Well he’s back for the playoffs, and flashing his old brilliance. “I thought his timing was better”. He had secondary assists on power-play goals in Games 2 and 3, but this was an MVP at his best, finding the back of the net for the first time since March 6. “That is, quite honestly, what we expected to go through with Geno”. The Penguins got some good news before the game, with Matt Murray being announced the starter during warm-ups.Some of the names have changed since the Penguins blew a 3-1 lead to the Rangers during their second-round series in 2014, but otherwise it’s a carbon copy.
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PENGUINS 3, RANGERS 1: In New York, Pittsburgh got back to playing the style that made them one of the NHL’s best teams after Christmas with a 3-1 win over New York. Pittsburgh will be looking to end the series Saturday at 3:00 PM EST at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. “You’re getting a desperate hockey team and you need to make sure that you match that”.
Cullen’s game-winner was as much a good play by him and a bad one by defensemen Keith Yandle and Dan Boyle. “I don’t know what to say”.
Conor Sheary, who moved into Chris Kunitz’s usual spot on a line alongside Crosby and Hornqvist, put the Penguins up by three at 16:12, as he stole the puck in his own end and carried it into the NY zone before throwing a wrist shot past Lundqvist from inside the left circle for his first career playoff goal. Matt Murray was the goalie for the Penguins last night. “At the same time, at this point in the season, it really doesn’t matter until you win the fourth one”.
They brought tenor John Amirante out of retirement to sing the national anthem and the crowd at Madison Square Garden was buzzing when the puck was dropped.
Pittsburgh was the hottest team in the league down the stretch, as the Penguins won 14 of their final 16 regular-season games, and they have continued their impressive play during the first round of the playoffs. This leads me to my 2nd key for the Rangers to stay alive, establishing a fore check and offensive zone pressure. Malkin fired a shot from the blue line that deflected off Crosby and Hornqvist, leaving Lundqvist little chance of making a save.
Conor Sheary blazed down the left side and sent a rocket over Lundqvist’s shoulder to make it 3-0 just over 16 minutes into the game. “It was my first playoff game, at MSG no less”.
“I think it’s really close”, said Hornqvist.
By the final minute of the period time, the Penguins’ near ideal play had the Rangers’ fans booing the team that went to the Cup Finals two years ago and the Eastern Conference finals last season.
The game was essentially over at that point, but the Penguins continued imposing their will on the Rangers.
“The past is the past”, Sullivan said. “He’s a competitive guy”.
While not entitled to success on the ice, the Garden faithful should be entitled to an unquestionable effort by their hockey team. He wants to be on the ice.
“You look down the lineup, there’s a lot of new faces, a lot of new players and new staff”, Hagelin said. Antti Raanta finished up.
The Penguins tied it at 1, with under a minute to go in the period on a power play goal be Sidney Crosby. They know that the Penguins are a juggernaut.
“I think our mindset was right”, added Crosby.
Rick Nash, like the rest of the Rangers, fell hard in Game 4. Our line played well.
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Patrick Kane scored the fifth playoff overtime goal of his career Thursday night. The Penguins are a confident group that is rolling, but they need to use a killer instinct to not let this series linger longer than it should.
