Poll:Will The New York Rangers Win Game Four?

The New York Rangers seemed dejected after loosing game three in a shutout. Can they win a game at home for a change? This team has not had any advantage at Madison Square Garden this season and along with the awful power play, might be why they get swept in four games in the finals. The playoffs have been no different and if they lose game four it’ll be a huge disappointment to the New York fans. Especially how things have gone in this series. The New York Rangers have had no puck luck in the three games against the Los Angeles Kings. This series could be totally different if a bounce goes the other way in each game. We could be up three games to none and the Los Angeles Kings know it too. It’s time for this team to come into their arena and play their game. If they do that, there will be a game five in Los Angeles. They play better on the road so a win in-game four could lead to a win in-game five and then it’s a three games to two series. Much different outlook in that scenario than the one they’re looking at now. That’ll build some confidence throughout the lineup and put some pressure on the Los Angeles Kings. It starts with game four so I want to know from the fans. Will the New York Rangers win game four?

 The New York Rangers will be getting back a familiar Face

Dan Carcillo told reporters after the morning skate “To be able to be around the guys pre-game and be allowed at the rink, be involved in the game-day routine is nice. So, from that aspect, I’m happy to be back” From Matt Calamia of NewYorkRangers.com

The Rangers will be getting grinder Daniel Carcillo back from a six game suspension for game four and it isn’t a minute too soon. He was a beast in the Philadelphia Flyers series and if he’s in the lineup will help the New York Rangers with some grit and physicality on the forecheck. Which has been very good even though the New York Rangers aren’t a forechecking team like they were when John Tortarella was coach! The New York Rangers have to play more physical than they did in game three. Marian Gaborik is made of glass and Jeff Carter has battled injuries all season. Those are two of the Kings top offensive players and should be played hard. We’re not saying Daniel Carcillo or any of the New York Rangers should look to hurt anyone. However,  Some good old fashion hard-hitting hockey will wear down the Los Angeles Kings who’ve played a lot of catchup hockey lately. Be hard on the puck and force the Los Angeles Kings into turnovers like in games one and more so in game two and we will be victorious in game four.

The powerless Play on the man advantage is going to doom the Rangers

For the New York Rangers to mount a comeback it starts with a concerted effort on the power play. They’ll have to forget the bad puck luck and unfortunate bounces that haven’t gone their way. They’ve had good looks on the power play but the puck didn’t go in. It happens in the sport of hockey, the puck doesn’t always bounce your way. The man advantage is supposed to be a scoring chance. Yet the New York Rangers just move the puck around without getting shots to the net. If you get the puck to the net, you can out-number the penalty kill down low near the crease for second and third chance opportunities. Part of the problem is possession on the faceoffs. The New York Rangers don’t have enough players on the power play that can win a faceoff and set up the formation in the attacking zone. Alain Vigneault should consider using one of his better faceoff men at least to take the draw. Dominic Moore is the best center on the team in the circle. Let him win the draw and set up the power play in the offensive zone. When you constantly lose the draw it wastes fifteen to twenty-five seconds of the two minute advantage. You can’t score if you can’t possess the puck.

The offense cannot  just fall on the third line of Benoit Pouliot, Derick Brassard, and Mats Zuccarello. Brad Richards and Martin St. Louis should be leaders on the ice just as they have been in the locker room and off the ice. Brad Richards has been awful on the ice in this series. He has to get back to what he did all season. Rick Nash is right at the top of his game now as far as his playoff experience goes. He hasn’t gone to the net enough but he’s beginning to go to the tough areas of the ice with more regularity. A power forward like himself  belongs on the power play right in front of the net. I think he scores a pair of goals in game four and if Daniel Carcillo is inserted into the lineup, he’ll also have a big impact.

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Rick Nash has to start getting mad and just take the game over like he was playing against the Columbus Blue Jackets. That goes double for Derek Stepan, he’s been mostly invisible in this series with only one assist. He’s the top pivot on the team. He needs to be a playmaker and shoot the puck when the chance is there. In games one and two Chris Kreider was a beast and he gave the Los Angeles Kings all they could handle with his speed alone. The three top line players have to lead the charge and score some goals for their team. Because Carl Hagelin aside, the other top six players have not played well since the Eastern Conference Finals. Brad Richards should not be playing center. He’s too slow and he played better early on as a left winger. He doesn’t skate well enough for the defensive assignments of a Centerman. I also think Alain Vigneault should use a different forward at the point on the power play. Brad Richards is in a rut and it’s hurting the team. Win one at home and go from there. What do you fans think? Can the Rangers at least win one and then two and make this a series again?