The Rangers attempt to hold serve on home ice and take a 2-0 series lead over the Flyers on Sunday at MSG. Thursday, New York rode strong puck possession and three, third period goals - including two on four-minute PPG - to a 4-1 lead. Following Sunday's game, the two teams travel to Philly to continue their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals on Tuesday.
Six keys or things to look for from me:
1)
Adjustments. Coach Craig Berube has already spoken about changing up the style the team used in Game 1. This year, Philly was successful when carrying the puck into the offensive zone rather than dump and chase and hit Ryan McDonagh. The Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek line was successful gaining the offensive zone and then using their skill, especially Giroux, to create space and chances. In Game 1, they got away from that and we saw the results. The playoffs are characterized by adjustments, look for Philly to make this one with coach Alain Vigneault needing to respond. If NY can control the puck as they did in game 1 or transition from D to O quickly to catch the Flyers forwards in deep and capitalize on the lack of speed on the Philly blueline, they could make the Flyers pay.
2)
The absence of Steve Mason. There was string speculation and hope for Philly that Mason could play Sunday. Instead, he will miss his second straight game with a concussion. Ray Emery wasn't bad Thursday, as he had little chance on the two power play goals, but he is not Mason, Philly will miss Mason's puck-handling and his ability to go side-to-side quickly, the latter of which Emery really lacks following his hip surgery a few years ago, which was very evident on Carl Hagelin's fourth goal. Look for NY to continue to make Emery go side-to-side with quick passes in the offensive zone.
3)
Rangers vs. Philly's Top Line. AV matched up the Nash-Stepan-St. Louis as well as the Boyle-D. Moore-Dorsett lines against the Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek line throughout, holding the latter two without a shot the entire contest. If either one of those two lines, but especially the Boyle one, can play even or close to it against the Flyers' top line, the Rangers' chances of winning take a major tick upward.
4)
Stay disciplined. Philly will increase the pressure trying to take NY off that game. Whether that means finishing checks a second or two late or trying to draw a retaliation penalty to get their excellent PP on the ice, the Rangers have to be smart as they were in Game 1. Play to the whistle. Match their intensity. Don't retaliate. Walk away if necessary. Play smart. Those need to the mantras for the Rangers on Sunday.
5)
Jesper Fast. He was pleasant surprise in Game 1, notching his first point while showing more physical play than we expected. His offensive ability is a solid fit on the Richards and Hagelin line. Having Fast in rather than Daniel Carcillo, enables Dominic Moore to remain on the fourth line, keeping that trio intact, and makes NY a more dangerous offensive team. If Fast can have another solid game, it would be a nice, surprising boost for the Rangers.
6)
Going up 2-0
@BroadStBull tweeted this earlier today: How important is Game 2 in NY on Easter Sunday? #Flyers are 17-16 lifetime when series is 1-1; they are 3-14 when in 2-0 series hole.#NYR
Larry Brooks and others discussed this in Saturday's paper as well. In 2011-12, the Rangers had five chances to take a two-game lead and failed to do so in each instance, blowing that opportunity in Game 2 against Ottawa, Games 2 and 4 against Washington and Games 2 and 4 against NJ. Those extra games, especially early on resulted in the first two rounds lasting seven games, tiring out the squad when they faced the Devils. In addition, the cumulative effect of all the hits plus the extra opportunities for injuries clearly didn't help NY against the New Jersey.
The Rangers need to come out strong and aggressive taking the game to the Flyers on Sunday. Getting an early lead would be a nice boost to place more doubt in Philly's mind, as they have lost nine straight at MSG. Getting a 2-0 lead would provide the Rangers some cushion in the series and put all the pressure on the Flyers when they go home, with Game 3 nearly a must-win for them.
Lucic, Perry, Seabrook. The NHL Department of Player Safety and league embarrassed themselves again Saturday. Milan Lucic used his stick to spear Danny DeKeyser between his legs from behind on Friday while Corey Perry did similar to Jamie Benn, though at least for this one he was looking at him when it happened. Lucic had no reason at all to do it while for Perry, maybe you can say he retaliated after being rocked by a Benn check, but even then, that argument holds little weight. Lucic got a measly $5k fine and said it's maybe the THIRD time he has done something like that while Perry got nothing. I am unsure how saying that it's only the third time is some kind of an excuse, as the first time should be a healthy fine or a suspension while the second definitely should draw one. It's hard for anyone to take what the league will do seriously when they don't show the guts to make a hard but right call by suspending Lucic and Perry each one game.
The Seabrook hit on Backes was beyond dangerous. A hit like that could be career-threatening or worse ending. He hit him late and high with a shoulder to the head. Fortunately, he was close enough to the boards where he didn't fly into it from several feet away or it could have been even worse than the concussion it looked like he suffered. At least in this case, Seabrook will have a phone hearing, which calls for a maximum of three games, but if the NHL really wanted to send a strong message, it would be a 10-games. It's amazing the lack of respect players have for one another, and if they can't police themselves, then the league has to do a better job of making them think twice before the do something stupid.
Line Combinations:
Rangers:
Forwards:
61 Rick Nash - 21 Derek Stepan - 26 Martin St. Louis
67 Benoit Pouliot - 16 Derick Brassard - 36 Mats Zuccarello
62 Carl Hagelin - 19 Brad Richards - 12 Jesper Fast
22 Brian Boyle - 28 Dominic Moore - 15 Derek Dorsett
Extras: Dan Carcillo (healthy, but could opt in as the series wears on in place of either Fast or Dorsett), JT Miller (same as Carcillo) and Chris Kreider (recovering from left hand injury; still can't stickhandle with that hand and likely out all of this round and part of the next).
Defense
27 Ryan McDonagh - 5 Dan Girardi
18 Marc Staal - 6 Anton Stralman
17 John Moore - 8 Kevin Klein
Extras: Raphael Diaz (a heck of a lot better than having to dress Roman Hamrlik) and Justin Falk.
Goaltending
30 Henrik Lundqvist
33 Cam Talbot
Flyers
Forwards
19 Scott Hartnell - 28 Claude Giroux - 93 Jakub Voracek
12 Michael Raffl - 10 Brayden Schenn - 17 Wayne Simmonds
24 Matt Read - 14 Sean Couturier - 42 Jason Akeson
36 Zac Rinaldo - 40 Vincent Lecavalier - 18 Adam Hall
Healthy Scratches - Tye McGinn, Jay Rosehill, Chris VandeVelde
Defense
44 Kimmo Timonen - 5 Braydon Coburn
8 Nicklas Grossmann - 32 Mark Streit
47 Andrew MacDonald - 22 Luke Schenn
Healthy Scratches - Erik Gustafsson, Hal Gill (though Gill might get in for Grossman)
Goaltenders
Steve Mason (injured)
Ray Emery
Cal Heeter
Schedule
No. 3 Flyers vs. No. 2 Rangers (Metro Division) first-round scheduele
Game 1: Rangers 4 Flyers 1, Thurs., April 17
Game 2: Flyers at Rangers, Sun., April 20 at 12 p.m. (NBC, TSN)
Game 3: Rangers at Flyers, Tue., April 22 at 8 p.m. (CSN, TSN)
Game 4: Rangers at Flyers, Fri., April 25 at 7 p.m. (CSN, TSN)
Game 5*: Flyers at Rangers, Sun., April 27 at 12 p.m. (NBC, CSN)
Game 6*: Rangers at Flyers, Tue., April 29 at TBD
Game 7*: Flyers at Rangers, Thurs., April 30 at TBD
The Rangers 2014 playoff motto is "Above and Beyond: Earn It." Sunday, here's hoping they do go above and beyond and earn a 2-0 series lead.
Happy Easter to those celebrating.
I will try and write a quick recap blog after the game and will send it in to HB admin for posting tomorrow AM. Ed (tapout632) will be writing a Game 3 preview blog with me out for the last two days of the holiday and it will be posted by HB admin on Tuesday.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»