Blog Archives
It starts with one: Rangers stay alive and take down the Caps in overtime
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers celebrate after Ryan McDonagh’s overtime winner guaranteed another game for the blueshirts, and another shot at a playoff win on Sunday. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Less than three minutes remained in an elimination game for the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The atmosphere was tense as the fans and players were sensing the possibility of a season ending too soon. With less than two minutes in a must-win game, Henrik Lundqvist started heading to the bench for the extra.
Chris Kreider’s one timer with just 1:41 remaining in the first period sent the Garden faithful into a frenzy, tying the game and momentarily saving their season. And in overtime, it was the captain Ryan McDonagh, on the team’s 43rd shot of the game, blowing the roof off of Madison Square Garden once more, and helping the Rangers live to fight another day. Game 6 is scheduled for Sunday, May 10th at 7 PM in Washington D.C.
With the win, the Rangers now have a nine-game win streak when facing elimination at home, which is a new NHL record. All 10 games that the Rangers have played in the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs have had one-goal margins. The last 12 playoff games for the Rangers have been decided by one goal, dating back to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Los Angeles Kings. This is the longest such streak in Stanley Cup Playoffs history. Read the rest of this entry
Confidence and resiliency is the locker room message for the Rangers in Game 5
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers are going to have to be at their best tonight, with an edge to their game and their offense at their best. The odds are against them, but they’ve done it before. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
The Rangers have scored just one goal on 59 shots against Braden Holtby in the two games away from home, suffering two losses despite playing good hockey. Holtby has been playing very well, the defensive effort from the Capitals has been strong, and the Rangers have not gotten consistent production from all over the ice.
All of this sums up to a 3-1 series deficit, and needing to win three straight games against the Capitals in order to advance to the Eastern Conference Final. While that’s obviously not easy to do, the Rangers do not need to search far for inspiration when it comes to overcoming significant deficits. Read the rest of this entry
Luck, inability, or defended well: Why aren’t the Rangers scoring goals?
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers haven’t been able to find the back of the net consistently in the playoffs. What’s the reason for their anemic offense? Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
After another one goal performance last night, the Rangers anemic offense continues to put the team in tough situations, like the 3-1 series deficit they find themselves in against the Capitals in the second round.
The Rangers clearly aren’t getting outplayed. They’ve been in every game, they’ve had good looks for the most part, and they’ve outshot and outchanced the Capitals in practically every game. They’re averaging nearly 31 shots per game as well through the nine playoff games they have played.
But for some reason, the team that finished third in the NHL in goals per game in the regular season (3.02 G/GP) is now tied for last in the playoffs, averaging just 1.78 goals per game. Against Braden Holtby and the Capitals, they’ve scored just five goals, with two coming from Derick Brassard.
So how on earth is it possible that one of the best offensive teams in the regular season has seen their offense suddenly wither in the playoffs? Read the rest of this entry
Rangers move to within one game of elimination with loss in DC
Bobby Bevilacqua
Tempers were flaring at the Verizon Center in Game 4, yet another hard fought battle that fell into the Capitals favor thanks to strong defense and a struggling Rangers’ offense. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
For the second consecutive year, the Rangers find themselves facing elimination and a 3-1 series deficit in the second round of the playoffs following their latest crushing loss at the hands of the Washington Capitals.
The Rangers anemic offense continues to be the storyline here, managing just one goal on Holtby in the two games at the Verizon Center. And again, despite outchancing the Capitals, and attempting more shots, they could not score enough to support a very strong Henrik Lundqvist.
In the last 163:13, dating back to Game 2, the Rangers have scores just two goals, with both of them coming from Derick Brassard. Simply put, the Rangers’ top guys are not getting it done, and the team needs contributions from all over the ice if they want to keep their season alive. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers seek a win in a crucial Game 4; Vigneault calls out top performers
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers and Capitals will meet again for Game 4 tonight, essentially a must win for the Rangers. They’ll need to combat the Capitals size and smothering defense, and score some goals. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
At 7:30 PM tonight at the Verizon Center, the Rangers will be playing their most important game of the season to this point, looking to even the series at two before heading back to Madison Square Garden for a pivotal Game 5.
Trailing the series 2-1, the Rangers would be in an extremely precarious situation should they lose in Game 4. This is the situation they are in after getting shutout in Game 3, with their offense struggling mightily throughout the first eight games of the playoffs.
After averaging over three goals per game in the regular season, the Rangers have found that number dip to just 1.88 in the playoffs, scoring just four goals in the first three games against the Capitals. Players like Rick Nash, Martin St. Louis and Derek Stepan have struggled to consistently provide offense for the Rangers, which is a big part of the reason why they are struggling against Washington. Read the rest of this entry
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