The Rangers jumped to an early 1-0 lead just 28 second into the game and were able to hold off Pittsburgh 2-1 to take Game 1 of their first round playoff series. Derick Brassard got the early marker, which was the second fastest in franchise history after Ed Hospodar's goal April 9, 1981, while Ryan McDonagh tallied what proved to be the game-winner on the power play with 4:44 left in the first. Blake Comeau halved the lead in the second with a goal off a scrum in front but that's all the offense Pittsburgh could muster. Henrik Lundqvist made 24 saves while Marc-Andre Fleury, who was the best Pen all night, stopped 36 shots.
Rather than a detailed recap blog, some thoughts:
- I thought one of the keys was to get the crowd into the game to build up the noise level and present Pitt from getting on a roll. The goal helped do that. Great stretch pass from Matz Zuccarello to Rick Nash, who low shot to the far blocker resulted in a real juicy rebound. bad job by Paul Martin and Sidney Crosby, as they allowed Brassard to get inside each of them for an easy goal.
- Pittsburgh took four penalties in the first period. Beyond just giving the Rangers man-advantage chances, it kept Crosby (just 3:42 in the period) and Evgeni Malkin in the bench. Neither were able to build up any momentum, which might have been a result of that stilted first period. If Pitt continues to play this way, you have to wonder if coach Mike Johnston will use either Crosby or Malkin or both to kill penalties in order to give them more ice time.
- The four penalties were: Chris Kunitz for goalie interference, Taylor Chorney for interference. Blake Comeau for roughing and David Perron for slashing. Were any of them ones that shouldn't gotten called? Same with Steve Downie's later, who rubbed his stick on the back of Zucc's helmet twice with the referee looking right at him. It was during that Comeau penalty that the Rangers made it 2-0, as Ryan McDonagh blasted the puck from the point and it deflected off a Penguin past a screened Fleury at 15:16 for the 2-0 lead. The play was made by Keith Yandle sliding down the wing, creating room for McDonagh, who didn't hesitate, blasting a one-timer that beat Fleury.
-Rangers' fans wanted another goal on the PP so that the lead would become three and it might stop Pitt from using the strategy of agitate, hope you ruffle the Blueshirts' feathers and get a power play. Given who is out and in for them, other than the big two, while the others could be dangerous, NY is more skilled. In that case, muck up and slow down the game, which they did, making it a slogfest, enabling them to stay close.
- The PP had just six shots on the five chances. On the goal, you saw what can happen when space is created by movement and a screen is set up in front. Too often, which has been the case much of the second of the year, NY struggled to gain the blue line, causing them to lose precious seconds and not be in a great starting position for the PP. I would love to see a soft dump to the wide side, then a hard forecheck to try and create a turnover, enabling the PP to get set earlier in the man-advantage.
- Pittsburgh cut the lead in the second. After the Rangers had the first five shots, Pitt started to tilt the ice. Comeau scored at 6:15 of the second period, thanks to some great work in front by Max Lapierre, who was a pest all night. He battled Dan Boyle and got inside position in front of Henrik Lundqvist, enabling Comeau to grab the puck and score into an empty net.
- Boyle didn't have a great game. Once Kevin Klein is cleared to play, which hopefully is either Game 2 or 3, it could be Boyle and not Matt Hunwick that comes out. Hunwick was solid enough, and if Boyle will be a turnover machine and can't move forwards from in front, he has to sit.
- Offensively, the fourth line was the best line for each team. Dominic Moore, who also played at times on a newly constituted third line with Carl Hagelin and Jesper Fast, had some chances while Nick Spaling and Lapierre created traffic, resulting in some chances. I am unsure if Lapiere got a bonus by the word, but boys was he chirping tonight.
- The Brassard line had the first goal and helped cause the PP goal, but other than that, they weren't that noticeable. Same with the Derek Stepan line, as the only real noticeable shift was in the third and because Chris Kreider waited for a puck to come to him in the d-zone, resulting in a turnover. A few seconds later, Kreider reacted late to a puck sitting just inside the offensive blue line, allowing Pitt to clear it. Kevin Hayes struggled a bit in his first playoff experience.
- For Pitt, Johnston used Crosby and Malkin together at times, then played Chris Kunitz with Crosby and Patric Hornqvist to try and generate chances. The team's best opportunities came when they jammed the puck down low and tried to create chaos from it starting in the second. Evidence of the Penguins' improved play in the middle stanza can be seen in the Corsi was 65-35 Rangers in first, 53-47 Pitt in second and 55-45 Pitt in third. Bears out that Pitt did control possession and play in the second and third.
- There was a lot of chatter by the Pitt fans on the play where Hayes caught Rob Scuderi with his stick on the follow-through cutting him. Per Rule 60.1, this isn't a penalty: Any player that contact an opponent above the height of his shoulders will be assessed a penalty. Players must be in control and responsible of their stick. However, a player is permitted accidental contact with an opponent if the act is committed as a normal windup or follow through of a shooting motion.
- Dan Girardi took a puck to the side of the jaw off Kunitz's stick, and left the game with some discomfort at the 10:31 mark (see around the 1:58 mark on video above). Girardi never returned to the game, but AV said after the game that Girardi was getting some dental work done, and didn't seem overly concerned. The good news is that it does not sound or look as if anyone is worried about a concussion, so if there is some surgery to be done on his jaw or mouth, it shouldn't sideline G for Game 2.
- With Girardi out, Marc Staal played 6:07 of the final 9:29, including the last 2:45 of the game. Anyone else want to say the Rangers overpaid him? Oh and by the way, he played it clean, nothing that even could be misconstrued as an illegal hit on Crosby.
- The Rangers having poor puck possession numbers in the third isn't surprising, as we know NY had the worse Corsi numbers in the league in the final stanza all year. What also is true and the numbers remained intact is that NY is dominant when entering 3rd with a lead. The win Thursday made them 36-0-1 on the year when leading after two.
- The good news is the Rangers won despite a so-so effort. Bad news is that after the first, it was a so-so effort and Pitt controlled large stretches of play. That could give Pitt - and their fans - some confidence heading into game 2. You have to figure the big two will be much better and that they won't have a similar parade to the box. For NY, you also have to assume that the team will be much sharper and could out with a better and more efficient effort, especially offensively. Lots to work on and areas to improve. Glad for them to be doing so up 1-0, than down 1-0.
If any news breaks, I will post it during the day Friday. If not, i will be back Sunday with a Game 2 recap blog. Let's Go Rangers!!!