Jan Levine: Rangers rally to tie game at 4 but fail to take lead and lose 7-4 in Game 3 Pivotal game 4 on MONDAY

This is how the team has played all season, strong but sloppy at times. Lets face it we could have won the first game, its the way it goes, strong second game and now this sloppy one yesterday. Its a playoff roller coaster with a young team. This is how they will learn. If we win this in seven, will it really matter??

This is how the team has played all season, strong but sloppy at times. Lets face it we could have won the first game, its the way it goes, strong second game and now this sloppy one yesterday. Its a playoff roller coaster with a young team. This is how they will learn. If we win this in seven, will it really matter??
- Brukie

If they win, no to an extent, because still doesn't bode well for the next round. Plus, also doesn't mean you sugarcoat or ignore what they are doing wrong.

We have a very young team, with little playoff experience. I never expected them to get past the 2nd round, and I will be disappointed if they don't get to the 2nd round, but this is a required learning experience.

for New York to advance, Igor will have to be Vezina Trophy and Hart candidate Igor, not a partial facsimile.

That's a problem right there. A contender should not need all world goaltending to win every series. Eventually the skaters need to bail out a goalie in a series. PIT is a good- not great- team. Shouldn't be allowing so many shots/scoring chances to them.

Fun game to watch. Rangers got nobody to blame but themselves. Three PP in a row and didn't do much. Credit to Domingue for making some good saves, also for Pitt after having a brutal 2nd coming back in the 3rd. And I'm gonna say it, the Zib line has been pretty bad defensively.

If they win, no to an extent, because still doesn't bode well for the next round. Plus, also doesn't mean you sugarcoat or ignore what they are doing wrong.
- airjan23

I never sugarcoat anything, my expectations for this season was to make the playoffs. If we win this round, thats an added bonus. Its all about learning what it takes to win in the playoffs. This team still has defensive lapses that plagued them throughout the season. They will have to overcome them. I try not to get too worked up game to game, its a long series!!

I never sugarcoat anything, my expectations for this season was to make the playoffs. If we win this round, thats an added bonus. Its all about learning what it takes to win in the playoffs. This team still has defensive lapses that plagued them throughout the season. They will have to overcome them. I try not to get too worked up game to game, its a long series!!
- Brukie

Understood. Don't think I am worked up. Disappointed, yes, and just stating what I see

That's a problem right there. A contender should not need all world goaltending to win every series. Eventually the skaters need to bail out a goalie in a series. PIT is a good- not great- team. Shouldn't be allowing so many shots/scoring chances to them.
- jfkst1

This was the case coming into the series to an extent. Both sides have injuries, but losing Goodrow and Lindgren have had a material effect. Plus Motte being out. Pitt is without Jarry, which is material impact. The Pens have a ton more experience, helping their chances. Still a long way to go.

I never sugarcoat anything, my expectations for this season was to make the playoffs. If we win this round, thats an added bonus. Its all about learning what it takes to win in the playoffs. This team still has defensive lapses that plagued them throughout the season. They will have to overcome them. I try not to get too worked up game to game, its a long series!!
- Brukie

If not for a bad call on that goal that was taken away in game 1 we would we have started the series on a completely different foot.

I will say this, as much as I feared in the kid line getting matched up badly and making some bad mistakes (which has happened, but such is life when youre 19,20,22yo) however they havent looked nearly as bad as I thought.

The inconsistent play is a bad thing and costing them. The powerplay has become so predictable that the goalie knows to slide over ahead of time for Mika's shot! They need to have a lefty for a one timer just to keep the goalie honest.

If not for a bad call on that goal that was taken away in game 1 we would we have started the series on a completely different foot.

I will say this, as much as I feared in the kid line getting matched up badly and making some bad mistakes (which has happened, but such is life when youre 19,20,22yo) however they havent looked nearly as bad as I thought.
- aecliptic

Bad calls are a part of the game, it goes both ways, it cant be controlled. What can be controlled is how we play, which is sloppy at times but thats growing pains. Im disappointed with Zibby up to this point. I hope he turns it around.

This was the case coming into the series to an extent. Both sides have injuries, but losing Goodrow and Lindgren have had a material effect. Plus Motte being out. Pitt is without Jarry, which is material impact. The Pens have a ton more experience, helping their chances. Still a long way to go.
- airjan23

Losing Dumoulin and Rakell is also quite material.

Bad calls are a part of the game, it goes both ways, it cant be controlled. What can be controlled is how we play, which is sloppy at times but thats growing pains. Im disappointed with Zibby up to this point. I hope he turns it around.
- Brukie

This is refreshing to read. Officiating has been getting progressively worse every season and it's something you have to realize will happen no matter what. Sometimes your(anyone) team gets the calls and sometimes they're taking the brunt. Thems the breaks.

The rangers are shooting them selves in the foot. The unforced turnovers leading to goals are losing them this series currently. If they clean up puck mgmt they can beat Pitt. Right now they are beating themselves

In first 3 games of series, here are the stats for Giveaways:

Pitt 45, 25, 5

Rangers 75!, 23, 7

Rangers are trending in right direction by having fewer giveaways per game, however Pitt seems to be putting every one of them in the net. Replace Nemeth and tighten up on the giveaways and we can still prevail...

Losing Dumoulin and Rakell is also quite material.
- Rinosaur

Why I said in the first sentence, both sides have injuries. Just didn't list Dumoulin and Rakell, though that was who I meant by injuries.

Why I said in the first sentence, both sides have injuries. Just didn't list Dumoulin and Rakell, though that was who I meant by injuries.
- airjan23

Ok, it kind of seemed like you were trying to frame it as the Rangers' injuries were more material than the Pens.

Ok, it kind of seemed like you were trying to frame it as the Rangers' injuries were more material than the Pens.
- Rinosaur

Maybe we should ask Madonna for clarification on which injuries are more material.

This series has probably been the most entertaining so far given how close the games have been. Zucker coming back was a big bonus for the Penguins. They really miss Rakell and Dumo, probably more so Dumo because Matheson-Letang is such a disaster.

All in all, i expect a really tough game 4. Rangers and Pens will come out swinging.

One thing I noticed that I'm curious about from a NYR stand point, the Penguins seem to be breaking the puck out really well this series which is surprising. The Penguins have struggled with that at times.

This series has probably been the most entertaining so far given how close the games have been. Zucker coming back was a big bonus for the Penguins. They really miss Rakell and Dumo, probably more so Dumo because Matheson-Letang is such a disaster.

All in all, i expect a really tough game 4. Rangers and Pens will come out swinging.

One thing I noticed that I'm curious about from a NYR stand point, the Penguins seem to be breaking the puck out really well this series which is surprising. The Penguins have struggled with that at times.
- SuperHenderson13

The rangers give up to much room and back in. They also can’t break out of their own zone and turn the puck over a lot. They have been their own worst enemy. Not the Pitt offense

https://www.instagram.com...uMFY/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

There’s the Tony D we all know

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdTyzAuuMFY/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

There’s the Tony D we all know
- Rangers99

Oh the horror.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdTyzAuuMFY/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

There’s the Tony D we all know
- Rangers99

Lol...talk about a headline that doesn't match the truth.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CdTyzAuuMFY/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

There’s the Tony D we all know
- Rangers99

I don’t get it…..