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Rangers look to clinch series against the Hurricanes at MSG tonight |
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The Rangers have a chance to end the series against the Hurricanes tonight at MSG. New York was unable to complete the sweep Saturday, falling 4-3 in regulation. The Blueshirts have the advantage of the last change tonight, which is one key to winning and advancing.
Rangers lineup at practice today and likely for Game 5 tonight:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Roslovic
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafrenière
Cuylle-Wennberg-Kakko
Vesey-Goodrow-Brodzinski
Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Schneider
Gustafsson-Trouba
Shesterkin
Quick
Scratches: Chytil, Rempe, Jones, Ruhwedel, Edstrom and Domingue
LTIR: Wheeler
The good news is that Filip Chytil, who missed Game 4 with an illness, was on the ice practicing this morning. Whether he plays remains to be seen, and if he does, where he slots into the lineup. My guess is if he does play - and at practice this am - Chytil was with the extras and Jonny Brodzinski was in - Brodzinski comes out, Will Cuylle slides down as he did for Game 3 and Chyil is the left wing on the third line. The one caveat with that is the third line was the team's most effective trio, resulting in the question if coach Peter Laviolette wants to break up that unit. Based on this morning's start of practice, it looks like Chytil and Matt Rempe - who many have been clamoring to get back in - will be in the press box.
In other good news, Blake Wheeler sheds his red, no-contact jersey for practice today. Wheeler is unlikely to play moving forward, barring injury, but the good news is that he could be an option if needed down the road. Where he fits though, due to his lack of speed, is not clear. In addition, further evidence to the probable lack of changes to the lineup is that Wheeler-Edstrom-Rempe was the fifth line on, meaning that Chyil did not partake in the 3x3 line rushes.
Keys to winning tonight:
1) A better start - the two games at home, New York opened the scoring. While Carolina evened the game, they were playing from behind. In Carolina, the Canes scored first, and while New York rallied in both games, they were the chaser. Tonight, the Garden faithful should be rocking and rolling. The Blueshirts need to feed off that energy and come out firing on all cylinders. If they do and play as they did in the second and almost all the third, they have a good shot at advancing to the next round tonight.
2) Top-six rebound: of the six, Alexis Lafreniere was by far the best player and possibly the best player on the ice Saturday, period. Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck had their worst games of the playoffs while Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider were okay - not great - and Jack Rosllovic was fine at best. I am expecting Panarin and Trocheck to re-find their games tonight. If the bottom-six, especially the third line plays as they did Saturday, and we get even close to a return to form of that top-six, New York should advance.
3) Stay out of the box/stop the Canes' first PP chance: after 16 straight kills, the Rangers allowed a PPG. That tally proved to be the game-winner on a shot that Igor Shesterkin would love to have another chance to save. Carolina's mindset may be that they figured something out there after all the misses. Staying out of the box would be best, especially Jacib Trouba. If they are penalized, stopping that first PP chance for Carolina and making them doubt themselves again and view the goal as a fluke would help tremendously.
4) Use the last change wisely: Laviolette needs to shelter the Erik Gustafsson-Trouba pair. Trouba has been on for eight goals and been called for eight penalties. Both are good numbers for a season, not for the postseason. Trouba also needs to stop with the attempted chicken wings before he makes contact and really costs the team/injures someone. Laviolette needs t hsi best to minimize this unit's impact, though playing Zac Jones in my opinion would be a smarter way to go despite us all knowing that won't happen.
5) Repeat history (with each syllable in history enunciated slowly):
Rangers recent May 13 games:
2022: Rangers beat Penguins to tie series at 3-3
New York rallied from 2-0 down after the first to take a 3-2 lead in the second period. Evgeni Malkin tied the game last in that frame. The Rangers get the game-winning goal from Chris Kreider on an innocuous shot that went off Louis Domingue's glove and in with 1:28 left in regulation and seal the victory with an Adam Fox marker with 27 seconds left.
2015: Derek Stepan OT winner vs. Capitals
2014: Game 7 win over Penguins
2013: Game 7 win over Capitals
The Rangers actually have all the pressure. Carolina earned another life and some confidence with their win Saturday. For New York, it's win or head back on the road for Game 6 in a hostile environment cognizant that a loss means a winner-take-all Game 7. That would come with a noise about possibly blowing a 3-0 series lead. This team has answered every challenge, I have no doubt they will do the same successfully tonight.
Just win baby. Let's Go Rangers!!!
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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