Monthly Archives: April 2015
Rangers take Game 1 at MSG with dominant start; McDonagh outstanding
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers got off to a quick start and never looked back, coming away with a 2-1 victory in the first game of the 2015 playoffs. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
The Rangers did exactly what they were hoping to by coming out strong and aggressive, containing Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, and skating away with a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins to open the playoffs.
The Rangers jumped out to an early lead, scoring just 28 seconds into what was a dominant first period. They were aggressive and physical, which started to get under the Penguins’ skin, which led to four Rangers’ power plays in the first period. The Penguins made a game out of it in the last two periods, but the defensive effort from New York was solid, and they were able to shut the door. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers aim to start series against Penguins strong; Klein not ready for Game 1
Bobby Bevilacqua
Rick Nash will be a huge focal point for the Rangers as they open the playoffs tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins on home ice. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Following a wild opening to the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs on Wednesday Night, the Rangers begin their quest for the cup tonight as they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins at MSG in the first game of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, round one of the playoffs.
This is a rematch of last year’s thrilling series in the second round, where the Rangers found themselves in a 3-1 hole before winning the final three games of the series to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
But this is a new year, and these are two new teams. The Rangers have been “the hunted” since day one, with people constantly using them as a measuring stick, while the Penguins are trying to embrace the underdog role for the first time in years. Read the rest of this entry
New York Rangers: Key Players to watch for in the Playoffs
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers are a complete team from top to bottom, but who will stand out in the playoffs? Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
One of the Rangers’ strengths throughout the regular season was the fact that everyone on the roster was able to contribute or provide production in some way. Whether it was goal scoring, or defensive play, or penalty killing, each player brought something to the team that helped make the Rangers one of the best teams in the entire league.
Alain Vigneault has created a lineup with great chemistry, and one that has been very effective throughout the season. The Blueshirts have four quality forward lines with a great amount of depth, all able to chip in with offensive production to an extent, as well as playing a solid defensive game. After trading for Keith Yandle from the Arizona Coyotes, the Rangers have one of the deepest defensive units in the NHL. And with Henrik Lundqvist healthy and performing well, he presents another threat to opposing teams.
Obviously, every player’s performance is important to coming away with a win on any given night, but throughout the playoffs, some players will stand out from the pack with their clutch performances on both sides of the puck. Read the rest of this entry
The Ranger Zone Podcast: Playoff Preview
The Rangers are primed to make another long playoff run, and they’re my pick to hoist the Stanley Cup in June. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
In this podcast, I discuss my 2015 Stanley Cup Playoff Bracket and discuss the first round matchups, my thoughts, and who I think will advance.
I chose the New York Rangers to hoist the Stanley Cup come June. This is one of the deepest and most complete Rangers teams that we have seen in years, and it’s hard to find another team with the forward depth and defensive talent the Rangers have, on top of an elite goalie in Henrik Lundqvist. Read the rest of this entry
6 Keys to the Rangers taking down the Pittsburgh Penguins
Bobby Bevilacqua
If the Rangers want to celebrate a series win, here’s what they need to do to take down the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round of the playoffs. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
With the home ice advantage, many people are expecting the President’s Trophy winning Rangers to come away with an easy series win over Pittsburgh. But like Sidney Crosby said, it doesn’t matter how a team gets in. Once they’re in the playoffs, anything can happen.
For the first time in a while, the Penguins are coming into the playoffs as underdogs. If they embrace that mentality, using the lower amount of pressure to motive them, and Crosby and Malkin can explode offensively, it will be an interesting series.
But with a ton of injuries on the backend, not a lot of depth scoring, and question marks coming into game one, there is a big opportunity for the Rangers to pounce on a fragile Penguins team and advance to the second round.
This is what the Rangers need to in order to do defeat the Pittsburgh Penguins. Read the rest of this entry
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