The Rangers play what clearly looks to be a must win Wednesday against the Penguins. Down 2-1 in games, following their 2-0 loss on Monday, New York can ill-afford to go down 3-1 based on their history. The Rangers have never come back from 3-1 down to win a series to date, in fast, the best they have done is a force a Game 7 once, which they lost. So that should explain the magnitude of tonight's contest.
I will get this out of the way up front. If the Rangers play like they did Monday, they win the game. They dominated play, but were unable to beat Marc-Andre Fleury, who posted his second straight shutout. Two bad plays, Staal getting caught flat footed, letting Sidney Crosby get a step, and a bad pass on the PP, letting to a breakaway by Jussi Jokinen, were all the Penguins needed. Offensively, NY generated lots of chances.
Larry Brooks wrote today about how the Rangers shouldn't shoot at Fleury's glove. This reminds me of the conversation a week ago when we we discussing how the team needed to remember that Ray Emery and Steve Mason wear their gloves on opposite hands and how that was causing NY not to score. We saw how that ultimately played out, and while the Rangers are taking a step up in class here, I still am not ruling them out of the series.
The big news tonight is the possible return of Chris Kreider from left hand/wrist surgery that has cost him the past 19 games. As I mentioned the other day, I think if New York was up 2-1, he wouldn't be playing, especially since today was his first day practicing in a regular practice jersey. With NY possibly in the brink, an 80-85% Kreider is still a weapon and better than the other options they had. If Kreider does play, I would expect him to be reunited with Rick Nash and Derek Stepan with Martin St. Louis back with Brad Richards and Carl Hagelin. Of course, AV could just put Kreider on the second line and leave the first intact. In addition, hopefully they use Kreider's size in front of the net on the PP.
Ah yes, the power play. The bane of our existence and the futility of futility. I thought it looked Bette the other night, getting some good chances and hitting the post once. Adding Kreider to the PP will provide some size and traffic in front of Fleury, which are desperately needed. You have hope that eventually they will break through, solely from a confidence and getting tired of hearing all cat calls perspective. In addition, please get Richards off the point already and yes, this is something I have mentioned way too many times already.
Pittsburgh could get Brooks Orpik back but who they scratch is in question. It could be Scuderi, maybe Bortuzzo, as Letang, Martin, Maatta and Niskanen are set. Orpik gives them some grit and snarl to go with Bortuzzo, while Scuderi has struggled, so he is likely man out.
Unlikely I will be up to watch tonight, as still sick as a dog. Hoping for a good result so when I wake up I will be in a good mood, regardless of how lousy I feel.
Let's Go Rangers!!!