Rangers top Pens in OT, take 3-1 series lead
Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers shut down the Penguins again. (USATSI)
Every night during the Stanley Cup playoffs, Eye On Hockey writers Adam Gretz and Chris Peters will bring you up to speed everything you need to know about all of the action around the NHL. Here’s what you need to know about Penguins vs Rangers Game 4.
Rangers 2, Penguins 1 | Rangers lead series 3-1 | Game 5, Friday
Game 4 in a nutshell: If you like the type of slow pace and low event hockey that was the norm in the NHL in the late 1990s and early 2000s, this was the game — and the series — for you. In more than 64 minutes of hockey the two teams combined for only three goals and 47 shots in what has been a tight-checking, close series where the officials have taken the “let them play approach.” In the end, it was the Rangers once again coming away with just enough to get the win.
Turning point: Just before Kevin Hayes scored the game winning goal in overtime the Penguins were pinned deep in their own zone and the same problem that has plagued them this entire series came back to haunt them: The inability of to exit the zone. The Penguins iced the puck two consecutive times and kept giving the Rangers offensive zone faceoffs. The second one finally resulted in a goal.
Three things we learned
1. The Penguins finally had a fast start. After falling behind in each of the first three games of the series they came out flying on Wednesday, showing a lot of the desparation they had in the third period of Game 3 when it was too little, too late for it to make a difference in the outcome of the game. Unfortuntately for the Penguins they couldn’t sustain it into the second period where the Rangers tied it, and then couldn’t finish any of their chances in the third period.
2. Forget where it stands in terms of wins. This has been an incredibly close series, perhaps closer than anybody would have anticipated given the way the two teams entered the playoffs and the patchwork defense the Penguins have had to use for the better part of the past two months. Every game has decided by one goal, both teams have stretches where they have controlled the play. One team has had the ability to capitilize on its chances. The other has not. Which brings us too…
3. The Penguins just don’t have the firepower. The series has been there for the taking and the players they have in the lineup have played to the best of their abilities. They just don’t have enough and the Rangers are simply the better, more talented team. It’s really hard to picture the Penguins winning three straight games in this series.
Video of the game: Rookie Kevin Hayes helped give the Rangers a commanding 3-1 series lead as it heads back to New York. His first career goal in the Stanley Cup Playoffs was certainly a memorable one, even if it wasn’t terribly pretty. The Rangers made the most of some sustained pressure and Hayes tapped in a loose puck from the side of the net.
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