Battle Of Hudson

It’s all come down to this. One game is all that separates the Rangers from making history. In a series they once trailed 3-1 and were left for dead, they have shown tremendous character and heart to force Game 7 against the Pens tonight.

Facing a team that boasts two of the best players on the planet, they have given themselves a chance to complete a great comeback. In franchise history, they have never rallied from a 3-1 deficit or defeated the Pens. One more complete 60-minute effort will accomplish both. The Rangers are here because they have dug deep rallying around Martin St. Louis following the death of his Mom France. In outscoring the Pens 8-2 the last two games, they have all the momentum. It’ll take plenty of guts and sacrifice to pull it off.

The pressure is on the Pens. They are facing another crisis. Since winning the Stanley Cup in 2009, they’ve failed in their quest to deliver a fourth championship to Pittsburgh. Aside from last year’s Conference Finals appearance in which they were swept by Boston, the Pens have been eliminated in the first two rounds by heavy underdogs. That included the ’10-11 Lightning who came back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Pens in the first round. Two current Rangers Dominic Moore and Martin St. Louis were part of it. It was St. Louis along with Brad Richards who called a team meeting after Game 4 reminding their teammates to forget about everything and that it could change in an instant.

Here they are following Game 5 and Game 6 victories in position. Henrik Lundqvist has stopped 67 of the last 69 shots giving his team confidence entering tonight. His performance along with the team’s in elimination games should provide a mental edge. What they must remember is that momentum is a strange thing. As last round proved, it truly can be game to game. The Rangers bounced back from a blowout Game 6 loss to edge the Flyers in Game 7 on home ice.

They know how dangerous their opponent is. Facing the prospect of Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma splitting up Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, they must be prepared for a more balanced Pens attack. If that happens, it’ll put more emphasis on Rangers coach Alain Vigneault having his top four defensemen out. That means plenty of Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, Marc Staal and Anton Stralman. With Bylsma getting the last change, Vigneault can’t afford to let him dictate match-ups. How well they defend along with the play of Lundqvist should go a long way to determining the series outcome.

Offensively speaking, the Rangers want to get off to a fast start. Similar to Game 5 when they scored early, take the crowd out of it. They’ll be looking for a reason to get down on their team. That’s how much pressure is on the Pens. Early Ranger pressure is exactly the recipe. Scoring first helps too. In Game 7 history, the team scoring first is 112-40 (.737). This will be the 153rd Game 7. In the previous 152, the home team has a 91-61 record (.599) all-time. If it reaches overtime, it won’t favor either side. Thirty-eight Game 7’s have needed sudden death. It’s dead even at 19-19.

For the Rangers to win, the line of Derick Brassard, Benoit Pouliot and Mats Zuccarello must continue to be a factor. In the series, the dynamic trio have combined to score 6 of their 13 goals. The other seven goal scorers are Carl Hagelin (2), Kevin Klein, Chris Kreider, Ryan McDonagh, Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis. That list excludes Rick Nash and Derek Stepan. Both of who with one big game can put their imprint on the series. Nash and Stepan make up two-thirds of the top line. Each has been held to one assist so far. Game 7 would be as good as any for that to change.

The other notable is the fourth line haven’t scored. Brian Boyle and Dominic Moore have contributed defensively. Their penalty killing and faceoff work are invaluable. Boyle’s hustle in Game 5 during a Pens’ 5-on-3 proved pivotal. Moore’s done a solid job on draws giving Vigneault an effective two-way pivot who can win them defensively. On a team that doesn’t boast a consistent faceoff guy, that can’t be underestimated. After sitting out, Derek Dorsett returned for the last two. He only received five shifts in Game 6 but contributed four hits. Daniel Carcillo also can sub in but AV has shown loyalty to the guys who got them here. John Moore has also played the last two with Klein on the third defensive pair. Why mess with a winning formula?

If there is something to watch, it’s the power play. Sure. They followed up a miraculous 2-for-3 Game 5 performance by going 0-for-6 in Game 6. But that was at home. For whatever reason, the Rangers are better on the road. That includes the man-advantage. I got a funny feeling they’ll score one if they win. The Kreider net presence could be a factor.

All year they have been a better road team. With a win tonight, they can go 3-1 in four games at Pittsburgh. That would be symbolic of how the season’s gone. We’ll hold off on the nickname. Win tonight and it would mean a lot to not only the franchise but every Rangers fan. For years, we’ve heard how they can’t get it done against the Pens. How they’re not in their class. All that can be thrown out the window with a win. Of all the opponents, the one I want to beat the most is them. Earlier in the series, I stated how sick and tired I am of losing to that team. To have a chance to rally from a 3-1 deficit and beat the Pens is a dream scenario. They must finish bury their chances, finish every check and get every big save. A win here would be bigger than 2012. Get it done.

Is Game 7 the one Rick Nash celebrates a goal?

So far, the Rangers have gotten to this point without a goal from Rick Nash. Through 13 games, he’s still stuck on zero. Despite having gone that many games without one, Nash leads the postseason with 51 shots-on-goal.

How dubious is this? During last year’s run to the Stanley Cup Final, former Bruin Jaromir Jagr went 0-for-58. The only difference being he didn’t lead the league in shots. His 58 tied him with Sidney Crosby for 10th. In 22 games, Jagr contributed 12 assists. Ultimately, Boston fell short losing in dramatic fashion to Chicago in six.

Nash has still contributed to the Rangers. In the first round win over the Flyers, he had four assists and played a strong Game 7 dominating puck possession and shots. Against the Pens, he has 21 shots in six games. Unable to finish, he has increased his physical play delivering four hits and four blocked shots in last night’s Game 6 win which extended the second round series. His only point over the last 10 is an assist on Kevin Klein’s empty netter in Game 5.

It isn’t a matter of Nash not trying. He’s put the effort in. Since Chris Kreider returned to play with Nash and Derek Stepan, they have reformed solid chemistry. I just wish it would result in goal production from the big man. He’s not the only one struggling. Stepan hasn’t scored over his last 10 while only registering a pair of assists. At some point, the Rangers need Nash and Stepan to deliver a big goal.

In our own fun interactive poll, we ask a simple yet complex question. Will Nash score in tomorrow’s Game 7 against the Pens? Vote away.

It comes as no surprise that the NHL didn’t take any discipline against Sidney Crosby. The Pens superstar mixed it up during last night’s Game 6 loss to the Rangers. Frustrated, he speared Dominic Moore during a scrum. Moore retaliated with a cross check. The previous game, he exchanged pleasantries with Crosby. Looks like they won’t be exchanging Christmas cards.

That wasn’t the only incident. Crosby also slew footed Dan Girardi. Nothing was called on the play. Even if not ruled a slew foot, it’s a trip from behind to an unsuspecting player.

In both instances, it was Crosby bending the rules. This is nothing new. When things don’t go his or the Pens’ way, they resort to such borderline tactics. Considering how a slanted Pens media whined over Marc Staal’s unpenalized cross check to Crosby’s back and neck area, it is what it is. These kind of things happen during the heat of battle.

Even Henrik Lundqvist got involved during a stoppage giving Sid a little taste of his water bottle. A day removed from Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton doing the same to P.K. Subban during play, he was fined $2,800. It was more publicized with Subban making light of the situation.

”Somebody sprayed water on my visor at the end of the game. I couldn’t see out of half of it,” Subban said after the Canadiens lost Game 5 to the Bruins 4-2. ”I don’t want it to be bulletin board material.”

”As a coach, you always want to support your players. But there’s certain things you can’t support,” Boston coach Claude Julien said yesterday. ”I don’t think I can support Shawn on those actions. To me, I don’t think we like seeing our players do that. Now whether he got caught up in the game or whatever, to me he’s got to own up to it.”

Such incidents are common occurrence during the postseason. It would be nice to see players show more respect for one another. But when they’re battling for every inch, any advantage they can get is taken even if it means gamesmanship. At some point tomorrow in Game 7, you know both sides will push the envelope. Only one team will advance. The other is going home.

When facing elimination, Henrik Lundqvist becomes much tougher to beat.
AP Photo/Seth Wenig

When facing elimination, Henrik Lundqvist steps up. The Rangers goalie was at it again yesterday. With his team staring at possible playoff extinction for the third time this Spring, he elevated his play once more finishing with 36 saves in the club’s 3-1 Game 6 win over the Pens. So far, he’s a perfect 3-for-3 with a 1.00 goals-against-average (GAA) and .969 save percentage. From snyrangersblog.com: In his last 11 games, he’s 9-2 with a 1.35 GAA, .955 save percentage and two shutouts.

His biggest stop came on Brian Gibbons, who came in shorthanded but was denied by an aggressive Lundqvist, who got a piece of it with his glove. At the time, the Rangers were clinging to a 2-1 lead. The Pens pressed for the equalizer but never broke through. Instead, Derick Brassard scored a huge insurance goal. Lundqvist did the rest shutting down the Pens for a second consecutive game. Over the last two games, he’s allowed two goals on 69 shots (.971 save percentage).

When he makes 30 saves or more this playoffs, Lundqvist has posted a 4-1 record with a 1.39 GAA and .959 save percentage. When his team needs it most, he’s risen to the challenge. Many have questioned whether he can carry the Rangers on his back. Here he is again in a similar position as 2012. A win tomorrow would really go a long way to improving his postseason status.

Tonight, the Rangers aim to send this second round series the distance. It’ll take the same effort and gumption they played with Friday to force Game 7 against the Pens. In franchise history, they’ve never rallied back from a 3-1 playoff deficit. In fact, the 5-1 Game 5 victory was their first since 1982 when facing such a hole.

Step two comes at Madison Square Garden on Mother’s Day. Every Blueshirt played with purpose to bring the series back home. Drawing inspiration from teammate Martin St. Louis returning after the loss of his Mom, they played like their lives depended on it. With St. Louis flying in his Dad and sister for Game 6, it’s sure to be an emotional scene. Hearing St. Louis say his Mom was the best person he ever knew and how she would’ve wanted him to play and was proud of him was pretty heavy. So too were seeing his teammates reaction with Derick Brassard hugging him during a stoppage and every player patting him following an emotional win.

It was a friendly reminder how much St. Louis means as a teammate. He’s only been here two months but is universally loved and respected. The heart and courage he’s displayed is something to behold. On a day we honor mothers, the Rangers look to send this series back to Pittsburgh one final time Tuesday. It’ll take every ounce of energy and concentration to get it done.