Four Goal Onslaught and King Henrik Lead NYR to Game 6 Victory

To quote Gene Wilder from the Mel Brooks’ comedy classic, Young Frankenstein: “ALIVE!!!!!!! It’s ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

And that is the story of the NY Rangers in this 2015 Playoff Series versus the Washington Capitals. Down 3-1 in the series after Game 4 on Wednesday at the Verizon Center, the series is now knotted at 3-3. Game 7, winner take all to advance to the Eastern Conference Championship, will be played at MSG on Wednesday May 13^th, at 7:30PM.

The Rangers started off early again in this one, as their first goal, a thing of beauty by Chris Kreider, occurred at the 40 second mark of the first period. He took a pass from Jesper Fast and turned on the jets. He leaned into the Cao defenseman, got around him, held him off and beat Braden Holtby to the top shelf. He was faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive on this play. All he needed to do was rip his uniform off and show a Giant S underneath.

He then scored with 0.3 seconds left on the clock, as he grabbed a rebound of a Derick Brassard shot and beat the first period buzzer for a 2-0 Blueshirts lead.

Ranger killer Jason Chimera (we will hear more from him later in the game) scored 28 seconds into the second period, to cut the lead in half. But that would be all the scoring in the second.

In the third, the Rangers exploded with goals by Rick Nash in front on a great move by Monster Nash; and on a blast of a shot by Dan Boyle from between the circles. Things looked okay for the Blueshirts, but one can never rest or breathe easy with them.

Goals by Evgeny Kuznetsov and Joel Ward brought the Caps to within one goal. Jason Chimera had a huge assist on Ward’s determined goal.

The Caps then threw everything at the Rangers, including the kitchen and bathroom sinks. But they held tight. Even when Ryan McDonagh was smashed into the boards by a hit from Alex Ovechkin that could have been a penalty, but was not called. The Caps shots kept coming and the Rangers and Hank kept them out.

With under three minutes left in regulation, James Sheppard flipped the puck off the glass and out of play as he tried to clear it. Eddie O, Doc AND EVEN PIERRE MCGUIRE, all agreed that it hit the glass and went out of play, BUT the four zebras on the ice said no, it was a Delay of Game penalty. The Rangers were now down a man and the Caps soon pulled Holtby for an extra attacker. BUT, the Rangers defense and King Henrik held fast and Game 6 ended with the Broadway Blueshirts on top 4-3.

The series is now tied and Game 7 will be played on Wednesday night at 7:30PM at the world’s most famous arena: Madison Square Garden.

Scoring:

NYR: Chris Kreider (4) Assisted by Jesper Fast & Kevin Klein

NYR: Chris Kreider (5) (PPG) Assisted by Derick Brassard and Derek Stepan

WSH: Jason Chimera (3) Assisted by Evgeny Kuznetsov & Joel Ward

NYR: Rick Nash (2) Assisted by Marty St. Louis & Derek Brassard

NYR: Dan Boyle (2) Assisted by James Sheppard and J.T. Miller

WSH: Evgeny Kuznetsov (5) Assisted by Karl Alzner & Joel Ward

WSH: Joel Ward (3) Assisted by Jason Chimera & John Carlson

Team Stats                              NYR                              WSH

Shots on Goal                         28                                  45

Power Play                              1 for 3                           0 for 4

Hits                                         30                                  36

Giveaways                              14                                  14

Takeaways                             4                                    6

Face Off Wins                        28                                  33

Blocked Shots                         34                                  15

Goalie Stats:

Braden Holtby: 24 Saves on 28 Shots for a SV% of .857

Henrik Lundqvist: 42 Saves on 45 Shots for a SV% of .933

3 Stars of the Game:

3^rd Star: Jason Chimera: 1 Goal and 1 Assist

2^nd Star: Joel Ward: 1 Goal and 1 Assist

1^st Star: Chris Kreider: 2 Goals

Broadway Bits:

The Rangers have won a Game 6 on the road when facing elimination for the third time in franchise history. The other two were Game 6 versus the Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals in 1994 and the Eastern Conference Quarter finals versus Ottawa in 2012

The Rangers have won 13 of their last 16 elimination games

The Rangers have won 27 of their last 37 road games, including regular season and playoffs

Rangers are 40-0-1 in their last 41 regular season and playoff games when leading after the second period

This game was another one goal game. All 11 games this playoff season have been one goal games, and their last 13 have all had a one goal difference

The NY Rangers are the only team in the 2015 playoffs that have NOT allowed a Power Play goal on the road. They are 12 for 12 in the Penalty Kill on the road

Chris Kreider had two goals and three shots on goal in 15:05 of ice time

Henrik Lundqvist made 42 saves in Game 6

Ryan McDonagh lead all Rangers with seven hits, seven blocks, and posted a plus one rating in 23:30 of ice time

Dan Girardi led all skaters with eight blocks, had three hits and posted a plus one rating in a team-high 25:35 of ice time

Alain Vigneault earned his 20^th playoff win with the Broadway Blueshirts, which passes John Tortorella and into sole possession of third place on the Ranger all-time list

Dan Boyle had the game winning goal, had three shots on goal, three blocks two hits and posted a plus one rating in 16:50 of ice time

Rick Nash scored a goal and had three hits in 17:37 of ice time

Jesper Fast had an assist, three hits and two blocks in 15:28 of ice time

Derick Brassard had two assists and posted a plus one rating

Derek Stepan had a power play assist in 19:13 of ice time

Marty St. Louis had an assist and a takeaway

James Sheppard had the primary assist on the game winning goal, led all players in face off percentage with 89% – 8 for 9

J.T. Miller had an assist on the GWG and posted a plus one rating

Kevin Klein had an assist, five blocks and three shots on goal in 18:07 of ice time

Marc Staal had two hits and one block in 20:17 of ice time