Battle Of Hudson

Simmonds Magic: Flyer Wayne Simmonds played the Game 6 hero in their 5-2 win over the Rangers forcing Game 7 tomorrow at MSG.
AP Photo/Chris Szagola

How to sum up the Rangers’ effort tonight? It was pathetic. With a chance to wrap up the first round series, they embarrassed themselves. This was unacceptable. Full credit to the Flyers who scored the first four on Henrik Lundqvist en route to a 5-2 Game 6 laugher- forcing a deciding seventh game tomorrow at MSG.

Simply put, the Rangers failed miserably extending the loathsome NHL record losing streak to 12 when leading a series. It’s absolutely mystifying. They started out well enough carrying the play until the latest undisciplined Benoit Pouliot offensive zone penalty. But for all the zone time they had after careless Flyer turnovers, not once did a Ranger get one past Steve Mason. Instead, they turned him into Bernie Parent. Since taking over for Ray Emery, Mason has outplayed Lundqvist twice. He finished with 34 saves blanking them until Carl Hagelin broke the shutout with 6:34 left. Mats Zuccarello added another in garbage time.

If Mason was the hero in net, Wayne Simmonds was the offensive star recording a hat trick. The pesky Flyers’ power forward did it all. He tallied twice on the power play and also notched one five on five while also getting into it with Zuccarello following his goal in the final minute. Simmonds was everywhere. Flyer coach Craig Berube made a great adjustment sticking Brayden Schenn between Simmonds and Scott Hartnell. That move along with inserting defenseman Erik Gustafsson for Hal Gill looked like genius. Gustafsson beat Lundqvist on a breakaway after coming out of the penalty box.

It was that kind of night for the Blueshirts. They were terrible. Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi stunk. For a sixth consecutive game, McDonagh failed to register a point and was on with Girardi for Simmonds’ first two goals. That included a back breaking Simmonds tally that increased the Flyers’ lead to 2-0 at 1:32 of the second. A terrible misplay that allowed Schenn to come in on Lundqvist and fan on a shot that went directly to Simmonds for an easy finish while McDonagh watched.

After wasting a good first despite the shots being even (13-13), the Rangers mailed in the second. They didn’t have strong support and were taken off their game. To be honest, I said if they allowed the Flyers to escape the first up, it would give them a big psychological lift. That’s exactly how it played out. Despite the usual march to the penalty box, the Rangers again couldn’t take advantage failing in five chances. That makes them 0 for the last four games. Meanwhile, Philadelphia again won the special teams battle going 2 for 3 on the power play. In their three wins, they’ve scored five PPG’s.

The game for all intensive purposes ended when the Rangers failed miserably on their third power play. Trailing by two, they couldn’t get anything accomplished. Again, the Flyers aggressive penalty kill kept them bottled up. There are just way too many mistakes. The Flyers have continued to take away the blue line. Like a broken record, there have been zero adjustments. This despite the improvement under assistant Scott Arniel. They scored three PPG’s in the first two games but nothing since. That falls on the coaching staff which includes Alain Vigneault. Speaking of having miserable nights, he picked an inopportune time getting outcoached by Berube.

Following a Ranger folly, Braydon Coburn sent Gustafsson on a break which Lundqvist bungled. First, he challenged and then went back in his net making it an easy one for the Flyers’ eighth defenseman. He needed to make the save there. Instead, he retreated and got burned. As soon as Gustafsson made it 3-0, Vigneault should’ve used his timeout. With Wells Fargo Center going crazy, he didn’t. He never does. That might work in the regular season. But in a playoff series you’re trying to close, he needed to half the Flyer momentum. He also left Lundqvist in to give up Simmonds’ hat trick 62 seconds later. Another fiasco. Vigneault finally took him out after the second. Cam Talbot came on in relief and stopped five shots.

Here’s an ugly stat for Lundqvist. In the last 12 games when his team has lead a playoff series, he’s now 0-12. Entering, the last 11 losses included a 3.32 GAA and .877 save percentage. Sure to go up following permitting four goals on 23 shots before being lifted. Only one goal was his fault. Aside from that, he was left out to dry. It’s hard to pin it all on him. Not when so many teammates were subpar. Especially the top pair of McDonagh and birthday boy Girardi, who had their worst performance. There was the ghost of Rick Nash again failing to bury a point blank opportunity past Mason. The Nash storyline has gotten old. He’s now 0 for 6 in the series and has just 1 goal in his first 18 postseason games as a Blueshirt.

Brad Richards was probably their best offensive player. He’s been firing shots from everywhere and creating chances. With an assist tonight, his six points are tied for first with Martin St. Louis (2-4-6). Speaking of the top line, they haven’t scored a goal since the 4-1 win in Game 3. St. Louis and Stepan were good in Game 5 setting up Marc Staal. Either they have to step up with Nash or the Zuccarello unit with Pouliot and Derick Brassard (1 assist) need to have more of an impact. At the very least, Zuccarello got his first since Game 1. Hagelin notched his second on a great effort to finally solve Mason. Anton Stralman picked up his first point.

Mason made every clutch stop. Especially with a lightning like right catching glove. The rebounds were there to be had but no Ranger got to them. That’s an area they must improve upon if they want to advance. Somewhere between Pouliot’s minor and the second, they lost momentum. The Flyers put together a couple of good shifts at the end of the first and carried it through. They held up their end.

The end of the game wasn’t without a fight. Brian Boyle mixed it up with Adam Hall. It came with less than two minutes left. Hardly a scrapper, at least he showed frustration. Boyle also had a goal waved off when he directed a loose puck in with his glove. The fourth line was the most consistent. That can’t happen tomorrow. The last three series the Rangers have won, they’ve taken Game 7. The pressure is squarely on them to deliver at The Garden. The puck drops after 7 EST.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Claude Giroux, Phi (1-2-3 incl. empty netter in 16:19)

2nd Star-Steve Mason, Phi (34 saves incl. 13 big ones in 1st)

1st Star-Wayne Simmonds, PHI (hat trick-2nd, 3rd, 4th incl. 2 PPG’s, 12 PIM in 12:50)

Dominant: Dominic Moore celebrates his second period goal. He also set up Brian Boyle’s empty netter highlighting the Rangers 4-2 Game 5 win over the Flyers.
AP Photo/Seth Wenig

It wasn’t easy because it never is. With this team, it’s how they do things. At one point, the Rangers led by three. But anyone who’s lived and died with them knows better. They held on to defeat the Flyers 4-2 in Game 5 to take a 3-2 series lead.

Dominic Moore’s second goal of the series was the difference. A key component of the fourth line, he also set up Brian Boyle’s empty netter that finally sealed it with 15 seconds left. Ever since Moore and Boyle were put together, they’ve been inseparable. Their penalty kill work and attention to detail was crucial. It’s no surprise that both were factors in such a big win. What is surprising is they have three more goals than Rick Nash. Enough about that.

Overall, the Rangers were the stronger team for 60 minutes. Despite a sluggish start that saw the Flyers blow a few opportunities, they were superior in skating, puck possession and defensively. They were successful in spite of ref tandem Justin St. Pierre and Brad Watson, who tried their best to aid the Philly guests. There were a number of bad calls which drew the ire of MSG. That included a phantom whistle on Carl Hagelin after he didn’t touch Claude Giroux. It didn’t matter because of the PK was tremendous. They went 4-for-5 killing off the first four Flyer power plays.

After consecutive penalty kills of two Hagelin minors, the top line went to work. Derek Stepan got it started. He found Martin St. Louis, who backed up the Flyer defense and then made a nice drop for Marc Staal, whose wrist shot from the left circle eluded Steve Mason. His first of the series allowed the Blueshirts to go ahead at 11:53. One of the keys to a win was having one of their top defensemen contribute offensively. Staal picked a great time to deliver energizing the team.

The Rangers were unable to build upon it even though Vincent Lecavalier took a holding minor off the center ice draw. For a third consecutive game, the power play was a non-factor going 0-for-3. They’re 0 for their last 15. With a chance to close out the Flyers Tuesday at Wells Fargo Center, that ugly stat must change. What doesn’t is the brilliant play of Henrik Lundqvist. Sharp throughout, he made some critical stops prior to Staal’s goal and delivered a consistent performance finishing with 24 saves. He didn’t have to stand on his head but Hank was there when needed.

After a somewhat odd first period that saw them only muster six shots, the Rangers were sharper in the second. Harder on the puck, they began carrying the puck over the Flyers blue line with speed. Taking advantage of some turnovers, they created better chances. However, it was a Flyer near miss that led to the second goal. Craig Berube was forced to insert 39-year old veteran Hal Gill for the injured Niklas Grossmann. Only having played six games during the season, the big man had a glorious opportunity to tie it but missed from the slot.

The Rangers quickly transitioned the opposite way. With Scott Hartnell down behind the play, it allowed them to have a five on four. Alain Vigneault inserted J.T. Miller into the lineup for Daniel Carcillo. A gutsy move that worked. On the shift, he went to the net. After missing a set up, Miller forced Mason into a rebound which caromed right to Brad Richards, who sent home a backhand for his second increasing to 2-0 at 8:07. Hagelin did the grunt work behind the net picking up the secondary assist. Richards has been tremendous firing shots from everywhere. He’s been one of the team’s best players.

Leading by two, the Rangers had a pair of calls go against them. First, Kevin Klein was sent off for a mysterious unsportsmanlike conduct. I’m not even sure Sherlock Holmes could find it. Nevertheless, an aggressive penalty kill made quick work of the Flyer power play. They really did a superb job attacking the Flyers never letting them set up. In particular, Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh stood out. As they have during the series, each had a defensive impact. The work of Staal and Anton Stralman was also strong.

Matt Read took a bad roughing minor that put the Rangers on their third man-advantage. After doing nothing on the first two, they had the misfortune of St. Pierre blowing the whistle too quickly that wiped out a goal. The play in question was on a Nash deflection that Mason stopped. However, the puck was never covered. Just as St. Louis tucked in a backhand, the whistle blew. Replays showed that St. Pierre wasn’t in the right position and couldn’t have seen it. A big break for the Flyers.

About the only penalty I agreed with was Hagelin’s third of the day. He hooked down Scott Hartnell preventing a goal. It was a smart penalty that allowed Lundqvist and the Rangers to make it four for four. Not long after, Moore victimized Gill for the Rangers’ third goal. Unable to retrieve a pass in his skates from partner Braydon Coburn, he lost the puck to Moore, who cut in and beat Mason for an unassisted tally at 16:20.

Up by three, things seemed under control. A dominant shift from the Derick Brassard, Benoit Pouliot and Mats Zuccarello unit led directly to a point blank opportunity for Stralman. After he was denied by Mason, Stralman was shoved into the Flyer netminder by his own defenseman. Instead, he was sent to the box for goalie interference. Another weak call. This time, the Flyers finally took advantage when a Lecavalier one-timer from the point deflected off a sliding Klein past Lundqvist. His first of the series came at 19:27 from former Islanders Mark Streit and Andrew MacDonald.

Trailing by two despite not playing well, it gave the Flyers some life. The Rangers sat on the lead a little too much for my liking. They allowed the Flyers to enter the zone more and get some tough shots on Lundqvist, who came up big. Even Giroux was able to finally get a couple of chances.

There were a couple of good shifts that seemed to halt their momentum. St. Louis was brilliant throughout leading the Rangers with four shots including a couple of near misses. On a nice outlet from Stepan, he was stoned by Mason on a forehand deke. Stepan also had a nice solo effort getting a tough backhand on that Mason kicked out. In defeat, he made some key stops that kept it a two-goal deficit.

With over two minutes left, Berube pulled his goalie. The Rangers iced the puck a couple of times including one from McDonagh. Never a strong faceoff team, they saw the Flyers creep within one when a long Giroux shot snuck through traffic with 1:29 remaining. His first came from Kimmo Timonen and Wayne Simmonds.

But with the crowd urging them on, the Rangers put the game out of reach. A gigantic defensive sequence from Girardi allowed them to breathe easy. He took a heavy hit from Hartnell and then made a soft clear off the boards. A smart read that allowed the puck not to go for icing. A streaking Moore outraced Timonen and then fed the trailer Boyle for the exclamation point.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Dan Girardi, NYR (assist, 4 hits, +1 in 30 shifts-25:59-best defenseman in series)

2nd Star-Dominic Moore, NYR (goal-2nd of series, assist, 2 takeaways, 6 for 7 on draws, +1 in 12:36-one of Slat’s best signings)

1st Star-Martin St. Louis, NYR (assist, 4 SOG, +1 in 20:01-No.26 dominated in 26 big shifts)

Jakub Voracek tips in the winner on the power play that evened the series.
AP Photo/Chris Szagola

By show of hands, who thought the power play woes were a thing of the past? For much of the season, the Rangers have been able to score on the man-advantage. After finishing 15th under the tutelage of assistant coach Scott Arniel, they buried the Flyers in Game 1 cashing in twice.

Since Benoit Pouliot converted a power play goal for a 2-0 lead in Game 2, the Rangers have failed miserably. They’re 0 for their last 12. The Flyers shut them out at Wells Fargo Center. They went 0-for-8 including a critical blown opportunity on a 4-on-3 highlighting yesterday’s 2-1 Game 4 loss that evened the series. In particular, their reluctance to shoot for the remaining 1:12 at the start of the third was inexplicable.

So was Alain Vigneault’s curious choice not to use Rick Nash. He only received 2:33 on the power play. A low amount compared with Brad Richards (7:27), Derek Stepan (4:16) and Martin St. Louis (4:08). Even though he hasn’t scored yet, he’s their most dangerous finisher. In the series, Nash leads the Rangers with 23 shots. That included a point blank chance which Steve Mason denied. There also was the close call at the end where he missed a backhand. Nash finished with five shots and missed the net four times. They’re just not going in. Despite having four assists, he’s taken criticism due to having only 1 goal in 16 postseason games as a Blueshirt. That must change.

 “I don’t think we made it difficult enough [on Mason],” Nash told New York Post’s Larry Brooks in a column detailing his struggles. “We need more traffic and to create more chances.”

Of course, he’s right. In Mason’s first start, he was able to see the shots allowing him to make 37 saves. No one went to the blue paint and made his life difficult. Part of the power struggles were a lack of traffic. They also had problems getting set up. The Flyers challenged at the blue line forcing them into careless turnovers. When they did have puck possession, they were too stagnant. An epidemic that plagued them under Mike Sullivan.

In their two wins, the Flyers have won the special teams battle. In Game 2, they went 2-for-3 on the power play and killed off five of six including the Rangers’ last four. Friday night, Jakub Voracek notched the winner with a power play tally. Again, Philadelphia made the most of their opportunities going 1-for-2. Their aggressive penalty kill went four of four.

Overall, the Rangers are 3-for-20 in the series. All three came at MSG where they went 3-for-12. When the series resumes tomorrow for a pivotal Game 5 at high noon, they must do a better job. The Flyers have taken bad penalties throughout. They must make them pay.

Steve Mason denies Rick Nash for one of his 37 saves.
AP Photo/Chris Szagola

Steve Mason continued his mastery. The Flyers number one goalie finally was healthy enough to start and boy did he make a difference. His 37 saves allowed the Flyers to come away with a hard fought 2-1 win over the Rangers to even the best of seven first round series.

After subbing late for Ray Emery in Game 3, Mason was outstanding. He was particularly sharp in a lopsided first period that the Rangers controlled outshooting the Flyers 16-6. Tested early and often, he saved his team from falling behind more than a goal. Mason allowed one goal to Dominic Moore. Following a strong penalty kill of a dubious penalty on Moore for hooking embellisher Zac Rinaldo, Brian Boyle got the puck to Moore after he came out of the box. He followed up his own rebound by beating Mason with a wrap around at 4:38.

Boosted by the goal from their fourth line, the Rangers carried the play. Using superior speed, they created dangerous chances. Despite getting behind the Flyers D several times, they never found a way to grab a two-goal lead. Instead, Mason stoned them time and again. The former Blue Jacket was the best player on the ice. His clutch stops allowed his team to breathe.

Similar to Game 2, the Flyers scored a bad goal on Henrik Lundqvist. Over four minutes after Moore’s tally, Jason Akeson’s intentional pass off the back boards caromed right to Matt Read, who caught Lundqvist off his post for the tying goal. Ironically, Read is the same player whose blindside hit on Daniel Carcillo didn’t warrant a suspension on a play that went undetected.

Even with the game even, the Rangers continued to dominate play. They surrounded the Flyers net searching for the go ahead. The third line of Carcillo, Brad Richards and Carl Hagelin came the closest. They also had a power play following a dangerous high hit Brayden Schenn delivered on Rick Nash. However, they couldn’t connect. Nash had the best opportunity on a rebound but his low attempt was denied by Mason.

After surviving the first 20 minutes, the Flyers turned it into a similar style to Game 2. Coach Craig Berube made a good adjustment having his defense aggressively challenge the Rangers at the blue line. The strategy worked forcing them into sloppy play. Their passes didn’t connect and they weren’t able to sustain a consistent fore check. Predictably, the Flyers mucked it up during post-whistle scrums. They played much smarter.

A strong Philadelphia penalty kill on an Andrew MacDonald hooking minor allowed them to grab the momentum. To be blunt, the Rangers power play was terrible. They got no pressure and turned the puck over repeatedly leading to easy Flyer clears. In fact, they got the best chance shorthanded but Lundqvist slid across to deny it.

On the next shift, Moore cross checked Claude Giroux putting him in the sin bin. Giroux, who said the Flyers would win didn’t register a point. But he did get a shot on a power play that eventually cashed in. A Mark Streit keep allowed Brayden Schenn plenty of time to fire a shot which an unguarded Jakub Voracek tipped in high to Lundqvist’s blocker. His second of the series came at 7:22 of the second. The Rangers inability to clear the puck cost them. Marc Staal was late recovering which allowed Voracek too much time.

A Sean Couturier high stick put the Rangers back on the man-advantage. It didn’t matter because the Flyers easily killed it. When they weren’t outracing Rangers to loose pucks, they allowed Mason to see every shot. Unlike the first where he stood on his head, he made the saves and the Flyers D did the rest. Not one Blueshirt got in front of him.

The power outage continued. After matching roughs to Carcillo and Schenn with under a minute left, Ryan McDonagh pinched in during a four on four and got robbed by Mason, who made his best save. On the same shift, Read went for hooking at 19:44. Predictably, they lost the offensive draw killing the rest of the second. Despite getting a fresh sheet of ice, there was no sense of urgency. The one time they got set up, all the four players did was pass the puck around like a hot potato. Not one shot was attempted.

Continuing to play a grinding style, the Flyers were content to protect a one-goal lead. In a wild postseason full of blown leads, it worked. Alain Vigneault tried double shifting Nash and eventually flipped Moore with Carcillo. Moore moved up with Richards and Hagelin. For most of the third, the Blueshirts were bottled up. They finally started applying pressure with less than five minutes left. As usual, Mats Zuccarello got the best chances. Similar to Game 2, he was robbed point blank only it was Mason instead of Emery. His line with Derick Brassard and Benoit Pouliot failed to produce a point in the two games at Wells Fargo Center. That must change Sunday at MSG for what the pivotal Game 5.

Vigneault pulled Lundqvist for an extra attacker with over a minute left. It nearly worked. But on his best shift in which he circled around the net, Nash sent a backhand through the crease that just missed. It was the closest they came.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Braydon Coburn, PHI (assist, 3 SOG, hit, blocked shot-strong defensive work, +1 in 25:27)

2nd Star-Jakub Voracek, PHI (PPG-2nd of series at 7:22, 2nd for GW)

1st Star-Steve Mason, PHI (37 saves incl. 15/16 in 1st, 12/12 in 2nd, 10/10 in 3rd)

Car Bombed: Daniel Carcillo watches his redirection slip past Ray Emery for the knockout blow highlighting a Rangers 4-1 Game 3 win over the Flyers.
AP Photo/Chris Szagola

The playoffs are all about having a short memory. After losing Game 2, the Rangers showed character to take back home ice. Facing a hostile environment, they responded with an emphatic 4-1 win over the Flyers in Game 3 at Wells Fargo Center.

It was exactly what the doctor ordered. Facing their first adversity, the Rangers did what they have all season. Road warriors under Alain Vigneault, they executed throughout despite being outshot 32-23. Henrik Lundqvist responded with a stronger effort in net making 31 saves. That included some key stops in the second period when the Flyers applied pressure. Similar to last game, the home team played controlled the stanza but didn’t capitalize. Instead, the Rangers got the only goal from Dan Girardi, who stood out earning number one star.

The Rangers got big bounce backs from Girardi and partner Ryan McDonagh. Defensively they were much better five on five and shorthanded. One of the themes thus far in the series has been special teams. The Flyers held the edge in Game 2. Neither team scored on the power play. But the Rangers killed off all five Philadelphia power plays. That included a couple of key ones when the Flyers were given every chance to get back in. Let’s just say the officiating wasn’t top notch.

For a second consecutive game, the Rangers jumped on Ray Emery by getting the first two. The top line struck twice. Derek Stepan converted his second from Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis to open the scoring. Discipline was an issue for Benoit Pouliot. His cross check negated a Ranger power play. That wasn’t the only bad penalty from him.

They were able to keep momentum initially. St. Louis put the Rangers up two when he deflected home a Girardi point shot for his second. In his first three postseason games, he has two goals and three assists. Exactly the type of production Glen Sather was expecting from a money performer. With his team on another man-advantage, it took Pouliot five seconds to cancel it when he took a holding minor in the offensive zone. Those are the kind that get you in trouble. During the ensuing four on four, the Flyers needed only 21 seconds to cash in. Ex-Islander Mark Streit took a Jakub Voracek feed and beat Lundqvist slicing the deficit in half with 2:42 left.

Not shockingly, MSG reporter John Giannone was told by the coaching staff they wanted to limit the penalties. For the first half of the second, neither side went to the box. It was mostly Flyers though. They put good pressure on forcing Lundqvist into some tough saves. They pinned the Rangers in for a couple of shifts but were unable to get any closer. One player who was a big hero was Daniel Carcillo. Inserted into the lineup for Jesper Fast, the former Flyer pest played a whale of a game. At the end of a shift, he kept a play alive allowing the Rangers to make a full change. It led to a momentum turning goal. Off a Marc Staal keep, Carl Hagelin worked the puck to Brad Richards, who found an open Girardi for a one-time blast to give them a two-goal lead.

Lundqvist made it stand up. When he wasn’t making timely stops, he had plenty of help from defensemen and forwards who blocked shots. Everyone sacrificed. It was like a Torts renaissance with the team blocking 28 altogether.  That included Carcillo, whose diving block left him down momentarily. Flyer fans cheered. Unbelievable. A couple of shifts later, they booed after Carcillo took a Matt Read shoulder from the blind side and laid on the ice. He was able to get up thankfully. Somehow, neither Francis Charron or Paul Devorski called a penalty on the play.

But they allowed Voracek to pummel Carl Hagelin after he got entangled with the Flyers’ winger. During the stoppage, Carcillo got an extra two for roughing. He came to the aid of a teammate. Something this team doesn’t do enough. It was nice to see his teammates pick him up with a strong penalty kill. They also had to deal with one of those needless penalties from Derek Dorsett. Ironically, the Flyers have the worst home power play. They heard it from the crowd.

After escaping the second ahead two, the Rangers continued to play solid defense. Despite not testing Emery enough, they managed to shutdown the Flyers. They weren’t able to muster the kind of chances necessary to beat Lundqvist. After stopping all 13 in a busy second, he turned aside seven more in the third. Unlike Game 2, his rebound control was better. The effort never wavered.

Despite another woeful call on Carcillo for a phantom hook, the Rangers delivered a fifth successive penalty kill. As fate would have it, he would come out of the box and deliver the knockout blow. Brian Boyle made a perfect centering pass for a driving Carcillo, who neatly deflected it home. His celebration summed it up perfectly. One of the coolest things ever.

With the game decided, Craig Berube pulled Emery for Steve Mason, who no doubt will start Game 4 when the series continues Friday. Mason got the classic mock cheer the first time he touched the puck. He only saw three shots. That will change next time. Finally, the Flyers will have their starter back. Will it make a difference? We’ll see.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers (31 saves incl. 20/20 last 2 periods)

2nd Star-Martin St. Louis, Rangers (goal-2nd of playoffs, assist, +1 in 17:26)

1st Star-Dan Girardi, Rangers (goal-1st of playoffs, assist, 5 blocks, +2 in 22:42)

The Rangers need Rick Nash to start burying his opportunities against the Flyers.

Since coming over from Columbus, Rick Nash has shown flashes of what made him one of the league’s best finishers. He still overcame concussions to lead the Rangers in goal scoring his first two seasons. After notching 21 last year, he tallied 26 with many coming in crunch time. Despite missing 17 games, he also led the club with nine game-winners. Starting tonight in a pivotal Game 3 with the first round series tied, the Rangers need him big time.

It’s no secret Nash has struggled to finish for the Blueshirts in the postseason. Held to just one goal in 12 games last year, he is 0 for 2 so far against the Flyers. He’s still managed to get on the score sheet registering assists in the first two games. In Game 2, he combined with Derek Stepan to set up Martin St. Louis for a goal at even strength. So far, he leads the Rangers with 13 shots. Playing with Stepan and St. Louis, he’s definitely gotten his looks. When he gets chances, he needs to bury them.

One goal in his first 14 postseason games isn’t going to cut it. In Game 1, I felt he was one of their best players registering seven shots with many dangerous. His best opportunity in Game 2 came off a Flyer turnover in front of the net. But he fired the puck into Ray Emery, who also denied John Moore. When your most lethal finisher gets point blank chances, you expect him to light the lamp.

Nash has looked more comfortable this year. He’s delivered in the clutch all season and even chipped in on the penalty kill scoring two shorthanded goals. Alain Vigneault has trusted him more than John Tortorella. With that comes more responsibility. Since Ryan Callahan was traded for St. Louis, Nash has taken on a bigger leadership role. His scrap against his former team sparked a comeback win. From that point, he was a different player.

The Rangers are counting on him to deliver. Especially if the Flyers are going to continue their annual march to the penalty box. Nash hasn’t scored a power play goal in his last 30 games. The last time he got one was all the way back on Jan. 26 in the Rangers Stadium Series win over the Devils. Of his 26 goals, only three came on the man-advantage. That trend can’t continue.

In Game 2, the Rangers didn’t make the Flyers pay. They went 1 for 6 on the power play with only Benoit Pouliot coming through to put them up 2-0. Philadelphia responded by scoring four unanswered to earn a split at MSG. They kept handing the Rangers opportunities but no one finished. They were 0 for their last 4 including a critical power failure early in the third trailing by one.

Thus far, special teams have determined both games. The Flyers went 2 for 3 highlighting their win including Luke Schenn’s power play tally. It came on a Pouliot delayed penalty with them able to capitalize 6 on 5. Henrik Lundqvist let out a juicy rebound of an Adam Hall shot which Schenn pounced on. Along with Nash, he must be better. The Rangers’ best players have to step up with the series shifting to what will be a hostile environment at Wells Fargo Center. We’ll see what their made of starting tonight.

Ray Emery stops a shot with Jesper Fast searching for a rebound.
AP Photo/Kathy Willens

Before the series, the Flyers knew starter Steve Mason would be out. That meant veteran Ray Emery. In Game 1, the Rangers were able to expose him laterally. Today, they were stoned by the Flyer backup, who finished with 31 saves to lead his team to a hard fought 4-2 win taking Game 2 to even the first round series. Along with three unanswered goals, that allowed Philadelphia to finally break the MSG curse winning for the first time since Feb. 20, 2011.

For the Rangers, it’s a lost opportunity. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead, they let the Flyers off the hook. Ironically, it’s the sixth straight time they’ve lost Game 2 at home since 1994. Now, the series shifts to Philly with momentum on the Flyers side. They earned it by outworking, outhustling and out-muscling the Rangers. Despite falling behind by two, indeed the Flyers were the more desperate team. That even included a heroic performance from Emery, who after allowing two early didn’t get beat again. He outplayed Henrik Lundqvist, who finished with 21 saves.

Easter Sunday started out promising for the Broadway side. Following a Flyer penalty kill of a Wayne Simmonds hold, Martin St. Louis got the Rangers on the scoreboard first when he buried his first off a brilliant cross ice feed from Derek Stepan. Rick Nash started the play by taking advantage of a sloppy Philadelphia turnover in the neutral zone. He came in three on two feeding Stepan in the slot, who easily could’ve shot. Instead, the unselfish playmaking pivot dished across for St. Louis, who made no mistake.

Even though they started better than Game 1, the Flyers dug themselves an early two-goal hole. An undisciplined Sean Couturier rough resulted in the Rangers’ third power play goal of the series. Off a rush started by Mats Zuccarello, Derick Brassard walked into the Philly zone and found an isolated Benoit Pouliot for a quick one-timer Emery had no chance on. A beautiful set up with the Rangers once again exposing Emery’s movement side to side. Of the five goals they’ve scored so far, three have come by moving the puck laterally.

With the crowd in a frenzy, Carl Hagelin took a bad offensive zone holding minor that halted momentum. Even though the Flyers didn’t score on the power play, it allowed them to regain an edge. Continuing to play a physical brand of hockey, they were harder on the puck and able to finally establish themselves. Despite testing Lundqvist more, it was a goal in transition that turned the tide. Heavily criticized after Game 1, the Flyers’ top line struck thanks to a strong power move from Jakub Voracek, who notched his first. Claude Giroux forced a turnover, allowing Scott Hartnell to push the puck ahead for Voracek, who cut around Ryan McDonagh and beat Lundqvist for a huge goal cutting the deficit to 2-1. McDonagh struggled throughout and Lundqvist committed too early, leaving an open side.

The Rangers got a third chance on the power play with Voracek off for a slash. But they got nothing done. The Flyers penalty kill would be a factor. They killed off five of six due to more aggressive play. Combined with critical stops from Emery, that proved to be a difference. They also were able to draw key penalties. The Rangers cooperated by losing discipline. I could care less if our fans didn’t like a couple of the calls. They got sucked in. One such penalty taken by Anton Stralman (interference) resulted in Jason Akeson tying it 5:45 into the second. The goat the other night, Akeson pounced on a rebound off a hard Vincent Lecavalier one-timer. Brayden Schenn helped set it up.

It took until the fifth period of the series for the Flyers to get the Rangers into their kind of game. A physical, in your face affair featuring numerous scrums and penalties. If there was a bad call, it was the one on Zuccarello for diving after Andrew MacDonald was nabbed for interference. He clearly took him down, which is why it was a strange call. Despite crowd protests, Kimmo Timonen went off for holding 18 seconds later giving the Blueshirts a great four on three opportunity. But they failed to capitalize with Emery making big saves including one on Rick Nash off a turnover, robbing him point blank. He also pounded on the rebound.

Throughout, the Rangers were unable to establish a consistent forecheck. Their most effective line was Brassard, Pouliot and Zuccarello. Outside of Stepan’s set up for St. Louis, that unit struggled. Brad Richards was decent on the power play getting shots through but his line wasn’t a factor. Jesper Fast struggled with the Flyers’ physicality only getting 14 shifts (8:49 TOI). Don’t be surprised if he sits out Game 3. Daniel Carcillo or J.T. Miller are probably better options.

With the game tied, the Flyers took their first lead of the series thanks to defenseman Luke Schenn, who scored his first on a delayed penalty. They took advantage of some overexertion from the Rangers’ top line who got caught deep. Michael Raffl fed Adam Hall for a shot which caromed off Lundqvist right to Schenn, who buried it at 11:18. Lundqvist’s rebound control wasn’t good. He allowed rebound goals on the Flyers’ last two. Normally, he’s better than that. He’ll have to adjust when the series shifts to Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Thirteen seconds following Schenn’s tally, the teams mixed it up post whistle. Hartnell, Wayne Simmonds, Derek Dorsett and Dominic Moore were all sent off. A diving call on Dorsett led to more jeers from the Garden who let the refs know about it. Whether or not you agree with the officiating, the Rangers simply weren’t good enough. They have no one to blame but themselves. They fell into the Flyers’ trap and didn’t work as hard. In the second half of the stanza, they generated opportunities including another diagonal set up for Stepan which Emery got across on and denied. He anticipated plays better making up for a lack of athleticism.

The Flyers would kill off two more penalties. They escaped trouble on one thanks to more big stops from Emery. Without hesitation, he was their best player. Not bad for a guy who was the butt of many jokes after the first game. He did let out rebounds but no Ranger was able to cash in. Credit the Flyer defense for doing a good job boxing out. After giving up 17 second period shots, they held the Rangers to seven in the third. With the exception of an Emery point blank robbery on Zuccarello, the other six were from the perimeter.

In the final period, Philadelphia played more disciplined. In fact, on the one time they were penalized, they got a better opportunity with Lundqvist forced to make a difficult sliding glove save on a Hall shorthanded bid. He made his best two saves in the third to give the Rangers a chance. But they were mostly neutralized by a Flyer D that bent but didn’t break. They allowed Emery to see the shots and he did the job.

With Lundqvist uncertain whether to go off for an extra attacker, he cost the Rangers any realistic chance. Richards came onto the ice with Lundqvist still not on the bench leading to a mind numbing bench minor for too many men. It made no sense. I initially blamed Alain Vigneault but what the heck was Lundqvist doing? The Rangers had puck possession behind the Flyers net and he waited. Chalk it up to an ill timed miscommunication. It typified an unsatisfying day.

Now, the series is even. The Rangers will put their road mastery to a test. If they can stay away from the foolishness that we saw today, they should be fine. It’ll be interesting to see how they respond. The Flyers have to feel good about themselves. Able to gain a split in a building they’ve had no success in, they know if they hold serve, the pressure’s squarely on the Rangers. They did it without Mason. We’ll see what happens in Game 3.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Claude Giroux, Flyers (assist, 2 takeaways, 2 blocks, +2 in 20:19-no shots but led by example)

2nd Star-Luke Schenn, Flyers (goal-1st of series for game decider, 2 hits, 2 blocked shots, +1 in 17:40)

1st Star-Ray Emery, Flyers (31 saves on 33 shots incl. 24/24 final 2 periods)

Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo delivers a big hit on Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein in Game 1.
AP Photo/Bruce Bennett

Whenever you play a rival in the postseason, expect plenty of rough stuff. Both the Flyers and Rangers ramped up the intensity. Neither side passed up an opportunity to finish a check. It’s what you come to expect in a hardly fought first round match-up.

In Game 1, the teams combined for 69 hits. Not surprisingly, Philadelphia won the physical battle outhitting the Rangers 37-32. In fact, 16 of the Flyers’ 18 skaters registered a hit. Matt Read and Luke Schenn led the way with five each. Only two Flyers didn’t including Vinny Lecavalier and Mark Streit. Three Blueshirts shared the team lead with four apiece coming from Brian Boyle, Jesper Fast and Kevin Klein. Only three Rangers failed to register one. They were Dominic Moore, Marc Staal and Anton Stralman.

In another key category, the Flyers blocked 22 shots to the Rangers’ 16. They were led by Kimmo Timonen’s five with former Islander Andrew MacDonald chipping in four along with the Flyers’ only goal. For the Rangers, Staal paced them with four blocks followed by Derek Stepan’s three.

Faceoffs were 26-23 in favor of the Rangers. Derick Brassard was their best going 9 for 14. Dom Moore was also strong winning 7 of 11. Stepan finished 7 and 9 while Game 1 hero Brad Richards went 3 and 5. For the Flyers, Claude Giroux was 9 for 14 on draws. Adam Hall went 6 for 10 while Brayden Schenn was .500 (3 for 6). Sean Couturier had an off night losing 10 of 14. Lecavalier lost 4 of 5.

Takeaways: Flyers 8 Rangers 10

Giveaways: Flyers 4 Rangers 16

Carl Hagelin celebrates his goal with teammates during the Rangers’ 4-1 win in Game 1 over the Flyers.
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

For Brad Richards, it couldn’t have gotten off to a better start. A year removed from being benched, he erupted for a goal and two assists highlighting a Rangers’ 4-1 win over the Flyers to take Game 1 of the first round series at MSG. Richards scored the first of two power play goals less than a minute apart to break a 1-1 tie with 11:38 left in regulation.

The difference was discipline. For most of the night, the Flyers stayed out of the penalty box only giving the Rangers one power play early on. That all changed when Jason Akeson came across the ice to deliver a hit and hi-sticked Carl Hagelin drawing blood. It handed them a double-minor. The Rangers took full advantage scoring on both ends. Both Richards and Derek Stepan scored their first goals of the postseason. Hagelin added an insurance marker.

Meeting for the first time in 17 years, nothing separated the Flyers and Rangers for two periods. Greeted by loud cheers from the crowd, the Rangers came out early and established puck possession thanks to a strong cycle from the top unit of Benoit Pouliot, Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello. Not surprisingly, it was that line that produced their first goal.

It didn’t come until former Islander Andrew MacDonald got Philadelphia on the board first. Off a clean take out by Scott Hartnell on Ryan McDonagh, he got the puck to MacDonald, whose left point shot deflected off Martin St. Louis past Henrik Lundqvist at 7:28. Oddly enough, they scored on their first shot.

Despite giving up the series’ opening tally, the Rangers continued to control the action. Off sustained pressure from the top unit, Zuccarello struck back at 10:53. A Marc Staal keep at the point allowed Pouliot to come out with the puck from behind the net and pass for Zuccarello, whose initial shot was stopped by Ray Emery. But he hustled to the net and backhanded home the rebound leading to familiar chants of “Zuke,” from MSG. After tying it, the Rangers continued to generate chances with Emery stopping Rick Nash. He had a good period also denying Brian Boyle twice on a stuff attempt.

There were plenty of hits on both sides with each side finishing checks. That theme continued in a tightly contested second. Playing more cautiously, the Flyers were able to limit the Rangers’ chances. After outshooting their old Patrick rival 14-6, it was more even with shots 9-8 in favor of the home side. While Emery held up at his end, Lundqvist stayed focused coming up with timely stops including a nice kick out on a tricky Hartnell opportunity. A hustling Staal just got enough of Wayne Simmonds to deny a rebound.

Following a scoreless second, McDonagh took a hi-sticking minor 46 seconds into the third. A dangerous power play unit, the Flyers were unable to register a shot. Aggressive Rangers penalty killers gave them little set up time and space. In particular, Staal stood out with some strong defensive work alongside Dan Girardi. A great stick check by Stepan and steal helped kill the rest of the penalty. He and Hagelin did a great job.

For the first seven minutes of the period, there was only one shot with Emery making a routine save. On the next shift following a stoppage, Akeson was in on a Flyer cycle getting a shot on Lundqvist. But near the end of it, he went for a take out on Hagelin but his stick came up high. When it produced blood, suddenly the Rangers had the opportunity they needed.

With Alain Vigneault starting the first unit, they delivered thanks to some great playmaking. A smart read by Stepan pushed the puck down low for Nash, who centered for a St. Louis shot that caromed off a Flyer skate right to Richards, who buried it at 8:22 putting the Rangers up 2-1. After a short shift for the second unit, Vigneault sensed something with his top one and sent them back out. It worked immediately. More patience and passing resulted in a sweet finish for Stepan. McDonagh sent a pass across to St. Louis who went diagonal to Richards opening up a seam where he found an isolated Stepan, who fired into an open side.

Once they fell behind by two, the Flyers came unglued taking three minors in the last eight minutes. That included a frustration slash from Claude Giroux, who was held without a shot. During the season series, he was held to just two assists. His line was on for their only goal but the trio of Giroux, Hartnell and Voracek combined for two shots. Not that the Rangers minded.

Following a power play that threatened, Jesper Fast made a good read in the neutral zone. Finding Richards at the Flyers blueline, the Rangers’ alternate captain fired a shot that Emery leaked out to a cutting Hagelin, who finished off his first for the final margin with 4:08 remaining. A nice reward for a player who hustled all night. For Fast, it was his first NHL point. Similar to Chris Kreider in 2012, it came in the playoffs. That will keep him in the lineup.

As usual, the Flyers tried to goon it up post whistle. First, Zac Rinaldo was sent off for a needless slash. Then, Brayden Schenn showed frustration with a cross-check that came with under a minute left. That’s what they do. The Rangers were smart. They went back but without doing anything foolish. One of my favorite moments was seeing Girardi shove Hartnell at the conclusion of the second. It sent a message that they won’t back down.

BONY Game 1 Stars Of The Game:

3rd Star-Marc Staal, NYR (assist, 4 blocks, superb defensively, +1 in 25 shifts-19:04)

2nd Star-Martin St. Louis, NYR (2 assists, had shots blocked but key playmaking on display, -1 in 27 shifts-19:18)

1st Star-Brad Richards, NYR (1-2-3 incl. game-winning PPG at 8:22 of 3rd, 6 SOG, +1 in 20 shifts-19:03)