The Rangers return to action at MSG tonight hoping to extend their season. What looked like a potential Stanley Cup championship, assuming all things broke well, just last week has now been reduced to praying for just one more game. To me, extending one game or two games or even three games is being viewed by most as really just delaying the inevitable. The end goal is to win a championship and while would be nice not to see the Kings celebrate on Garden ice, in the grand scheme of things, assuming the situation remains as it is, does it really matter where they celebrate?
I understand that the mantra for tonight is "not in our house." While that is a nice goal, as mentioned above, it still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Win tonight, then maybe you get a little momentum and the hockey gods or karma turn in your favor. Then you can think about winning game five, and shock of shocks, maybe making it to and winning a game seven. That should be the only goal, not just hoping to extend the series just so you don't see the Kings win on your own home ice
All the clichés apply tonight: Win or go home. Do our die. Not in our house. Feel free to insert your own. But what's really disconcerting is that we have reached this point. All of us Rangers fans who have been through substantial changes over the past year, ranging from the new coach to our captain getting traded, are now reduced to the point of rooting to just extend the series one game longer. That means one more game that we get to watch our favorite team play. I guess that's a worthwhile endeavor yet we were all hoping for a lot more when they reached the Stanley Cup finals.
The goal in my opinion should be to shock the world. To take everything written from all the pundits and critics and fans, including some of us, and turn it on its ear. Find a way to win game four. Then go to LA and win game five. Put a seed of doubt in the Kings minds forcing them to come back across country to Madison Square Garden. If the Rangers can extended by winning tonight they have to come back anyway to New York. So why not come back with a shot to make it to a game seven. Then if that happens, you never know. This should be the shock the world tour not let's just extended one more game so we don't get swept on garden ice tour. I still believe, though I have to admit that belief has wavered to a certain extent. But tonight, come at 8 o'clock, I will be all in, just like I've been all season long
I wrote yesterday about the changes that I'd like to see for tonight. Here they are again with some updates (with more to follow as we get closer to game time):
- Bench Richards. I don’t like embarrassing players, but this is a case where desperate times call for desperate measures. Dan Carcillo has now served his six-game suspension. I would move Dominic Moore up to the second line, bench Richards and insert Carcillo on the fourth line with Boyle and Dorsett. It's unlikely that AV does this, but Moore has shown he can step up, the team needs an infusion of energy and Carcillo will be heavily motivated to face his former squad and atone for his suspension. (Update: one strong rumor has Carcillo in for Dorsett. Why? What has Dorsett not done that he deserves to be scratched? That said, Dorsett may be dealing with an injured tailbone that occurred when he was knocked down by Jake Muzzin late in the second period Monday. If that's the case, Carcillo would get in as an injury replacement, If not. I can maybe understand not scratching Richards since it would be viewed as a panic move, but you know what, they should be in sort of a panic mode. It's win or go home, if that doesn't call for changes, I don't know what would.)
- Change up the PP. AV finally put Nash on the man advantage. Why he waited so long and why no one asked him about this are two major unknowns. The Rangers needed traffic in front, like what Kreider has brought to that PP combination. Even if Richards plays, get him off the PP. Put J. Moore or Stralman there, since they have more speed and are better at the point than Richards. Going 0-for-6 last night and 0-for-their-last-and-I-can't-believe-this-is-right-31 at home should be enough to prompt change. (Update: In addition, going 3-for-44 at home and 9-for-51 on the road (thanks, John Buccigross) on the power play provides addition evidence to prompt a change). If not, being down 3-0 should suffice.
- Hope history repeats itself. Unfortunately, I think LA will learn from it. Los Angeles won Games 1 and 2 in 2012 in OT. They won Game 3 via shutout, then let NJ back in the series, losing games 4 and 5 before winning Game 6 in a blowout. This year, they came back 3-0 down to SJ. They rebounded from 3-2 down to Anaheim. The Kings had a 3-1 lead but lost games 5 and 6 to Chicago before winning game 7. Teams learn from history. I hope that's not the case, but because LA has been through this on both sides of the equation, they know not to take anything for granted. (Update: In addition, the last Stanley Cup Finals sweep came in 1998, the fourth straight year it occurred. It's been 15 years since then, so keep the streak going).
Crash the net. Thanks Buccigross for this one:
Rebound goals per round by the Rangers: - First round: six - Second round: five - ECF: one - SCF: zero
You can say the level of goaltending rises as the playoffs continues, limiting those chances, but those last two numbers are ridiculous. In the ECF, after Price was hurt, Tokarski, as we discussed a lot last round, left a ton of rebounds, but no one was in front to capitalize. This round, not enough traffic in front or going hard to the net. Now I am not advocating running Quick, so those who were ready to pounce and say I am recommending that, stop. I am saying get traffic there. Make it tough for him and the Kings d-men, who have done a good job of clearing the crease. Just as I recommended yesterday New York needs to do a better job of clearing their own crease, they need to do what LA has done to them and get bodies in front of the net.
One more thing on Nash, and thanks to Buccigross for this one as well. He has rightly been criticized for not scoring, but he leads the NHL in Shots on Goal this postseason with 80. You can argue that some or many have come from the perimeter, but he has been even more engaged lately, creating changes, yet has just three goals. So while he can be the whipping boy for not scoring, those who are taking him to task and saying there is a lack of effort just aren't watching the games.
Find a way to win tonight and start the shock the world tour comeback.