Mar 19, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; New York Rangers left wing Rick Nash (61) celebrates his goal during the second period at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

What a good hockey game. Honestly, those were my first thoughts after the game. All around that was a very good hockey game to watch. The Rangers winning was just icing on the cake for me. I don’t have too much time and should get back to studying, so let’s quickly get to some thoughts.

• Henrik Lundqvist was great this game. He followed up a very good game last night with an even better one tonight. He’s slowly getting back into 2011-12 form.
• Johan Hedberg wasn’t too bad either. His save on Hagelin was highway robbery.
• Michael Del Zotto followed up his best game of the season with another very solid performance. A few weeks ago I thought maybe the Rangers should try to trade him if they could get a nice return. Well I don’t think they can afford to trade him right now, especially with Staal outta the lineup. His goal was also really nice. Great job batting it in and even better decision to jump into the play while short handed.
• Ilya Kovalchuk scares me like no other ever Devil has. Every time he has the puck on his stick he can do magical things.
• Wasn’t a great game by Rick Nash but he got the game winning goal. That’s why he’s a game changer. He can be having a so-so game and suddenly he pops up outta nowhere and gets a goal.
• Note to Brad Richards: Hit. The. Net.
• I think the Rangers finally have their lines set. Took them more than ha;f the season but they finally have chemistry throughout the lineup.

Rangers are back at it Thursday against the Panthers and a win would be very nice. They’re back in the 8th spot in the east and need to climb higher in the standings.

Be sure to follow me on twitter @Bluelinestation

Mar 18, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Carolina Hurricanes goalie Dan Ellis (31) gives up the winning goal to New York Rangers center J.T. Miller (47) in a shootout at Madison Square Garden. Rangers won 2-1 in shootout. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Just everything about this win was ugly. The start, the finish, the goals that were scored, the goals that weren’t… The Rangers fought hard though, and came away with two points.

• Rangers need to stop giving up the first goal. This will be the death of them if it continues.You can’t be playing catch up every single game you play. You end up chasing the game. Sure, some nights you win, some nights you lose, but you win more by scoring first in this league.
• What’s with the terrible first five minutes to these games? Not even 30 seconds in, Gaborik takes a tripping penalty. The Rangers had the puck in the offensive zone as well. Very frustrating to watch this team do the same stupid things night in and night out.
• Shout out to Michael Del Zotto tonight. Kid did everything in the game. He was nifty and getting his shots on goal in the offensive zone, and he was hard on the puck in the defensive zone. Maybe his best game of the year and he didn’t have a point to show for it.
• Can’t believe the Rangers had to unintentionally bulldoze Dan Ellis to score their only regulation goal tonight. Offense was better, but they can’t finish anything at the moment.
• Brad Richards sort of looked like Brad Richards of old tonight. Don’t really know what else to say on that note.
• Rick Nash’s goal in the shootout was Forsberg-esque. It’s unfair the moves he can pull off with the reach he has. Reminds me of Eric Lindros. Big dude that can pull off little man moves.
• JT Miller’s shootout goal on the other hand I wasn’t even sure was legal when I saw it live. Coulda sworn he went backwards at one point, but he really did a half moon around the crease. Really ugly that he lost the puck though in the beginning, but that’s why he scored in the first place.

Be sure to follow me on twitter @Bluelinestation