Duballahan for President!

Let’s hear it for Brydon Duballahan!

Duballahan throws hits like his house is on fire. Duballahan blocks shots on the penalty kill with sheer fearlessness. Duballahan had four points in this game, to boost his team-high count to 24 points. Duballahan is the reason the Rangers are winning games sans superstar Marian Gaborik. Duballahan is our all-American hero. Duballahan is the Rangers’ heart and soul, and the future of your New York Rangers.

Alright, I guess we’ll give Artem Anisimov some credit, too. Good job, buddy.

As I was saying…

Ryan Callahan has been on a steady, uphill climb for a while now. I’ve forgotten how many times I’ve yelled out, “Callahan for President!” because, really, who wouldn’t want this guy running your country? He never takes a game off, or even a shift off. Mr. Extra Effort Award has shown time and time again that he understands what it means to Be A Ranger. I have never questioned Cally’s work ethic, but I’ll admit I was never his biggest fan. I used to think he was too much of an automaton, and that he really only did what we expected of him (which, admittedly, was a lot). When he won the extra effort award last season I was disappointed, because Callahan had not performed “above and beyond the call of duty”—he had merely continued to fulfill our stratospherically high expectations of him. This season, though, I finally boarded the Callahan-Is-God bandwagon, and I’m never ever getting off. I knew, when Callahan was at long last rewarded for his relentless efforts with a goal against the Devils last Sunday, the floodgates had finally opened. Callahan is that rare player that has the skill to play top-line minutes, the incredible work ethic that endears himself to the fans, and the guts to tell it like it is. Cally has really grown into a leader for this team, and as much as I do like Chris Drury, I’m looking forward to the day where Ryan Callahan gets to wear that “C” with the pride and responsibility that it warrants.

Oh right, Dubinsky. Dubi, Dubi Dooo!

Did you know that MSG now has a Brandon Dubinsky goal skit/video/song? HELL YES! They played this random little “Dubi Dubi Doooo!” ditty on the Jumbotron tonight after his second goal. I just about died. On the subject of dying, I probably would have dropped dead of a heart attack right then and there if I had been at the Garden for Dubinsky’s first career hat trick. Even so, Dubinsky’s diving clear in the final seconds of the game undoubtedly sealed the win for the Rangers tonight. The Garden roared after that play, and my heart soared. (See what I did there??)

I was indescribably proud to walk around in my Dubinsky jersey tonight. The personalized, way-too-big Dubinsky jersey that my grandparents hand-delivered to me in summer camp four years ago (they didn’t make Dubinsky jerseys yet at the time) was certainly not the only Dubinsky jersey at the Garden tonight. But it used to be. People were down on Dubi a lot, especially when he held out for a higher contract last year.

Well, what were you all saying about Dubinsky again?

To be honest, I never really expected Dubinsky to be more than a fifteen goal scorer. I knew he had the guts, but I didn’t know that he had the skill. Now I know it’s still a bit early, but…

DUBINSKY FOR THE HART TROPHY!

…Nah, I’m just kidding you.

DUBINSKY FOR MY HUSBAND!

…Nah, I’m just…okaymaybenot.

In all honesty, I’m proud of ya, Dub. Keep making me proud.

Some other notes on tonight’s game:

-Remember when Dan Girardi totally spazzed in the last minute of the game and gave the puck away to the Blackhawks, and then took a penalty? I don’t, because I’m pretty sure I stopped breathing at that point. Aside from that, Girardi continues to dominate with the ridiculously awesome shot-blocking. His chin must be made of steel or something.

-Brian Boyle and Brandon Prust were the last Rangers players on the ice during warm-ups today, practicing a cute little give-and-go. Just thought I’d mention that, because those two have also been stellar for the Rangers this season, both in the points and effort departments, and they certainly got their support from the Garden Faithful tonight. (Kind of makes me nostalgic for Blair Betts and Freddy Sjostrom.)

-Derek Stepan's not doing so well because Glee is not on this week. It happens to the best of us. He’ll be back to his rockin’ self next week, when there’s a new episode.

And finally… You can’t believe I rambled on for this long without mentioning you-know-who’s game winning goal, can you?

Oh, Erik. I was all ready for you to slowly fade into obscurity. Now, it’s going to be even more painful when El Capitan finally re-returns.

As it turns out, I missed Erik Christensen's beauty of a goal because I was tweeting on my phone. (Somebody shoot me, please.) But I watched it again after the game, and it turned out to be a typical, point-blank Erik Christensen shot. This guy has skill, believe it or not. I know he doesn’t deserve to be on the top line, but I’m going to have a hard time seeing him with no line at all. At least he upped his value in Tortorella’s eyes with this timely goal.

I really, really like Christensen. The odd thing about him is that he seems to respond to pressure by slowing down, not speeding up. Most people mistake his apparent lethargy for apathy, but in reality I think it stems from lack of confidence and frustration. Last year, he couldn’t sleep at night when he missed a shootout opportunity. This year, he told Larry Brooks: "I go into every game wanting to score five points and if things don't go my way, I get ticked off and almost start working against myself. I have such high expectations of myself, that I make the mistake of not staying positive.”

One thing I can say for certain about Erik Christensen: He cares a hell of a lot.

And that can definitely be said about the rest of the New York Rangers these days. Let’s just hope that when Gaborik, Drury, and Vinny Prospal finally do return, the Rangers still play with the gritty, passionate heart that they’ve displayed thus far.

Edit: Oh, and that guy in goal played pretty well, too. Forgot his name. Henrik something? Oh well, it's probably not important.