So they’re starting overtime at Bell Centre. It’s tied 2-2. I am anxiety driven and nervous as can be. Next goal wins. And maybe it decides the series. This has been a very tight and intense Game 5 as expected.
The Rangers have never led. But have tied it twice. Here we go. My score pick was 3-2 Blueshirts. Let’s see if they can come through!
The Ducks quacked their way to a sweep over the Flames to advance to Round 2. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy Anaheim Ducks.
One team has advanced. The Ducks quacked their way past the Flames by winning 3-1 at the Calgary Saddledome in Game 4 to complete a four-game sweep. So, my Stanley Cup pick is looking Mighty good right now.
The difference in the series was the elite goaltending of John Gibson along with Anaheim’s amazing determination coming back from a three-goal third period deficit to stun Calgary in Game 3 by a score of 5-4. Dominant performances from Ryan Getzlaf (empty net goal for 3rd of series) along with great support from Rickard Rakell along with breakout star Shea Theodore and former Bolt Nate Thompson were too much for the Flames to overcome.
That the Ducks could go to Jonathan Bernier with Gibson pulled in Game 3 and he shut the door allowing for the big comeback with Corey Perry’s OT winner shows just how focused this team is. With the Sharks putting up a touchdown and extra point with Jerry Rice cheering them on in a 7-0 rout of the Oilers in Game 4 to even that series, the Ducks have to feel pretty good about their chances. That one is going at least six if not seven. Anaheim will be well rested for the second round.
The Caps found a way to even their much tougher first round match-up against those young and very skilled Leafs hanging on for a 5-4 win at the Air Canada Centre. They can thank T.J. Oshie, who scored his second of the game after Auston Matthews cut the deficit to 4-3. If Oshie doesn’t beat ex-Duck Frederik Andersen from a bad angle 59 seconds later, who knows what happens. Washington hasn’t exactly been able to hold off the Leafs’ offense. They nearly blew another big lead.
Game 3 hero Tyler Bozak made things interesting by scoring with 27 seconds left in regulation. But the Caps did enough to win preventing another meltdown. Braden Holtby needs to be a lot better moving forward. It’s also interesting to note that the Caps dominated most of the first two periods. Boosted by a four-goal first in which they held a 15-6 edge in shots and huge territorial advantage, they looked like they would cruise. But a James van Riemsdyk power play goal gave Toronto hope. They outshot the Caps 19-3 in the third. If not for Oshie’s huge goal on an awful Andersen, we could be talking about another Leaf comeback and another overtime deciding it.
Game 5 is Friday in D.C. The Caps have all the pressure while the Leafs have none. It’s only their playoff livelihood at stake this Spring.
The Wild used goals from Charlie Coyle and Martin Hanzal and Gretel to stave off elimination with a 2-0 shutout over the Blues in St. Louis. It was Devan Dubnyk’s turn to pitch a shutout stopping all 28 shots including a cool dozen in a pressure packed third. Jake Allen had to cool off eventually after stopping a remarkable 102 of 105 shots the first three games of a very tightly contested series. These teams are evenly matched. Following the always entertaining Bruce Boudreau’s brief post-game following a Game 3 they deserved a better fate in, I figured they would win Game 4 and take it back to St. Paul.
I fully expect the Wild to win at home and force the series back to St. Loo for Game 6. How about this huge clean hit by Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo on Zach Parise at the end of tonight’s game!
Classic playoff hockey intensity. Pietrangelo is a true defenseman. He just doesn’t receive the credit of other brighter stars. Maybe if the Blues make a run, he finally will. Especially with Kevin Shattenkirk gone and playing so little for the Caps with the awful Brooks Orpik.
Game 3: 23 shifts 16:27 -2
Game 4: 18 shifts 12:54 -1 assist
Buyer beware. Though being paired with Orpik isn’t ideal for Shattenkirk, who should still receive plenty of cash this summer. <inserts Rangers> He’s not perfect but is a great skating D who can run a power play with a big shot. Yeah. They’re gonna try to buy him on July 1. But hopefully not at the expense of the bruising and gritty Brendan Smith. He needs to be kept.
So, the Senators are now up 3-1 after sweeping Games 3 and 4 in Boston. Sure. They benefited from a bad call to take Game 3 on what should’ve been matching minors. Ironically, a resurgent Bobby Ryan got the overtime winner on a neat deflection. He again was at it getting the only goal in a 1-0 Game 4 shutout win. Craig Anderson only had to make five of his 22 saves in the third. In fact, he faced just 10 shots the last two periods. Wow.
Of course, #BigGameBrass is back in a big way for the Sens. Now that it’s the playoffs, here comes the real Derick Brassard. You know. The one who led the Blueshirts in scoring during those big runs in 2014 and 2015. Not the first round Brass from a forgettable series against the Pens last year. Brassard has two goals and three assists in four games so far. Of course, he set up Erik Karlsson’s awesome shot pass to Ryan in front for the only goal Wednesday night. Big Game Brass! Gotta love it.
Truth is Boston doesn’t have enough on D right now. So, my sleeper pick to make the Conference Final looks on the way out. No Torey Krug and no Brandon Carlo has really hurt them. But Charlie McAvoy is a future star on the back end. He played over 25 minutes leading the B’s in ice-time while paired with captain Chara. They had a goal wiped out on a Carlo shot that was redirected by Noel Acciari due to a successful coach’s challenge from Boucher for offside. It was indeed offside. I still hate the challenge system because it takes so much flow away from the game. It’s just too long a process.
Here’s a key stat. Bergeron, Marchand and Pastrnak each with only one goal. If Boston wants to extend the series when it shifts to Ottawa, they need their best scorers to do it. Ottawa remains one of those teams you don’t want to face due to their grinding defensive style. Plus they have the skaters who can expose you on turnovers such as Mike Hoffman, Karlsson, Brassard along with eerily quiet Kyle Turris and Mark Stone. Yet they’re in a winning position due to Ryan.
It’s Game 5 in Montreal later tonight at Bell Centre. Rangers and Canadiens in what’s been the most fun series. Between the whistle stuff. Legal. Illegal. Lot of dirty too from those Habs. But it’s definitely not dull. These teams hate each other. Les Canadiens want to win desperately. They face the pressure with the series tied 2-2. Price and Lundqvist giving a great show. It should be a good one! 😀
Nashty: Rick Nash celebrates his backhand game-winner in the second period of a huge Rangers’ 2-1 win to take Game 4 over the Canadiens and send the series back to Montreal tied 2-2. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy NYRangers.
The Rangers answered the bell. Facing the prospect of a 3-1 series deficit, they refused to lose. The home playoff losing streak is over at six. Rick Nash’s goal in the second period broke a 1-1 tie to give them a hard fought 2-1 win over the Canadiens to take Game 4 at a more enthusiastic MSG. The first round series is now tied 2-2 with a pivotal Game 5 on Thursday night at Bell Centre. If it’s anything like tonight, it should be a good one.
Responding to adversity following a disappointing Game 3 in which they were disjointed and booed, the Blueshirts went the extra mile to square the best-of-seven match-up. There were battles all over the ice. Clean, borderline or dirty, the Original Six rivals pushed the envelope. Refs Francis Charron and Steve Kozari let everything go. It was old style playoff hockey. Essentially, kill or be killed.
That’s how the Canadiens played it. At times, they were malicious and vicious with their sticks. The Rangers played through it giving some of it back. This was not for the faint of heart. It was get your dirty jersey night at the oldest NHL building in the league. While there were beefs with how it was called, the officiating was consistent. They let the teams decide it.
Unlike Game 3, the Blueshirts were ready to go from the outset. Vigneault started the game with the newly minted third line of J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello. Even though they didn’t score, they set the tone with some good offensive zone time. It was the team in classic blue with red and white that was the aggressor. A different game than the one played on Sunday. It translated to three shots on Carey Price early and 12 overall in a entertaining first period that also saw the Habs come back late.
All four lines Vigneault used were effective including the trio that consisted of rookie Pavel Buchnevich in his first NHL playoff game. Inserted for Tanner Glass, the just turned 22-year old Russian was reunited with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider on a line the Rangers tried out early in the season. Buchnevich’s skating and skill got Zibanejad going. He was much more involved throughout getting three shots while attempting seven- even throwing a huge hit in the third that drew cheers. It was by far his best game. Kreider still was tentative to shoot the puck winding up with two shots but did have one big hit protecting a one-goal lead.
For his first taste of NHL playoff action, Buchnevich was largely effective on the forecheck creating chances for himself and teammates. He wound up with three shots and two hits in 17 shifts (12:23). That included 1:58 on the power play. There weren’t many. Only two with the first abbreviated due to Nash taking the puck hard to the net and colliding with Price, who drew a goalie interference penalty that wiped out a power play goal.
By that point, the Blueshirts led thanks to another big contribution from the fourth line. This time, it was the always hustling Jesper Fast who got rewarded with his first goal of the series. Closing in on Andrei Markov behind the net off a Brady Skjei dump in, Fast took full advantage of a Markov turnover. He took the puck to the net and stuffed a backhand past Price for an unassisted tally with 8:21 left in the period.
It was important for the Rangers to get a lead. It helped energize the building who knew what this game meant. Realistically, they couldn’t go down 3-1 with two of the next three in Montreal. If they wanted to give themselves a chance, they had to get this game. They did what it took.
Of course, that included some clutch stops from Henrik Lundqvist. He had to deal with two Canadiens breakaways. Prior to Fast’s tally, he stoned Andrew Shaw by just getting enough of his shot with the glove. He made several tough saves from in tight including a couple on pest Brendan Gallagher. Lundqvist also made a timely stop on Artturi Lehkonen on Montreal’s last power play late in the second.
The goaltending in this series has been phenomenal. Both Lundqvist and Price have taken turns coming up big. It’s no surprise. It’s a battle of two of the game’s best. Aside from Game 2 when the Habs rallied for a 4-3 overtime win, goals have been hard to come by. In Games 1, 3 and 4, the teams have combined for nine. Only Game 3 was decidedly one-sided. Game 1 went down to the wire before Michael Grabner scored an empty netter. Game 2 saw Tomas Plekanec tie it with 17.3 seconds left with Alex Radulov getting the OT winner.
Game 4 saw the Rangers protect a one-goal lead with some nervy play and a bit of luck. Mainly the goalpost next to Lundqvist on a Shea Weber bomb with 1:18 left. Nothing comes easy for this team. It didn’t to post their first playoff victory at MSG since Game 1 of the 2015 Eastern Conference Final against Tampa Bay on 5/16/15. Also by a 2-1 margin. How’s that for irony?
Trailing by one, the Habs didn’t back off. They drew even due to a bad line change from the Rangers. With Skjei battling Alex Radulov by the bench, the skilled Russian veteran caught Nick Holden out of position by sending a nice touch backhand pass to a cutting Shea Weber for a two-on-one. With Holden flat on his back, Weber dished across for an easy Torrey Mitchell one-time and a bang tying the score with 1:23 remaining.
What made it even nuttier is that both teams had six skaters out. Each could’ve been whistled for a bench minor. Instead, the four officials managed to miss it. The end result was a great play started by Radulov, who picked up his series-leading sixth point. It got even worse. The ending to a solid period also saw Ryan McDonagh pick up a slashing minor with five seconds remaining. A frustrating conclusion.
Encouraging is that the Rangers were able to kill off the remaining 1:55 at the start of the second. If the first was back and forth with the teams splitting goals with the Rangers holding a 12-10 edge in shots, that wasn’t the case in the middle stanza. It was largely dominated by the home team. Using their speed and forecheck, they controlled play. The balance of four lines which also included rookie Jimmy Vesey with Derek Stepan and Nash worked in their favor. They still finished checks but were hard on the puck and pinned the Habs in.
A great keep and terrific pass by McDonagh all the way through to Nash in front resulted in Nash beating Price with a beautiful backhand finish for his second of the series at 4:28. The goal came thanks to relentless pressure from the top line. But without McDonagh’s dynamic play at the left point, it never happens. He had been quiet during the first three games. However, the Rangers captain was a force in Game 4. He not only got his first point but played with an edge throwing the weight around. In a heated third, he delivered a couple of big checks while defending well. He led by example with 2 takeaways, 2 blocked shots and four hits with a plus-one rating in 26 big shifts (22:22).
He wasn’t the only one. Brendan Smith had a whale of a game. Banged around by the Habs legally and illegally including a missed Radulov chop to him late in the third, he took his lumps. It was the key acquisition from the Red Wings who led the Blueshirts in ice-time with 22:44 in 29 shifts. He really took a beating. But never missed a shift. He’s tough. Something this team has needed. Vigneault did a good job using him more.
The coach also limited Holden to 14:25 following his awful coverage on the Mitchell goal. Vigneault leaned heavily on the vets with Marc Staal also putting together a solid game logging 19:38 in 29 shifts. He and Dan Girardi were a factor on the penalty kill which went three-for-three. As Girardi told MSG’s John Giannone following the victory, they have to play smarter. Something that he emphasized moving forward.
The third was one of anxiety. Even though they only got six shots on Lundqvist, Montreal threatened early. But after a couple of close calls, the Rangers tightened up. They didn’t just sit back. Instead, continuing to push forward when the opportunity presented itself. Vesey nearly had his first NHL playoff goal on a superb effort. But Price robbed him. He played a very good game attempting four shots in 22 shifts (15:29).
Nash was in beast mode all night. He skated with purpose and went hard to the net making life difficult on the Montreal D and on Price. His game-winning goal was the only one he had but not from lack of chances. He narrowly missed another just wide. He finished with eight attempts and two hits while playing the kind of hockey the Garden Faithful delighted in. Make no mistake. Number 61 is having one of his best series. His two goals are tied with Grabner for the team lead.
With Stepan continuing to struggle taking an undisciplined hooking minor with 2:32 left in the second, Nash has really carried the load. Especially with Kreider continuing to puzzle. Ditto for Miller, who remains without a point despite being active. At some point, one of those two needs a breakout game. Hayes was better in this one. Maybe playing with the ornery Zuccarello rubbed off. He didn’t score but the pint sized Norwegian with the huge heart was his feisty self exchanging barbs with Steve Ott while competing hard.
On the fourth line with Oscar Lindberg and Fast, Grabner had another effective night registering five shots, seven attempts with two blocks in 12:34 (22 shifts). His biggest contribution was staying close enough to Lehkonen on a Habs set up to not allow him to get all of a one-timer which Lundqvist stopped. That attention to detail was what decided the game.
In the third, only some big stops by Price kept the Habs in it. He made 10 altogether to finish with 30 in the game. Lundqvist only had to make 23. A better number for the King. It still came down to a Weber blast which rang off the goalpost. That’s how dangerous Weber is. It was from way out. Lundqvist talked about how they got the lucky bounce this time unlike Game 2 afterwards.
That was the last hurrah for Montreal, who had a couple of shots blocked. They also were unable to get a final shot with captain Max Pacioretty kept behind the net by diligent Rangers checkers as time expired.
This was more like it. Sure. There were plenty of missed stick fouls. There also was a cheap Ott back kick of Zuccarello’s skate which was dangerous. But we know it won’t be reviewed. The Department of Player Safety is a joke. They only review plays where players are injured.
The Rangers have to feel a lot better headed into Game 5. They played the way they needed to. With purpose. They battled for every inch and were better. Something Pacioretty alluded to in the post game. Now, it’s a best-of-three series with the huge fifth game at Bell Centre. Montreal fan will be rabid. It will be a chaotic atmosphere. One in which the Rangers have dealt with before. They are a good experienced road team.
It just got a whole lot more interesting. The fun is just beginning.
BONY 3 Stars:
3rd Star-Carey Price, Canadiens (30 saves including 10/10 in busy 3rd to give team a chance)
2nd Star-Alain Vigneault, Rangers (not kidding-he made the necessary lineup changes needed to succeed and managed the bench well)
1st Star-Rick Nash, Rangers (game-winning goal-2nd of series, 8 attempts in 27 dominant shifts-16:31)
Playoff Notes: Shots were 32-24 Rangers and attempts were 60-50. They deserved this one with tremendous effort. … The Blueshirts continue to hit winding up with 43 compared to the Canadiens’ 25. Most impressively, all 18 skaters were credited with one. The pesky Fast paced them with five. A testy Radulov had four along with Brandon Davidson for Les Canadiens. Key Stat: Giveaways MTL 16 (Markov 5) NYR 15 (Smith 4). If there was a notable difference, the Rangers had 13 takeaways compared to only 4 from the Habs. … Face-offs were 37-31 Montreal. Phillip Danault went a dominant 14-and-4. Tomas Plekanec was 13-and-10. Zibanejad was the Rangers’ best going 10-and-7 including one huge draw in which he went forward with the puck for a big clear to start a penalty kill. Lindberg went 5-and-4. … The Rangers didn’t have to block as many shots winding up with 13 (Miller 3) while the Canadiens had 18 (Jeff Petry 4).
… In other playoff action, the Blue Jackets staved off elimination by posting a 5-4 home win over the Penguins. Boone Jenner’s goal turned out to be the game-winner with the red hot Jake Guentzel making things dicey with a shorthanded goal at 19:32. The rookie’s fifth of the series. Pittsburgh will try to clinch the series at home on Thursday. … Meanwhile, it’s a Shark Attack in San Jose. The Sharks have responded in a big way to being shutout the last two games by Cam Talbot. They chased Talbot with a five spot on 24 shots in less than two periods. They then greeted backup Laurent Brossoit with a goal from Joe Pavelski making it 6-0 after two. Logan Couture has a pair for 30 career postseason goals and Pavelski has two. Patrick Marleau lit the lamp with a beauty top shelf that made it 3-0. So, it looks like that series will head back to Edmonton tied 2-2.
Derek Stepan checks a Canadien in Game 3. He is one of a handful of key Rangers who must step it up if the team is to win a home Game 4 tonight. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy NYRangers.
I’ll start this off with a simple question for our team. Following Sunday’s atrocious performance as they let the Canadiens dictate play in an easy 3-1 road win at a quiet MSG, can the Rangers win a home Game 4 to tie the series up?
It’s not easily answered. Not when this team featuring plenty of core guys still around from 2015 have experienced six consecutive home defeats in the NHL playoffs. The count is now 21-4. Frankly, I’m tired of talking about it.
Is it psychological? It sure seems that way. When asked about the losing streak that the Lightning started in Game 2 of a disappointing Eastern Conference Final, J.T. Miller wouldn’t discuss it. Who wants to? But if they can’t get fully prepared for Tuesday’s game, it could be another short postseason.
The Canadiens deserve credit for how they’ve played. They’ve showed more urgency in rallying to come back in Game 2 and then taking away the Rangers’ speed in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven first round series. It’s the Habs who are standing up at the blue line forcing stubborn Blueshirts into neutral zone turnovers fueling their strong counter attack. They are the better defensive team getting sticks on passes and shots when they’re attempted. A problem that plagues Alain Vigneault’s team, who made it way too easy on Carey Price.
Montreal didn’t make it easy on Henrik Lundqvist, who had to deal with 10 shots in the first period despite two Rangers power plays which did the usual. Zilch. How can the coaching staff and players explain a miserable six shots? No wonder MSG has become the worst home ice advantage in the league. Most of the True Blue fans have been replaced by impostors who aren’t as enthusiastic about the team. This is what you get with the outrageous prices James Dolan charges. They didn’t even give out t-shirts.
The question is this. With Vigneault making changes to his four lines, will the new combinations work? It looks like rookie Pavel Buchnevich could draw in for Tanner Glass on a line that had success very early with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. The gifted 21-year old Russian also practiced on the first power play unit. If he plays, can that awaken Zibanejad and Kreider?
What about moving rookie Jimmy Vesey up to play with Derek Stepan and Rick Nash? Like Buchnevich with Zibanejad and Kreider, Vesey had some early success with Stepan and Nash. That means Vigneault has added key playmaker Mats Zuccarello to a third line of Kevin Hayes and Miller. A combo which could work. If anything, it could provide more balance. Michael Grabner is slated to move down to a fourth line with Oscar Lindberg and Jesper Fast.
If Glass comes out, it’s not for anything bad. He played as well as any Rangers forward which should tell you everything. When the 12th forward has more goals than Stepan, Kreider, Zibanejad, Hayes and Miller, there is clearly something wrong. Either the top players step up or they’ll be facing a 3-1 series deficit at the House of Horrors Thursday.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the disappointing first three games for top defenseman Ryan McDonagh. Sure. He and Dan Girardi draw the tough assignment. But McDonagh is without a goal or assist. A far cry from the impact he had in 2014. He also isn’t getting enough ice-time. If you take out Game 2 which went to overtime, McDonagh isn’t being ridden enough by Vigneault.
With the state of the defense fragile, McDonagh and Brady Skjei should be utilized more. Not less. They are the best skating D who can fuel the transition game Vigneault prefers. Brendan Smith is the third best defenseman. But somehow, he was back with Skjei on the third pair in practice. Nick Holden is expected to return to the lineup. That means more of the chaotic Holden/Marc Staal pair. A pair which should be limited at even strength. There needs to be better management on the bench.
The question is this. If the Habs continue to take away the stretch pass and stand up, will the Rangers make the necessary adjustments. We’ve seen them fail miserably against Tampa Bay in Games 5 and 7 of 2015. We saw them get dominated by a much faster and superior team in the Penguins, who exposed their weaknesses. The Canadiens aren’t Pittsburgh. They are not a high scoring team. They do it with grit and hustle. That’s the Claude Julien way.
If you watch the other series, you see teams scoring goals by having players in front. The Maple Leafs lead the Capitals 2-1 winning the last two games in sudden death. They aren’t doing it by not getting dirty. They have plenty of young talent which helps. Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner are not easily stopped. But when you see vets such as James van Riemsdyk and Game 3 hero Tyler Bozak doing the dirty work, it rubs off.
That is also why the Predators are on the verge of knocking off the Blackhawks. They dominated overtime after a pair of Filip Forsberg goals in the third period rallied them at home. It was a relentless forecheck with players continuing to make life difficult for Corey Crawford that eventually resulted in a Hawks turnover and Kevin Fiala’s overtime winner which put them up a commanding 3-0. They took the action to Chicago. A veteran team that looks overmatched. Even Jonathan Toews has looked out of sorts against the Preds’ aggressive attack.
What it demonstrates is that the teams who win at this time of year must do whatever it takes. So, if that means more chips and recoveries in the corner like they did to win Game 1, so be it. The Blueshirts must get back to that mentality. They can’t have 21 giveaways and expect a different result. They need to manage the puck better and not play into Montreal’s hands.
Game 4 is at 7 PM later tonight. The Garden will be waiting for something positive to happen. If they’re flat like Sunday or unprepared, they won’t win. They have to come out flying and skating with purpose. It’s their livelihood at stake. They don’t want to go back to Montreal facing elimination in a Game 5 on the road for a second consecutive Spring.
There are plenty of questions that remain unanswered. As Lundqvist echoed the other night, it’s up to the 20 players to give everything. It’s up to them.
It was all Canadiens in a dominant Game 3 with Montreal taking it 3-1 over a awful Rangers who lost a sixth straight time in the playoffs on home ice dating back to 2015. The Habs lead the series 2-1. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy Canadiens Montreal.
There is no reason for how the Rangers play on home ice. It’s gone on for way too long. Ever since Game 2 of the 2015 Eastern Conference Final against Tampa Bay, they have failed miserably to win a playoff game at Madison Square Garden. It is now six consecutive home defeats under the teflon coach Alain Vigneault, who refuses to adjust his style when it’s not working.
What you get is an absolute ugly mess of a Game 3 with fans booing the team out of the building. They earned it. Had I been there, I would have booed too. Carey Price didn’t have a whole lot to do due to a tremendous overall performance from his team in a Canadiens 3-1 win to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven first round series.
How bad was it? The Rangers had only totaled nine shots through the first 33 minutes. They only had 11 shots in two periods and failed miserably on three power play chances. While they kept firing blanks on the man disadvantage, the Habs finally made them pay by scoring twice in three chances to break through on Henrik Lundqvist.
Taking full advantage of two awful penalties by key Rangers J.T. Miller (face-off violation) and Mats Zuccarello (4-minute hi-sticking double minor), Montreal won the battle of special teams. Power play goals late in both from Artturi Lehkonen and Shea Weber were plenty for Claude Julien’s club who stifled the Rangers speed and transition.
Game 2 hero Alex Radulov scored a highlight reel goal one-handed out-muscling Kevin Hayes to the net for a huge insurance marker with under five minutes left. He’s been the Habs best forward in the series. In the last two games, Radulov has two goals and three assists. His skill level has been on display.
Meanwhile, the Rangers again got next to nothing from their top scorers. Zuccarello had a bad game with the awful retaliation on Andrei Markov that led directly to Weber’s game-winner on a great set up from Alex Galchenyuk. Chris Kreider was more active but again didn’t do enough to make a difference. Derek Stepan had an off night getting beaten cleanly by Tomas Plekanec on a critical defensive draw which led to Brendan Gallagher setting up Lehkonen’s tie-breaking goal with 2:23 remaining in the second period of a scoreless game.
At that point, the shots were 17-9 in favor of the Canadiens. When the period concluded, it was 22-11 in favor of the more dominant guests. Montreal did a great job bottling up the neutral zone and standing up at their blue line. They repeatedly forced the Rangers into turnovers that hurt any semblance of a forecheck.
The most exasperating thing is that it took Vigneault pulling Lundqvist with three and a half minutes remaining for his team to finally score on Price. It was rookie defenseman Brady Skjei who notched his first career NHL playoff goal with 2:56 left on a one-timer from Kevin Klein and Mika Zibanejad. Outside of that offensive draw he won, Zibanejad was invisible. But at least he got a point.
What are Kreider and Miller’s excuse? Where was Hayes? Never mind. Those three in particular have failed miserably. Miller has been the only one who’s been noticeable. He nearly set up a goal on a nice pass but it was fanned on. That summed it up.
When it comes down to it, the Vigneault Rangers can’t win at MSG. It’s a thing now. They’ve now been outscored 21-4 in the last six home playoff losses. That is disgraceful. Talk about home ice disadvantage.
Even more disturbing is that it was again the fourth line of Tanner Glass, Oscar Lindberg and Jesper Fast is the only threesome that played with consistency. They sustained pressure with Glass drawing a penalty by going to the net. Imagine that. Actually, one of the few players who got in front of Price, who could have had a nap the first two periods.
Until he robbed Fast with his team nursing a 3-1 lead with over two minutes remaining, he didn’t have to make one big save. They were routine. The Rangers failed to get any traffic due to a lack of cycle. A lot of that had to do with the Canadiens, who as MSG’s Ron Duguay pointed out, looked more prepared. If that isn’t an indictment on the coaching staff, I don’t know what is.
Think about it. The Canadiens were the aggressors from the outset at The Garden in a home playoff game. They took the crowd out of it by forcing Lundqvist into some difficult saves. He made at least four or five good ones in the 10 shots the Habs had during a sleep induced first.
Even more daunting, the Rangers had two power plays and only managed six shots. They did absolutely nothing. It’s the same old story for a Vigneault coached team. Power failure. It doesn’t matter who coaches them. It was similar under John Tortorella and under Tom Renney at the end of his tenure. Nothing ever changes. It’s like the Groundhog seeing his shadow.
They have nobody to blame but themselves. Only a half a dozen forwards were visible. Michael Grabner being one. He actually had one of the few quality chances that Price stopped. Price made 20 saves. Lundqvist did what he could to keep his team in it making 26 saves. None of which he could be blamed. That’s how bad it was.
Even more frustrating is they waited until the third to show urgency. Where was it the first 40 minutes? They almost matched their two period total with nine shots on Price. But by that point, it was too late. The Habs got the second power play goal from Weber on a great deke and move by Galchenyuk for an easy Weber one-time blast past Lundqvist. Radulov started it. He has been everywhere as has most of the Habs key performers. A sharp contrast.
When you have both Duguay and Steve Valiquette referencing the two shutouts by the Lightning in Games 5 and 7 in 2015, you know it’s bad. Joe Micheletti also was critical mentioning the lack of adjustments. How they played into Montreal’s hands. The last power play in particular was so predictable. One player trying to skate through the Montreal wall only for them to clear the puck out.
As for the refs not calling a hook on Nash shorthanded prior to Montreal’s big second power play goal, that’s debatable. It wasn’t that much. It’s also not why they got scored on. They had numbers back. Girardi and Grabner messed up the coverage. Girardi went down taking himself out of position and Grabner shifted over leaving Weber for a lay-up.
Listening to Stepan following the game, he put the blame squarely where it belonged. On the team. They weren’t good enough. They made too many mistakes and it proved costly. They got beat in every aspect. Five-on-five despite the shot attempts being a closer 52-47 in favor of the Habs. Special teams. Key face-offs. Battles. They were out-grinded by a well schooled opponent who executed their game plan to perfection.
I’m running out of words. At some point, you have to look at the coach. He is the one who is behind the bench making the calls. He stuck with his same lines for two periods before altering. It didn’t produce enough. Vigneault’s one good move was playing Klein over Nick Holden. Klein played a spunky game with an assist, four hits and three blocked shots in 18:15 (26 shifts).
It’s now onto what essentially is a do-or-die Game 4.
“We need more,” said Lundqvist in speaking to MSG’s John Giannone while referencing specialty teams. “We need to give more and be better.”
“Every little detail matters in this game.”
There you have it.
BONY 3 Stars:
3rd Star-Artturi Lehkonen, Canadiens (power play goal-1st of series, 4 shots, 2 hits, even in 19 shifts-12:39)
2nd Star-Shea Weber, Canadiens (power play goal-1st of series, 4 hits, +1 in 29:08-35 shifts)
1st Star-Alex Radulov, Canadiens (goal-2nd of series, assist-2-3-5 in last 2 Habs wins)
Playoff Notes: The face-offs went in favor of Montreal 31-28 with Galchenyuk going 6-and-3 while centering the third line. Plekanec went 10-and-12 but won that huge one over Stepan leading to Lehkonen’s PPG. In the one area he’s been effective, Hayes was the Rangers’ best going 13-and-7. Stepan had an awful night losing 10-of-13. … Unlike the first two games, the hitting wasn’t as rampant. The teams combined for 72 hits with the Rangers holding a 41-31 edge. Nash and Skjei paced the Blueshirts with six each while the Canadiens were paced by Jeff Petry. … In a just awful stat, the Rangers had 21 giveaways including 4 from Klein and Stepan with Girardi having 3. The Habs played cleaner with just 8. … Game 4 is Tuesday night on MSG at 7 PM.
In listening to Vigneault, he has given most of the credit to Montreal for “playing well defensively.” And also noted how their best line has been the fourth line.
“We’re not getting anything from our top players. Nobody is making any plays.”
… In other action, the Blues made it 3-0 over the Wild thanks to Jake Allen, who was brilliant making 40 saves in a 3-1 home win. He’s only allowed three goals. Meanwhile, the Pens showed their championship caliber rallying from a 3-1 deficit to pull out a 5-4 overtime win highlighted by Jake Guentzel’s first career NHL hat trick including the game-winner from Sidney Crosby to give Pittsburgh a commanding 3-0 lead over the Blue Jackets. They were oh so close but Marc-Andre Fleury’s mask save stoned Brandon Dubinsky prior to Guentzel’s OT winner. The Oilers and Sharks are underway in San Jose for Game 3. That series is tied 1-1.
The best first round series thus far swings to Manhattan on a summer like 86 degree day on Easter Sunday. To those celebrating, Happy Easter. To my Jewish friends, Happy final day of Passover. 🙂
All that out of the way, Game 3 is a huge one for both teams. After the Rangers took the first game 2-0 behind 31 saves from Henrik Lundqvist and a Tanner Glass goal, they blew Game 2 losing 4-3 in overtime to the Canadiens on Alex Radulov’s clutch winner. He also set up Tomas Plekanec’s game-tying goal with 17.3 seconds left. The Habs dominated the third and sudden death out-attempting the Rangers 103-69 while forcing Lundqvist into a career high 54 saves.
The Rangers can’t have a repeat in their first home playoff game of these 2017 NHL Playoffs. What they can do is erase ghosts of recent past. I’m referring to the losing the last five home games at MSG by a combined 18-3. They can do it by getting off to a good start. Whether it’s a big hit, extended shift or an early goal, the Blueshirts must set the tone. Get the crowd into it. It might not be vintage fans of Garden past. But if they do what they’re supposed to, MSG will be rocking.
All that said, Alain Vigneault has made significant changes with the lineup. Some that I really question. He better know what he’s doing. Out comes an ineffective Nick Holden, who was victimized with Marc Staal for three goals against including Plekanec’s game-tying goal where he broke his stick and was down allowing the veteran center to redirect a Radulov feed past Lundqvist.
In comes veteran Kevin Klein. I’m glad he gets another chance. He’s always been a good character player since Glen Sather acquired him from Nashville for Michael Del Zotto. So, Klein draws in. Hopefully, his back holds up. Especially given the physicality and brutality we’ve seen. Klein will not play with Staal but rather rookie Brady Skjei. A questionable decision considering how good Skjei and Brendan Smith looked the first two games. Instead, Smith moves up to the second pair to team with Staal. He is their most versatile. So, we just have to hope it works out. Only top pair Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi stay intact. They’ve been good so far. A trend that must continue.
As for the forwards, I have no rational explanation. There is no logic to what Vigneault did. Here it is:
If anyone can make sense of it, be my guest. I can see keeping Vesey with Zibanejad. But Nash now is with Stepan and Grabner moves up. Maybe due to the two goals he scored. He did play a little with Stepan earlier this season. But it’s curious. Kreider slides down to Hayes and Fast, who moves up while Miller gets buried on the fourth line with Lindberg and Glass.
Why would AV change the fourth line of Glass-Lindberg-Fast? It’s the one line that’s been working. It’s so puzzling. This coach makes decisions that really make you wonder what the heck he’s thinking. That said, Miller can bring more offense than Fast with Lindberg. Maybe even Glass can get on the score sheet again.
I sure hope it works. The Rangers must win this game for their psyche. So regardless of what the starting lines are, they know what their job is. Protect home ice. End the MSG hex. Take the lead in the series and put the pressure back on the Canadiens.
I’ll have a full recap later. Enjoy the game!
UPDATE: According to Justin Tasch of the Daily News, Kreider will in fact stay with Stepan and Zuccarello. Good! More on the lines. Apparently, Tasch got duped by Vigneault’s lines in warm ups. Everything stays the same. So scratch the confusing line combos. 😛
This scrum was started by a deliberate cheap shot by Steve Ott on Mats Zuccarello. Somehow, Montreal came out with a power play. The Department of Player Safety didn’t even review it. They remain a joke as with the garbage Matt Calvert pulled. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy The Score.
So, this cheap shot by Matt Calvert near the conclusion of the Blue Jackets’ Game 2 loss at the Penguins was worth only a one-game suspension.
Goon tactics by Columbus. It’s hard to take them seriously when they pull stunts like this. Message sending I get. But you don’t go about it this way. Calvert delivered a punch an unsuspecting Tom Kuhnackl that could’ve seriously injured him. Anyone who knows me knows I have no love for the Pens. Of course, their stars (Crosby especially) have gotten away with cheap stuff before without even a sniff from the Department of NHL Safety.
However, they have stuck to hockey in the first two games severely outplaying the Blue Jackets. Crosby and Malkin are having a field day so far. If they want to get back in the series, the Jackets need to shift the focus to hockey by scoring on Marc-Andre Fleury. He’s been brilliant in place of injured starter Matt Murray.
Personally, I believe what Calvert pulled was garbage. He should’ve gotten two or three games. But not the blind Dept. of Player Safety. Never. They are clueless. How else do you explain this cheap shot delivered by Montreal goon Steve Ott on Mats Zuccarello with the puck nowhere near that led to a scrum with Shea Weber pummeling J.T. Miller?
Typical garbage that Player Safety allows by going too soft.
We’re only into Day 4 of the 2017 NHL Playoffs and already we’re seeing why we love postseason hockey. What makes it great is the unpredictability.
In just four days, we’ve gotten plenty of overtime puck. A day after the Canadiens beat the Rangers in sudden death, two more games needed it. The total is already up to six. First, the Senators had a hell of a comeback in a pressure situation to stun the Bruins. They came from two back to force OT and then took Game 2 on a Dion Phaneuf goal 1:59 into extras to even the first round series headed back to Boston.
For a second straight game, heavy underdog Toronto took big favorite Washington to sudden death. Unlike Game 1 when they blew a two-goal lead losing 3-2 on fourth liner Tom Wilson’s first career postseason goal, the young Leafs relied on their experienced veterans to tie the series. Even though they had the better of the play, the Caps needed a tying goal from top center Nicklas Backstrom on a extended shift where Dmitri Orlov was able to find him with a nice pass through traffic to tie it with 7:21 left in regulation.
Unfazed, the Leafs counted on former Ducks number one goalie Frederik Andersen to make the big saves. At critical moments, he stood on his head. That included a huge stop on Alex Ovechkin, who came out of the penalty box with 46 seconds remaining in the first overtime. With back pressure from rookie Mitch Marner, Andersen was able to get just enough of Ovechkin’s point blank shot to keep it out. He then stopped him a second time forcing the first double overtime of this exciting playoffs.
As OT went on, the Leafs started to get momentum. They were able to generate some quality chances on a power play with Braden Holtby stopping Calder front runner Auston Matthews and denying William Nylander. It was in an evenly played second OT that the Leafs’ fourth line stepped up. Having been dangerous throughout with Matt Martin and Brian Boyle setting up rookie Kasperi Kapanen for his first career postseason goal, it was again the ex-Islander and the former Ranger who made Kapanen’s emotional game-winner happen.
Off a good cycle from Martin to Boyle behind the net, the always clutch ex-Blueshirt went to work. He had the presence to carry the puck as if going around but then sent a no look backhand feed to a wide open Kapanen for the put away at 11:53 of double overtime. How good was it? It reminded true Blueshirt fans of Boyle’s heroics in Game 6 of the 2014 Eastern Conference Final. A look at Boyle’s unreal pass that wrong footed every Cap including Holtby, who got caught leaning:
Boyle making that play and incredible pass for the Kapanen winner is beyond belief. That is a very skilled play by the veteran big man. Sure. He’s been a key playoff performer before doing it at MSG in deep runs for the Rangers in 2012 and 2014 while also reaching the Stanley Cup Final at our expense with the Lightning in 2015. But even I was stunned by the pass. He’s a hardworking gritty fourth line high energy guy who shows up in big moments. Whether it’s a huge cycle and set up such as this pass to Dominic Moore clinching the Rangers’ first Stanley Cup appearance in 20 years:
Or it’s a big penalty kill where Brian Boyle lays out and sacrifices to block a shot, he can be counted on in crunch time. He can also win big draws. No surprise that he went 11-and-6 while tallying two assists with a plus-two rating in 29 shifts-16:34.
The playoffs are where unlikely heroes are born. Look at the Rangers’ 2-0 win in Game 1 at Montreal. The game-winning goal didn’t come from any of their top scorers. But rather 12th forward Tanner Glass. Yes. The same Glass who has been hotly debated on social media and forums by divided fans. Some asked why is he playing on the fourth line over Pavel Buchnevich. And they weren’t wrong to question it.
Quite frankly, Glass’ physicality and grinding style is a better fit with Oscar Lindberg and Jesper Fast. So, is it a shock that the fourth line has been the Rangers’ best in the first two games? Not with how these games are being played. It doesn’t mean coach Alain Vigneault shouldn’t consider inserting the skilled Buchnevich for say an ineffective Kevin Hayes. That largely depends on what Hayes gives them in tonight’s pivotal Game 3. Why change the one line that’s working.
There’s also this:
Amazingly enough, it’s true. The Chicago Blackhawks are in deep trouble against the Nashville Predators. They lost the first two games at home without scoring a single goal in six periods against Pekka Rinne. Not even Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews or Artemi Panarin could figure him out. The same Rinne who was at times inconsistent this season. So, the top seeded Blackhawks are down 2-0 headed to Music City for the next two. Their season is on the line. Ditto for the Wild against the Blues, who will host a huge Game 3 in St. Louis on Sunday.
That is the playoffs in a nutshell. Only two of eight series have seen the home team sweep the first two games. The Penguins are two up on the Blue Jackets and the Ducks just completed yet another home win over the hexed Flames at The Pond to go up 2-0. The remaining six series are tied 1-1. It speaks to the parity there is in the league.
And if you’re looking for unlikely heroes from playoffs past, here you go:
I don’t watch this often. It’s a reminder of the past. But hell. Who knew Stephane Matteau would be so crucial to one of the greatest Conference Finals ever played? He was a throw in with Brian Noonan for Tony Amonte. Credit Mike Keenan even if they won in spite of him.
One last reminder. How about this guy for Calgary during their amazing run in 2004?
Martin Gelinas also eliminated the Canucks in the first round in Game 7. One I still remember because I took him in an office pool winning money. 😉
When games go to sudden death, anything’s possible. Mark Messier never scored in overtime. That man Boyle has done it twice. You need those types to win at this time of year. It’s what makes the NHL Playoffs fun and unpredictable.
Oh by the way. Guess who scored the clutch tying goal for the Senators in the third on a brilliant pass from Erik Karlsson. None other than Derick Brassard. Big Game Brass is at it again adding to his moniker. He also had an assist in the Sens’ big 4-3 OT win over the B’s.
Chris Kreider is one of a handful of young Rangers forwards who must be better when the first round series against Montreal shifts to MSG for Game 3 on Sunday.
Through two games, the Rangers and Canadiens are all tied in this first round best-of-seven Atlantic Division series. The underdog top wildcard from the Metropolitan Division could easily be in the drivers seat up two games to none. Instead, they find themselves returning home to MSG for a huge Game 3 tomorrow night following a stirring Habs’ comeback with Tomas Plekanec and Alex Radulov playing the heroes in a tough 4-3 overtime loss on Friday.
They wasted a heroic 54-save effort from Henrik Lundqvist. The King did all he could to give his team a golden opportunity to steal Game 2 at Bell Centre. He made 35 saves in the second and third periods. But it wasn’t enough due to old hat Plekanec finding room in front of the net to deflect home a Radulov pass with 17.3 seconds left forcing overtime. A play that could’ve been prevented had Nick Holden not been busy slashing Plekanec and breaking his stick. What if he defended properly? The Rangers would be two up coming home.
The bigger question is why coach Alain Vigneault opted to go with Holden and Marc Staal for that fateful final shift of regulation. After old reliable Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi came off, Vigneault could’ve sent out Brady Skjei and Brendan Smith. A tandem that had been the most effective. Particularly with Skjei and Smith playing playoff hockey by roughing up the very aggressive Habs. But for some reason, they remain the third pair while Staal and Holden continue to be loyally trusted to a fault. They were on for all three goals against during the first 60 minutes. How will Vigneault play it when the series shifts to Broadway Sunday night?
While those are tough questions the coach better answer, it doesn’t fully explain the mysterious disappearance of a few key players from their young core.
In particular, they need more from Chris Kreider, who has been visible for the wrong reason. He doesn’t have a point so far and only registered four shots against rival Carey Price. This isn’t previous years. It was Kreider who led the Rangers in goals with 28 during a career season that saw him post his first 50-point season with 53 points. He hasn’t done a good enough job in front of Price. He needs to make life more difficult on the Montreal goalie.
Game 1 of 2014 can’t be in his mind. It wasn’t his fault Alexei Emelin tripped him sending him flying into Price, who was knocked out for the rest of the Eastern Conference Final. The 25-year old Kreider must be a factor the rest of the series. That means getting in on the forecheck and generating more offense with linemates Derek Stepan and Mats Zuccarello. The top line hasn’t been great only in on one goal with Stepan setting up Smith’s one-timer that Zuccarello banked in off his shin for a 3-2 lead late in the second last night. They must be better when Vigneault can dictate the match-ups with the final change.
Kreider was guilty on Montreal’s second goal when he mishandled a Holden pass causing a neutral zone turnover. He didn’t hustle back as Paul Byron scored with Staal and Holden in no man’s land. Defense isn’t his strong suit. But skating and stick handling are. He could’ve done a better job. In overtime, he also took a bad penalty slashing the stick out of a Canadien in the offensive zone. The Rangers penalty kill bailed him out. The power forward must have more of a positive impact. He can impose his will and be a factor offensively. They can’t win without him.
He’s far from alone. Kevin Hayes hasn’t done much either. Centering the third line with Michael Grabner and J.T. Miller, the third-year playmaking pivot has looked tentative. A quality big man with great puck possession skills, Hayes is an unselfish player who likes to get his teammates involved. His line started well in the first period getting the puck in and cycling effectively. But while both Grabner and Miller were more active, Hayes took a back seat to the rugged style being played. He isn’t known for physicality. But he can be more aggressive.
There were moments Hayes could’ve looked for his shot but didn’t. It’s not his first instinct. But when you’re on the power play and in a prime position, take what they give you. “Shoot The Puck! Barry” used to be the old moniker by former Rangers broadcaster Bill “The Big Whistle” Chadwick. Sometimes, Hayes needs to take what they give him. Also without a point and four shots, he can’t have a repeat of last year when Vigneault benched him the final two games in a lopsided first round loss to Pittsburgh. He’s got to make things happen.
Hayes’ linemate Miller also can play better. Sure. He’s been noticeable battling the Canadiens on the forecheck while finishing checks and getting involved during scrums. Most notably, when teammate Zuccarello took an uncalled cheap shot from Montreal goon Steve Ott. That led to Miller stepping in before Habs’ defenseman Shea Weber took matters into his own hands by pummeling the Rangers’ forward.
The 24-year old Miller also posted career bests with 22 goals, 34 assists and 56 points while leading the team in shorthanded goals with three. His style is perfectly suited for this series. He gets the jersey dirty and doesn’t back off. However, the Rangers need him to score. He’s a very gifted offensive player in that he can both finish due to his quick release and set up teammates due to his vision. He can’t be without a goal or assist in the next two games. If the Rangers are to snap their five-game home playoff losing streak, they need Miller to produce.
Another young player who must be much better is Mika Zibanejad. In Game 1, he got a couple of looks but didn’t finish. Centering the second line with Jimmy Vesey and Rick Nash, the former Senator needs to be more assertive. He has five shots so far but no points. Zibanejad also was just a tad late taking Radulov on the OT winner in front. He didn’t tie him up.
When Rangers GM Jeff Gorton traded popular Blueshirt Derick Brassard to Ottawa in exchange for Zibanejad and a second round pick (Brendan Smith), it was with the thought of dumping Brassard’s salary and no-trade clause to take on a younger player with promise. A right-handed shot, the 23-year old Zibanejad finished the regular season well scoring twice and tallying two assists in the last three games. After missing two months with a broken leg, it took the young Swede time to find his game. He showed improvement down the stretch winding up with 14 goals and 23 assists in 56 contests. That included four power play goals and 11 power play points.
There’s no denying his talent. Possessing a lethal shot from the off wing, he can one-time the puck giving opposing goaltenders trouble. Thus far, he’s been MIA. He got one chance in Game 2 but fired right into Price. There also was a frustrating fake one-time pass across that never had a chance for Zuccarello with the puck hopping over him. Sometimes, simple is better. He should’ve taken the shot. As a player who centers Vesey and Nash, Zibanejad can’t be invisible. He must be a factor. If that means Vigneault shifts Miller to the line and moves Vesey down to Hayes and Grabner, so be it.
In order for the Rangers to advance, they need more out of their top nine. They haven’t gotten enough consistency. Nash showed up by scoring on a breakaway off a nice touch pass from Vesey due to a good breakout from Holden. The one positive from the much maligned skating defenseman. Grabner has scored in both games. One into an empty net sealing Game 1 and last night when he beat Price on a breakaway going to a backhand off a great deke. Zuccarello has a goal and has been in the middle of everything. He can still be better as can Stepan, who was on point in a interview this afternoon.
It’s interesting to note what he said about the final 10 minutes of the third period and overtime. He discussed how they tried to hang on and make the hard plays while playing too safe in sudden death. The last half of the third wasn’t good enough. The Rangers didn’t forecheck at all. They were content to protect a one-goal lead and sit back. It resulted in an 18-9 advantage in shots for the Habs and a ridiculous 33-12 edge in attempts. The Rangers also iced the puck seven times. Fifteen face-offs were in their end compared to just one in Montreal’s end.
That won’t get it done. A word of friendly advice to Vigneault. Don’t play it too safe. He should know better. It cost him against the Kings in the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals. You can’t be too conservative. His team was guilty of that and got burned. Listening to Stepan and Ryan McDonagh, lesson learned.
Now, the pressure shifts to the Rangers. They haven’t been a great team on home ice. When the puck drops for Game 3 at The Garden, that must change. As must the play of those key young players. All need to be better.
Henrik Lundqvist could only do so much. His 54 saves weren’t enough as the Canadiens came back to stun the Rangers 4-3 in overtime on Tomas Plekanec’s game-tying goal with 18 seconds left and Alex Radulov’s OT winner at 18:34. The series is all tied 1-1 going back for Game 3 at MSG Sunday night. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy NYRangers.
This was gut wrenching. Like a punch to the gut or solar system. The Rangers were so close to taking a commanding 2-0 lead in this emotional and very physical best-of-seven first round series. But the pesky Canadiens had other ideas. Playing with urgency, they wouldn’t be denied. Tomas Plekanec’s tying goal with 17.3 seconds left and Alex Radulov’s goal at 18:34 of the first overtime made them 4-3 winners in Game 2 before 21,288 screaming fans at Bell Centre.
The series is all even. Montreal was desperate and it showed. They did whatever it took to win. They overcame a superb performance from Rangers netminder Henrik Lundqvist. He faced 58 shots and turned back 54. But it wasn’t enough to save his team which got worn out by a relentless Canadiens attack.
Indeed, the Habs threw the kitchen sink at Lundqvist. It eventually paid off. Like Game 1, the hitting and pace was fast and furious. The physicality wasn’t predicted before the series. But these teams seem intent on killing each other. The final hit count was 74-55 in the Rangers favor. But they could regret taking their foot off the accelerator. Especially if they don’t respond with a win in a huge Game 3 when the series shifts to MSG on Sunday night.
This game had a bit of everything. If you love chaos, this was your type of playoff hockey. There was nothing boring about the game. In fact, the seven periods they’ve played have been tremendous. It’s been a battle for every inch and very intense. Funny. I can’t remember the Rangers ever playing this way under coach Alain Vigneault. Unfortunately, he may regret having Marc Staal and Nick Holden on protecting a one-goal lead in the final frantic minute of regulation.
To put it mildly, Staal and Holden have struggled mightily. They were victimized for all three Montreal goals against during regulation. The one net positive was Holden’s quick outlet for Jimmy Vesey catching the Habs in a change which set up Rick Nash’s tying marker halfway thru the second period. I don’t now how you could have Staal and Holden out at the end of the game when they’ve been shaky defensively. It made no sense. Sure enough, Plekanec tied it with his first of series redirecting the puck past an incensed Lundqvist with Holden down after breaking his stick.
It wasn’t the only time where Lundqvist reacted negatively on Friday night. He had one of the oddest goals beat him at 4:05 of the first when Montreal defenseman Jeff Petry scored from a tough angle. The reason he couldn’t stop it was he had no goalie stick. Habs antagonist Brendan Gallagher skated by and broke it the previous shift. Whether intentional or not, it resulted in Montreal getting the quick start they wanted. While Lundqvist played without a stick, Staal went down behind the net allowing Phillip Danault to come out and feed Petry, who wisely set up and took the shot for a 1-0 lead. A furious Lundqvist fumed at the bench while getting a new stick.
Unlike Game 1 when the Canadiens dominated the first, this one was more even. The Rangers didn’t back off following Petry’s goal. Instead, they were the aggressors looking for the equalizer. It was again the fourth line of Oscar Lindberg, Tanner Glass and Jesper Fast who did the grunt work by winning board battles. The third line of Kevin Hayes, Michael Grabner and J.T. Miller also had some good attack time.
In a period where the hitting was unbelievable along with a fast pace that featured almost no whistles, the refs let everything go. There were plenty of scrums. This was playoff hockey at its best. Players at each other’s throats. Astonishingly, the Rangers and Canadiens combined for over 50 hits in one period. They also totaled three goals with the Habs getting the upper hand.
The Rangers drew even thanks to a great defensive and individual effort from Grabner. The same guy who couldn’t put the puck in the ocean the last month. He’s two-for-two so far. On a good Montreal forecheck, Grabner forced Habs defenseman Nathan Beaulieu into a bad turnover. Beaulieu dove to keep a puck in which Grabner easily intercepted. He turned on the jets and then did Carey Price dirty with a beautiful double deke, backhand finish for an unassisted goal that tied it at 13:48.
But less than two minutes later, it was Montreal’s line of Plekanec, Paul Byron and Gallagher who struck back to go back in front. Byron was dangerous throughout. Prior to Grabner’s goal, he had a breakaway after a Dan Girardi shot was blocked. But Lundqvist made a huge stop to deny him on the backhand. Byron redeemed himself. On what amounted to a brutal neutral zone turnover from Chris Kreider, the Habs came in transition quickly. With both Staal and Holden behind the net, Gallagher fed Byron, who had enough time to beat Lundqvist with a quick wrist shot at 15:42. On the play, Kreider coasted. Only Mats Zuccarello came back hard but was too late.
Even though they trailed after the first, it didn’t feel like it. The shots were even at nine apiece. They forced Price into some tough saves. The game was exciting. Of all the series so far that I’ve seen, this is the best one. It has everything including terrific goaltending and surprisingly strong penalty killing. Neither team has scored on the power play. Plus the physicality and battles between whistles.
In the second, all hell broke loose. With no penalties being called and players from each side getting away with obvious ones, it was a matter of time before it boiled over. It happened shortly after a Montreal penalty kill of a Radulov slash which was a love tap post-whistle. How they decided that was the first penalty I have no idea.
What ensued afterwards was just your old fashioned old time hockey. On what was a deliberate cheap shot from Steve Ott on Zuccarello with the puck not in the vicinity, it led to a wrestling match. Players got together. Zuccarello went back at Ott, who somehow didn’t get a penalty for his shenanigans. Jordie Benn did get a roughing minor while Zuccarello somehow got a double minor. Meanwhile, an angry Weber decided to pummel Miller. He was driving them nuts. Miller didn’t want to go and got beaten badly.
Even with the Habs winding up with a five-on-four, they did nothing. Perhaps it was a make up call for an undetected Brendan Smith cross check. It was blatant and somehow refs Brad Watson and Trevor Hanson let it go. So, you can imagine Claude Julien’s anger when they put Radulov in the box for nothing. He was right. They let the teams play. But that doesn’t mean the officiating was good.
The Rangers needed a penalty kill. Oh. They got it. They were terrific, giving Montreal nothing. They also were without Weber, who was serving his fighting major. Lundqvist still had to make three saves from in tight. But the Rangers PK was good killing off all four Habs power plays including one in sudden death on a bad offensive zone slashing penalty by Kreider. He needs to be more assertive and smarter.
Still trailing by one, the Rangers caught the Canadiens napping. With the puck behind his net, Holden noticed that they were changing. He quickly passed for Vesey at the Montreal blue line. He then drew a defender and kicked to a cutting Nash, who quickly blew one over Price’s glove hand for his first of the postseason (13th career) at 9:58. A great read by Holden, who otherwise had a tough night. Vesey took the hit to make a play picking up his first career NHL playoff point. Nash shot quickly and accurately. A welcome sign right after I tweeted this:
https://twitter.com/NewYorkPuck/status/853041061933047808
Then this happened:
https://twitter.com/NewYorkPuck/status/853041188672339968
The odd officiating wasn’t over. Following a scrum, Brady Skjei somehow got called for “roughing.” He hardly did anything worth two minutes. More big saves from Lundqvist allowed them to kill it off. With momentum finally, Brendan Smith made a great play. He’s really good. On a forecheck, he stayed in deep and passed for Derek Stepan down low. Kreider helped by creating enough space. Stepan then fed Smith for a one-timer that redirected off Zuccarello’s shin past Price for a 3-2 lead with 5:13 remaining in the period. Here’s how it looked and sounded on MSG:
With Lundqvist on fire making big save after big save, things were looking good. He stopped all 18 Montreal shots in the second. The Rangers themselves had 12 on Price and got two past him. He didn’t look great by any stretch. But neither goal was his fault.
If there was a turning point, it was the Rangers’ inability to score on the power play. Seconds after Zuccarello’s go-ahead tally, Benn took a bad interference minor. In typical fashion, the Rangers couldn’t shoot straight. On a ill advised Radulov hi-sticking minor in the offensive zone, they got another chance with 1:13 left. Mika Zibanejad got one good look but his one-timer off a face-off win went right into Price’s pads. There was another instance where Zibanejad turned into Zibanebad when he had a one-timer lined up but tried a low percentage one-time pass across that didn’t work to Zuccarello. Awful.
Slowly but surely, the Rangers fell off the rails. For a second straight game, they tried to play smart hockey by clogging the neutral zone and taking away the blue line. It was working. They were taking short shifts and getting pucks deep. The problem was they rarely threatened Price even though the stats say he faced nine shots.
Instead, it was a hungrier Canadiens who started using their speed and relentless cycle game to generate quality shots and chances. They peppered Lundqvist with another 18 in the third. It looked like Vigneault would get away with it. He got strong defensive efforts again from Smith, Skjei, Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh. But somehow, after McDonagh and Girardi went off, out came Staal and Holden. It’s hard to pin a loss on two players. They weren’t the only ones out after Julien pulled Price for an extra attacker.
With it getting down to the nitty gritty for the Habs, Weber shoved Grabner down to the ice to keep the puck in. Eventually, it came down low where Alex Galchenyuk and Radulov were able to get it to Plekanec. Even though he’s not the offensive threat he once was, Plekanec is a smart player who does things that win at this time of year. With Holden breaking his stick on a slash down on his knees, Plekanec finished off a Radulov feed in front for the tying goal, sending the Bell Centre into a frenzy.
Following one more Lundqvist save because by then, his teammates were exhausted from sitting back, the horn sounded. Overtime would be needed.
In sudden death, the Habs were all over the Blueshirts. They kept getting pucks in and winning every battle. They forced Lundqvist to be great. On more than one occasion, he was. That even included a bizarre sequence where he actually came out of his net and reached up to make a save with Grabner clearing the puck out of harm’s way. He really wanted it badly.
Despite a large territorial advantage that even included a hellacious two and a half minute iron man shift from McDonagh and Girardi where the latter made two key clears off the boards to get out of trouble, the Canadiens had issues beating Lundqvist. They had to be wondering what it was going to take.
Price made his two biggest stops later in sudden death. He faced less pressure but wound up with eight saves in extras to finish with a game total of 35. With the overtime nearing conclusion, Montreal captain Max Pacioretty decided he had enough. Having been quiet for six periods, he stripped the puck from Nash in the neutral zone and finally had the impact needed to send the series back to Manhattan tied.
With Skjei and Smith out, Pacioretty started the winning play and stuck with it. Eventually, Weber pushed the puck down low to Pacioretty. He finally centered in front for Radulov, who was able to get free from Zibanejad and jam the loose puck past Lundqvist for the OT winner at 78:34. That sent Montreal into jubilation.
To be honest, they deserved it. They wanted it more. It showed. Even with Lundqvist making 54 stops on a ridiculous 58 shots, it wasn’t enough. Montreal also out-attempted the Rangers 103-69. It was that lopsided from the third period on. That’s how the Rangers played it. Too cautiously. It was like watching them try to protect those leads in the 2014 Stanley Cup Finals against the Kings. They got burned.
So, now you have a series. It’s all tied headed back to The Garden for a pivotal Game 3 Sunday night at 7 PM. The Rangers must put this one behind them quickly. It doesn’t matter how close they were. What matters is how they respond.
Tomas Plekanec takes a Alex Radulov pass and redirects it past Henrik Lundqvist for the game-tying goal with 17.3 seconds left in Game 2. AP Photo via Getty Images courtesy Canadiens.
BONY 3 Stars:
3rd Star-Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers (54 saves including 18/18 in 2nd, 17/18 in 3rd but didn’t get enough help)
2nd Star-Tomas Plekanec, Canadiens (game-tying goal at 19:42 of 3rd-1st of playoffs, assist, 3 shots, +1 in 32 shifts-19:37)
1st Star-Alex Radulov, Canadiens (overtime winner at 18:34, 2 assists, 6 shots, 7 attempts, 7 hits, +2 in 30 shifts-23:20)
Playoff Notes: As noted, there were 129 total hits. The Rangers had 74 led by Glass’ 10. The Canadiens had 55 led by Radulov of all people with seven. He played on the edge even if he took a bad penalty. … Gallagher had a whale of a game for the Habs leading all skaters with nine shots and 13 attempts while continuing to drive the Rangers crazy. He was all over the ice and led the Habs even though he had one assist. … Weber had a strong game setting up Radulov’s winner while blocking seven shots, fighting Miller and going plus-two in 39 big shifts-32:25. Andrei Markov had more ice-time with 33:41. Petry had a goal and 31:33 in 40 shifts.
… McDonagh led the Rangers with 33:12 in 44 shifts with five attempts, five hits and four blocks. Girardi totaled 42 shifts logging 28:20 including 4:26 shorthanded with four hits and four blocks. Skjei had the next most with 23:17 in 42 shifts while partner Smith had 22:13 with an assist. Staal went minus-two in 36 shifts with three shots and three blocks in 21:51 (38 shifts). His partner Holden had an assist on the Nash goal but went minus-two in 36 shifts logging 22:29 including 2:23 on the penalty kill yet somehow didn’t receive any power play time. Holden is better offensively and has the best shot on the team. He should be utilized there. Not defensively where he is an adventure. He had three shots and finished with seven hits.
… Face-offs were again air tight in favor of the Blueshirts 39-38. Hayes had a good night going 12-and-9. If only he looked for his shot more. Lindberg was the team’s best going 9-and-2 while playing another effective game on the fourth line in 20 shifts-11:54. Montreal’s best was old reliable Plekanec, who dominated going 17-and-10 while having a big impact with the clutch tying goal with 18 seconds remaining. Danault was 10-and-10. … There were again a lot of giveaways with the Rangers having 16 (Girardi 3) and the Canadiens having 15 (four with 2). … As a team the Blueshirts blocked 28 shots with four apiece from Girardi and McDonagh. One one extended shift where they were caught out, both Miller and Zuccarello laid out for huge blocks. The Habs were credited with 17 paced by Weber’s seven.
In other playoff action, the Pens made it 2-for-2 defeating the Blue Jackets 4-1. Sidney Crosby scored his first and set up two others including Evgeni Malkin, who made Sergei Bobrovsky look bad. He’s been outplayed by Marc-Andre Fleury, who finished with 39 saves with Matt Murray’s status unknown. The Jackets got rough late with a blatant cheap shot from Matt Calvert on Tom Kuhnackl that could be reviewed. … The Blues made it two for two in St. Paul thanks to a goal from Jaden Schwartz with 2:27 left in regulation for a 2-1 win over the Wild. They head home up 2-0. … In the late game, the Oilers are holding onto a 1-0 lead on the Sharks in the third on Zack Kassian’s shorthanded breakaway goal. They try to square the series at home before it shifts to San Jose.
Lundqvist talks about bouncing back from a tough OT loss:
McDonagh discusses a stinging loss:
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Battle Of Hudson 
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