Blog Archives
Rangers Practice Report; Girardi okay, Klein out for Game 2
Bobby Bevilacqua
Dan Girardi is okay after getting hit in the jaw with a deflected puck. He practiced Friday afternoon and will play in Game 2. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
After the first playoff game last night, Alain Vigneault had his troops hard at work today during practice ahead of Game 2 at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.
Rangers’ fans got a bit of a scare last night when Dan Girardi fell to the ice after getting hit in the jaw with a deflected puck. Girardi left the ice with 9:23 left in the game, and did not return.
However, Dan Girardi was back on the ice today at practice, and did not have many marks as a result of the stray puck. Girardi said that he was not cut on the inside or outside of his mouth, did not have any fractures, with just “a little swelling.” Girardi did not have any further protection, sporting just the helmet and visor. Read the rest of this entry
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
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
Series Preview, Round 1: Rangers vs. Penguins
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers and the Penguins will meet again in the postseason for the second consecutive year. This time, the Rangers look to have the advantage, with the Penguins a depleted, and seemingly weaker team than last season. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
After a crazy end to the regular season, the season closed with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the final Wild Card spot, meaning that for the second consecutive season, the Rangers and the Penguins will face off in the playoffs, this time in the first round.
Last year’s series against the Penguins was one of the most memorable in the entire postseason run for New York. After starting the series with the “double-goal” from Beniot Pouliot and Derick Brassard in overtime, the Rangers dropped the next three games, finding themselves in a 3-1 hole.
After the passing of newly acquired Martin St. Louis’ mother, France, his teammates rallied around the unfortunate tragedy. The Blueshirts won game five on the road, and came back to Madison Square Garden for Game 6 on Mother’s Day, where St. Louis scored an emotional goal en route to a win. Thanks to goals from Brad Richards and Brian Boyle in Game 7 in Pittsburgh, and a spectacular goaltending performance from Henrik Lundqvist, the Rangers completed the comeback to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Read the rest of this entry
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