Blog Archives
Rangers look for a more balanced effort in Game 4 against the Penguins
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
It’s never a must win game until you’re actually facing elimination, but the Rangers really can’t let this one slip away.
The Rangers are back home at Madison Square Garden today for Game 4, looking to rebound after a loss on Tuesday that saw the team get just 17 shots on goal, including only six over the last 30 minutes of the game. Matt Murray made his first career NHL Playoff appearance and not having much work. Sidney Crosby scored a goal on the power play and Matt Cullen scored the game winner. Rick Nash scored a shorthanded goal and Henrik Lundqvist made 29 saves.
The Rangers have now lost four straight playoff games on home ice, dating back to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. For a team that went 27-10-4 in the regular season at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers need to capitalize on any game that they get to play at home. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers bring series to MSG for Game 3; McDonagh a maybe for tonight
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
After splitting the first two games of the series, the Rangers are back on home ice for the first time in the playoffs, looking to pull ahead of the Penguins in Game Three.
The first two games of the series were played in an electric atmosphere at the CONSOL Energy Center. They finally solved Jeff Zatkoff, scoring four goals in 8:01 and skating away with a 4-2 win and tying the series at one game apiece.
But now, the Rangers are back at Madison Square Garden, where they took advantage of home ice and posted a record of 27-10-4 in the regular season. Despite that, Pittsburgh has won 15 of the last 24 games they’ve played at MSG, regular season and playoffs included. It’ll take another complete effort from New York tonight if they want a win. Read the rest of this entry
NYR-PIT Game Two proves the kids are alright
John Dundon
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
The Rangers responded in a big way by beating the Penguins 4-2 and evening the series at one game a piece.
The series shifts now to Madison Square Garden, where the Rangers went 27-10-4 in the regular season. The momentum would figure to be playing right into the Rangers’ hands. They’ll now control on-ice player personnel matchups, a huge plus for sure.
Henrik Lundqvist continued his recent playoff dominance over Pittsburgh. Lundqvist, feeling no ill effects from the eye injury suffered in game one, stopped 31 of 33 shots faced. The real story from a Rangers perspective in this one wasn’t king Henrik, though. Read the rest of this entry
Dan Girardi needs to sit
John Dundon
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Accountability is a term that Alain Vigneault has used often in his tenure as Rangers head coach.
And for reasons we may never understand, it’s one of the things he has perhaps lacked most in crucial spots. His blatant favoritism isn’t just costing his team points in the standings anymore, now it could cost them a playoff series. It seems to me like the coach needs to start holding some of his favorites accountable.
Dan Girardi—a warrior, life time Ranger, heart and soul guy, notoriously AWESOME human being—is not getting the job done anymore. It has been bad for some time but in the last little while it has come to a breaking point. The abilities of the player do not match up with what the coach wants him to be. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers lose Lundqvist to injury as Penguins take a Game 1 victory
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
It’s a good thing that it’s a seven game series.
Patric Hornqvist scored a hat trick as the Pittsburgh Penguins took down the New York Rangers in Game 1, 5-2, backstopped by a 35 save performance from Jeff Zatkoff, their third string journeyman goaltender.
What’s worse? Henrik Lundqvist took an errant stick to the eye and was removed from the game after the first period. Antti Raanta was forced into his first career playoff game, and although three goals on 19 shots doesn’t look great, he was fantastic in relief. Read the rest of this entry
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