The Penguins got a solid performance from rookie goalie Matt Murray, who had missed the first two games of the series after being involved in a collision in a game against Philadelphia on the final weekend of the regular season.
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The New York Rangers were absolutely horrific in Game 4 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, and now find themselves down 3-1 in the series. We’re playing the right way, we’re doing little things. We’ve got to put it behind us real quick here, refocus and get ready to go out and execute better.
“That’s the biggest thing we have to learn from tonight, more so than anything”, Derek Stepan said Tuesday, “we did a bad job of getting through the neutral zone and that is exactly the reason why we didn’t get a single look the whole third period, because we did such a poor job of coming through the neutral zone”.
The fact he only had to face 17 shots made his life that much easier.
The Penguins fell behind 39 seconds into second period when left winger Rick Nash beat Murray on a shorthanded breakaway that put the Rangers ahead 1-0.
The scales really shifted in Pittsburgh’s favour when Evgeni Malkin returned last weekend, and there’s little doubt now that he’s back up to full speed after missing five weeks with a shoulder injury.
The Rangers, meanwhile, went 0 for 4 on their power-play and are 1 for 16 in the series.
Still, one has to wonder if a replay call like this should alter the course of a playoff game and ultimately a series.
Cullen has played 77 career playoff games. That’s understandable, ” Murray said.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Nate Thompson and Jamie McGinn scored almost two minutes apart late in the second period, and Anaheim beat Nashville to even the first-round series at 2-2. “But they’re as hungry as ever and I don’t think if you ask any of them they’ll say any of that matters”. Yandle and Boyle converged on him and ran into each other.
“It never gets old”, Cullen said. “It was bouncing a lot tonight”.
But goals from Robby Fabbri and David Backes for the Blues forced the contest into OT, where just one goal would be enough to end the Blackhawks title defence.
“I think our mindset was right”, added Crosby.
Kris Letang then scored into an empty net in the game’s final minute to seal the deal.
NY attempted to rally late in the first period, but young net-minder Matt Murray was up to the task, robbing Eric Staal on a rebound attempt with 2:30 remaining in the period.
Pittsburgh went into a defensive posture at that point and shut the Rangers down. “We were hoping to come home and get the building energized and get ourselves energized”. Lundqvist made 28 saves, giving up a power-play goal to Crosby and a one-on-one chance to Cullen.
Murray’s teammates have talked repeatedly about his calm demeanor, pointing out how much that helps them on the ice. He did have a better showing than in his first game, registering one assist, three shots on goal and winning 50 percent of his faceoffs.
Given the confidence with which the Penguins are executing their game plan – whether it’s with the man advantage where they are now a scorching 7-for-19 in the series or at 5-on-5 – it is a steep hill the Rangers must climb to extend this series beyond Game 5 on Saturday, let alone moving on in this playoff year.
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Crosby’s goal came with 42 seconds left in the second period and tied the score. Oscar Lindberg or Marek Hrivik are both healthy and may now get some time at the Forward position, while we could also see Dylan McIlrath, or Raphael Diaz fill in for Girardi.
