The Rangers, for the second straight game, dominated action throughout the contest, defeating the Senators 4-1 in Game 4 at MSG on Thursday. New York's win evens the best-of-seven series at two heading on Ottawa for Game 5 on Saturday. The Rangers have now four straight playoff games at home after dropping Game 2 against Montreal and losing their last six at MSG during the regular season.
Game Highlights:
My keys to the Game 4 win (bringing off the ones I noted yesterday) and look forward to Game 5:
1)
Come out physical and strong early to get the crowd into the game
Tanner Glass set the tone with his hit on Jean-Gabreil Pageau after Glass was in the starting lineup. The hitting continued throughout the contest, as New York repeatedly finished their checks. The Rangers were strong on the forecheck, making the Senators know that they would be banged every time they played the puck. Ottawa got frustrated late, resulting in the Dion Phaneuf-Brendan Smith fight, the Bobby Ryan's body slam of Dan Girardi, Kyle Turris-Glass' dust up and then Alexandre Burrows, Marc Methot, Viktor Stalberg te-te-te with Chris Kreider and J.T. Miller.
2)
Use speed to generate chances, especially 5v5
Each of the first two goals resulted from speed creating the chances and the goals. Nick Holden gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 14:04 of the first period. Great job by Holden forcing Mark Stone to mishandle the puck on the boards in the defensive zone. Kevin Hayes skated into the offensive zone and passed to Holden, who outhustled Stone down ice, skated in and beat Craig Anderson with a forehand.
Oscar Lindberg finished a 2-on-0 with Michael Grabner to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead 2:01 into the second period. Glass blocked Ben Harpur's shot from the point, which sent Grabner and Lindberg the other way. Lindberg one-timed Grabner's feed past Anderson.
While they didn't score 5v5, the KZZ line had another solid game. Kreider-Zibanejad-Zuccarello spent a copious amount of time in the offensive zone, generating chances. The one goal scored by that line was on the power-play, though it looked like Phanuef and not Kreider put the puck between Anderson's pads for the goal.
3)
Maintain the same commitment to defense. Force Ottawa wide. Clear the front of the net to give Henrik Lundqvist an unobstructed view of the shooter.
Lundqvist only had to make 22 saves in the game, beaten only once by Kyle Turris with 6:26 remaining on a wrist shot from the left circle aided by a Marc Staal screen. While a handful of shots were difficult, especially the kick save on Stone, the Rangers did a pretty good job of limiting Ottawa's good scoring opportunities. This picture is a good indication of just that.
New York blocked 22 shots compared to Ottawa's 12. The blocked shots are occurring in a manner that has allowed Lundqvist to still have a clear site. Dan Girardi had seven blocks while Holden and Brady Skjei each had three; their combined total was more than Ottawa had for the game. Coach Guy Boucher has said he wants the Senators to block 19-22 shots a game, they were far from that yesterday,
4)
Balanced usage of offense and defense. If that happens, it means New York had a lead throughout the game.
Offensive minutes:
The Rangers had six power plays, which skews the numbers. But the range was Glass with 10:!6 minutes as the low and Zuccarello at 19:43 as the high. If you back out the PP TOI, the range was from just below 10 minutes to right around 15, so relatively similar groupings to the Game 3 win.
Defensive minutes:
McD 25:14, Holden 19:42, Staal 18:33, Skjei 18:16, Girardi 17:47 and Smith 17:00. Note that Skjei took a minor or he would have been slightly higher and Smith missed the final six-plus minutes after his fight with Phaneuf.
5)
Hard dump ins around the boards, especially when inside the offensive zone, forcing Anderson to play the puck
This one didn't occur, largely by virtue of the game flow and the goals from Holden and Lindberg. Anderson was pulled to start the third, largely due to the score. Maybe Guy Boucher was looking for a spark or to send a message to his team at 3-0, but besides the one Lindberg goal, Anderson hasn't played that badly, so it was surprising to see him pulled. You have be impressed with his interaction with the young Rangers' fan on the other side of the glass by the bench in the third period.
6)
Avoid silly penalties, especially like the ones seen from Kreider and Miller the past few games
This is still an area of need and will be even more important in Game 5. This didn't burn New York on Thursday, as most of the silliness occurred late and Ottawa only had one power play the first two periods. But Miller took a dumb penalty with just over four minutes left and Nw York up 4-1, which could have allowed Ottawa to cut the lead to 4-2 and make the last few minutes a bit dicier. The Senators will likely try and get under the Rangers' skin even more in Game 5 and it wouldn't be completely shocking to see Chris Neil dress, even though he hasn't played these playoffs or much the second half of the season.
7)
Consistent effort throughout the game and from everyone on the ice
I highlighted this in #4 above but really this was due to Glass and Lindberg. I admit I was wrong with my criticism of AV dressing Glass over Buchnevich and leaving Holden in. The addition of Glass has lengthened and balanced the lineup. He is a much better fit on the fourth line, and more important, is using his skills for the positive. A good example of this was on Lindberg's second goal of the game at 15:54 of the second period with a shot from beyond the left circle, his third in two games.
Great chip, check and chase by Glass to start the play, putting the puck in the offensive zone. A whiff by Anderson on shot as he crossed his glove hand over his blocker hand to make the save and missed the puck for the goal. But the whole play started with Glass getting the puck in the offensive zone and helping on the forecheck, allowing Miller to retrieve the puck on the boards and feed Lindberg. Glass also was in front as a screen/distraction to Anderson.
Later in the game, Glass did what he also does well, which is fight. He wasn't about to allow Turris to think he got the upper hand, fighting the Ottawa center. When asked about fighting Turris, glass said: "mess with the bull, you get the horns." If he can continue to play a strong north-south game and avoid the penalty box, the fourth line with Miller-Lindberg-Glass should continue to remain a force.
Looking forward to Game 5:
1)
Remember the series is even
The two wins were great, but all that did was even the series. New York held serve at home just like Ottawa did. Granted the manner in which the Rangers evened the series was much different than the Senators. The Rangers have only trailed for 4:11 the entire series. They’ve scored the first goal in each of the four games and have led for 149:56, evidencing their control, but it's still 2-2 in games. It's now a best-of-three and Ottawa has home ice advantage. Win Game 5 and come home with a shot to clinch. The players realize that the series is even and what remains ahead of them:
“Its all great that we tied the series but we are going to their building,” Girardi said. “We have to make sure we have a good start again. Whatever we did tonight and the game before doesn’t matter, we got a fresh start coming Saturday.”
“Momentum in games can change pretty quickly,” Marc Staal explained. “I think our focus over the last couple of games was keeping that focus and playing our game and making sure we are taking care of the puck and all those things that allow us to win. It’s still a tie series. It’s best two out of three now.”
2)
Continue to pressure Erik Karlsson
Karlsson is playing with two hairline fractures in his left foot, and has been ineffective throughout the series. The Swedish defenseman cannot skate up the ice, or move the puck as he normally does. Thursday, Kreider slid into Karlsson, taking his legs out from under him in the second period. In addition, Miller checked Karlsson later in the frame, which also seemed to hurt Ottawa's captain.
After taking a hit along the boards, Karlsson was slow to get back to his feet but finally made his way to the bench. When he needed to return to the locker room at intermission, Karlsson struggled to put weight on his left foot. He initially put his left skate on the ice, but then went the rest of way on just his right skate. Karlsson was sat the third period but Boucher said he believes Ottawa's best player should play Game 5. Even if he does, Karlsson might be limited, but New York has to maintain the pressure they have put on him and physical play utilized the first four games. Neutralizing Karlsson substantially slows the Ottawa attack
3)
Get Stepan and Hayes going
Stepan had an assist on Kreider's PPG but he didn't have a great game overall. But, he won 52.4% of his face-offs and also has been solid defensively, helping limit Derick Brassard and Turris. Now, if he start to warm up offensively, New York's really would be rolling four lines.
After a poor first two games, Hayes has been better the last two contests. Room for growth still exists. Like Stepan, if he can really get going - and he has benefitted from playing with Grabner and Fast - then New York really will be rolling.
4)
Maintain focus
Ad noted above, Ottawa lost their cool at the end of the third period. New York responded but fortunately didn't do anything silly. Personally, I wish they had skated away to avoid any possible injury or giving the Senators momentum, but understand the response. In Game 5, the Rangers have to maintain their focus and discipline, concentrating on winning the series and nothing else. New York is the more talented team, if they play as they have the last two games, they should win Game 5.
I will be back late Saturday night or likely Sunday AM with a Game 5 recap, hopefully it's for a win.
Playoff Schedule:
Ottawa Senators (A2) vs. New York Rangers (WC1)
Thursday, April 27, Ottawa 2 Rangers 1, Ottawa leads series 1-0
Saturday, April 29, Ottawa 6 NY Rangers 5, Ottawa leads series 2-0
Tuesday, May 2, NY Rangers 4 Ottawa 1, Ottawa leads series 2-1
Thursday, May 4, NY Rangers 4 Ottawa 1, Series is even 2-2
Saturday, May 6, 3pm: NY Rangers @ Ottawa | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Tuesday, May 9, TBD: Ottawa @ NY Rangers | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
*Thursday, May 11, TBD: NY Rangers @ Ottawa | TBD
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