers needed this type of offensive display in order to prove to themselves that they could win a game without having to rely solely on Gaborik. It should be said, Gaborik had a goal and two assists for his team-leading 18th multi-point game of the season.

But this win wasn't just about Gaborik's great play, it was about the effort of the entire team.

The Rangers need to continue working hard and getting to the front of the net to create chances. Because, according to Lundqvist, more often than not it leads to success.

"That is how you score goals in this league," Lundqvist said in an interview with Andrew Gross. "It is not breakaways, two-on-ones. A lot of times it is deflections; a big battle in front and you find the rebound and put it in. A lot of times that is how you turn things around, get a couple of dirty goals and then in the end get a couple of nice ones too."

If only the Rangers could play like that every game, this team might be a true competitor in the league. But as history shows, we are doomed to fall back to reality very quickly.

The Rangers will need more than just a few repeat performances in order to make a believer out of me.