Game 7.
Just let those two words linger for a while. It's a contest that really needs no hype, no hyperbole, no setting the scene, because everything is right in front of you. It's a game where memories are made that last a lifetime. It's a game where careers can be made and broken, reputations built and torn down and the spot light can shine either fairly or unfairly.
New York looked washed up and left for carrion just a few short days ago. But through a variety of factors including emotional, they sit on the precipice of what looked like an unlikely rally from a 3-1 series deficit.. But the job isn't done. It'll only be completed if they can finish the comeback. If they only get to this point and lose, as nice as the rally was, it will leave a hollow taste in all of our mouths. Who will be the hero tonight? Will it be Rick Nash with his first goal of the playoffs? Will it be Martin St. Louis, who seems to be playing for a higher purpose? Will it be Henrik Lundqvist with another stellar performance in an elimination game? Will be Dominic Moore? All that matters is someone, anyone, steps up and plays the hero. It doesn't matter who.
A few keys from me tonight:
First goal matters. All series long, the team that scored first has won. In addition, in elimination games, until the Minnesota and Los Angeles wins last series, the team that scored first won 17 straight. Playing with the lead, especially on the road, adds to the pressure for the home team and favorite. In addition, it quiets the crowd a bit and plays in to the doubt that has to be creeping up on Pittsburgh after losing Games 5 and 6.
Be the road warriors. The Rangers won 25 games on the road this year, one of the best marks in the league. This series, they won Games 1 and 5 and looked to make it three of four on the road. New York knows that they came come in and win, as does Pittsburgh, which helps the Rangers' chances. The Rangers have shown that elimination games, regardless of where they occur, don't faze them, while Pittsburgh has struggled recently in them, especially at home.
Momentum. In baseball, momentum is as good as today's starting pitcher. In hockey, there is some carryover but that too can be obviated. The Rangers looked to have the momentum after Game 1, but lost Game 2. Pittsburgh had all the momentum after winning Games 2-4, especially 4 but we see how that worked out. Now, New York comes in on a high, winning Games 5 and 6, yet that looks great on paper and in the media, but will have little impact tonight. To get the momentum and keep it, the Rangers will have to play as they did last Friday. Get an early lead, but to me, just as important, don't give up a late goal, as they have done at times this series to allow Pittsburgh to recapture the elusive momentum. Get and edge and maintain it.
Stay out of the penalty box. You know I am not a conspiracy theorist but I know several who are who believe that the NHL wants Pittsburgh to win and will do what they can to make sure they did, including calling penalties on NY. I think that is stretching it, but the Rangers have to be smart. Staying out of the box should help maintain the momentum I mentioned above and not allow the Penguins to score on the man-advantage and capture that momentum. Of course, it could go in the other direction. Friday, the 5-on-3 penalty kill was a huge momentum boost for New York with Brian Boyle blocking shots all over the place. Of course, you don't want to rely on stopping a PP, but nice to know that the Rangers have been so good in that regard this series.
Line combinations and match ups. The Rangers will go what who played for them in Games 5 and 6. For Pittsburgh, much of the talk has been around whether the Kunitz-Crosby-Malkin line should be broken up. Pierre McGuire put it well saying he wouldn't and would ride his stars. That means, look for Crosby and Malkin to be double-shifted, especially if Pitt trails. Other than the top line, the best player for the Penguins in this series has been Brandon Sutter. James Neal has been invisible while Brain Gibbons and Marcel Goc have had their moments, especially shorthanded, but Pittsburgh's supporting players have struggled. I expect Crosby and especially Malkin, who can play the wing, to see lots of time all over the place in an effort to jumpstart the Pittsburgh offense. This will create challenges for the Rangers' D, meaning that Moore and Klein will need to be good, as they likely will end up matched against Crosby and/or Malkin.
I close the blog repeating what I wrote the last few days:
Screw history. New York has never come back from 3-1 down in a series, but are on the verge of writing new history this year. Be the first to do so. It doesn't matter who plays and who sits, whoever is in the lineup needs to bring it. To quote Boomer Esiason and it's something I have said a lot, win one shift, then another, then another. Then win one period and another.
Heart. It's the willingness to take a hit to move the puck or score a goal. Heart. It's what makes the name on the front of the jersey more than the one of the back. Heart. It's what New Yorkers love to see in their athletes. It's rising over trying circumstances. It's carrying a team or a teammate on your backs when needed. Heart. It can overcome talent when talent doesn't have or use it. Heart. It's what needs to be on display Tuesday when We Are All Rangers.
Tonight, win or lose, We Are All Rangers!!!