Prior to Game 2, most of the discussion centered around who might be ready to play in order to add some depth and physical play to the roster. Well, we got half our wish as Derek Dorsett made his Rangers' debut and Brian Boyle returned from a knee injury, while Ryane Clowe and Marc Staal were deemed not ready. The lineup with the returning players to start the game was: Hagelin-Stepan-Callahan, Zuccarello-Richards-Nash, Pyatt-Brassard-Dorsett, Powe-Boyle-Asham. McDonagh-Girardi, Moore-Stralman, Del Zotto-Eminger. Lundqvist. Unfortunately, as was saw from the end result, those changes did little to spur on the Rangers' offense as they lost 1-0 in overtime.

I will cover a variety of topics in the blog as we point towards a must-win Game 3 tonight at MSG:

Lundqvist: For all the idiots who claim he is not a big-time goalie, who has not led his team to the Stanley Cup Finals and needs a Ken Dryden-esque run a la 1971 to validate his status as an elite goalie, you need your heads examined. Take Lundqvist off this team and where would they be? Just take him out of Game 2 and what would the score have been? It's a shame that the Rangers have wasted the prime years of an elite goalie by not finding a way to produce more offensively so that Lundqvist and the Rangers could have that Stanley Cup Finals appearance. Wave after wave come down upon him Saturday, and he turned aside each foray until a blast by Mike Green deflected off Derek Stepan's stick past Lundqvist. As was written on the comments to the last blog: Henrik has now made 30 saves or more in 16 of the playoff games he has played in; and has in those games a 1.55 Goals Against Average, and a .953 Save Percentage, with three shutouts. But his record is only 8-8 in those 16 games. Haters are going to hate and critics will always criticize, but to measure how valuable Lundqvist really is, just step and think what the Rangers would like without him and that should change your viewpoint.

Officiating: Plain and simple, they blew the call late in regulation. We can sit and recite Rule 63.2 (which I will do below): "When any player, with both of his skates inside his defending zone, shoots or bats (using his hand or his stick) the puck directly (non-deflected) out of the playing surface, except where there is no glass, a penalty shall be assessed for delaying the game. When the puck is shot into the players’ bench, the penalty will not apply. When the puck is shot over the glass ‘behind’ the players’ bench, the penalty will be assessed. When the puck goes out of the playing area directly off a face-off, no penalty shall be assessed" We can complain that a penalty should have been called on a hand pass as well or that the delay of game rule should be removed, but that is not the reason why the Rangers lost. Does anyone of us believe that if the Blueshirts did get the man advantage, they would have won? Complain all you want about the officiating, it's not why they lost.

Style of Play: I missed the game due to the Sabbath and first watched just the highlights. From that it looked Washington completely dominated action. When I watched the condensed game, it gave me a better sense that the Rangers were pretty good early but Washington took control in the second and really carried play in the third. From watching the Islanders games and several others yesterday, the one striking aspect was the team speed elsewhere that is lacking here. The Islanders ability to go through the neutral zone, create space and then make a play was evident against Pittsburgh. Maybe it's the collapsing D style of play or a true lack of speed for the Rangers, but when's the last time you saw that happen? Same with a pass through the neutral zone to spring a forward, like Marcus Johansson on his goal, or carrying the puck in to hit a streaking trailer for a goal? I can only blame Torts' system so much because maybe just maybe the team lacks the speed and/or skill to make those plays. I think MZA could do, maybe Nash, possibly Stepan, more so in terms of vision than speed, definitely Hagelin, but for some reason they aren't pressuring Washington at all, making it too easy on them.

We saw this on the game-winning goal, live by the blocked shot and die by the blocked shot. The Rangers just missed getting the puck out, and when Washington set up, two Rangers went for the shot fake by Mike Ribeiro, creating too much room for Green. One has to go down, not two, and that mistake proved costly. But that was the final nail, too many breakdowns in their own zone led to several Capitals' chances plus another crossbar, this one by Anton Stralman, went against the Rangers again. That and the lack of shots over the last 17+ minutes plus all the other points mentioned combined ended up with a 1-0 loss and 2-0 series deficit. They can't only rely on puck possession below the circles, they have to open some more gaps in the D by spreading them out and taking chances, which starts with the forwards not pinching as deep to try and create more opportunities.

Start banging bodies even more. Make it difficult for Washington in your zone and in your own zone. The Rangers did have more hits and blocked shots than the Caps in Game 2, but it wasn't noticeable or by a wide-enough margin. The Blueshirts need to try and wear down Washington by hitting, hitting and then hitting some more, or else, they will be gassed late in the games.

Special Teams: Many on the prior blog mentioned the plodding nature of the PP. Pass, pass, pass, no real movement, making it too easy for Washington. The best goal of the year was the one against Buffalo, which was a tic-tac-toe and goal by Stepan, fast puck and player movement resulting in goal. Major changes are needed. Put Stralman or Moore's heavy shot at the point. Put MDZ or MZA there at the other point since each can handle the puck and move into open slots. If only want one d-man, put Stepan at the other point. Go with Nash and Cally. Lastly, add in Dorsett or Boyle or Clowe, if he plays, for some traffic in front. On the second unit, either Dorsett or Boyle or Clowe, whichever one isn’t on the first PP. Stepan down low with Hagelin. Use Richards and Girardi at the point. If possible, get Brassard there to use his passing skills and vision. Whatever was done isn’t working, as a weak, during the season Capitals PK has shut down the Rangers PP totally the first two games. One other option, as suggested is go with Step, Nash, MZA, Cally and Moore, giving them a heavy point shot, puck movement, some speed and grit in front. They have to get Nash set up for a one-timer or two, which has not happened the first two games.

On the PK, just stay out of the box. The Rangers did a good job most of the game, staying out of the box after the first, but as we saw and I covered above, one late penalty, one goal and game over. They have to be smart in zone coverage and better communication to avoid getting out of position.

The first two games have been decided by Washington winning the special teams battle by a wide margin. We knew they had the edge coming into the series and the lack of a consistent PP has resulted in two losses.

Traffic in front/Holtby: The Capitals have consistently been in Lundqvist's grill, creating chances, deflecting shots on net and making his life difficult. Has the same been done to Holtby? Someone needs to step up, plant themselves in front of Holtby, take the punishment, dish some out and make Holtby's life hard.

On Holtby. To make a comment basically stating how easy your shutout was is disrespectful to your opponent as well as your teammates. It almost implies that the Rangers just didn't show up. Plus, if you going to make a comment like that, state how good of a job your teammates did in taking pressure off him, blocking shots etc. rather than just stating how easy of a time you had between the pipes.

Minutes: For all the complaining about how the minutes were distributed in Game 2, the fourth line saw what you would normally expect, the third each got at least 15 minutes per while the top-six were okay, save for Hagelin getting 16 and Zuccarello getting 14:30. Part of that is due to the PP, but I could see some tweaks to get the bottom line a bit more when they are effective and try and get Zuccarellio more ice time to take advantage of his speed. The defense was pretty much as usual, with top-five, including Moore, playing at least 21 minutes with Eminger getting 14. I disagree with Torts using McDonagh for a 3:04 shift and his view that he would do it again, as it just burns out your best D-man and is also another trickle-down effect of not having Staal

Going forward: Discussion of what to do next year, coaching and player-wise. will be saved for after the season. Lord knows we have discussed it enough already and will do so even more when the season ends.

It's too easy to blame Torts, sometimes, and most of the times, it needs to be on the players to produce when on the ice. The coach has to put them in better positions but players have to fight through whatever is happening on the ice and find a way to score. In addition, when players don't produce, especially when it happens to them in multiples, the coach has to change combinations and play other more minutes, as we saw with McDonagh etc. during the year and so far these playoffs.

For tonight, assuming Clowe can get in, he has to play, so the forwards should be:

Nash, Brassard, MZA
Hagelin, Stepan, Callahan
Clowe, Richards, Dorsett
Powe, Boyle, Asham

I could see playing Kreider on a hunch to get him going by putting him on the line with Clowe and Richards. Then sit Asham, though he was somewhat effective in Game 2, and move Dorsett to the fourth line. Boyle and Powe are needed for the PK and faceoffs. One other change, could be to move Kreider up to a top-six, if he shows something during the game, but then who do you send down a line? You could shift MZA down to the third line, as long as you use him on the PP to make sure his skills are effectively utilized.

Defense:
If Staal is back, you can keep McDonagh with Girardi, since you have the last shift and can match up. If believe Staal is ready, match him up with Ovechkin, though I would use him against the Ribeiro line, while playing him with Del Zotto, whose ability to handle the puck can aid Staal as he transitions back to action. Then play, Stralman with Eminger, or use Stralman as a top-four with Del Zotto on the bottom pairing.

Tonight is a night that MSG needs to be alive from before the puck drops throughout the game. I will be in Section 202, second row, rocking my Callahan Team USA jersey if anyone wants to pop by. We all believe the Rangers are a team that has heart. One that is willing to lay it all on the line to win. Well, they need to show it tonight. Check a bit harder. Skate a bit faster. Play a bit meaner. Find a way to win and make this series a series.

Let's Go Rangers!!!

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