In what could essentially be labeled as a “must win” game, the Rangers get the job done and come out on top with a 5-2 win over Pittsburgh. The Rangers had a much more complete effort in the sense that they were able to generate offense and maintain the lead but still have plenty of work to do to clean up their game defensively. Couple of last minute changes to the lineup prior to the game as the Rangers would be without Barclay Goodrow and Ryan Lindgren. Lindgren was noted as “pretty banged up” but there wasn’t much indication that anything was up with Goodrow who is now listed as week-to-week. He did block a shot in one of the overtimes that very well could have damaged something in his leg or ankle but there wasn’t any question regarding his status, at least publicly until game-time. Justin Braun would come in for Lindgren and Dryden Hunt for Goodrow.
The Rangers got off to a solid start however, the momentum was quickly soiled as a result of a Patrik Nemeth cross checking penalty. This would be Nemeth’s third penalty of the series thus far, not a great look three minutes into game two. Partially a week call by the refs but at the end of the day, that’s a penalty you can’t take, especially in the playoffs, especially as a veteran. Thankfully, the Rangers killed off the man advantage and a few minutes later, Andrew Copp would get the offense going once again. Another perfect feed to the slot from Artemi Panarin landed right on the tape of Andrew Copp, straight to the back of the net. Unfortunately, the lead wouldn’t last too long as the Penguins tied it up less than two minutes later. Jake Guentzel found the puck in front of the net before Shesterkin did to put it away. Really not much Shesterkin or the Rangers could do here, the puck just took a redirect, landed on Guentzel’s stick and they couldn’t recover in time. Ryan Strome would get called for a delay of game call as the Penguins gained a majority of the momentum to wrap up the first.
If you’re anything like me, you were probably screaming at the TV for the Rangers to just get out of that first period as Pittsurgh was really catching wind towards the end. Thankfully, it wouldn’t carry too much into the second, especially when the refs finally decided to give the Penguins a penalty. Mind you this was after Zibanejad took a hit to the face in the first, Igor got cross checked, several other missed potential calls came and went. So much so, Zibanejad ended up talking to the official at the end of the first, presumably about the lack of calls on the Penguins. Finally, 65 seconds into the second, John Marino got called for cross checking, very similar to the Nemeth call earlier. You have to wonder if Zibanejad’s conversation had anything to do with it or if the refs were just trying to make up for the call on Nemeth. Either way, the Rangers power play took the ice and Ryan Strome got a perfect deflection in front to give the Rangers a one goal lead.
Strome’s goal was a perfect example of why it’s crucial to get sticks in lanes and create as much traffic in front as possible. A little over the halfway point of the game Chris Kreider would get his second of the playoffs off a perfect tip-in off a Vatrano shot to give his team a 3-1 lead. You had to think, if the Rangers could take that two goal lead to the third they can feel pretty good going into the rest of the game. Sure enough, Sidney Crosby had to take us back down to earth as he created a scoring opportunity out of thin air, burying a rebound that seemingly no one saw as a threat. Listen, I love Artemi Panarin as do all Rangers fans. This organization has never had a superstar with such a fun personality as Panarin but defensively, he needs to step up. Not only did he turn the puck over on the first goal but he had a front row seat on both of Pittsburgh’s goals. With a little more effort on the back-check, he could’ve gotten there to potentially prevent the Penguins forwards from getting a shot off.
To the third we go, Rangers up 3-2 with plenty of hockey left. The Penguins would dominate the shots on goal but wouldn’t find the back of the net the way the Rangers did. Eight minutes in, Panarin proved why you throw the puck to the net any chance you get, especially in playoff hockey. From behind the net, Panarin threw the puck in traffic in front of the net and it bounced off a Penguins defender and in to make it 4-2. Less than two minutes after that, Frank Vatrano let a shot go that snuck right through Louis Domingue with an assist from Braden Schneider for his first career playoff point. 5-2 was the score and it would stay that way right til that final buzzer.
The game would certainly end on a chippy note with several matching penalties but the most terrifying moment came when Jeff Carter took a run at Igor Shesterkin who went down and spent a couple of minutes down on the ice. I for one, went into immediate panic mode as I’m sure most Rangers fans did around the world. Thankfully, he got up on his own, stretched it out and seemed fine afterwards, remaining in the game til the end. I don’t think Carter’s run was necessarily intentional but certainly unnecessary and avoidable. The refs should have sent him off for the rest of the night at the very least but clearly they haven’t had the best grasp on keeping control of things from the jump here. Nevertheless, game three should make for quite the match-up as tensions continue to build.
All in all, it was a better outing for the Rangers but still far from perfect. Ryan Lindgren was definitely missed but Justin Braun did a pretty good job in his place, picking up an assist on the first goal. If Lindgren is good to go for game three, Gallant has to consider taking Nemeth out and keeping Braun in. While some of the officiating has been questionable, you have to have better control out there, three penalties in two games is not good by any means. While Barclay Goodrow too was missed, Dryden Hunt did a solid job filling his shoes, however the Rangers need to make up for Goodrow’s absence in the face-off department. The Penguins absolutely dominated them and too often the Rangers found themselves losing offensive zone faceoffs that ruined puck possession and scoring opportunities.
As I finish typing this, the Rangers are out there for an optional skate before heading to Pittsburgh for game three on Saturday. Per Vince and Molly from Tarrytown, the practice is pretty well-attended however, no Kreider, Fox, Strome or Braun and no sign of Ryan Lindgren or Barclay Goodrow. Certainly a good sign that Igor is out there and according to Vince via Twitter he “looks like he’s having fun.” If there’s one thing this group should work on it’s definitely face-offs but nevertheless, keep morale high and get ready for a huge game on Saturday.
Chris Feldman
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