Rangers slide as slide hits three games

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS 4, NY RANGERS 3

CHICAGO — Losing two in a row qualifies as a collapse for the Rangers. Dropping three straight in regulation — as the Blueshirts have done for the first time all season Friday night after losing 4-3 to the Blackhawks at the United Center — means there is officially a race for first place in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference, with 15 games to play.

"It's really unfortunate, because I thought we took a real good step forward to get back as we can play," said Ryan McDonagh, who played a strong 22:52 of ice time. "To see him vanish there typically a flash is a difficult pill to swallow."

Rangers (42-18-7, 91 points) now lead the penguins (41-21-5, 87) by just four points after the shooting of 2-1 Pittsburgh win over Florida on Friday. The teams have two head-to-head matchups and the remaining feathers could bring the deficit right then and there.

The Blueshirts rightly felt good on their first 47 minutes in the Windy City. They outhit the Blackhawks 20 and 40 to 17 shots blocked, returning to the brand of hockey that has them at the top of the East. But they then collapsed into defense after taking a 2-1 advantage on goal by Brandon Prust with 12:47, remaining off a rebound McDonagh.

"I don't think we're not good enough to close it out," said Brad Richards, who has shown resilience Rangers ' scoring with 40.4 seconds to close the deficit to 4-3 below empty-netter by Patrick Kane. "We are giving them opportunities. So we know that we can solve the problem. That's why it's an 82 game season. "

As Tuesday in New Jersey and Thursday in Ottawa, though, it came down to a lackluster third period. The Rangers were outscored 12-5 during their three-game skid, including 8-2 disadvantage in the third period.

Patrick Sharp bound on a trio after Brian Boyle with the puck fell at his feet in the defensive zone and Ryan Callahan and mistreated with remaining 6:58. Then 01:01 after, Carl Hagelin has lost a battle along the wall and rap Johnny Oduya deflected slightly off Rod Callahan from Henrik Lundqvist and past (18 Saves).

The Rangers allowed only five shots in the third period on Lundqvist and the doorman "felt like we were close enough to a solid game here and getting two points, but let slip."

' Blueshirts came just three defeats in the first three games of the season — in overtime to the Los Angeles Kings in a shootout to Anaheim Ducks and regulation for the Islanders.

Friday night, played without winger Brandon Dubinsky (hand, breast) for a second straight game, and defender Michael Del Zotto (bruised right hip) for the second time in five games. The Blackhawks (37-25-7, 81 points), sixth seed in the Western Conference, were without their Captain Jonathan Toews (concussion). Toews is still firm but now ice skating.

A defiant John Tortorella insisted that the Rangers did what they had to do.

"If you look at the game, the third period of going our way," said Tortorella, denying that his team was tired at the end. "We are doing well. We have a defensive error, someone falls and ends up scoring, and then they get another one after that. No, there is no effort. We needed a couple defensive works and don't get 'em, but all in all I thought we played a good match. "

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News Update

' The hunger games ' set to eat the world

Hope you're hungry.

The first installment of the trilogy "the Hunger Games" movie hits in three weeks, and if you haven't heard of it, it will be soon enough. Big time.

Based on the novels by Suzanne Collins, the film is directed by Gary Ross is on pace to be the biggest pop culture phenomenon, since the series "Twilight" and "Harry Potter".

The film stars young actors Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth as a trio of guys struggling to stay alive in Panem, a dystopian society compels citizens struggling against death tribute, the live television.

In the real world, the fans are fighting only for tickets to see the film.

RELATED: ' THE HUNGER GAMES ' BREAKS ' TWILIGHT ' RECORD

The film is so strongly anticipated that the first day advance tickets were offered on Fandango, a month before the film's opening March 23, sales accounted for 83% of total Web site. Even more significant, these presale tickets from Fandango broke a record held by the third film originally im "Twilight Saga".

"The Hunger Games is off to a fantastic start," Rick Butler, executive vice president and general manager of Fandango, said. "We saw on the first day of the largest advance ticket sales in the history of our company almost 12 years — which is especially impressive for a release in March and a non-sequels."

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that a Fandango poll, "the Hunger Games" is the most anticipated of the year franchise.

Still, not everyone is aware of this new cultural phenomenon.

According to Robert Thompson, Professor of television and popular culture at Syracuse University, "if I walked out of my neighborhood, where there are very few young people and asked the first 20 people who saw what they thought about ' the hunger games ', my guess is that most would think it was a Special Olympics for people who needed food."

Thompson, however, does not believe that this is an ominous sign for the next film.

"I could have said what same on ' Twilight ' before the first movie came out," he said. "And now everyone knows what it is."

If cross-marketing is any indication of success, soon everyone will know "the Hunger Games" as well.

There is already a cookbook "the Hunger Games", jewelry, nail polish collection line of t-shirts, a workout routine, laptop, greeting cards, iPod case and, of course, a variety of action figures.

For Ben Lyons, correspondent for Extra and GlobalGrind.com, the appeal of "the Hunger Games" lies in its plot universally appealing both cast in the film.

News Update