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Kreider Scores Early and Rangers Even Series

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The Rangers could not wait for the puck to drop on Game 2 in this Eastern Conference Semifinal, so they could put Game 1 behind them. The puck dropped and the Broadway Blueshirts came on like Gangbusters and scored for the second time this playoffs in under a minute. This time only 38 seconds ticked off the clock before Chris Kreider converted a rebound of a Jesper Fast shot to give New York a 1-0 lead.

The Rangers were flying and their pressure was building by the minute and Goaltender Braden Holtby was the only reason the score was not larger then just 1-0. The Rangers went on an early Power Play, but were not able to cash in on it, even though they tried a new offense and put a lot of pressure on the Caps.

Another whistle blew and the Caps were to be shorthanded once more. But this time the Rangers heated up the pressure and Dan Boyle’s alertness kept the puck in the Caps zone and he let fly from the blue line. The shot was a bullet and Rick Nash parked himself in front of Holtby and set the perfect screen. Holtby never saw the shot and the Rangers now had a 2-0 lead.

In the second period, the Caps would turn it up and outshoot the Rangers, as well as score their first goal of the game

In the third, Derek Brassard would take a borderline interference penalty that put the always dangerous Alex Ovechkin on the ice for the power play. The Rangers not only killed off that penalty, but upon release from the penalty box, Derick got behind the Cap defense. Rick Nash then passed ahead to Marty St. Louis and MSL fired a truly sick pass that eluded two Washington defenders to find Brass all alone in front of Holtby. This time Brass did not miss and his shot squeezed between Holtby’s pads to make the score 3-1 Blueshirts.

Later in the third, with the Rangers holding a two-goal lead, but still applying pressure when they can, Alex Ovechkin made a highlight reel play. The Great 8 caught a pass and thundered into the Rangers zone and SPLIT Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh. As he was falling to the ice, using mostly arms and wrists, he somehow rifled a shot over Lundqvist’s shoulder and into the net for a spectacular goal. Now I understand that Ovechkin is Ovechkin, BUT Hank has to stop that shot. Ovie is shooting the puck in a diving position. Hank MUST stop that shot. Thank God it only made the score 3-2 and did not tie the game up.

Again, you want to be considered a Top 5 Goalie in the world. You have won a Vezina Trophy and a Gold Medal in the Olympics and you want to lead your team to a Stanley Cup: STOP THAT SHOT!

The Caps turned up the heat in the last minute or so and pulled the goalie, but the Rangers and Henrik held out and shut the door to win Game 2 and even the series at 1 game apiece.

The Series will now shift to Washington and Game 3 on Monday at the Verizon Center and Game 4 on Wednesday.

 

Scoring:

NYR: Chris Kreider (2) Assisted by Jesper Fast & Derek Stepan

NYR: Dan Boyle (1) (PPG) Unassisted

WSH: Evgeny Kuzenetsov (2) Assisted by Jason Chimaera

NYR: Derick Brassard (4) Assisted by Marty St. Louis & Rick Nash

WSH: Alex Ovechkin (4) Assisted by Joel Ward & Brooks Orpick

 

 

Team Stats                              WSH                             NYR

Shots on Goal                         32                                  35

Power Play                              0 for 1                           1 for 4

Hits                                         38                                  30

Giveaways                              12                                  13

Takeaways                             5                                    7

Face Off Wins                        31                                  27

Blocked Shots                         15                                  12

 

 

 

Goalie Stats:

Braden Holtby: 32 Saves on 35 Shots for a SV% of .914

Henrik Lundqvist: 30 Saves on 32 Shots for a SV% of .938

 

3 Stars of the Game:

3rd Star: Alex Ovechkin: 1 Goal

2nd Star: Henrik Lundqvist: 30 Saves on 32 Shots for a SV% of .938

1st Star: Chris Kreider: 1 Goal

 

 

Broadway Bits:

 

The Games will only be broadcast on NBC or NBCSN for the remainder of the Playoffs. That means NYR fans will no longer hear Sam Rosen. They will however get to hear Kenny Albert and Joe Micheletti cover the games, as they did yesterday. BUT the drawback is having to listen to the annoying Pierre McGuire. He is just way too much. From suggesting that the Eric Clapton concert the night before caused the ice to not shape right, which was the reason that the puck stayed in the zone and allowed Dan Boyle to keep it in and thusly score the Rangers second goal of the game, is downright absurd. BUT, he said it any way!

Then he called Marty’s excellent pass to Brass for the third goal, a “seeing eye pass”, thus taking away from Marty’s brilliance and skill as a passer. Then after the game, when interviewing Derick Brassard about his goal that wound up being the game winner, he shifts gears and starts praising Alex Ovechkin, which now but Brass on the spot. Brass had to say something complimentary about Ovie, or it could be used as “bulletin board” material.

We all know he hates the NY Rangers, but does he have to go out of his way to comment EVERYTHING the opponent does well and rag on the Blueshirts, as well as downplay everything the Rangers do well? Maybe the Penguins will move Jim Rutherford to another position in the organization and hire Pierre as their new GM, just to get him OFF THE AIR!!

 

The Rangers have split the first two games of a playoff series in seven of their last 11 series, including this series with the Caps. They are currently 5-1 in those other six

In seven playoff games this season, the Blueshirts have allowed two goals or less in six of them

The Rangers outscored the Caps 2-0 in the first period in Game 2. They now have outscored their opponents 7-2 in the first period in seven playoff games. If you add in the regular season, that mark stands at 91-56.

All seven games this playoffs have been decided by one goal. In fact, 15 of their last 19 playoff games have been decided by one goal

The Rangers are now 39-0-1 in the regular season and playoffs, when leading after two periods. They know how to shut the door

With 35 shots on goal, 16 of 18 skaters had at least one each and seven had at least three each

Chris Kreider had a goal, three shots on goal, and tied with a team high of four hits in 18:27 of ice time

Derick Brassard had the game winning goal, three shots on goal, won eight of 13 faceoffs, had three hits and posted a plus one rating in 18:16 of ice time

Dan Boyle had a power play goal and had three shots on goal in 17:41 of ice time

Derek Stepan had an assist, three shots on goal and won nine of 18 faceoffs in 17:45 of ice time

Marty St. Louis had an assist, two shots on goal, two hits and posted a plus one rating in 17:20 of ice time

Rick Nash had an assist, led the Rangers with four shots on goal, had three hits, two takeaways and posted a plus one rating in 16:06 of ice time

Jesper Fast had an assist, two shots on goal and had two hits in 15:05 of ice time

Dan Girardi led all skaters with five blocks in 20:04 of ice time

 

The NY Rangers have recalled Forward Ryan Bourque from the Hartford Wolf Pack to take the place of the injur3ed Mats Zuccarello, while the Hobbit is recuperating from being struck in the face with a puck off of a Ryan McDonagh slap shot during the first period of Game 5 against the Penguins.

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