Blog Archives
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
Miller, Brassard power Rangers to Game 2 win over the Penguins
Bobby Bevilacqua
Keith Yandle celebrates his first goal of the 2016 NHL Playoffs. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Led by three point games from Derick Brassard and JT Miller, the Rangers finally solved Jeff Zatkoff, skating out of the CONSOL Energy Center with a 4-2 win in Game 2, evening up the series at one game apiece and shifting control of home ice to the Rangers.
After a 35 save performance from Zatkoff in Game 1, they finally wound up getting their offensive production going, scoring four goals on 28 shots, with all of the goals coming in a span of 8:01. Keith Yandle, Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider all finding the back of the net.
The Rangers decided to ramp up the physicality in this game, setting a franchise record for hits in a playoff game that ended in regulation (57). Kevin Klein (8) and Derick Brassard (7) led the Rangers in that category. The physicality and relentless forecheck was key to throwing the Penguins off of their game and containing their speed. 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
Rangers open round one on the road vs Pittsburgh; Fleury a game time decision
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
After a tumultuous regular season, the Rangers open up the playoffs tonight against the Pittsburgh Penguins, looking to get things started on the right foot in their latest quest for a Stanley Cup Championship.
This marks the third consecutive season that the Rangers and Penguins will meet in the playoffs, and the second straight year that they play in Round 1. Two years ago, the Rangers came back from a 3-1 series deficit, without having home ice advantage. Last year, Derick Brassard opened the scoring 28 seconds into the playoffs and Carl Hagelin sent the Penguins home packing after a Game 5 overtime winner. The Rangers had home ice in that series.
The mentality in the Rangers locker room since training camp was getting back to the playoffs and finishing what they’ve started, what they’ve been so close to accomplishing in three of the last four seasons. They haven’t made it easy on themselves, and face a tough road ahead, but this is a team full of hungry guys as well as veterans who realize their window may be closing. And that makes this playoff series a special one, and one with potentially a lot more riding on it. Read the rest of this entry
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