The Rangers and Penguins meet up for Game 2 in their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series Saturday. For New York, while its not a definite must-win, it's pretty close, as there is no way you want to go back home down 2-0. That is especially true given all the questions about the status of Henrik Lundqvist due to his eye injury.
Much of this was written this AM, with some becoming obsolete this afternoon. I will note which pieces I wrote this AM and now, what has transpired today.
This morning:
Lundqvist had some swelling around the eye after getting hit by Marc Staal's stick with 46.2 seconds remaining in the first period Wednesday. If there is even a hint of a question as to his ability to follow the puck or with his peripheral vision, the Rangers have to sit Lundqvist. The decision, unlike what was done to close out the period after he was first hurt, must be made by the doctors and coaching staff. Lundqvist convinced coach Alain Vigneault to leave him and looked shaky tracking the puck. It's impossible to say if Antti Raanta, who replaced Hank to start the second period, would have stopped the puck, but it's also quite possible that Lundqvist was limited, which might have enabled the puck to deflect off his stick to Patric Hornqvist.
If Raanta is in net, regardless of when that occurs, the team must rally around him. The same can be said of its Lundqvist, as the defense and forwards have to be better in their own zone and take some of the pressure off him. We have seen the Rangers play better defensively in front of the back up netminder and that has to be the case any time he is in.
This afternoon::
Lundqvist was able to practice fully. Afterwards, both AV and Lundqvist said his availability will depend on how his eye reacts to practice today. Fortunately, there doesn't appear to be much swelling around the eye, compared what was expected. If there is even the slightest amount of impact on his vision or ability to track the puck peripherally or concern how the eye will react by playing, New York has to do the prudent thing and sit him.
This morning:
AV on Thursday said he was considering lineup changes for Game 2, including inserting Dylan McIlrath for Dan Girardi. “For the most part, I liked Marc [Staal], I thought he tried to make the plays that were there,… Vigneault said. “Danny [Girardi], this was his first game back [after sitting out the final three of the regular season]. He only had the one full practice. We all know he’s been in many battles with this team before. We’ll give him today to recover, have a good practice [Friday] and go from there.…
Until a change actually occurs, this is lip service. The past is usually a portend for the future and AV, if nothing else, has been fiercely loyal to his players, even when undeserved. Similar might occur here, where AV makes the comment a change might happen but decided to stick with the status quo. To win a series like this, the Rangers have to be bold and play like it, that means making the right changes and adjustments and laying it all on the ice, not just talking it.
If AV is bold and willing to make the right call, move Brady Skjei up to the second pairing with Staal, sit G, play McIlrath on third pairing with Dan Boyle until Ryan McDonagh, sidelined with his hand injury, is back.When McD comes back, which won't be Saturday but possibly could be Tuesday, go McD-Klein, Yandle-McIlrath, Skjei-Staal. I could see Boyle in on the third pairing Tuesday, especially with two full days off between Games 2 and 3, but that may depend on Game 2's result.
This afternoon:
Defensive pairings today: MStaal-Klein, Yandle-McIlrath, Skjei-Boyle. Noticeably absent is Girardi, who missed today's practice and will not play due to injury. AV remarked that G is banged up all over, and he must be to sit out practice and a game, despite what likely is the view by many that this is just a convenient excuse given to make it easier to sit him.
I saw tossed around that maybe the team has quit on AV, which is why G is out. But no way you quit in the playoffs. That is especially true from a player who AV has continually run out there even though he maybe should've been sat before.
What really annoys me is the blogger sphere and fanbase view that are using this opportunity as a referendum to bash Girardi. The player has given his body, heart and soul to the team, sacrificing all each time he has been on the ice. His play this year has no question fallen off but at the time he signed his long term contract, most of us felt that the team got him at a discount based on what he could get it in the open market. If you want to center your comments about how his play on the ice has suffered and that has cost the team games, fine. But don't make this a value judgment of the person or use the time and words to make G your personal whipping boy, it's uncalled for and unfair.
AV was coy on if McIlrath will be in the lineup tomorrow. That means that it could be Raphael Diaz. Style wise, Diaz might be a better fit, as he is more mobile with the puck and can play the right or left side. It may somewhat depend on if the goal is solely to win a series - which should be the primary one - or develop a player - which should be secondary. I could see Diaz in over McIlrath, even though I prefer McI, especially when paired with Yandle. A combination that worked earlier this season. (Update: re-reading AV's quotes, McIlrath WILL BE IN while a seventh d-man, like Diaz, could be called up just in case there is an injury)
This morning:
Offensively, in Game 1, the Rangers had lots of shots but too many came from long distance and bad angles. Putting pucks on net is never a bad strategy but it's one that only works if you get traffic in front of the net. Pittsburgh did a very good job in basically building a wall around Zatkoff, not allowing the Rangers to get in close. New York has to use their speed to force Pittsburgh back on their heels and speed up their decision making process in their own zone. In addition, utilize their size to force their way to the net, creating traffic.
Tanner Glass, hit in the face by a puck in Game 1, is reportedly okay, though a bit banged up. The same can be said for J.T. Miller. Continuing the bold theme from above, AV could make some lineup changes as Oscar Lindberg and Marek Hrivik are available options. I could see either in for Stalberg though also would not be shocked if no changes are made. If Lindberg is in, move Fast down a line and have Lindberg back with Eric Staal and Kevin Hayes.
This afternoon:
Practice lines: Miller-Brass-Nash, Kreider-Step-Zucc, EStaal-Hayes-Fast, Stalberg-Moore-Glass. What's noticeable in that list is that Zucc and Miller have swapped lines, with the defensively more responsible Miller with Brassard, who has issues there. Same with Stepan and Zucc. In addition, the bottom six remains static, so Hrivik and Lindberg are likely scratches again.
In the past, the team showed a resiliency that was a hallmark of their play on the ice. That resiliency was rightly questioned this year, as well as at times last season. But down the stretch and especially in the playoffs, the Rangers ability and willingness to play with and through key injuries to reach the ECF was on full display. The same needs to be the case this year, where the name in the front spurs the team forward as is more important than the one on the back, even if one of those games is Lundqvist.
Coming into the series, many did not expect them to win. Now, if Lundqvist is out, that win expected percentage drops to close to nil. But that doesn't matter, all that matters is if the players believe they can do it. In order for that to occur, this is where the coaching staff has to earn their money. Motivation has been an issue in the past, one would hope that right now this is not the case. But it also gets beyond motivation. Making the right and possibly bold lineup calls regardless of history must be the case.
As noted in the papers, Injured Penguins Evgeni Malkin (upper body), goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (concussion), Byran Rust (lower body) and Beau Bennett (undisclosed) all participated in the team's optional practice. Given how well Zatkoff played Wednesday, Pittsburgh can be a bit extra cautious with Fleury, who hasn't played in a month. However, he was on the ice Friday and could play in Game 2, though I view that as unlikely.
Thursday was the first day Malkin took full-on shots, so while he is unlikely for Saturday, Tuesday has to be considered a realistic possibility. Malkin said: “It’s still not strong enough, but every day, it gets better.… He, like McDonagh, benefits from the extra days off between Games 1 and 2 and 2 and 3, which might be just enough time for him to be in Tuesday. As you can likely figure out, that was written this AM. Today, Malkin was on the left of Crosby and Hornqvist, more good news for the Blueshirts. There is no guarantee he will play Saturday, but I wouldn't be shocked if that happens. If it doesn't, Tuesday looks almost like a lock.
Rangers, we have heart, how about you?