Sports: The New York Rangers

Attending a New York Rangers game in Madison Square Garden is a great experience.  Attending a Stanley Cup playoff game there is priceless.  Rangers fans are intensely loyal and loud.  During the game, the atmosphere inside MSG is high voltage and emotional.  While New Yorkers disagree about a lot of things, Rangers fans agree that their team is great. 

The Rangers hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins for Game 3 of the NHL Eastern Conference first round.  The series was knotted at 1-1 and Game 3 was the first home game for the Rangers.  The Blueshirts played well for 2 periods but faltered in the third period and lost 3-1 (with an empty net goal).

During the game, Rangers fans were kind enough to voice their concerns about Penguins center Sidney Crosby:

• "Crosby, you can't pass wind!"
• "Look at Crosby fight.  He's hitting the other guy with his purse!  I think it's a Michael Kors."

Let's go Rangers! 

Welcome to home of the New York Rangers, on of the original 6 NHL teams.  Can you quickly name the other 5?

Welcome to Rangerstown

Welcome to the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 1, Rangers v. Penguins in MSG, Game 3

Panoramic view:  Rangers v. Penguins, pre-game warm up (4/19/2016)

 

Rangers v. Penguins, pre-game warm up (4/19/2016)

 

Rangers v. Penguins, pre-game preview with projection mapping on the rink and synchronized lighted bracelets in the crowd

More projection mapping on the rink

Rangers v. Penguins:  Opening face-off (4/19/2016)

Cool stuff:  A rally towel for every fan, plus a remotely controlled lighted bracelet.  The towel came in handy to sing the cheer following the Rangers' two goals.  Unfortunately, one goal was disallowed following the Penguins coach's challenge of a missed offside call.  The lighted bracelets were synchronized to glow different colors before and during the game.  For example, during the singing of the national anthem, the bracelets glowed red in the lower ring of seats, white in the middle ring and blue in the upper ring. 

P.S.  The NHL "Original Six" (1942-1967) are:  the New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens.