By BOBBY BISCUIT

The Rangers played strong on Wednesday and quite frankly the game would have been reconciled in regulation had the Lightning not set up a great play in the final minute of the 3rd period. Nevertheless the Rangers hung on, dominated most of the overtime session and took the contest in the shootout. This was a very physical bout in which the Rangers held their own. The Lightning never missed a chance to paste one of the Ranger rearguard against the back wall on their forecheck and finished their checks all over the rink, once prompting Colton Orr to drop the mitts and jump Evegeny Artukyin. The Rangers gladly killed the penalty for their mate and composed themselves from there, but this was important to see them stand up against this type of assualt.

In any event they will look to build on this effort tonight in Florida against the Panthers. They hold the lowest point total in the Eastern Conference (tied with Atlanta) and have lost 3 of their last 4. Who knows if the Rangers will show up at the drop tonight but hoefully they will and can start a new run here and close out the month strong.

TOTAL: is 5 and I am holding true to the formula. This is made easier by the fact that the Panthers have themselves a solid golatender in Tomas Vokoun.

FEATURED YOUNGSTER: Nathan Horton is a good young all around player. However, he just inked a big contract so I am going to feature a skill forward whose boyhood idol was none other than Jaromir Jagr. He wears number 85 and is 23 years old, look out for Rotislav Olesz this evening. He is having a dissapointing season thus far but the skill set remains so he can have a big game any night.

GO RANGERS

BB

Tonight is Game 10 in the Progressive Betting of the Rangers and a win will put The Dean up 30%. They won Game 9, so we stand at +27%. The Ducks will be up 21% with a win tonight.