The New York Rangers kicked off their post-season run last night at Madison Square Garden in front of a packed house against the Pittsburgh Penguins, looking to secure a Game 1 victory and a promising start to the series.
Well, if taking the first lead of the game and the series less than 30 seconds in isn't a good start, I don't know what is. Dan Girardi fired a cross ice 100 foot pass right on the tape of a streaking Rick Nash, who crossed the Penguins blue line and fired a low hard shot. Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury stopped it, but gave up a big fat juicy rebound that an onrushing Derick Brassard was waiting for. Brassard got seperation from defenseman Paul Martin and buried that rebound into the yawning cage for a 1-0 lead at the :28 mark.
As stated in the (P)review, the Penguins are the most penalized team in the NHL, and after gifting away a couple of power play chances, the Rangers capitalized. Also stated in the (P)review, Keith Yandle needs to be the catalyst on the power play, and after taking a smart feed from Mats Zuccarello off a zone entry, Ryan McDonagh fed Yandle. Yandle shuffleboarded a little pass over to the Captain. McDonagh let the puck glide into the wheelhouse and one-timed a shot from the blue line through a maze of players and in between Fleury's arm and body to the back of the net for a 2- 0 Ranger lead. The goal, assisted by Yandle and Zuccarello came at 15:16 in the first period, and that's how the score stayed through the end of the first 20 minutes.
Based off of the events of the 2nd period, I have a question to pose to the National Hockey League and it's Officials Association. CAN WE PLEASE HAVE SOME CLARIFICATION ON WHAT IS GOALTENDER INTERFERENCE AND WHY THERE'S A GOAL CREASE TO BEGIN WITH? Sorry to shout, but there is no rhyme or reason to the way anything around the net is called. Penguins fugazi tough guy Maxim Lapierre, who was running around, running his mouth, and leaving his feet all night, parked himself smack in the middle of the blue painted crease, locked up with defenseman Dan Boyle, "unintentionally intentionally" bumped Lundqvist and allowed Blake Comeau to deposit one into the net, cutting the lead to 2-1.
Though both teams had chances in the third, both goaltenders stood their ground and the final scoe stayed 2-1. The Rangers now have a 1-0 series lead.
PLUS/MINUS
PLUS: Derick Brassard (NYR) - When you open the playoff season at home by scoring in under 30 seconds, that's a huge boost for te team and for #16.
PLUS: Ryan McDonagh (NYR) - People like to forget sometimes that the Captain has a huge upside to his offensive game, and his power play goal, while completely stoppapble, was huge.
PLUS: Maxim Lapierre (PIT) - Even though I don't like him as a player, he played his role to the letter last night, yipping and yapping, causing commotion, and being indirectly responsible for the Penguins only goal. Also amazed he stayed out of the penalty box - reminded ne a lot of Ottawa's Chris Neil last night.
MINUS: Sidney Crosby (PIT) - Due to the crazy number of penalties taken by his team, #87 wasn't on the ice very much, and when he was, he was a complete non-factor.
MINUS: Dan Boyle (NYR) - I understand he was bought in to be a power play guy, but he refuses to play along with the system set up by the coaches, and is old and slow on the defensive end of the ice. When Kevin Klein returns, and as well as Matt Hunwick has played, I would have no problem with Boyle assuming the role of healthy scratch sooner rather than later.
MINUS: Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT) - Although he made plenty of saves to keep his team in the game, the rebound on the first goal was gift wrapped and had a neon sign pointing to it. The McDonagh goal is a goal that I KNOW he wants to have back. He did nothing to disprove the "can't handle pressure" rep he's gotten.
Game 2 takes place Saturday night at 8:00 PM exclusively on NBCSN with Mike "Doc" Emrick and Pierre McGuire on the call. Look for the game 2 (P)review on Saturday afternoon.
One down, 15 to go. 6.25% of the goal has been acheived. What will Saturday bring? I can't wait to find out.
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