Game 1 Recap: Rangers 1 Capitals 3

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Derek
Carl Hagelin stays with Martin Erat.
Getty Images/Alex Brandon

Game 1 went to Washington. The Capitals defeated the Rangers 3-1 to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Quarterfinal. Alex Ovechkin, Marcus Johansson and Jason Chimera scored for them. Braden Holtby made 35 saves.

Carl Hagelin scored our lone goal. It was his first career playoff goal. Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves. It was the last two he didn’t stop which hurt. After Ovechkin tied the game with a power play goal, Johansson and Chimera scored 46 seconds apart. All three Washington goals came in the second period. Despite being out-shot 16-9, they beat Lundqvist three times on nine shots.

Special teams were a factor. The Caps went 1-for-5 on the power play and the Rangers were 0-for-3, including an epic fail on a 56 second five-on-three which proved fatal. How many times have we seen the power play fire blanks? It wasn’t enough that Chris Rooney made a hideous charging call on Arron Asham that allowed Ovechkin to tie the game. Already on a power play, Ryan Callahan was cross checked twice by John Erskine during a scrum. Somehow, he wound up in the box for roughing while Eric Fehr got the extra two. It wouldn’t have mattered if they had an extended two-man advantage. They still wouldn’t have scored.

Holtby may have made more saves. But he didn’t have to work too hard. With the exception of Callahan and Hagelin, our guys played on the perimeter. The Caps dominated the first, getting 11 of the first 12 shots. Only Lundqvist prevented a disaster. Using momentum from an early power play, they controlled the neutral zone and fired away. With plenty of aid from Hank, the Rangers withstood the pressure.

A good shift from the fourth line led to Hagelin opening the scoring. After the Caps iced the puck, Ryan McDonagh worked the puck deep to Callahan, who chipped it to Hagelin. Hagelin’s wrap around went off a Cap skate for a 1-0 lead with 3:16 remaining in the first. As the period wore on, they gradually got better. McDonagh didn’t have a strong game. He and Anton Stralman struggled throughout. McDonagh’s late holding penalty handed the Caps another power play, which carried into the second. They didn’t connect due to superb penalty killing from Callahan, Hagelin and Derek Stepan. In fact, a good closeout from Darroll Powe allowed Hagelin to get behind the D for a breakaway. But Holtby just got a piece of his shorthanded bid. A turning point.

Asham was sent to the box. It didn’t take long for Ovechkin to pounce on a Mike Green rebound, flipping a loose puck upstairs for his first. With our fans fuming, Cap penalties on Martin Erat and Fehr gave them a great opportunity to reestablish momentum. Instead, they failed miserably. There was too much hesitation allowing the Caps to get in the lanes. They blocked 25 shots. The Rangers also missed the net 18 times. That’s 43 shots that never made it to Holtby because of over passing.

The defense had been shaky up till that point. McDonagh and Dan Girardi left too much of a gap for Steve Oleksy to send Johansson on a breakaway. His shot squeaked through Lundqvist’s pads to give Washington their first lead with 5:39 left. With Verizon Center buzzing, they had even more reason to cheer when Lundqvist got caught napping on a harmless Chimera shot from way out. Mathieu Perreault pressured Stralman into a turnover. Stralman was taken down prior without a whistle. He still needed to be stronger. Before you knew it, Chimera sent a turnaround shot past Lundqvist for a two-goal lead. A stunning turn of events our team couldn’t overcome.

They had their chances in the third. Hagelin was our best player. On a two-on-one with Stepan, he whistled one off the cross bar. Rick Nash also couldn’t put one past a scrambling Holtby. Nash was okay but could’ve been more aggressive in his first postseason game in six years. He registered a game high eight shots despite looking passive at moments. His best opportunity came on a backhand during the second. He was also denied by a sliding Holtby at the buzzer. With over four minutes left, John Moore appeared to beat Holtby but a lengthy video review upheld the decision of no goal.

One of the real disturbing aspects was the Caps manhandling our guys. They were more physical and better offensively and defensively. The hits might say Rangers 41, Capitals 34. But anyone who watched knows better. The lack of Ryane Clowe was noticeable. Chris Kreider attempted five shots, getting two on goal. John Tortorella gave him a little more time in the third. Mats Zuccarello was credited with six hits but passed up on shots. It was a trend. Derick Brassard was decent with Kreider and Taylor Pyatt but not consistent enough. Brad Richards took too much time to shoot and missed the net.

There’s definitely things the Rangers must improve upon. They can’t get out-muscled and out-hustled. And certainly need Lundqvist to outplay Holtby. Too much went wrong tonight. We’ll see how they adjust Saturday.

NY Puck 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Braden Holtby, Wsh (34 saves incl. 16/16-good but not as good as his stat line)
2nd Star-Troy Brouwer, Wsh (2 SOG, 7 hits-he set the tone)
1st Star-Carl Hagelin, NYR (1st career postseason goal, 4 SOG, +1 in 26 inspired shifts)

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Pens Teach Islanders Playoff Lesson

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Derek
Getty Images/Gene J. Puskar

They probably should burn the tape of Game One. Back in the playoffs for the first time since ’07, the Islanders got taught a lesson by the top seeded Penguins. Pittsburgh dominated from start to finish blanking New York 5-0 to draw first blood in the best-of-seven Eastern Quarterfinal.

Entering this match-up, the Islanders were heavy underdogs against the Vegas Cup favorite. Minus Sidney Crosby, the deeper Pens showed why. They beat Evgeni Nabokov four times on 15 shots, chasing the veteran goalie in his 81st career postseason start.None of the goals were Nabokov’s fault. He was hung out to dry by an inexperienced team who are being baptized by fire. Pascal Dupuis scored twice and Kris Letang notched one of two power play goals. The Isles lost the special teams battle allowing two PPG’s on three chances while taking the collar in four. In order for them to compete, that can’t continue.

”I thought some guys worked hard and played a good game,” Jack Capuano said. ”Again, with our club we need all 20 guys going, and we didn’t have all 20.”

A loss of discipline led to the Pens’ first goal. Brian Strait reacted to a Matt Cooke check by taking an interference minor. The end result saw Beau Bennett finish off a Evgeni Malkin pass for his first goal in his postseason debut. Dan Bylsma opted to give the rookie the nod over vet Tyler Kennedy. That speaks to the kind of depth Pittsburgh has. Less than four minutes in, the Isles trailed. 
Dupuis increased the deficit to two when he was the recipient of a juicy rebound. Jarome Iginla put Craig Adams in. He forced Nabokov to make a tough save which leaked out to Dupuis, who beat two Islanders back for a backhand into an open side. Iginla’s assist was his first of the playoffs with the Penguins. He later set up their third goal.
The Islanders had an opportunity to get back in it. But with Cooke in the sin bin, they failed to take advantage. They couldn’t beat Marc-Andre Fleury, who was sharp stopping all 26 shots for his sixth career playoff shutout. When he needed to come up with the big save, he did. 
The Isles didn’t generate enough momentum, failing to establish a consistent fore check. Aside from that, their D was poor. Mark Streit had a miserable night. Following the power play failure late in the first, he was caught out of position by Brandon Sutter, who drew a hold with 44 seconds left. A Marty Reasoner trip on Malkin rewarded the Pens with a five-on-three. Letang connected just as it expired when his wicked wrister went upstairs short side on Nabokov putting the Pens up 3-0 at 1:19 of the second. They couldn’t stop the bleeding. Dupuis put home his second 32 seconds later with token resistance. Even Mark Eaton got a point in place of Brooks Orpik (lower body). 

“When you make it easy on them, they’re going to light you up,” Matt Martin expressed after registering a team high 10 hits while being caught out for two goals against. ”For most of the game we made it pretty easy on them, and if you do that they’re just going to run up the score on you.”

Adding insult to injury, Pens’ enforcer Tanner Glass got in on the act when he greeted Islander backup Kevin Poulin by surprising him from an angle. Jussi Jokinen got the lone helper. He also assisted on Dupuis’ second. Two of Pittsburgh’s deadline pick ups registered two points. Iginla and Jokinen each tallied a pair of helpers. It wasn’t all gravy for Pittsburgh, who lost James Neal to an undisclosed injury. He didn’t return for the third. Jokinen also left  following a knee on knee hit from Marty Reasoner. Bylsma didn’t have any updates on either’s availability for Game Two.
””We’re going to need to (forget it quickly),” John Tavares remarked while being held to no shots in his playoff debut. ”These series are long, but they can be real quick, too.”
NY Puck 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Marc-Andre Fleury, Pit (26 saves-6th career postseason shutout)
2nd Star-Kris Letang, Pit (1st of postseason, hit on Tavares, +2 in 26:20)
1st Star-Pascal Dupuis, Pittsburgh (2 goals, +2 in 15:26)
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Twitter Fan Interview: Steph Tsafaras (StephT43/StephGT87)

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Derek
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For Steph Tsafaras, the start of the playoffs is doubly important. A passionate fan who roots for the hometown Maple Leafs, she also likes the Penguins. What happens if they meet up? That’s for her to worry about. She goes by two Twitter names representing reach team proudly. The Leaf one is StephT43 for Nazem Kadri and the Pens is StephGT87 for Sidney Crosby.

Toronto is back in the postseason for the first time in nine years. They’ll meet Original Six rival Boston in the first round. It shapes up as the most physical series. A pick ’em. Pittsburgh takes on the Islanders. The mighty Pens are expected by many to go through the East. Nobody boasts as much talent. Crosby will return eventually. For now, their star studded lineup should be hard to contain.

For Tsafaras, the fun starts later. The Leafs are first up at 7 PM with the Pens taking the ice at 7:30 PM. She works. So, she’ll catch the replay. It’s the most exciting time to be a hockey fan. We interviewed the knowledgeable pucker about having both her teams in.

Derek Felix: You grew up in Toronto but root for both the Leafs and Penguins. What’s it like having each in the playoffs?

Steph Tsafaras:  I’m glad to have both Leafs and Penguins in the playoffs. My emotions will be all over the place but to see them both strive will be great.

DF: Who was your favorite player growing up? Who is your current?

ST:  I’ve always been a Mario Lemieux fan. My current favourite player is of course Sidney Crosby for obvious reasons but Nazem Kadri is also a favourite of mine.

DF: If they play each other, who do you root for?

ST: If Leafs and Penguins played each other, I would be a mess because it would be hard to choose one team since I’ve liked both for a long time. Either way the series goes, I’ll be happy with the outcome.

DF: The Pens have had a great season. What are your keys to a deep run?

ST: Defense have to be on their game this year. Help [Marc-Andre] Fleury out as much as they can. The biggest key to the Penguins making the finals is to stay healthy.

DF: How do you see the Leafs matching up with the Bruins?

ST: The Leafs have struggled against the Bruins tremendous amount of times. I can see the Leafs winning the series as long as the defense is strong in front of [James] Reimer and they have more shots on net. Also, Bruins have more on the line than the Leafs do. Leafs do not have as much pressure on them as the Bruins so they can win the series. It’ll be hard but Leafs can do it.

DF: What’s the buzz been like in Toronto finally back in the postseason?

ST: In all honestly, I feel Leafs fans are more concerned with Leafs facing the Bruins than being happy that Leafs have made playoffs for the first time since losing to Flyers in 2004.

DF: What’s your prediction for Pens/Islanders and who wins Bruins/Leafs?

ST: I can see the Penguins winning in six games and the Leafs winning in seven games.

DF: Pick one player you think flies under the radar for both your teams.

ST: Once Sidney Crosby returns, I can see Jarome Iginla adding a lot to the offense for the Penguins. As for the Leafs, I can see [Nikolai] Kulemin stepping up for the Maple Leafs.

DF: Who else do you like in the first round?

ST:  For the rest of the first rounds, I like Ducks in 6, Blackhawks in 5, Blues in 7, Canucks in 7, Rangers in 6, Sens in 7.

DF: Should Sidney Crosby win the Hart? If not who would you give it to?

ST: Sidney Crosby always makes a big difference when he is on the ice. He makes everyone around him look great. He does deserve to win the Hart trophy but there are players around the NHL that are the reason teams had a big success this season like Sergei Bobrovsky. Blue Jackets almost made playoffs, he was one of their biggest assets to the team.

DF: Your East winner. Who do you like out West?

ST: West is a very hard conference to predict but I see Blackhawks-Anaheim or Canucks in the conference finals.

DF: Favorite Jersey

ST: Old school is the Penguins black and yellow jersey. The current favourite in all honestly is the Blackhawks Black, Red, Yellow jersey. I believe it’s their winter classic jersey.

DF: Playoff Superstitions

ST: Must wear a jersey during the game, cannot miss a game. If I watch the games at home I have to sit in the spot in my basement, I always sit and have my leafs blanket/pens snuggie with me.

DF: Toronto wins first Cup since 1967. What happens?

ST: I’d assume Toronto will shut down. Toronto is a hockey city. Seeing them with after 40+ years is huge. Hopefully it doesn’t get out of hand but I wouldn’t be surprised if it does.

Thank you to Steph for joining us. Good luck in the playoffs.
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NEW YORK PUCK: Picking The Playoffs

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Derek
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Yesterday’s #NHL14Playoffs post focused on the First Round. Today, I’ll start it by looking through the crystal glass and projecting ahead. Who will make a run? Should the Pens be odds on favorites over the Hawks? Can someone sneak up and knock them off? Hasan will add his later.

Derek’s Picks
EAST
FIRST ROUND 
(1) Penguins over (8) Islanders in 6
(2) Canadiens over (7) Senators in 7
(6) Rangers over (3) Capitals in 6
(4) Bruins over (5) Maple Leafs in 7
CONFERENCE SEMIS
(6) Rangers over (1) Penguins in 6
(4) Bruins over (2) Canadiens in 6
CONFERENCE FINAL
(6) Rangers over (4) Bruins in 6
Why The Rangers? DF: Why not? Henrik Lundqvist is the best goalie on the planet. Nobody is playing better. The deadline addressed the Rangers’ weaknesses. Scoring dramatically improved and the D got deeper. Any run depends on Rick Nash. The development of Derek Stepan takes pressure off. Derick Brassard’s addition along with Mats Zuccarello have changed the dynamic. The status of Ryane Clowe is a factor. The Rangers have great leadership from captain Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi and Lundqvist. Brad Richards finally is going. 
WEST 
FIRST ROUND 
(1) Blackhawks over (8) Wild in 5
(7) Red Wings over (2) Ducks in 6
(3) Canucks over (6) Sharks in 7
(5) Kings over (4) Blues in 6
CONFERENCE SEMIS 
(1) Blackhawks over (7) Red Wings in 6
(5) Kings over (3) Canucks in 6
CONFERENCE FINAL 
(1) Blackhawks over (5) Kings in 5
Why The Blackhawks? DF: They’re the most complete team. Their D dwarfs everyone’s. A blueline that boasts Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson is six deep. Each capable of contributing. Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane lead a balanced attack featuring Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp and underrated rookie Brandon Saad. Chicago is tough. The only question is Corey Crawford. Ray Emery is injured. So, it’s up to Crawford. The team in front of him is great. Their combination of skill, grit and intangibles make them top dogs. 
STANLEY CUP 
(1) Blackhawks over (6) Rangers in 6
Conn Smythe-Jonathan Toews

Why Toews? There’s no better leader in hockey. He leads by example and is clutch. He wants another Cup badly. So does Kane. They won’t rest until another banner is raised at United Center. 
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2013 NHL Playoff Preview: Derek and Hasan Pick The First Round

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Derek
John Tavares and Henrik Lundqvist lead their teams into the first round.
Getty Images

The mad dash of a condensed 48-game schedule is over. Now, comes the hard part for the remaining 16 survivors. Just making the playoffs is an accomplishment in a four month sprint that’s had peaks and valleys. It’s not how you start but how you finish. The Caps, Rangers and Islanders are clear examples in the East while out West, the Red Wings are in the tournament for a 22nd consecutive season. The new look Wild survived with the help of a hideous call edging out a deserving Blue Jackets, who did everything possible to overcome a bad start. They’ll be worth watching next Fall.

Already, last year’s Cup runner-up has booked tee times with the NHL Draft Lottery tonight. Ironically, the Devils host the Draft at the Prudential Center in Newark. The defending champion Kings are a No.5 seed who might have to take a similar path. Road warriors. They start at St. Louis. Is Brian Elliott this year’s Jon Quick with David Backes playing the role of Dustin Brown? Other surprise entries include the rebirth of hockey in Canada with the Canadiens and Maple Leafs both chasing Lord Stanley. Montreal surprised many by capturing the Northeast and No.2 seed. Toronto is back in for the first time since ’04 when Mats Sundin still was prominent. They’ll meet the Bruins in a potential blood bath. The Habs have to contend with Canadian rival Ottawa. A pesky bunch who overachieved without Jason Spezza. Erik Karlsson is back and faces Norris hopeful P.K. Subban. 
The Rangers were picked by many to finish first. Instead, teaming Rick Nash with Marian Gaborik failed, forcing Glen Sather to move Gaborik at the deadline to bolster the lack of depth. Derick Brassard and John Moore have transformed them into a deeper team. They’ll try to do it on the road against Alex Ovechkin and the Caps, who don’t play a dull style anymore. The Islanders are a great story with John Tavares carrying them along with indispensable Evgeni Nabokov. All they have to do is upset the star studded Pens, who loaded up at the deadline and could have Sidney Crosby back for Game One with Evgeni Malkin. 
It was the Blackhawks who were the best team in the regular season featuring dynamic duo Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. They start against Mikko Koivu and Zach Parise. The Canucks gradually improved to win another Northwest led by The Sedins and Cory Schneider, who has the most pressure. Ryan Kesler is back. They draw the Sharks, who could make things interesting. Antti Niemi had a good year and Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski are dynamic. Also back in are the Ducks, whose great start allowed them to capture the Pacific and No.2 seed. Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan lead the charge. Is this Teemu Selanne’s final ride with Finn buddy Saku Koivu? Can Viktor Fasth match his big year or does Jonas Hiller relieve him? They start against the dangerous Red Wings, who feature Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen. Jimmy Howard has never been a great postseason netminder but enters hot. Potential upset?
Who’ll survive and advance in the First Round? The West starts up tomorrow while the East begins Wednesday. 
EAST
Derek’s Picks:
(1) Pens over (8) Isles in 6 
(2) Habs over (7) Sens in 7
(6) Rangers over (3) Caps in 6
(4) Bruins over (5) Leafs in 7 
Hasan’s Picks:
(1) Pens over (8) Isles in 5
(7) Sens over (2) Habs in 6
(6) Rangers over (3) Caps in 6
(4) Bruins over (5) Leafs in 7
WEST 
Derek’s Picks:
(1) Hawks over (8) Wild in 5
(7) Wings over (2) Ducks in 6
(3) Canucks over (6) Sharks in 7
(5) Kings over (4) Blues in 6
Hasan’s Picks:
(1) Hawks over (8) Wild in 5
(7) Wings over (2) Ducks in 6
(6) Sharks over (3) Canucks in 6
(5) Kings over (4) Blues in 7
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Senators beat Bruins: NHL Releases Playoff Schedule

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Derek
The Senators used a late goal from Jean-Gabriel Pageau to beat the Bruins in regulation. Kyle Turris added an empty netter in Ottawa’s 4-2 win over Boston at TD Garden. The Sens’ regulation victory did two things.

1.It helped them finish seventh with 56 points to avoid the Pens. Ottawa will play Northeast winner Montreal in an all Canadian first round.

2.They prevented the Bruins from winning the Northeast. By losing their last two, Boston lost the division to the Canadiens by a point. Montreal gained the East’s No.2 seed while the Bruins slipped to No.4. They’ll host nemesis Toronto in an Original Six match-up. There’s no love lost between the two. It should be a great series.

Here are the East First Round Series:

(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (8) New York Islanders-Clinching their first playoff berth in six years, the Islanders are hoping to become Spring darlings. They’ll have to deal with the arsenal of the mighty Pens featuring Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Pascal Dupuis, Chris Kunitz, Matt Cooke, Paul Martin, James Neal, Brandon Sutter along with deadline pick ups Jussi Jokinen, Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow and Doug Murray. Marc-Andre Fleury faces Evgeni Nabokov.

The Islanders counter with Hart candidate John Tavares centering Matt Moulson and Brad Boyes. A potent line that’s dangerous on the power play. Second line Josh Bailey, Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo have become a solid fore-checking trio. The Isles also feature shorthanded threat Michael Grabner along with bangers Matt Martin and Colin McDonald. Travis Hamonic and Andrew MacDonald will see a lot of Crosby and Malkin. Mark Streit and Lubomir Visnovsky must provide offense. From a physical standpoint, they match up. It’s a tall order.

(2) Montreal Canadiens vs (7) Ottawa Senators-By prevailing over the Bruins, Ottawa avoided Pittsburgh and instead will face Montreal. The Canadiens were consistent most of the year until a late swoon almost cost them the division. They rebounded to beat Toronto and hope that will be a harbinger of things to come. It’s the best team they’ve had in years. Boasting a balanced lineup that includes Tomas Plekanec, Brian Gionta, Michael Ryder, Max Pacioretty, Lars Eller, David Desharnais, Brendan Gallagher, Alex Galchenyuk and Brandon Prust along with blueline tandem P.K. Subban and Andrei Markov, the Habs aren’t reliant on one guy. They rely on Carey Price, who has pressure to deliver. Don’t forget gritty Josh Gorges and rookie defenseman Jared Tinordi who they’re hoping can provide toughness minus Alexei Emelin.

The Senators are here largely on the play of Craig Anderson and backup Robin Lehner, who has provided steadiness in net. Erik Karlsson’s return is heroic. He is such a weapon which can change a series. Karlsson teams with Sergei Gonchar on the power play. Key cog Chris Phillips left tonight with a lower body injury. Jared Cowen just returned and Patrick Wiercioch can contribute. Minus Jason Spezza, the Sens do it by committee led by captain Daniel Alfredsson and Kyle Turris. Mike Zibanejad and Jacob Silfverberg are gifted rookies with game breaking speed. Cory Conacher is too but has struggled since coming from Tampa for Ben Bishop. Ottawa can depend on Chris Neil, Colin Greening and Zach Smith to mix it up. They need offense from Milan Michalek and ex-Hab Guillaume Latendresse. It may very well come down to goaltending.

(3) Washington Capitals vs (6) New York Rangers-The Caps turned around their year due to Alex Ovechkin rediscovering his MVP form. He’s back to sniping and is lethal every shift. Adam Oates deserves credit for turning him loose. Ovechkin has shouldered the burden without Alex Semin. Ovechkin led the league with 32 goals and 16 power play goals. He tied with Crosby for second in scoring behind Marty St. Louis. Washington isn’t just Ovi with center tandem Nicklas Backstrom and Mike Ribeiro dangerous playmakers. The Caps still boast Mike Green and John Carlson along with front man Troy Brouwer. Simple advice. Don’t take penalties. Jason Chimera is a good postseason performer as is Joel Ward and Brooks Laich, who remains questionable. Marcus Johansson and Martin Erat are looked upon for support along with Mathieu Perreault. Ex-Isle Jack Hillen has performed well. It depends on Braden Holtby. Can he repeat last year or will Michal Neuvirth replace him?

Whenever these two teams meet, expect the unexpected. The Rangers are also playing their best hockey. It’s two teams on fire who know each other well. The third consecutive year they face off. Since the deadline, the Rangers have improved dramatically offensively. Their best players are their best including Derek Stepan, who was arguably the best player in April. He centers Carl Hagelin and Ryan Callahan. The top line that never stops skating. They’re the key along with rejuvenated Brad Richards, who has it going with Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello. Nash gets a taste of playoff hockey for only the second time. Is he ready? Derick Brassard has been a great acquisition, providing offensive depth. If Ryane Clowe can’t go, he’ll have to create with Chris Kreider and Taylor Pyatt. After that, it gets thin. The defense boasts workhorses Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh, who’ll see Ovechkin in their sleep. No Marc Staal this time. McDonagh needs a big series and Mike Del Zotto can’t be inconsistent. John Moore has balanced out the back end with great skating and aggressiveness. If the games are tight, Henrik Lundqvist gets the edge in net. Another slug fest.

(4) Boston Bruins vs (5) Toronto Maple Leafs-Original Six. Check. Hated rivals. Check. Former goalie Tuukka Rask facing the team that gave him away for Andrew Raycroft. Check. Shawn Thornton and Colton Orr. Check. Frazer McLaren, Mark Fraser against Milan Lucic and Adam McQuaid. Check. Zdeno Chara versus Dion Phaneuf. Check. Phil Kessel facing his ex-team who won a Cup with replacement Tyler Seguin. Check. You get the picture. The storylines are endless. This will be as good a first round series as there is. If you love hockey, you must watch it. Hopefully, the Rangers and Caps won’t be scheduled at the same time.

Rask is a Vezina candidate while James Reimer has become the go to goalie in Toronto. Reimer doesn’t fare well historically against Boston. Toss that out. The Leafs play a furious physical style which can control the tempo. Kessel rebounded from a poor start to lead them in scoring while Nazem Kadri became a cult hero. Former GM Brian Burke acquired James van Riemsdyk for Luke Schenn. JVR teams with Kessel and under appreciated center Tyler Bozak to form a potent trio. All Joffrey Lupul does is score big goals. Phaneuf was stolen from Calgary by Burke. Clarke MacArthur came from Buffalo. Cody Franson from Nashville. Jay McClement from St. Louis. This is Burke’s team that Randy Carlyle is having success with. The Leafs are fun and in your face. But they need support from Nikolai Kulemin and Mikhail Grabovski. Reimer has never been in the playoffs while Rask has but only behind Tim Thomas. It’s a fascinating match up.

The Bruins are led by Chara and Patrice Bergeron. Both will see a lot of the Leafs’ top line. Bergeron can neutralize Bozak in the faceoff circle. And Chara’s as good as anyone unless he’s tired. Claude Julien doesn’t want to hear it. Boston’s blueline is deeper with Dennis Seidenberg and Andrew Ference and Johnny Boychuk tough comers. Toss in rookie Dougie Hamilton and there’s a lot to get excited about. If the B’s have a distinct advantage on the back end and in net, it’s not as clear up front. Even with the addition of Jaromir Jagr, they’re not scoring. Brad Marchand led them in scoring. He does everything well. A perfect playoff player in the mold of Claude Lemieux. The Bruins are balanced if Bergeron, David Krejci and a motivated Milan Lucic is a factor. Julien can rely on energizers Daniel Paille, Rich Peverley and Greg Campbell. It really could hinge on Nathan Horton, who was sorely missed last year. He’s hurt again. How serious no one knows. This is probably a seven-game series with sudden death determining the outcome.

The Series schedules are finally out. The Rangers don’t start until Thursday against the Capitals. The Islanders face off against the Penguins on Wednesday. Here’s how it all shakes out:

NEW YORK — The National Hockey League today announced the dates, times and national broadcast information for the 2013 Stanley Cup Conference Quarterfinal round, which begins Tuesday, April 30th. Information on the U.S. broadcast networks for games later in the round will be released as it is determined.
All times listed are ET and subject to change.
* – if necessary
2013 EASTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
SERIES A TIME (ET) #1  VS.  #8 NETWORKS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2013 7:30 P.M. NY ISLANDERS AT PITTSBURGH NBCSN, TSN
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2013 7 P.M. NY ISLANDERS AT PITTSBURGH NBCSN, TSN
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 12 P.M. PITTSBURGH AT NY ISLANDERS NBC, TSN
TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 7 P.M. PITTSBURGH AT NY ISLANDERS NBCSN, TSN
*THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013 7 P.M. NY ISLANDERS AT PITTSBURGH TSN
*SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013 TBD PITTSBURGH AT NY ISLANDERS TSN
*SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013 TBD NY ISLANDERS AT PITTSBURGH TSN
       
SERIES B TIME (ET) #2  VS.  #7 NETWORKS
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013 7 P.M. OTTAWA AT MONTREAL CNBC, CBC, RDS
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2013 7 P.M. OTTAWA AT MONTREAL CNBC, CBC, RDS
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 7 P.M. MONTREAL AT OTTAWA NBCSN, CBC, RDS
TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 7 P.M. MONTREAL AT OTTAWA CNBC, CBC, RDS
*THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013 7 P.M. OTTAWA AT MONTREAL CBC, RDS
*SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013 TBD MONTREAL AT OTTAWA CBC, RDS
*SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013 TBD OTTAWA AT MONTREAL CBC, RDS
       
SERIES C TIME (ET) #3  VS.  #6 NETWORKS
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013 7:30 P.M. NY RANGERS AT WASHINGTON NBCSN, TSN
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2013 12:30 P.M. NY RANGERS AT WASHINGTON NBC, TSN
MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013 7:30 P.M. WASHINGTON AT NY RANGERS NBCSN, TSN
WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013 7:30 P.M. WASHINGTON AT NY RANGERS NBCSN, TSN
*FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2013 7:30 P.M. NY RANGERS AT WASHINGTON TSN
*SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013 TBD WASHINGTON AT NY RANGERS TSN
*MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 TBD NY RANGERS AT WASHINGTON TSN
       
SERIES D TIME (ET) #4  VS.  #5 NETWORKS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2013 7 P.M. TORONTO AT BOSTON CNBC, CBC, RDS
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2013 7 P.M. TORONTO AT BOSTON CNBC, CBC, RDS
MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013 7 P.M. BOSTON AT TORONTO NHLN-US, CBC, RDS
*WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013 7 P.M. TORONTO AT BOSTON NHLN-US, CBC, RDS
*FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2013 7 P.M. BOSTON AT TORONTO CBC, RDS
*SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013 TBD TORONTO AT BOSTON CBC, RDS
MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 TBD BOSTON AT TORONTO CBC, RDS
       
2013 WESTERN CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
SERIES E TIME (ET) #1  VS.  #8 NETWORKS
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013 8 P.M. MINNESOTA AT CHICAGO NBCSN, CBC
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2013 9:30 P.M. MINNESOTA AT CHICAGO NBCSN, CBC
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 3 P.M. CHICAGO AT MINNESOTA NBC, CBC
TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 9:30 P.M. CHICAGO AT MINNESOTA NBCSN, CBC
*THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013 TBD MINNESOTA AT CHICAGO CBC
*SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013 TBD CHICAGO AT MINNESOTA CBC
*SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013 TBD MINNESOTA AT CHICAGO CBC
       
SERIES F TIME (ET) #2  VS.  #7 NETWORKS
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013 10:30 P.M. DETROIT AT ANAHEIM NBCSN, TSN
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013 10 P.M. DETROIT AT ANAHEIM NBCSN, TSN
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2013 7:30 P.M. ANAHEIM AT DETROIT NBCSN, TSN
MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013 8 P.M. ANAHEIM AT DETROIT CNBC, TSN
*WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013 10 P.M. DETROIT AT ANAHEIM TSN
*FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2013 TBD ANAHEIM AT DETROIT TSN
*SUNDAY, MAY 12, 2013 TBD DETROIT AT ANAHEIM TSN
       
SERIES G TIME (ET) #3  VS.  #6 NETWORKS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 2013 10:30 P.M. SAN JOSE AT VANCOUVER NBCSN, TSN
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2013 10 P.M. SAN JOSE AT VANCOUVER CNBC, TSN
SUNDAY, MAY 5, 2013 10 P.M. VANCOUVER AT SAN JOSE NBCSN, TSN
TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 10 P.M. VANCOUVER AT SAN JOSE CNBC, TSN
*THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013 10 P.M. SAN JOSE AT VANCOUVER TSN
*SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2013 TBD VANCOUVER AT SAN JOSE TSN
*MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 TBD SAN JOSE AT VANCOUVER TSN
       
SERIES H TIME (ET) #4  VS.  #5 NETWORKS
TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 2013 8 P.M. LOS ANGELES AT ST. LOUIS CNBC, CBC
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013 9:30 P.M. LOS ANGELES AT ST. LOUIS CNBC, CBC
SATURDAY, MAY 4, 2013 10 P.M. ST. LOUIS AT LOS ANGELES NBCSN, CBC
MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013 10 P.M. ST. LOUIS AT LOS ANGELES NBCSN, CBC
*WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2013 TBD LOS ANGELES AT ST. LOUIS CBC
*FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2013 TBD ST. LOUIS AT LOS ANGELES CBC
*MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013 TBD LOS ANGELES AT ST. LOUIS CBC

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Rangers Finish Strong: Lundqvist shuts out Devils

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Derek
Cally And Step: Derek Stepan and Ryan Callahan celebrate Callahan’s shorthanded goal.
Copyright Getty Images/Mary Altaffer

The Rangers enter the playoffs playing their best hockey. They continued to trend upwards by winning the final game of the regular season yesterday. A listless Devils club was no match. Henrik Lundqvist stopped all 20 shots for his second shutout in a 4-0 win at MSG. It was his 45th shutout. 


Rick Nash scored twice to reach at least 20 goals for a ninth straight season. Derek Stepan had a goal and assist to edge Nash for the team lead in scoring. He finished with 44 points (18-26-44). In his first season as a Ranger, Nash led them with 21 goals in 44 games. He added 21 helpers totaling 42 points. Brad Richards added two assists in his 900th career game. After struggling, he ends on a six-game point streak tallying 11 points (5-6-11). Richards was third in scoring with 34 points (11-23-34). Ryan Callahan had a shorthanded goal and assist to conclude on a seven-game point streak. Over that span, he has five goals and six helpers for 11 points. That includes the playoff clincher.

”It was big for us,” an excited Nash said after making the postseason for the second time in his career. ”We wanted to ride some momentum going into the playoffs, and I thought the guys had a great effort.”

The Rangers jumped on the Devils early. Stepan scored 2:37 in. He finished off a Callahan set up in front for his 18th. John Moore helped set it up. Stepan had a great April. He recorded points in 12 of 14 games, tallying 19 (8-11-19). Our most consistent player, who somehow lost out to Callahan for the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, was also plus-14 for the month. He paced the club with a plus-25. That tied him for fifth with defending Selke winner Patrice Bergeron. Stepan’s improvement was on display. He intercepted a Marek Zidlicky pass and then sent Callahan in for a shorthanded breakaway. Captain Cally deked and beat Johan Hedberg five-hole for a 2-0 lead at 19:01.

”It’s been fun so far,” beamed Stepan of the chemistry he has with linemates Callahan and Carl Hagelin. ”Those two guys just work so hard, and when they get on pucks it’s hard to get it off their stick.”

On the play, Callahan drove past Ilya Kovalchuk and Steve Sullivan. Kovalchuk lollygagged back. The game didn’t mean anything for the Devils. But seeing your best player give such a lackadaisical effort is discouraging. Even if he wasn’t close to 100 percent after returning, it was reminiscent of how he played for the Thrashers. Equally mystifying was Pete DeBoer’s choice to sit out Andrei Loktionov and defense prospect Eric Gelinas. The veteran coach said he wanted to use the final few games to evaluate some young talent. So much for that. My Devil buddy Rob didn’t understand the logic of sitting them out for vets. It made about as much sense as benching Adam Henrique for a game for Sullivan. 
The Devils were more competitive in the second even forcing Lundqvist to make a couple of decent saves. But they really couldn’t sustain any pressure. They were shutout for the fourth time in April. The Rangers out-shot them 21-20. The difference was quality. Hedberg had little chance on any of our four goals. New Jersey had numerous defensive breakdowns. A coverage mistake allowed Richards to find Nash wide open in the slot for an easy finish putting the Blueshirts up three. By now, the Garden serenaded favorite target Martin Brodeur with “We Want Marty,” chants. Brodeur admitted that he didn’t want to play due to facing the music for two hours. If the game had playoff significance, he would’ve dressed. Personally, I thought his response was ridiculous. But it was his choice.
All day, Hedberg was hung out to dry by a team that mailed it in. The score could easily have been double if not for some big saves from the Moose. One included a sprawling pad stop on Nash off a great set up from Mats Zuccarello. Zuccarello continues to impress since coming back. Having gained John Tortorella’s trust, MZA was moved up to the Richards line with Nash against Carolina. The trio has found instant chemistry with the right combination of size, speed and skill. Zuccarello’s uncanny ability to back up opposing defenses with his relentless skating has opened up the ice. On Nash’s second, he combined with Richards on a beautiful passing play. Zuccarello worked a give and go with Richards, getting the puck back. He skated out and found Nash, who ripped his 21st past a helpless Hedberg. 
Zuccarello has three goals and five assists for eight points in 15 games. Six of his eight came in the final seven. The Rangers are 10-4-1 since his return. They posted a 10-3-1 record in April and were 9-3-1 following the deadline pick ups of Ryane Clowe, Derick Brassard, John Moore and Derek Dorsett. Dorsett remains out while Clowe missed the season finale with an undisclosed injury after taking an elbow. Kris Newbury played on the fourth line. For our team to be successful in the postseason, they need to get healthy. Clowe is a lunch pail type of player whose energy was a perfect match with Brassard. Chris Kreider took his place taking 15 shifts. He delivered five hits, including an eye opening one that knocked down Adam Larsson. That’s what Kreider has to do to stay in the lineup.
The only area the Rangers were ineffective was the power play. They even allowed a shorthanded bid to Peter Harrold while up two men. Tortorella described it as a battle. Special teams are a key area in the playoffs. They must get better. The penalty kill wasn’t great either, finishing in the middle of the pack. They’ll need to be more consistent when the puck drops either Tuesday or Wednesday against a familiar foe. By winning to reach 56 points and Ottawa falling to Philadelphia in regulation, the Rangers leapfrogged the Islanders and Senators to finish sixth in the East. They’ll take on the Capitals again. It’s the third straight year they’ll face Washington and fourth in the last five. 
Ottawa/Boston To Determine Rest Of First Round: Our match-up is the only one that’s set. The Bruins host the Senators following the Celtics’ Game Four win over the Knicks at TD Garden. 
Boston trails Montreal by a point for the Northeast and No.2 seed. The Habs defeated the Leafs 4-1 Saturday to move up. Boston must win to beat them out.  One point won’t do it with Montreal holding the ROW tiebreaker. 
The game is equally important for the Sens, who enter eighth with 54 points. They trail the Islanders by one for seventh. Each team has 20 ROW. An Ottawa win would vault them over the Isles, allowing them to bypass the Pens in Round One. If they gain a point, they finish seventh due to taking the season series.
NY Puck 3 Stars:
3rd Star-Mats Zuccarello, NYR (assist, +2 in 14:58-his energy has rubbed off)
2nd Star-Rick Nash, NYR (2 goals-20, 21, 7 SOG in 14:29-a confidence builder for our top finisher)
1st Star-Ryan Callahan/Derek Stepan, NYR (2-2-4, SHG, +4-where would they be without them)
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Super Saturday – where everything is decided (almost)

Posted on April 27, 2013 by Derek

Despite the fact five divisions and fourteen of the sixteen playoff teams have been decided, there still remains plenty of intrigue on the last full day of the 2013 NHL regular season.

In the East, all the playoff teams have clinched berths and Pittsburgh’s locked into the top seed with the Southeast champion Capitals taking the #3 seed.  Just about everything else is fluid though, with Montreal and Boston still fighting for the Northeast crown and the Rangers/Islanders/Senators all jockeying to stay out of the #8 seed and a date with the Penguins in the first round.
Boston needs three points in its final two games to secure the Northeast crown, no matter what Montreal does tonight.  A Habs regulation loss to the Leafs drops the Bruin magic number to one (an OT loss drops it to two).  Of course, the season was supposed to end today, but due to the manhunt in Boston in the wake of the marathon tragedy, they’re playing a makeup game with the Senators tomorrow night that will determine the Northeast champion barring a Boston win and Montreal regulation loss tonight – or vice-versa.
I’m not going to get into all the 6-7-8 scenarios since Ottawa’s extra game complicates it but suffice it to say the Isles get locked into the eight seed with a Ranger point and at least one Ottawa win.  Toronto is all but locked into the #5 seed (barring two Ottawa wins dropping them down to #6) and a trip to either Original Six rival Boston or Montreal in the first round.
East games of importance:
Devils at Rangers 3 PM – NBC
Montreal at Toronto 7 PM – NHLN
Philadelphia at Ottawa 7 PM
Boston at Washington 7 PM 
Ottawa at Boston 7 PM (Sunday) – NBCSN
Out West, the top three seeds are already set with Chicago (President’s Trophy winners), Anaheim and Vancouver 1-2-3 in that order.  St. Louis, the defending champion Kings and San Jose are jockeying for home-ice in the first round in the 4-6 group with the Blues a point ahead of both California teams, who are squaring off against each other.  A Blues win against a Hawks team with nothing to play for would give them the #4 seed.  An OT point would still be good enough for the Blues if the Sharks beat the Kings, but a Blues regulation loss would give first round home-ice to the winner of the California showdown.
And then there’s the super-intriguing 7-8-9 bubble with the proud Wings making a stand (three straight wins going into tonight) to keep their decades-long playoff streak alive, sitting a point ahead of both the Minnesota Mercenaries and a scrappy Blue Jackets team who are coming off a six-game road trip during which they went 5-1 when their clock was supposed to strike midnight.  Minnesota on the other hand, has been sagging going 4-8-1 in the month of April including an embarassing 6-1 home loss to the Oilers last night where they were booed off the ice in their final scheduled home game.
To sum it up, Detroit clinches a playoff spot with a point or more tonight, and Minnesota clinches with a win at Colorado.  Columbus needs to win against Nashville and get help elsewhere with either Detroit (in regulation) or the Wild losing.
West games of importance:
Nashville at Columbus 7 PM
Detroit at Dallas 7 PM – NBCSN
Minnesota at Colorado 7:30 PM
Chicago at St. Louis 8 PM
San Jose at Los Angeles 10:30 PM – NBCSN
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Game Recap: Callahan’s Overtime Winner Wraps It Up

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Derek
It wasn’t easy. Why would it be? If you’ve watched the team this year, that’s how the 2013 NY Rangers play. At times, they dominate and at others, they cause anxiety and frustration. At least the dramatic ending provided relief for #TwitterBlueshirts.

The Rangers defeated the Hurricanes 4-3 in overtime to wrap up a playoff berth. As I noted in a previous post, beloved captain Ryan Callahan played the hero scoring with 2:05 left to deliver the club’s third consecutive postseason. When the chips are down, there’s no other Blueshirt I want with the puck. Captain Cally again demonstrated why he’s a top five captain. He’ll never score the most goals or assists. But nobody has a bigger H-E-A-R-T.

”We know that we’re right there to get that next point and advance in the playoffs,” an excited Callahan said regarding Brad Richards’ power play goal that forced OT with 2:57 left in regulation. Richards got a lucky bounce when his wide shot caromed off Dan Ellis and in.  His 11th extended his point streak to five and gave him nine points. 

”I’m really happy with the way we just stayed with it and found a way to win it,” a relieved John Tortorella remarked to MSG’s Sam Rosen afterwards. It would’ve been a shame to lose to another team playing for pride. As expected, the Canes didn’t quit when our team went up two. Instead, they came back scoring three straight including Jiri Tlusty’s rocket that put them ahead 49 seconds into the third period. Carolina scored on two of four shots to tie it in the second- capitalizing on Ranger mistakes. 

It looked like the Canes would hold on.  Despite having two shots (one of which went in), they were in position to help Winnipeg, who at the time had just gone up 2-1 in their season finale against Montreal. But Tuomu Ruutu took down Derek Stepan with under five minutes remaining. Up till that point, our power play had been awful. In fact, they had nothing going allowing Carolina to easily kill the first half. Tortorella changed forwards, sticking Mats Zuccarello and Taylor Pyatt out. Zuccarello missed a chance earlier. Pyatt recovered the puck and got it to Mike Del Zotto. Del Zotto’s dreadful turnover led to Tlusty’s go-ahead tally. He dished for Richards, who finally pulled the trigger. The puck took a funny hop off the boards and off Ellis for a huge goal. 
The Rangers got one point once regulation ended. They needed two to guarantee the postseason and avoid playing the Devils with Pete DeBoer chomping at the bit. It was pretty nerve racking watching the Canes search for the winner. They controlled the entire four-on-four, forcing Lundqvist to make four tough saves before Callahan delivered. At that point, Montreal and Winnipeg were tied 2-2 early in the third. There was nothing to chance. 
They’d backed off and took Joe Micheletti’s silly advice. Play for the shootout. Plain dumb. Even Jared Staal had a chance before his shot was blocked. As predicted, he received more ice-time than Chris Kreider, who was bumped up following Ryane Clowe taking an elbow from Bobby Sanguinetti that knocked him out of the game in the second. It didn’t look good. Hopefully, Clowe will be okay when the playoffs start. Right now, it’s either Tuesday or Wednesday. That’ll be determined later along with playoff seeding. The Rangers, Senators and Islanders are all tied with 54 points. Ottawa’s OT win sunk Winnipeg. They’re sixth due to holding an extra game. Our team is seventh and the Isles are eighth. 
It took an inspiring play from Captain Cally to put us in. Following a Ryan McDonagh clear, Stepan found Callahan at center ice where he worked puck past Marc-Andre Bergeron catching him. With his momentum carrying forward and nowhere else to go, he took the shot which caught Ellis leaning. The puck rang off the far post and in for Callahan’s dramatic winner. 

”That was just a sick play from start to finish,” a pumped Lundqvist stated while adding, “and it’s a good thing to see your captain put it home and put us in the playoffs.”

Early on, it looked like it would come easier. Some great passing helped set up Stepan’s 17th for a 1-0 lead 3:19 in. Callahan and Carl Hagelin combined to find Stepan, who buried the opportunity. It was Hagelin again who drew the primary helper on Derick Brassard’s 12th which put the Rangers up 2-0. Del Zotto added a secondary assist. Brassard’s play has been a big part of why they’re in the playoffs. He has played well. Since being acquired along with John Moore and Derek Dorsett for Marian Gaborik at the trade deadline, he’s tallied five goals and six assists for 11 points in 12 games. Moore has also contributed with five points (1-4-5) and a plus-seven. The Rangers are 8-3-1 since.
The Canes used a Matt Gilroy minor penalty to get back in it. Tlusty scored the first of two on the power play when he took a Jeff Skinner feed and beat Lundqvist. It was a total breakdown. Speaking of which, another horrible one led directly to Ruutu snapping his third past Hank. Four Rangers were trapped in the neutral zone including Anton Stralman, leaving Del Zotto left to defend a two-on-one. Ruutu’s goal followed Tlusty’s first exactly three minutes later. Ellis made a pair of stops to keep it knotted.
Tlusty steered the Canes in front off a Del Zotto turnover. Taking an Eric Staal pass, he walked in and beat Lundqvist to put the Rangers in trouble. Frustration mounted. Ellis was stopping everything and Rick Nash missed after Zuccarello put him in on a mini-breakaway. Stepan also failed on one with his backhand attempt stuffed. It looked like it was going to be another sleepless night. Thankfully, Richards’ prayer was anwered. Then Callahan did the rest.
NY Puck 3 Stars:
3rd Star-Derek Stepan, NYR (17th of season, set up Cally’s winner-17-25-42 leads team in scoring)
2nd Star-Carl Hagelin, NYR (2 assists, 4 SOG-all over the ice)
1st Star-Ryan Callahan, NYR (playoff clinching goal at 2:55 of OT, assist-Captain Clutch)
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Believe In Blue

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Derek
When you make the playoffs, Twitter is quick. From the official Rangers Instagram:

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