Ryan McDonagh celebrates his power play goal with Mats Zuccarello and Keith Yandle. It proved to be the game-winner in the Rangers’ 2-1 win over the Pens in Game 1.
AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

By the thunderous sound of the crowd, the fans were ready. They’d been waiting for this. Everyone has. The Rangers didn’t disappoint using a quick start to edge the Penguins 2-1 and take Game 1 of the best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.

Taking advantage of an undisciplined opponent, they pounced on early Pittsburgh mistakes scoring twice in a dominant first period. From the opening faceoff, it was the Rangers who were ready. They only needed 28 seconds to take the lead with Derick Brassard getting to Rick Nash’s rebound of a intentional low shot that Marc-Andre Fleury couldn’t handle sending MSG into a frenzy.

”I give a lot of credit to Rick,” Brassard said. ”He didn’t shoot to score there. He shot for a rebound, he did it on purpose. It was just right there for the rebound.”

Brassard beat Paul Martin to the spot in front with Sidney Crosby trailing for his first of the series. The goal came in transition thanks to a strong defensive play from Dan Girardi. His outlet to Nash trapped a couple of Pens causing a odd-man break. Nash wisely shot from the left circle allowing Brassard to deposit the loose change.

The goal set a tone for the period. One in which the Pens repeatedly lost their cool. They were penalized four straight times giving the Rangers plenty of practice on the power play. After a couple of swings and misses on the first two, they finally made Pittsburgh pay on number three. Following a Blake Comeau roughing minor on Dominic Moore in the offensive zone, it took less than a minute for Mats Zuccarello and Keith Yandle to set up Ryan McDonagh’s power play goal with Brassard parked in front of Fleury. That put them up 2-0 with 4:44 left in the period.

”We put a couple goals there in the first period, and got the crowd and momentum on our side,” McDonagh said after playing a strong game in which the Ranger captain logged 25:36 going plus-one while teaming up with Girardi and later Yandle and Dan Boyle to blanket Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

”You get the nerves out, you get the hits and the bumps going. I thought guys were real good with the puck today for the majority of the game.”

The Rangers didn’t shy away from the challenge. Defensively, they held the Pens’ dangerous tandem off the score sheet with only three shots. It was a team effort with Marc Staal seeing Crosby for quite a few shifts. Coach Alain Vigneault didn’t hesitate to match the fourth line of Moore, Tanner Glass and Jesper Fast against Crosby’s unit with Patric Hornqvist and Daniel Winnik. That line totaled two shots and the Pens captain was visibly frustrated.

One of the big factors for the Rangers’ fast start was the Pens’ penalty troubles. They were extremely undisciplined. Forced to kill penalties, Crosby was glued to the bench for long stretches. First-year Pittsburgh coach Mike Johnston doesn’t use Crosby on the penalty kill. Astonishingly, he saw the fewest minutes of any forward in the first playing a shade over three. Once the Pens controlled themselves, his ice-time increased exponentially. However, he still only saw 19:11 over 22 shifts going minus-one.

Malkin doesn’t kill penalties either but it didn’t prevent the lanky Russian from having a few good shifts after the Pens got back in the game. Due in large part to the outstanding play of Fleury (36 saves), they hung around. After getting outscored 2-0 and outshot 13-5, Pittsburgh settled in playing a chippy game the rest of the way. The final 40 minutes, the play was more even with the Pens getting the lone goal while getting outshot by a much closer margin (25-20).

”Their best defense was puck possession,” Crosby said, ”and holding onto it in our end. You have to get pucks behind them and really work their D.”

After an initial push by the Rangers who threatened to go up by three or four if not for Fleury, the Penguins were able to establish a forecheck. Throughout, they were physical with agitators Steve Downie and Max Lapierre taking liberties. It was Lapierre who was far more effective than Downie, who took two an unnecessary penalty in the third that halted his team’s momentum. Brandon Sutter was also effective doing yeoman work shorthanded.

Following a tough save by Henrik Lundqvist of a tough Blake Comeau shot, the Rangers got caught scrambling around. Eventually, the Pens outhustled them to a loose puck with Nick Spaling and Ben Lovejoy combining to set up Comeau on the doorstep with Lapierre manhandling Boyle. It was Comeau’s first career postseason goal. A forward who’s had a lot of success against Lundqvist scoring 12 regular season goals. Some of those date back to his Islander days.

Once they cut the lead in half, the Pens were better. Continuing to chip pucks in and chase, they were able to finally get consistent pressure. In particular, Malkin who had a close call where he drove hard to the net but his stuff attempt was stopped by Lundqvist and cleared out of harm’s way by Staal. Despite being dangerous, he only had two shots due to the Rangers blocking shots. They blocked 22 including a game high six from Girardi, who missed the final nine minutes due to taking a puck in the jaw. The Rangers’ iron man was examined by a dentist. He still logged 18:37 in 24 shifts and assisted on Brassard’s opening goal.

Girardi was injured when Chris Kunitz attempted a shot that accidentally caught him under the visor. Visibly shaken, he left the game and didn’t return. So used to seeing him come back, it was odd not to see Girardi for the final nine minutes. But his teammates picked him up.

Malkin had one other opportunity on the Pens’ only power play. With Nash off for boarding, a loose puck came to him in the slot but he fanned on the shot as did another teammate. That was a great chance for them to tie the game.

Any chance the Rangers had was eliminated by Fleury, who used his glove to rob Carl Hagelin. He also thwarted Derek Stepan and McDonagh. If he plays like that, it could be a tighter series.

Close Call: The Pens nearly tie it but Marc Staal denies the opportunity in front of Henrik Lundqvist who made the big save on Evgeni Malkin in the second period.
AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

For the Blueshirts, it’s all about finding a way to win. They won ugly. At this crucial time of year, you don’t get style points. They were able to grab Game 1. Following some close calls where Lundqvist held up his end of the bargain stopping all nine Pens third period shots, they locked down defensively. The fourth line had a good final shift with Vigneault replacing Glass with Hagelin. Brassard also did a good job with Nash on the forecheck killing off precious time.

One forward who really stood out was J.T. Miller. He really played well. In on the forecheck, he finished checks and took Pens off the puck while generating chances for linemates Stepan and Chris Kreider, who had a quiet game. Miller had five hits and was very sound in 20 effective shifts playing exactly 14:00.

Kevin Hayes had a couple of good shifts but also a scary moment where his giveaway led to a Malkin chance with the Rangers protecting the lead in the third. Martin St. Louis was ineffective. They’ll need better games from him and Kreider.

It wasn’t perfect. But it didn’t have to be. Game 2 awaits Saturday night in prime time at 8 PM on NBC. See you there.

Henrik Lundqvist makes a glove save in Game 1 against the Pens. He finished with 24 saves in the Rangers’ 2-1 win.
AP Photo by Frank Franklin II/Getty Images

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Ryan McDonagh, NYR (PPG-1st, 4 SOG, 2 takeaways, 3 blocks, +1 in 32 shifts-25:36)

2nd Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (24 saves incl. 9/9 in 3rd)

1st Star-Marc-Andre Fleury, PIT (36 saves incl. 25/25 the final 2 periods)

Notes: Hits were dead even 32-32. Four Pens had four including Hornqvist, Kunitz, Sutter and David Perron. Miller led the Rangers with five followed by Fast and Hagelin, who each had four. … The Rangers won despite losing the faceoff battle 38-28. Crosby led the Pens going 15-for-20 followed by Lapierre (9-and-6). Moore was .500 (6-and-6) and Brassard was 12-and-13. Stepan went 8-and-11. … Lundqvist tied Walt Tkachuk for the team record with 93 playoff appearances. A record he’ll break tomorrow.

Key Stats

Power Play PIT 0-1 NYR 1-5 (6 shots)

Giveaways PIT 7 NYR 11

Shot Attempts PIT 51 NYR 55

Blocked Shots PIT 11 NYR 22