Montreal was the more desperate team Tuesday and it showed in the their 7-4 win over the Rangers. Defensive breakdowns galore were evident on both sides, but much more of them existed on the New York side of the ice, contributing to six of the goals against. The best course of action would be to eradicate the memory of what took place on the ice, and while that is largely unlikely, the key will be to fix the myriad of mistakes from the defeat.
Game Lowlights:
A few things from me:
Stay out of the damn box. I mean how many times does that have to be beaten into their heads. It started just 22 seconds into the game on a dumb trip by Chris Kreider and continued almost all the way to the final buzzer. You had Zuccarello with goaltender intereference, though that one you can see he was pushed into Dustin Tokarski. Then everyone's favorite penalty magnet Benoit Pouliot with a "trip" of P.K. Subban (embellishment much)? John Moore with an uncalled for high hit to Dale Weise, the end result of which was a two-game suspension handed down today. The penalty 22 seconds in set the tone of the game, as Montreal scored on the man-advantage, getting an already raucous crowd further into the game.
Lack of discipline. That doesn't just include penalties. It encompasses defenseman out of position. Forwards not backchecking as they normally do. Derek Dorsett with a head butt to Mike Weaver, which fortunately didn't result in a suspension. Montreal agitated New York and the Rangers took the bait. Weise got under their skin and they didn't walk away. Moving forward, New York has to much smarter I am not advocating constantly turning the other cheek, but in responding, they got off their games, emboldened Montreal and fed into the environment surrounding the game.
The blue line or sieve line. Montreal way too easily gained the Rangers blue line and then were able to set up with little push back. In addition, it was a parade to the slot with no restrictions, seen in the Alex Galchenyuk deflection and Bourque's first and second goal. Dan Girardi was lousy. Marc Staal may have had his worst game of the playoffs. You would hope that the back-six will show some pride Thursday and rebound with a strong performance.
Henrik Lundqvist. Yes, he played poorly. Four goals in 19 shots are not what we expect from him. Heck four goals in 49 shots is not what we would expect from him. Overall, a bad night. Cam Talbot, who had been so good during the season and in Montreal, allowing one goal in two games, didn't help matters. The Rangers tied it at 4, had the momentum and a weak defensive play and slow, almost non-existent, reaction from Talbot on Rene Bourque's second of three goals 58 seconds later and it was all she wrote. I get the argument people have expressed saying maybe AV should have gone back to Lundqvist, but here is why I think he didn't. Once a goalie is removed, similar to when a manager says to a pitcher he is being taken out, they mentally shut down for a while. Getting that edge back is tough. That said, I could have seen Hank start the third but understand why he didn't.
The good news. Game 6 against Philly and Game 4 against Pitt. Lundqvist was pulled for Talbot in that contest against the Flyers and was subpar against the Penguins. The next game in each series, he responded with an excellent outing. I expect the same Thursday.
Playing for the perfect shot. Way too much passing. Get a shot on net. Tokarski, who was good in the first period, especially when robbing Carl Hagelin with the knob of his stick, and in the third, was horrific in the second. We have seen that he has a tendency to leave rebounds, seen on Stepan's second goal, so shoot on net and get to the dirty areas. The Rangers may be trying to get the perfect shot since Tokarski at times, comes too far out of his net, opening angles, but a quick move, will do the same rather than try for the perfect play.
Inability to match the Canadiens' intensity level. Montreal was desperate and it showed. New York played like they knew that had a game in hand and could afford to lose. Guess what, that wiggle room, if it even really existed, since now the Canadiens come to MSG with confidence, is lost. New York doesn't want to go back to the Bell Centre for Game 7 and Montreal knows that. As such, the Rangers have to be the desperate bunch, playing with a chip on their shoulder and not to lose, like they did against Pitt. If they didn't learn something from that series, they never will.
The officiating/NHL. Embellishments still occurring way too often. Tomas Plekenac reacted like he was shot and it was finally called, after one just like was missed in Game 4. What happens next? Subban does the same and Pouliot gets a penalty. I can't believe I am saying this but I agree with Mike Milbury, make it a double-minor, so team that embellishes is down a man. The Eller hit was very dangerous and Zucc got lucky. They missed a call on Dorsett, on which he should have been in the box and likely led to Bourque's penalty at the end. Plus, the NHL did the right thing on the Moore penalty - would have liked to see that on Prust in Game 3 and much of this garbage might have been short-circuited - and suspension, yet Eller, Bourque and Dorsett, all deserving of phone hearings, didn't have one. So, we could get the same garbage in Game 6, when by the way, public enemy #1, Prust, plays at MSG. [;lus, Dan Carcillo will have have his appeal of his 10-game suspension heard by Gary Bettman on Friday. So, a player who is in NY on Saturday and Sunday, appeals before Game 4 and can be seen over the next few days susbequent to that appeal has to wait almost a week for his case to be heard? Unreal.
Derek Stepan/Kreider. Stepan was questionable to play but he showed up. Two goals and a solid game overall. Kreider had a goal and three assists, yet what we most remember is the penalty 22 seconds in. That line with Rick Nash scored all four goals, but the other three lines were invisible.
The response. Down 4-1, NY showed a modicum of heart. Three goals in 4:14 evened the game, but that was it. The effort they put forth in those four-plus minutes needs to exist for 60+. Montreal could have folded up their tent after the game was tied but they rebounded. NY needs to have the same mental fortitude and heart in Game 6.
If the Rangers needed bulletin board material they got it:
Brian Gionta: The Rangers D is tired Rene Bourque: Tokarski has putplayed Lundqvist this series
Whatever edge you can get this time of year, take it. Of course, none should be needed coming off that embarassing Game 5 performance and possible berth in the next round staring you in the face, but that should have been the case Tuesday and wasn't.
Learn from your mistakes and turn the page, flip the switch, pick your favorite quote. The Rangers need to rebound and do an almost 180-degree turn from Tuesday. Win, and Game 5 fades to black a little, lose and the questions and panic level rises exponentially.