Game 7. Sunday night, Madison Square Garden. The best seven words any Rangers fan could have hoped for after Monday's loss and Wednesday's win. Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider each had a pair of goals while Igor Shesterkin stopped 20 of the last 21 shots he faced in the Game 6 win. The winner Sunday faces Carolina, who defeated Boston 3-2 in their own Game 7 contest.
Game recap:
A few thoughts:
1)
Lineup - the return of Tyler Motte, in the lineup for the first time since he was injured April 7, against Pittsburgh, was huge. His insertion gave New York a solid fourth line. Later, he was moved up to the first line opposite Mika and Kreider, where his speed and willingness to do the dirty work created space. I still think Frank Vatrano opens the game on the top line, but if his so-so series performance continues, look for a change. The 18 skates from Friday should be the same Sunday.
Kreider-Zibanejad-Vatrano
Panarin-Strome-Copp
Lafrenière-Chytil-Kakko
Motte-Rooney-Reaves
Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Braun-Schneider
Shesterkin
Pittsburgh lineup - with no Sidny Crosby, Evan Rodrigues, who took a key retaliation penalty after Ryan Lindgren's cross-check was missed, resulting in Zib's first goal, skated on the second line. Rickard Rakell missed the game as did Brian Dumoulin. Drew O'Connor dressed in place of Crosby while Brian Boyle left the game with an injury. Tristan Jarry practiced Friday and backed up Louis Domingue, who lost some of the bloom off his rose Friday.
Guentzel-Malkin-Rust
Heinen-Rodrigues-Kapanen
Zucker-Carter-McGinn
Boyle-Blueger-O'Connor
Matheson-Letang
Pettersson-Marino
Friedman-Ruhwedel
Domingue
All the above though could change in Game 7. As seen below, Pittsburgh could have close to a full lineup Sunday. ESPN reported Crosby had a concussion, though that has yet to be confirmed. If the report is accurate, irrespective of the end result, I hope he is not putting himself in potential major danger by playing. Regardless of the NY fanbase's view of Crosby, he is an elite player and given his concussion history, playing just three-plus days after suffering one would be taking a significant risk.
As Vince Mercogliano asked, if Jarry will play Game 7, why didn't they start him Game 6 to get some of the rust out? Would I be shocked if Jarry started and if he played extremely well, not in the slightest. But even so, why not let him get his feet wet, cognizant there still was a Game 7 to be played if they lost.
2)
Ziba-reider - one of my keys for Game 6 was to get Mika off the Milk carton. He did that and then some. Freed from the burden of marking the Crosby line, Zib had a breakthrough game., posting a pair of goals and assists. The first, five seconds after a clean faceoff win by him, on the PP. top-shelf, short-side, kickstarted the Rangers, while the second, 1:16 later, on a howitzer to the glove side, evened the game.
Kreider notched his first of two on a play triggered by Igor. The sublime pass from deep in his own zone to Zib near the opposing blue line created the chance, meeting one of the keys of triggering the breakout, going from D to O. Domingue got a piece of the initial shot but CK20 was right in front to clean up for the tally. His second, which proved to be the game-winner, was more lucky than good, but it counts.
The connection between the two was on full display during the game and in the post-game press conference. Call it a bromance or whatever you want, but the pair are clearly symbiotic and drive one another to be better. The smashing of the iPad was Kreider trying to keep Mika positive and avoid him dwelling on a missed chance. The interview comments fully evidence the connection between the two and another reason why to me, Kreider is the captain of this team.
“Even when the puck’s not going in for him, he still does so many things that are underappreciated. It’s insane,” Kreider said. “I think the playoffs can reveal who you are and the kind of character you have. For him to stay with his game, and continue to work and continue to work, he’s been a huge, huge leader for us all year. He’s been an absolute horse. He’s been our engine.”
“A lot of credit goes to this guy right here, too,” Zibanejad said of Kreider, gesturing toward the winger who was by his side at the post game podium. “I’ve been playing with him for six years, we’ve kind of been helping each other out through all types of times.
3)
Igor - one of my other keys was Igor to channel his inner Henrik Lundqvist. While he might have been as much of a stalwart as Hank, he was strong the last two periods of the game and solid in the first while New York gained their sea legs. Igor's performance gave the team a chance to win.
Cognizant of the deriding cry of Igor he would face at PPG Paints Arena, Shesterkin used the advice goaltending coach Benoit Allaire gave him, though he refused to elaborate what that was. In addition, he noted in the post-game,. “When they say, ‘Igor,’ ” Igor said, “I just say, ‘OK.’ ” This shows me a netminder who should not be overwhelmed by the moment Sunday.
4)
Jumpstart needed - as good as Zib and Kreider were, same with Adam Fox, who notched four assists, aided again by the return of Ryan Lindgren, a few players need to step up Sunday. Larry Brooks highlighted the main one I think we all have in Artemi Panarin. "There is no electricity to No. 10’s game. There is no jump in his step. He can’t get passes through, he is having trouble handling the puck, he is double-clutching on a shot that has betrayed him." If it's the injury that sidelined him last still bothering him or other, the Rangers need the Panarin we saw most of the regular season and part of Game 2 to move on.
On the blueline, Jacob Trouba and K'Andre Miller need to be a lot better. Trouba, targeted throughout the game, just missed taking a major elbow from Jake Guentzel in Game 6. His weak, cross-ice pass led to Evgeni Malkin's tying goal in the second and Trouba was on ice. - with Miller - for the Pens' first two goals as well. Miller, a force early, has gotten away from the physical play and elite skating we have become used to, relying more on the pokecheck and use of his stick to break up players rather than strong positional play. This duo has to be a lot better Sunday.
5)
Viewpoint - yes, the Rangers have benefitted from the absence of Crosby the last period-plus of Game 5 and all of Game 6. Pittsburgh not having Rakell has helped their forward depth and missing Dumoulin has hurt their blue line. Jarry not playing has had a major impact, same with losing Casey DeSmith and playing Domingue. All that said, if New York, I couldn't give a damn despite the above being 100% accurate. If others want to claim a series win would be tainted, fine, but it's sure as heck better than trying to explain how and why they lost despite the advantages mentioned. Take the win and let the rhetoric roll off your backs.
6)
House money, to a certain extent - New York was not expected to be here when down 3-1. To me, though, the comeback means nothing unless you complete it and win the series. Yes, the season was to be one of growth and the kids have gotten tremendous experience that will benefit them in the future. But all of that is for down the road and what we will use to soothe our disappointment if they lose Game 7. That is for the future, not now.
New York needs to get the crowd involved early. MSG, even following the changes that have made it no longer the house of horrors for opponents, still can get loud and rock. Avoid the slow starts seen in the last two games, even though they resulted in wins. Limit the turnovers, especially the egregious ones like Trouba's. Play loose and with confidence, not tight, concerned about winning, not trying to avoid losing. Do that, ride the hot Shesterkin and have Mika-reider, even if Crosby plans, exert the same effort as they did Friday and they should win.
As I said after Game 4, I would run this every day for however long the series lasts. I first wrote this in 2014 when the team was down 3-1 to Pittsburgh. What I said certainly applies now, with some very small tweaks, as at the time, New York had never rallied from a 3-1 series deficit.
I am as optimistic as anyone, but would not be shocked if the series ends in Game 5. If it does, what I want to see is heart, passion and effort. Lose but lose with all of it left on the ice. Show some pride for the name on the front of the jersey. Don't just let Pitt walk over you, stand up for yourselves as an athlete and member of the New York Rangers. It doesn't matter who plays and who sits, whoever is in the lineup needs to bring it. To quote Boomer Esiason and it's something I have said a lot, win one shift, then another, then another. Then win one period and another. Then win the game and send it back to MSG for Game 7.
Heart. It's the willingness to take a hit to move the puck or score a goal. Heart. It's what makes the name on the front of the jersey more than the one of the back. Heart. It's what New Yorkers love to see in their athletes. It's rising over trying circumstances. It's carrying a team or a teammate on your backs when needed. Heart. It can overcome talent when talent doesn't have or use it. Heart. It's what needs to be on display tonight.
Win or lose, We Are All Rangers!!!
New York now has a chance. The pressure is all on the Penguins to avoid blowing a 3-1 lead, again. Game 7 will be at what should be a raucous MSG. In 2014, Pittsburgh blew a 3-1 series lead to New York and Crosby, Letang and Evgeni Malkin are all still around. The Rangers, who have Chris Kreider here from that team, can draw upon that history, though only to a certain extent. They still need to get it done on the ice but know from the fore-bearers it can be done and have earned a game 7 at home..
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