The Penguins defeated the Rangers 4-3 to even up their series at one. Pittsburgh was the more desperate team and it showed, as they beat the Rangers to the puck at several key moments, resulting in goals. The two teams will play Game 3 at the Consol Energy Center on Monday.
Before the series - though you could almost say this about every playoff series - we discussed how special teams would decide the winner. It's not just scoring, but stopping a team can provide momentum that leads to opportunities and goals. That's what happened in Game 2. New York had several chances early on and throughout the game, but struggled on the man-advantage. Pittsburgh on the other hand took advantage of their opportunities, which proved to be the difference.
On paper, you would look at the Rangers going 1-for-5 in Game 1 and be relatively happy because they converted at a 20% clip. But that doesn't tell the true story, as Pittsburgh's ability to parry attempt after attempt kept them in the game and gave them confidence heading into Game 2. Saturday night was more of the same story.
Larry Brooks summed it up well: "Indeed, into the final minute of the second period, the Rangers had amassed a sum of 12 shots on net, just six at even strength and six in 10:00 of power play time. When the period had ended with the Penguins on top 3-1, the Blueshirts had a cumulative 18:43 of power-play time to Pittsburgh’s 3:49 in the series." New York was 0-for-5 on the PP after two, while the Penguins had converted on their one chance. In the third, the two sides exchanged PP goals, but Pittsburgh's 2-for-4 stood out a heck of a lot more than New York's 1-for-7. In addition, it was the second and not first unit doing the damage for the Penguins, which adds to the frustration.
In general, a few other thoughts:
- If the officials are going call everything, than a) get it right and b) get it right. Phantom penalties or make up calls sap any flow from the game and can result in a total change of momentum. Yes, i know Pittsburgh has been on the receiving end of most of the penalties, but i think even their fans will admit the calls were for the most part correct and their players have said they need to be smarter and more disciplined. The call on Carl Hagelin was horrific and resulted in a PPG against, which really turned the game, though it did not after they missed Dan Girardi putting the puck over the boards, which should have been a call. As said above, if making a call, get it right, don't miss one, then give a make up one to try and even it out. I give Pittsburgh credit for taking advantage of that chance, but of the officials would get the calls right on both sides it would be greatly appreciated.
- Pat Leonard wrote: "The Rangers’ defeat means that, as a franchise, they have failed to win the first two games of a playoff series at home since the second round of the 1994 team’s Stanley Cup run. That is eight postseason series as the higher seed, splitting seven times and dropping both games in the other." That is called playing with fire. They had a chance to grab what probably would be a stranglehold on the series and the Rangers failure to match the Penguins' intensity now means it's a series. Plus, Pittsburgh gets to go home with all the momentum and a serve boost of confidence knowing they can play with and beat New York.
- If you look at all four goals, they resulted from poor play by New York and extra effort by Pittsburgh.
First goal - bad call on Hagelin. Pittsburgh controlled puck in deep. Shot by Brandon Sutter went off Steve Downie in front and puck popped in air. Sutter, who was the Penguins' best player last night, got inside position and muscled away J.T. Miller. Henrik Lundqvist on wrong side of net for some reason and goal into open net.Second goal - great pass by Ian Cole to Patric Hornqvist, who split MSL and Boyle. Hornqvist's first shot was saved but he got a piece of the rebound, putting to open ice in front. Sidney Crosby easily beat Ryan McDonagh to front of net for the goal. great effort by Hornqvist and Crosby, lousy by MSL, Boyle and McDonagh.
Third goal - Rangers in control of the puck and Hagelin puts up the boards to a waiting Hayes. it hops over his stick on the wall, enabling Paul Martin to keep it in. He got the puck to Kunitz, who passed it to Crosby, who had inside position on Miller and deflected it past Hank. Bad plays by Hayes, who has struggled the first two games, and Miller with good efforts by martin and Crosby
Fourth goal - came after a great play by Evgeni Malkin to stop a Dan Girardi shot on the goal line. Then Hayes took an inexplicable offensive zone penalty. Pitt maintained possession behind the net, the second PP unit doing it again. Sutter wrapped the puck around the net, holding off Marc Staal and putting it on Lundqvist. No one picked up Kunitz coming down the slot and he was able to easily put it past Lundqvist. Lousy job by the other forward or d-man not coming with Kunitz down the slot.
All four goals highlight the effort put in by Pittsburgh and lack thereof by the Rangers. If you want to win in the playoffs, you have to do the dirty work. Pittsburgh has done that so far, New York has not. That is evident in this McDonagh quote, especially the use of the word aggressive: "We didn't spend enough time in their zone like we did in the first game. We weren't as sharp with the puck coming out of our zone. They were a lot more aggressive and it took us a while to find our strength of using our legs."
- While Rick Nash's goal might have been "meaningless," confidence wise it has to be a boost after his struggles last post-season. The goal by Derek Stepan was due to great passing from McDonagh to Miller and a great shot inside the post and under the crossbar by Stepan. Pittsburgh has done a good job clogging the neutral zone, eliminating the stretch pass and New York's speed. AV and the coaches now need to adjust; quick passes to create room and space, light dump-ins to the offside to create forechecking chances and getting some traffic in front could help.
- I could see a lineup shakeup with James Sheppard in for Tanner Glass, Kevin Klein is not yet ready to return, which is a big loss for NY, especially seeing how Boyle has struggled. Christian Ehrhoff and Derrick Pouliot could be back for Pittsburgh on Monday, which would give them additional momentum and confidence at home.
The Rangers have been a team that has responded to adversity all year. Now they have it again. That "coronation" has hit a major bump in the road. Good teams answer the bell. Excellent teams respond in kind. Monday we will get a sense as to what this team really is.