Chris Kreider is congratulated by pleased teammates after his goal in the second period.
AP Photo by Gene J. Puskar/Getty Images

Talk about hanging on for dear life. The Rangers did it the hard way by literally sitting back the final 10 minutes before edging the Pens 2-1 to take Game 3 of the first round series. This was nerve racking, nail biting and every other two letter adjective you can think of. At least the strategy by coach Tom Renney Alain Vigneault worked.

They can breathe easier knowing they responded after the Game 2 disappointment with a big road win at Consol Energy Center to take back home ice. With this team, it’s never easy. Even in a game they dominated for two and a half periods, they had to dig deep to prevent the desperate Pens from tying it late. And while they never got the look needed to beat Henrik Lundqvist, poll any Ranger fan. It was scary.

I’d love to be a fly on the wall and ask Vigneault why his team sat back when they were the far better team. Playing so conservatively never is the best way to protect leads. Especially when all four of our lines had good games. This was the first game in the series where all 12 forwards played well. The fourth line was superb again and Kevin Hayes’ third unit had a great night with Carl Hagelin scoring on a breakaway and Martin St. Louis a bit more noticeable. It also was the game Chris Kreider finally got untracked scoring what proved to be the game-winner halfway through by using his big body to find a intentional Marc Staal wide carom and steer it past Marc-Andre Fleury. Rick Nash played well recording five shots and generating chances. Mats Zuccarello was superb.

In truth, there was a lot to like about the Rangers’ game tonight. They were more competitive winning puck battles. They defended better and were stronger in the neutral zone. They forechecked well and gave the Pens fits. Too bad they tried to protect the lead. It nearly let Pittsburgh off the hook with Sidney Crosby setting up Patric Hornqvist with 6:48 left to cut it to 2-1.

Needing a better game, the Rangers got it by controlling the first 20 minutes. In fact, the Pens didn’t register a shot until after the 15-minute mark drawing mock cheers from the crowd. By that point, they were behind on the scoreboard. Even though shots weren’t easy to come by, the Blueshirts were able to put the Pens on their heels.

Keith Yandle battles Sidney Crosby during Game 2.
AP Photo by Gene J. Puskar/Getty Images

It was the skill of Keith Yandle that allowed them to go ahead. Catching Pittsburgh in a change, Yandle threaded the needle to Hagelin, who broke in and beat Fleury with a slap shot for his first of the series. After taking a pass from Dan Girardi in his end, Yandle found Hagelin behind the Pens’ D and he did the rest. It was Yandle’s third assist of the playoffs. He really has made a difference. Offensively and defensively, the former Coyote has really come to play. Even with being under the weather, he was superb in 27 shifts going plus-one in 17:17.

Playing as perfect a road period as possible, the Rangers limited the Pens to three shots. Even with Nash taking a ill advised high-sticking minor on Sidney Crosby in the offensive zone, the penalty kill gave them nothing. At least in a game where our power play fired blanks in two chances, the PK held up their end of the bargain killing off both Pens’ man-advantages. That included a late one in the second with Marc Staal off for interference which allowed them to take a 2-0 lead to the locker room.

Interestingly, the second was similar to the first. Entering Game 3, the Rangers had been dominated in the second getting outscored 4-0 by the Pens. This time, they were much better. Aside from one dangerous Crosby chance off a strong Hornqvist forecheck and set up that hit the far post and stayed out, they controlled the action. Neither Crosby nor Evgeni Malkin got much. They were held to one total shot the first two periods. In fact, the Pens’ captain had the only two for the game with Malkin struggling offensively.

After failing to convert on their second power play, it was obvious that if they were going to get insurance, it would have to be a greasy goal. Something I tweeted prior to Kreider getting to Staal’s wise intentional pass off the back boards which he deposited for his 12th career postseason goal. Sometimes you get lucky. The way Fleury was seeing the puck, it was going to take a garbage goal from someone. Good for Kreider, who needed it.

It’s worth noting that prior to Kreider’s goal, the Rangers got away with one. They very easily could’ve been shorthanded but refs Francois Charron and Kelly Sutherland missed a blatant hook on Max Lapierre. I think it was Dan Boyle which figures. He was scary again. If Kevin Klein finally is ready for Game 4, can Vigneault bench Boyle over Matt Hunwick? Seriously. Boyle keeps fumbling pucks and it’s resulting in Pens chances. I know Vigneault won’t sit Boyle because he values his offense. But he really has looked bad.

After two periods, the Rangers held a 19-11 shots edge. Henrik Lundqvist hardly had to break a sweat. The only time he did was when he embellished a Crosby love tap post whistle. That was embarrassingly bad. Who did our goalie think he was? Martin Brodeur. Sadly, some of our fans were whining about Crosby. He did get away with one on Hornqvist’s tally chopping Jesper Fast. The refs let go of a lot and let the teams play.

The third started out okay. After some initial Pens’ pressure, the Rangers spent some shifts in their end with good cycles. In particular, Hagelin who really had a good night. He doesn’t get enough credit. Zuccarello I mentioned before. He was so strong defensively and had a few hits. Dominic Moore was splendid. All he does is win big draws, defend well and forecheck with linemates Fast and Tanner Glass, who had a whale of a game even getting two chances on Fleury with one very tricky shot that his former teammate was able to stick away.

There’s not much to critique. With the exception of the Rangers sitting back, they were the superior team. At some point, they’re going to have to score that big goal that puts the Pens away. It got way too tight late. David Perron of all people had a good opportunity in the slot but fired a backhand wide.

The issue for the Pens is their best players didn’t get those looks. Had they, maybe they’re still playing. Instead, it’s onto Game 4.

Henrik Lundqvist makes a sprawling save in Game 2. He finished with 23 saves in the Rangers’ 2-1 win.
AP Photo by Gene J. Puskar/Getty Images

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (23 saves incl. 12/13 in 3rd)

2nd Star-Carl Hagelin, NYR (1st of playoffs, 2 SOG, 4 hits, +1 in 27 shifts-17:17)

1st Star-Dan Girardi, NYR (2 assists, 2 SOG, 4 hits, 6 blocked shots, +1 in 34 shifts-26:06-Danny G stood out)

Notes: The teams combined for 80 hits with the Pens holding a slight 43-37 edge. Hornqvist had seven and Chris Kunitz had six. Zuccarello led all skaters with eight. Glass had six. … Faceoffs were in favor of the Pens 33-28 led by Crosby, who went 13-and-9. Derick Brassard, who played an intelligent two-way game was 11-for-17. … Rangers won their third straight road playoff game at Consol Energy Center. Game 4 is Wednesday night at 7 PM.

Key Stats

Power Play NYR 0-2 PIT 0-2

Blocked Shots NYR 17 (Girardi 6) PIT 14 (Paul Martin 4)

Shot Attempts NYR 50 (10 missed shots) PIT 55 (14 missed shots)