The Rangers live to fight another day. With a gritty victory that featured lots of heart and "puck luck," New York defeated Los Angeles 2-1, delaying the coronation as Cup champion by at least one game. With the win, the Rangers forced a Game 5 back in Los Angeles on Friday.
The term "puck luck" has gained a lot of traction these playoffs, and yesterday, it was fully evident given what transpired on the ice. Several Rangers, including Henrik Lundqvist, noted the presence of that luck last night and how they hopes it carries forward. Better lucky than good, especially this time of year.
Thanks to Jason Lewis for the video and picture links and I will go goal by goal and non-goal b y non-goal pointing out the "puck luck>"
Rangers' First goal:
The shot from the point by John Moore was heading wide until Benoit Pouliot tips it in. You could argue that it looked like the stick was above the crossbar, though given how far Pouliot ws from the goal when he tipped it, it's not clear. The play did begin with good board work, but ended with some puck luck.
Rangers' Second goal:
A good break put the ice started the play. Derek Stepan attempted to pass the puck to Chris Kreider, whose check on Alec Martinez created space through the neutral zone. It looked like Stepan's stick broke, so the puck didn't get to Kreider, but went off Martinez's stick. It landed on Martin St. Louis' stick and he was able to beat Jonathan Quick. Puck luck helped the pass go off Martinez's stick right to St. Louis.
Kings' Goal:
A beautiful move by Dustin Brown while shorthanded to go coast-to-coast and beat Henrik Lundqvist. The puck luck occurred when Dan Girardi's stick broke while attempting to make a pass, creating the chance for Brown. The goal wasn't puck luck, as it came on a beautiful move, but him getting the puck initially was created due to some luck.
If we thought the goals were aided by some
puck luck, the non-goals were even more so aided by it. Marian Gaborik beat Lundqvist up high to the blocker - which is where LA scored all three goals in Game 1 - but the shot hit the crossbar. That non-goal paled in comparison to the other two non-goals.
The first one was a tremendous play by Anton Stralman. A shot tricked through Lundqvist's pads - foreboding, as get ready, there is another more dramatic one coming - but stayed along the goal line. On this one there was triple puck luck: 1) the puck didn't go initially. 2) Jeff Carter, who seemed to have his stick right there, missed the puck and Stralman was able to lift it a bit after that. 3) Stralman swiped the puck underneath Lundqvist.
If the one had some puck luck, the second one had horseshoes, four-leaf clovers and anything else that brings luck mixed in. Disney's Frozen had to play a role in the play, because how else would you explain the snow mound/slush in front of the net stopping the puck before it went over the line? Thank god the play occurred with 1:15 left rather than 1:15 gone in the period, or else, it would have gone in. In addition, Stepan made a tremendous play not covering the puck with his hand and getting it underneath Lundqvist.
A few other thoughts:
LA was very good last night, playing their best game of the series, while the Rangers were not at their best. The Kings dominated in the faceoff circle, pinned the Rangers in deep much of the game and carried play. The last 20 minutes NY reverted to playing as they did under John Tortorella and in Game 7 against Pitt, when all they did was try to survive rather than push forward like they did in Game 6 in Montreal. They were fortunate to escape, but if they find themselves in that position Friday and play the same way, it likely will burn them.
The officials were better last night, but as pointed out by Blueshirts4ever and repeatedly on the NBC broadcast, it's pretty clear why LA is so good in the
faceoff circle. Visiting teams have to put their stick down first while the home team has to have their stick on the ice. As seen last night, especially by Mike Richards, the Kings' stick is almost never on the ice but in the air, giving them momentum to move the puck and win the draw. Eddie O and Pierre McGuire mentioned it, and as Blueshirts4ever wrote, AV needs to send a veiled message to the league and the officials about face-offs. It's not as if he would be asking for a rule to be called that's not in the books, just enforcing one that is.
Earlier in the playoffs, we spoke about how Kevin Klein might have been the Rangers' best d-man. Lately, and especially last night, ownership of that best d-man title goes to
Anton Stralman. Strong on the puck, strong off the luck, physical throughout. If there is one criticism of GM Glen Sather, it's that he has failed to re-sign a lot of free agents before they get to free agency (notwithstanding Lundqvist and Girardi). That is the case here with Stralman, who we were hopping would come back and maybe for three years and $10 million, but now will get a lot more when he hits free agency in July.
If
Girardi didn't have bad puck luck, he would have none at all. The puck bounced over his stick in Game, 1, leading to a bad pass and goal. Last night, his stick breaks and Brown gets a breakaway goal. Then Carter blows by Girardi and Lundqvist bails him out with a huge toe save late in the second. Maybe it's fatigue from all the games he has played or his physical style of play, but he has slowed a bit as the playoffs have moved along. However, he still competes hard nightly and made a tremendous play on Anze Kopitar to prevent a possible scoring chance late.
Similar to Girardi,
Nash has no puck luck. He had an empty net staring at all but his stick was slightly touched and it looked like he was being overly careful to try and avoid an icing and missed the empty net. But he was flying and physical last night. He likely deserved a penalty for leaving his feet on one check, but he was highly engaged and win get one or many before this series ends.
AV decided to
shake up the lines last night. He moved Carl Hagelin up to play with Stepan and Rick Nash. Chris Kreider moved down to play with Martin St. Louis and Dominic Moore, who was moved up. The Pouliot-Brassard-Zuccarello line stayed intact and Brad Richards slid down to play with Brian Boyle and Derek Dorsett. I understand the tweaks made by AV and moving Moore up is something I advocated yesterday. Carp wrote that he thought Richards was good on the fourth line, I respectfully disagree, as think his presence there, even on the wing, hurt Boyle and Dorsett, since he lacks the strength and skating ability to be effective there. It's pretty clear Dan Carcillo won't get in unless there is an injury, so these lines could once again be in effect Friday.
Lundqvist was a beast. He definitely took to heart and was angry by the notion - rightfully so - that Quick outplayed him in Game 3 and possibly the series. At one point, the shots were 16-15 in favor of NY, after that, it was 26 to 3 Kings, including 15-1 in the third. LA started coming in wave after wave after wave, parried only by phenomenal play by Lundqvist, some for the most part good defense, and as noted above, some puck luck. Lundqvist was the best player on the ice by far last night and will need to be for New York to stay alive and possibly win the series.
Heart, Guts, Effort. Call it puck luck or the bounces evening out, but whatever you decide to call it, all that matters is that New York is headed to LA for Game 5 Friday
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