The Rangers lost 5-2 in the opening game of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series against the Penguins. The loss though is secondary to the concern about Henrik Lundqvist, who was poked either in or just below the eye by Marc Staal's stick blade, which someone got in between the slats on his mask. New York was unable to take advantage of Pitt starting Jeff Zatkoff due to the injuries to Marc-Andre Fleury and Matt Murray while the Penguins capitalized on the mistakes made by the Rangers to get the win.
A quick look period-by-period, mainly in shortened form, with some thoughts after them and then a couple of overall thoughts:
First:
Zatkoff in for MAF, Olli Maatta back as Pitt plays 11F and 7D, sitting Sestito
Rangers good early, kill off two phantom penalties form Tim Peel (gee shocked that Peel would have called them. Penguins now 5-0 this year when he refs their games)
Pitt kills Rangers PP (which also was a lousy call by the referees) midway through period and get all the momentum (I wrote yesterday that the big difference in the series was the Penguins PK and also their ability to create offense it)
Staal stick to Henrik Lundqvist'e eye with 48 seconds left. (Staal was fighting Oscar Sundqvist for position and for some reason, got his stick up. It's amazing that one of NY's biggest problem is getting hurt from their own players. Lundqvist was down and writhing. Trainer Jim Ramsey came out and when Lundqvist stood up, it looked like he said I can't or I couldn't see. Then when he went by the bench and received drops in his eye, he told Antti Raanta to be ready. So while we all were happy to see Lundqvist come back, after what transpired when Ryan McDonagh's stick him under the mask in his throat and he was allowed incorrectly to play, how do you not sit him?)
Hank is allowed to come back in and less than 30 seconds later, allows goal to Patric Hornqvist. (Lousy D by Girardi, who originally stops skating thinking Kris Letang's flip down the ice would be called icing. Because if that, he was late to Conor Sheary behind the net. Sheary’s pass hit Lundqvist and caromed to the front. Staal-squared and Derek Stepan watched Hornqvist come down the slot unimpeded and beat Lundqvist five-hole with under 20 seconds to go)
After a good first half of the period, New York ended up on their heels as Pitt turned up the pressure. I thought Girardi was good the first part as well but then, his true recent self came out, leading to the one goal in the period. But of course, all the concern was on Lundqvist's status.
Second
Raanta starts period, Lundqvist termed day-to-day, aren't we all?
Pitt carries play much of the period, as New York is putting pucks on Zatkoff but from distance without traffic in front. The Penguins are pushing the Rangers D deep into the zone, creating chances.
Despite that, with a bit over a minute left, we are thinking 1-0 after two and it's a game.
But G has shot blocked by Hornqvist, Crosby gets pass from him between the snow angel duo of G and M Staal, and he's off to the races, breakaway goal top shelf, 2-0. (Good play by Hornqvist, but G has to go around the boards as he had no angle plus has to know that Staal is in as well, so no coverage deep just in case. Sure enough, that's what happened)
Another late goal giving Pitt all the momentum heading into the locker room. Despite that, you are left thinking, get an early good, maintain momentum, stay close and find a way to tie in.
Third
Hagelin four minute penalty, then another penalty, 5-on-3 and here's the key part of the game.
Great passing and Stepan makes it 2-1 on PP with time remaining in the man-advantage.
Here is where the game turns. Rangers press to get the equalizer, Boyle out of position as gets caught deep (not blaming him, as it was the right play to go deep but that prevented him from getting back). Nash changed on the man advantage for some reason, which allowed Letang, after Ben Lovejoy's solid play in his own zone, to make beautiful backhand pass, springing Bonino to create the odd man rush. Boyle and Miller coast back on D. Yandle, gassed after being on for about three minutes, misplays the 2-on-1, failing to take the shooter or fully cutting off the passing lane with his stick (the right play), enabling Nick Bonino to get it to Kuhnackl for the shortie and it was 3-1. (After the game, AV called out two #NYR who "didn't even take a stride to get back" on Kuhnhackl goal. That meant Miller/Boyle and he also said Yandle misplayed 2-on-1. Lots of questions on Twitter as to why AV didn't call out G or Staal. That's because he wasn't asked about specific players only the shorthanded goal. As such, if you blame the press crew for not asking it but stop with AV having blinders on, at least when it comes to his post game comments)
Then a stupid penalty to Eric Staal for goalie interference. G in front of Kessel, blocks Crosby's shot but puck goes behind him and Raanta, tap in goal by Hornqvist (M Staal and Dominic Moore left Hornqvist wide open at side of the net (noticing a pattern there?)) and its 4-1.
Zucc great pass to Boyle, who gets it to Stepan, top shelf wide corner, 4-2 (after looking dead to rights, at least New York made it interesting with a half a period left but were unable to capitalize on the goal. Some decent pressure for a few shifts but Zatkoff didn't have to make any real tough saves)
NY presses, Raanta coming out of net negates Pitt icing with about three minutes left.
Raanta pulled, Zucc fans in offensive zone on puck, which gets to Hornqvist for hat trick, 5-2
Game 2 Saturday.
Overall thoughts:
Too many shots on perimeter, not enough in front or any traffic by Zatkoff
Pitt got dirty goals by going to front of net, which helped contribute to New York's own zone errors, though much of the blame for those is on the Rangers
New York didn't get much puck luck but as you know, I am a firm believer in your make your own breaks. The Rangers didn't do enough to take advantage of the bounces while the Penguins did.
Pitt's speed, as we expected, created odd man chances, which they capitalized on. New York has to be near perfect to prevent those, and while they were good at times, a momentary misuse was all that was needed for the Penguins to take advantage.
Too many passengers tonight, can count on one hand those who really showed up, Stepan, Glass, Skjei, maybe a few others. Brassard, Zucc , Kreider and E Staal were among the passengers, who outnumbered those who did show up. Nash wan't horrible but not as noticeable as he needs to be. I would sit Stalberg for Hrivik or Lindberg.
Move Skjei up to second line, sit Boyle or G, play McIlrath on third pairing until McD is back. When McD comes back, McD-Klein, Yandle-McIlrath, Skjei-Staal, but AV won't do it.
The concerns about AV'a inability to make adjustments and his devotion to certain players clearly come to the forefront now. It is only one game but you obviously don't want to go down 2-0 and have a must win Game 3 to stay in the series. Let's see what he does.
With Lundqvist, you know he would want to stay in and thought process likely was, let's get through the last minute of the period and reevaluate. I don't think Raanta stops that shot but we obviously won't ever know. If he is out Game 2 - and the extra day off might help - lots of pressure on Raanta to come up big. I know what Lundqvist's brother said, but without the results of any exams, it's pure speculation. But as we have seen, the Rangers usually play a more structured defensive game in front of the back up goalie, so maybe that will be the case.