May 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers right wing Kevin Hayes (13) and defenseman Keith Yandle (93) celebrate after defeating the Washington Capitals during overtime in game seven of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Capitals 2 – 1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
After winning Game One against the Tampa Bay Lightning, it looked to be all well and good for the New York Rangers. But the team that the Rangers faced in Game One, was certainly a different team to the one they faced in Games Two and Three.
After the 6-2 loss in Game Two, and the 6-5 loss in Game Three, it felt like a dark cloud was looming over the New York Rangers season. A lot of fans seem to think that this series is over before it’s barely even begun. But here are five reasons as to why this series isn’t over.
Next: Reason Number One
Apr 18, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers center Derick Brassard (16) is congratulated by right wing Mats Zuccarello (36) after scoring a third period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during game 2 of the 2015 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 1 at Madison Square Garden. The Penguins defeated the Rangers 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
1) Mats Zuccarello’s hopeful return
Mats Zuccarello has been out injured since April 24th. In Game Five of the first round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he took a slap shot to the side of the helmet from his own teammate Ryan McDonagh.
But there is a light at the end of the tunnel; Zuccarello skated with the Rangers yesterday for the first time since taking the injury. When asked about how Zuccarello is doing, coach Alain Vigneault said he’s “Coming along. Normal steps. It’s just, there’s a number of steps and this is one of them.”
Zuccarello has proven to be a key player in the Rangers team. Even though he is one of the smallest players in the NHL, he isn’t afraid to put his body on the line, and isn’t afraid to jump into a scrum and stand up for his teammates. Without his presence on the ice and in the dressing room, the team have arguably not been the same offensively since. And with 15 goals and 34 assists in the regular season, it shows that the Rangers need their star winger back as soon as possible. He will hopefully make a return for Game Five at the earliest, but that may be asking a bit too much at this point in time.
Next: Reason Number Two
Apr 6, 2015; New York, NY, USA; The New York Rangers defensemen Keith Yandle and Ryan McDonagh (27) react to a game tying goal by center Derek Stepan (not pictured) late in the third period against the Columbus Blue Jackets in overtime at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Blue Jackets 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
2) Keith Yandle’s offensive presence
Keith Yandle, since joining the Rangers, has been a great addition to the team. He’s a great offensive defenseman, and has helped the Rangers offense significantly since joining the team from the Arizona Coyotes, in which Anthony Duclair and John Moore and a first-round draft pick were sent the other way. He is always on one of the two Power Play units at the point, usually with Ryan McDonagh, and the Rangers Power Play has certainly improved with him being on the ice.
Even though Yandle may have his drawbacks of turning the puck over every now and again, his presence, offensive threat, and ability to pick out a great pass has made the Rangers even more dangerous. He arguably played his best postseason game in Game Three against the Lightning where he was generating offensive chances regularly throughout the game.
Next: Reason Number Three
May 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers center Derek Stepan (21) celebrates with teammates after scoring the game winning goal on Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) during overtime in game seven of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Capitals 2 – 1 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
3) Previous experience of bouncing back in a playoff series
We all know that if there was one team you could pick, who you think would be able to bounce back from being down in a series, it would be the Rangers.
The Rangers are a team that can bounce back from being down in a series, whether it’s 2-1 down, or 3-1 down, they’ve done it. Last year, the Rangers came back from a 3-1 deficit against the Penguins in the second round of the playoffs to win the series 4-3. The team rallied around Martin St. Louis when his mother unexpectedly passed away, and the Rangers really found their feet in that series, and showed that you need to win 4 to win a series, and it isn’t over until it’s over.
In Round Two of the playoffs this year, the Rangers went 3-1 down in the series against the Washington Capitals. It all looked like it would be over. The Rangers were just 1:41 away from elimination until Chris Kreider saved the day in Game Five and forced the game to go to overtime. Ryan McDonagh then scored the winning goal off a great drop pass from Derek Stepan.
In Game Six, the Rangers looked like they would comfortably get the win as they had a comfortable 4-1 lead with only 12 minutes remaining. They looked to be able to force a Game Seven without the need for the fans to have a panic attack, but it isn’t that easy right? Oh no. The Caps soon made it a 4-3 game, and the Rangers had to fend off attacks from the Caps for just under 9 minutes, until the blessed final whistle blew, and the Rangers forced a Game Seven.
In Game Seven, or as I like to call it, “The night where I woke everybody in my house up,” the Caps took a 1-0 lead halfway through the first period thanks to a goal by Alex Ovechkin. It looked like the confirmation that Ovechkin made about going through and facing the Montreal Canadiens or the Tampa Bay Lightning would come true.
But alas, Kevin Hayes a.k.a the “DUDE FROM BOSTON” was there to tie the game up and make it 1-1, off a great feed from J.T. Miller. The game then went scoreless throughout the third period, and kept fans all around the world on the edge of their seat. But not for long… As Derek Stepan ended the game 11:24 into the first overtime period, and sent the Rangers through to the Eastern Conference Final. The goal came off a rebound from a Dan Girardi shot from the point, and Stepan was there to slot in the rebound, and I’m sure that if you listened carefully when Stepan scored that goal, you could hear me cheer all the way from England.
Next: Reason Number Four
May 16, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers center Derek Stepan (21) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period in game one of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
4) Derek Stepan’s ability to keep gathering points
Derek Stepan has arguably been the Rangers’ most valuable player this postseason. Especially in his last five games, he really has taken his game to a whole new level. He continues to create offensive chances, and continues to gather up points. Since Game Three against the Lightning, Stepan now has a total of five goals; three of which being in his last five games, and seven assists; three of which also being in his last five games. He scored the game winning goal against the Capitals to send the Rangers through to play the Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final, and has since gained two goals and two assists. He is now 10th in the league for playoff goals, and 11th in the league for playoff assists.
Stepan has really been able to find a lot of open space recently, It’s basically the exact reason he was able to score his previous three goals. He’s going to the right positions, and he’s putting the pucks in the net.
Stepan spoke after Game One against the Lightning about how he’s scoring goals, and he said “It’s just how the goals are scored in the playoffs. You don’t see too many tic-tac-toe plays. You kind of have to get the ugly ones, and where they’re going to be scored is around the net.”
Next: Reason Number Five
May 20, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) looks on from the ice against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the second period of game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
5) 2 words – Henrik. Lundqvist.
After the 6-5 loss against the Lightning, a lot of Rangers fans went into meltdown about how Henrik Lundqvist has been performing, and to some extent they have a point. A lot of Rangers fans aren’t used to seeing Lundqvist let in six goals a game, and he’s proved that it isn’t a normal thing in the series against the Penguins, and also the series against the Capitals, where out of 12 total games, he kept the opponent to scoring no more than one goal a total of six times.
New York Rangers /
New York Rangers
When asked about sitting Lundqvist for Game Four, Alain Vigneault simply laughed and replied “Is that a question?” He then went on to say “Hank’s the guy.” And of course he is. Lundqvist has been the backbone of the New York Rangers for years and years, and he has carried them to victory in certain games time and time again. And each time that Lundqvist has been beaten, he has responded. He responded in the first round against the Penguins, where the Rangers lost Game Two, 4-3. He responded against the Capitals in Round Two, and won three straight games in which he played his heart out.
Teammate Derick Brassard said “We didn’t give our goalie a chance to be successful the past two games.” Ex teammate Ryan Callahan also said that Lundqvist is “A competitor. Everybody knows that. He’s one of the best goalies in the league for a reason. He’s gonna compete and he’s gonna play his best.”
It is also not just the fault of Lundqvist that the Rangers lost Game Two and Three. It is also due to the amount of penalties taken by the Rangers that leads to the Lightning scoring goals. It is also due to the fact there the defending in Game Two and Three was, in a nutshell, awful.
Henrik Lundqvist though, does need to bounce back for the game on Friday, where the Rangers look to tie up the series and make it 2-2.
