It wasn't just the fact that Ryan Callahan scored the Rangers first goal of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs Thursday night that earned him the coveted Broadway Hat following the Blueshirts 4-2 victory over Ottawa. It was his all-around game---called a "monster performance" by teammate Brian Boyle---that landed Callahan the Broadway Hat.
"He played physical and a real good all-around game, just like usual," said Marian Gaborik. "He proved it again tonight---scored that big first goal, and that got us going. He does everything for us."
Callahan opened the scoring 12:01 into the first period, burying a rebound of Anton Stralman's shot. The goal was the seventh career playoff goal in 28 post-season matches for Callahan, who missed last year's playoffs due to a broken ankle.
The Ranger captain led all Blueshirt forwards with 20:34 worth of ice time Thursday, and led the entire team with seven hits---including a pair of bombs that flattened Ottawa's Matt Gilroy and Jesse Winchester on the same shift in the first period.
