All season long the New York Rangers have played a defense first system, and it worked, getting the Rangers a top seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Now their lack of goal scoring has put them in their second consecutive seven game series.
The Rangers have scored 13 goals this series, and have not scored 4 goals in a game since Game 1 against the Ottawa Senators. The Rangers have scored 3 goals twice this series. It was obvious that this was going to be a low scoring series, but with all the one goal games, the pressure is constantly being put on goalie Henrik Lundqvist.
Lundqvist is an All-World goaltender, but the pressure cannot be put squarely on his shoulders night after night. The Rangers have struggled to get a two-goal lead on the Caps this series. Except for Game 1, the Rangers have never lead by more than one goal.
Game 7 Saturday night looks to be no different from the other six games this series. It will be a tight defensive battle where one bounce could determine the outcome of the game.
The Rangers need to re-focus after their poor outing in Game 6 that saw them get beat in every aspect of the game by the Caps. Pucks to the net, players to the net, and relentless forecheck is what is needed for the Rangers to win Saturday night. This all begins with the Rangers level of intensity. The Caps have been taking the Rangers style and throwing it back in their face, and also with more firepower on offense.
Braden Holtby has been nothing short of stellar this series going 3-0 after losing a game. That also means that the Rangers found a way to beat Holtby in the other three games, The Rangers must get bodies in front of the net and distract Holtby, and not let the Caps block 25-30 shots a game.
And one more thing, shut down Ovechkin, the Caps go when he goes.
Showing posts with label Alexander Ovechkin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alexander Ovechkin. Show all posts
Friday, May 11, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Game 6 is on Henrik Lundqvist
The New York Rangers grabbed a 3-2 series lead on the Washington Capitals Monday night with a remarkable comeback victory that ended with an overtime goal by Marc Staal.
The Rangers have the series lead even though their All-Star goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist, has not played up to his potential. Lundqvist has made some tremendous saves this series, like his glove save robbing Alexander Ovechkin's redirection, but he has also let in a few soft goals, and some fluke goals.
In Game 2 Lundqvist misplayed a dump in off the boards and the puck went off of Ryan McDonagh and in. The Rangers lost the game 3-2.
In Game 4 Alexander Ovechkin ripped a shot from the high slot. Lundqvist had the shot go off of his glove and fall into the net behind him. Later that game, in the third period, Mike Green took a shot from the point that slipped through Lundqvist's legs and into the net for the game winner. Lundqvist was not screened on either of these shots,but he could not stop them. The Rangers lost the game 3-2.
All season Henrik Lundqvist has bailed the Rangers out of games with great performances highlighted with great saves. Unfortunately, Lundqvist has also been prone to soft goals that he should have stopped. In the playoffs, there is no room for soft goals.
If the Rangers are going to take this series from the Capitals, Lundqvist is going to have to be a stonewall in net. The Capitals are going to come out with desperation right away, and will be throwing as many pucks as they can at Lundqvist. It will be up to Lundqvist to keep his focus, make the saves, and give his team a chance to win.
The Rangers and Caps play tonight at 7:30 pm at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C
The Rangers have the series lead even though their All-Star goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist, has not played up to his potential. Lundqvist has made some tremendous saves this series, like his glove save robbing Alexander Ovechkin's redirection, but he has also let in a few soft goals, and some fluke goals.
 |
| sports-kings.com |
In Game 4 Alexander Ovechkin ripped a shot from the high slot. Lundqvist had the shot go off of his glove and fall into the net behind him. Later that game, in the third period, Mike Green took a shot from the point that slipped through Lundqvist's legs and into the net for the game winner. Lundqvist was not screened on either of these shots,but he could not stop them. The Rangers lost the game 3-2.
All season Henrik Lundqvist has bailed the Rangers out of games with great performances highlighted with great saves. Unfortunately, Lundqvist has also been prone to soft goals that he should have stopped. In the playoffs, there is no room for soft goals.
If the Rangers are going to take this series from the Capitals, Lundqvist is going to have to be a stonewall in net. The Capitals are going to come out with desperation right away, and will be throwing as many pucks as they can at Lundqvist. It will be up to Lundqvist to keep his focus, make the saves, and give his team a chance to win.
The Rangers and Caps play tonight at 7:30 pm at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Richards Ties it Late, Staal Wins it in OT
| sports.yahoo.com |
The New York Rangers were trailing the Washington Capitals 2-1 last night with 28 seconds left on the clock. Joel Ward took a four minute double minor penalty when his stick hit Carl Hagelin in the face and cut him. The Rangers had one last chance to tie the game with a six on four advantage.
Off the face-off the Rangers controlled the puck and it cycled around to Michael Del Zotto at the point and he shot the puck at Ryan Callahan looking for a deflection. After two whacks at the puck by Callahan, Brad Richards chips the puck by Braden Holtby and John Carlson into the net, and sent the Garden crowd into a frenzy with 6.6 seconds left in regulation
The second half of Joel Ward's double minor carried over into overtime, and Marc Staal finished the Ranger comeback less than two minutes into extra time. John Mitchell won the face-off back to Staal, and Staal ripped a shot that looked to deflect off of a Capital trying to block the shot, and passed the glove of Holtby.
Anton Stralman scored his third goal of the playoffs in the first to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. Brooks Laich answered for the Capitals in the second period when a pass from Alexander Ovechkin found Laich in the slot, and Laich buried the shot.
Early in the third period, John Carlson gave the Caps the lead when he blasted a shot from the point off Henrik Lundqvist's glove and into the net.
The Rangers turned a Game 5 loss at home into a series chaniging victory, and a devastating loss for the Washington Capitals.
The Rangers will look to finishoff the Caps, and end this series in Washington, D.C on Wednesday night.
Monday, April 30, 2012
No Letdown for Rangers in Game 2
The New York Rangers took a 1-0 series lead against the Washington Capitals on Saturday with a 3-1 win. In the first round of the playoffs, the Rangers opened up with an impressive win against the Ottawa Senators, only to lose in overtime in Game 2. That Game 2 loss gave the Senators momentum and ultimately gave them the confidence to take the Rangers to the brink of elimination.
The Rangers are going to have to come out with the same game plan as Game 1. The fore-check needs to get the puck in deep and keep the pressure on the Washington defense. The Rangers D will have to step up and shut down Ovechkin again in Game 2. When Ovechkin is playing well and scoring, the Capitals win. In Game 1 head coach John Tortorella used Dani Girardi and Ryan McDonagh to control Ovechkin, and they did just that holding the star to one shot on goal.
On the offensive side, Brad Richards has begun to play like the player who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2004 with Tampa Bay. With Richards coming alive, and the emergence of young stud Kris Kreider, the Rangers are looking for one more person to get going, Marion Gaborik. The Rangers leading goal scorer from the regular season has one goal and four points in the 2012 playoffs, not an impressive line. Gaborik has shown some energy on the fore-check, and has three assists, but the puck needs to find Gaborik,s stick and then the back of the net.
Tonight is a big game for the Rangers to take real control of the series as it goes to Washington D.C, and a loss would give all the momentum to the Caps.
I don't think the Rangers will have a letdown tonight in front of the home fans. I think they get to the Caps rookie goaltender Braden Holtby again and win this one 3-1, like Game 1.
The Rangers are going to have to come out with the same game plan as Game 1. The fore-check needs to get the puck in deep and keep the pressure on the Washington defense. The Rangers D will have to step up and shut down Ovechkin again in Game 2. When Ovechkin is playing well and scoring, the Capitals win. In Game 1 head coach John Tortorella used Dani Girardi and Ryan McDonagh to control Ovechkin, and they did just that holding the star to one shot on goal.
 |
| www.nydailynews.com |
On the offensive side, Brad Richards has begun to play like the player who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2004 with Tampa Bay. With Richards coming alive, and the emergence of young stud Kris Kreider, the Rangers are looking for one more person to get going, Marion Gaborik. The Rangers leading goal scorer from the regular season has one goal and four points in the 2012 playoffs, not an impressive line. Gaborik has shown some energy on the fore-check, and has three assists, but the puck needs to find Gaborik,s stick and then the back of the net.
Tonight is a big game for the Rangers to take real control of the series as it goes to Washington D.C, and a loss would give all the momentum to the Caps.
I don't think the Rangers will have a letdown tonight in front of the home fans. I think they get to the Caps rookie goaltender Braden Holtby again and win this one 3-1, like Game 1.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)