Game 1 of the Rangers' first foray to the Stanley Cup Finals since 1979 is marked by a resounding "ding," as Brian Leetch rang a shot off the crossbar above Vancouver Canucks goalie Kirk McLean with about 45 seconds remaining in the first overtime period.
Pavel Bure chipped the rebound past Jeff Beukeboom, and Cliff Ronning rushed after it, and Greg Adams followed to his right, with only Esa Tikkanen back. Ronning gained the zone, got to the left circle, then slipped the pass to Adams coming through the middle. Adams ripped it over Mike Richter's glove and under the fateful crossbar for a 3-2 overtime win, giving the Canucks a 1-0 series lead.
What's probably most painful about this game is that the Rangers dominated, forcing McLean to make 52 saves, including 17 in overtime. Steve Larmer scored 3:32 into the game, and the 1-0 lead held up for almost 42 minutes before Bret Hedican, acquired from St. Louis in the Petr Nedved fiasco in March, tied it. Alex Kovalev untied it at 8:29, but a Martin Gelinas deflection of Cliff Ronning's shot at 19:00 gets past Richter, the third last-minute tying goal the Rangers have allowed this playoff season. In fact, three of their four overtime games were created by allowing a last-minute goal.
Those with nervous stomachs will be happy to know that the Rangers won't play another overtime game this year.
VAN 0 0 2 1--3
NYR 1 0 1 0--2
(Vancouver leads series, 1-0)
First period--1, NY Larmer 6 (Kovalev, Leetch) 3:32. Penalties--Wells,
NY (cross-checking), 1:47; Linden, Van (tripping), 2:26; McIntyre, Van
(roughing), 8:05; Lowe, NY (roughing), 8:05; Craven, Van (slashing), 10:35;
Beukeboom, NY (interference), 15:54.
Second period--None. Penalties--Messier, NY (hooking), :20; Lidster, NY
(tripping), 8:49; Courtnall, Can (interference), 13:18; Momesso, Van
(goalie interference), 16:15; Beukeboom, NY (high-sticking), 19:34.
Third period--2, Vancouver Hedican 1 (Adams, Lumme) 5:45. 3, New York
Kovalev 6 (Leetch, Zubov) 8:29. 4, Vancouver Gelinas 5 (Ronning, Momesso)
19:00. Penalties--None.
Overtime--5, Vancouver Adams 6 (Bure, Ronning) 19:28.
Penalties--Momesso, Van (roughing), 9:31; Gilbert, NY (roughing), 9:31.
Power play opportunities-- Vancouver 0 of 5. New York 0 of 1. Goalies--Vancouver, McLean 13-5 (54 shots-52 saves). New York, Richter, 12-5 (31-28). Att--18,200.
Mike Fornabaio -- mef17@oocities.com
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