New York Rangers Round-Up: 5/10/14
By Dani
It is a great morning in Rangerstown and here is your New York Rangers morning round-up to go with your oatmeal and orange juice. If you missed it last night, you now have to miss the rest of the games. The Rangers pulled out an amazing 5-1 win over the Penguins at CONSOL Energy Center. The “fans” in black and gold were booing the home team and filed out of the arena very early.
Here is the highlight reel, because who doesn’t want to see this again?
It was a very emotional night for Martin St. Louis. Having gone home to Montreal to be with his father and mourning the passing of his mother the day before, the St. Louis family decided the best thing was for Marty to play. In much the same fashion as his journey to the Rangers began, Martin St. Louis hopped a plane and flew to his team; his rink family. Winning the Broadway Hat was the icing on the cake for Marty last night, and well deserved.
Another huge take away from last night’s game, the power play. So that’s what a power play goal feels like. I was beginning to forget! The last several games started to feel like last season when the power play wasn’t and the team was giving up short-handed goals too easily. Last night the Rangers scored, not one, but TWO power play goals. I didn’t believe it when the first one went in the net, I was stunned. But there it was, puck in the net.
May 9, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) has words with New York Rangers center Derick Brassard (16) after a stoppage in play during the second period in game five of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Rangers won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Derick Brassard was on point last night too. He had two goals and an assist. He was also there to keep St. Louis going. Brassard’s support for his teammate in such a trying time is a big part of hockey. It showed how much of a family teammates are for each other. Penguins captain, Sidney Crosby, took time to do what he always does; run his mouth to his opponents. Brassard is not the player to goad into a senseless mistake, like that, on the ice. This a great piece on the game and Martin St. Louis’s words to the press but it will leave you feeling emotional; you’ve been warned.
Ryan McDonagh finally looked like the defenseman we have grown accustomed to seeing on the ice. His power play goal, yes that’s right, was huge on two fronts. It was a power play goal, and we didn’t get to hear Sam Rosen’s immortal call for it. McDonagh also got his first goal of this post season. What a huge relief for him now. He didn’t look like the player we’ve seen since his return from injury. He looked like the player he was before the injury to his shoulder sustained in Vancouver.
Henrik Lundqvist stood tall, stood on his head, and was the backbone of this Rangers team again. All in a day’s work for the King, right? Well this was a simple one for Lundqvist, “Tonight, we played for Marty and his family.” Simple, profound, and uplifting. That’s the class of the all world net-minder showing for his brother on the ice. He backed his words with a stellar performance. With all the excitement it was easy to miss the fact that Lundqvist stopped 31 of 32 shots on the night, and they weren’t just easy saucers. The Penguins had some really quality chances and Lundqvist said, “NO!”
The Rangers forced game six against the Penguins back in New York. The game, scheduled for Mother’s Day, will be another test of Martin St. Louis’s emotional strength and the bond of teammates. Let’s Go Rangers!