The Rangers are facing elimination tonight when they visit the Penguins for Game 5. A series they once led has slipped away dramatically. The more talented Pens have imposed their will taking the last three games by outscoring the Rangers 9-2. That included consecutive shutouts from Marc-Andre Fleury and a dominant performance in Game 4 that left plenty of fans who witnessed it furious.

Before the second round match-up, many believed this team could challenge Pittsburgh. Even I felt it would go seven. That was based on the notion that they would compete and not turn into pumpkins against an opponent they’ve never beaten in their playoff history. Unless something miraculous happens, the Rangers will fall to 0-5 versus the Pens. First, they have to win later to extend the series. All season, they’ve been a better road team. In order to succeed, they’ll need to get to Fleury early and take the crowd out of it.

Offense has been hard to come by. The Rangers have scored a grand total of five in the series. The goal scorers are Benoit Pouliot, Brad Richards, Derick Brassard, Carl Hagelin and Mats Zuccarello. Three play on their most consistent line. That Brassard and Pouliot both scored in the bizarre overtime Game 1 win wasn’t a revelation. Unfortunately, Brassard’s winner is his only goal. Our leading postseason scorer last year only has three points. Derek Stepan has been stuck on four since Game 5 of last round. That’s two of their top three centers. Richards leads the club with seven points. Six came in Round 1. Dominic Moore notched all three of his points against the Flyers. If you’re scoring at home, the Rangers top 4 centers have combined for two goals and zero assists in four games versus the Pens.

That lack of production down the middle is a big reason why they’re facing extinction. At some point, they need to deliver. Stepan’s struggles have been overshadowed by Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis. It really is a shame about St. Louis’ Mom. Just awful news. You wonder if that was weighing on him during what’s been the worst stretch of a brilliant postseason career. Sometimes, we forget that these guys are human. It remains to be seen if St. Louis will return tonight. At last check, he flew to Montreal. His number 26 jersey was hanging in the locker at Consol Energy Center. Updating the story, St. Louis will play.

Nash was brought in by Glen Sather to score goals. There’s no need to cite an ugly playoff stat line. It’s past that point. When fans who are paying through the nose resort to booing you in a one-goal game, it’s officially a circus. The honeymoon is over for the former Blue Jacket All-Star. His 45 shots are the most of any player in these playoffs. I can’t pretend to get into his head. He’s had enough chances. They’re just not going in. A complaint is that many have come from the perimeter. He’s not the same player since the concussions. But to say he isn’t trying is ludicrous.

Stepan is no better. After a decent first round, he’s disappeared. Outside of Game 1, he really hasn’t generated anything. Part of the issue is his struggle in the faceoff circle. In 11 games, he’s won 94 and lost 126. On a roster that lacks a true number one, the 23-year old Stepan is considered the closest thing. In his fourth season, he established career bests in assists (40), points (57), power play goals (5) and power play points (18). A former 2008 second round pick who’s never missed a game, there’s no questioning his durability. Stepan has played in all 294 regular season games and 48 postseason games. It’s the latter that is alarming. He’s only scored seven goals and added 11 assists for 18 points in 48 playoff contests. At some point, that must improve dramatically.

When you’re facing an opponent who boasts two of the game’s best players, there’s no realistic chance of competing unless your center men step up. Clearly, the Blueshirts are overmatched in that department. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have dominated. Malkin has five points in the series. Crosby only has three but they came in both Penguin wins at MSG. Even in Game 2 when he was held off the score sheet, he was brilliant registering six shots while attempting nine. Henrik Lundqvist was the only reason he didn’t score. When he’s not scoring, Crosby is winning faceoffs and owning the puck. Toss in Brandon Sutter, who scored the crushing shorthanded goal and been over .500 on draws in every game.

Alain Vigneault has preached puck possession. In Game 4, they hardly had the puck. Between getting destroyed on faceoffs (31-18) and the ridiculous 25 giveaways, it’s no wonder they were only able to muster 15 shots on Fleury. In Game 3, that wasn’t the issue. They outshot the Pens 35-15. Fleury stopped everything. His defense helped out by allowing him to see the shots. Getting traffic on him has been a problem. Vigneault was able to insert Chris Kreider Wednesday. Hopefully with a game under his belt, he’ll be more of a factor.

It’s hard to win more than a round when your best players haven’t gotten it done. With Ryan McDonagh ailing, the blueline hasn’t contributed enough. McDonagh picked up his first point assisting on Carl Hagelin’s nice end to end rush. An offensive leader who impacts so much of what the Rangers do, he hasn’t looked right. Clearly, the injured left shoulder originally sustained on an Alex Burrows hit, isn’t 100 percent. It was sad seeing him get beat by Lee Stempniak and then letting Malkin go and set up Chris Kunitz. Partner Dan Girardi has been brutal. That’s put too much pressure on Marc Staal and Anton Stralman, who both have gotten victimized.

The power play woes are what they are. At a ridiculous slump of 0-for-36, even when they get set up it backfires. It wasn’t only Nash’s costly turnover the other night. Both Crosby and Jussi Jokinen scored following power play failures in Game 3. There hasn’t been enough focus. The Pens penalty killers have outworked the Rangers five-man units throughout. There’s never enough support. While part of the blame goes to Vigneault and assistant Scott Arniel for not making necessary adjustments, it won’t change until they finally get a real point man. An area Sather has failed to address.

Realistically, it’s hard to see them rallying to win three straight. In the Rangers’ history, they’ve never come back from a 3-1 deficit. I’d just like to see them show some guts. Get off the mat and push the series six. Win tonight and they at least give themselves a chance.