Another stat to keep an eye on in game 2.
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Lundqvist was the first goalie to be beaten 3:21 into the second after a Mats Zuccarello penalty put the Penguins on the power play. There is no doubt that the extra rest in between games helped this situation, as Lundqvist was afforded an extra day of rest between games.
Every member of this family knew it too. “I’m glad he’s OK and he’ll carry us the rest of the way”.
Lundqvist is an incredible security blanket for the Rangers, especially when you get into the playoffs and the games constantly ebb and flow based on the outcome of each important moment.
But Lundqvist was excellent, showing no signs of rust from sitting out Wednesday’s final two periods. Murray leapfrogged Zatkoff for the backup position earlier this season, but has yet to take the ice for a practice or morning skate since he left Game No. 82 of the regular season with an injury. Give them credit, they capitalized on our mistakes.
By Saturday, Zatkoff’s star returned to earth. However, in his first game since March 11, he felt his rhythm was disrupted by the constant changes. The Rangers escape Pittsburgh with a series split and play the next two games at Madison Square Garden. “I think it’s just one game”.
In Game 1, Patric Hornqvist had a hat trick and Sidney Crosby added a goal and two assists.
The Rangers were able to eventually close out the game, and after a strong outing, they will head back to NY with the series tied up at one.
As much as anything, the playoffs are about adjustments.
Joe Pavelski had a goal and an assist for the Sharks, who stunningly start the series with consecutive road wins.
Both teams played chippy all game and made it a very thrilling game, even in the final minutes when Pittsburgh was down by two goals.
NY won despite playing without two of its top-four defencemen, captain Ryan McDonagh and veteran Dan Girardi both out with injuries.
Officials reviewed the goal to see if Brassard’s feet crossed the blue line before the puck, but replays were inconclusive and the Rangers were ahead to stay.
From Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein plastering Conor Sheary into the boards in the first period to Malkin spearing his stick into rookie defenseman Brady Skjei in the third period to Chris Kunitz slashing Staal across the back of his legs in the third period – “If it didn’t hit my pad there I think he breaks my leg”, Staal said – the game grew progressively physical. The 34-year-old visited a specialist in Pittsburgh on Thursday where it was determined, to his relief, that no damage was done to the right eye, which remained black heading into the Saturday affair. “You want to be out there to make a difference”.
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“Everything is fine but I need a little bit more confidence”, Malkin said. New York Rangers’ Derick Brassard (16) celebrates his goal with teammates during the second period of Game 2 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Pittsburgh, Saturday, April 16…
