New York Rangers’ Resiliency Shows Despite Game Two Loss
By Ben Whitney
The New York Rangers lost a thriller in Montreal on Friday night on a goal by Alexander Radulov late in overtime, tying the series at one.
The first period was fast paced and wild for the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens. There were no penalties, over 50 hits, breakaways, goalposts hit, and big saves. The Bell Centre was rocking and this was going to a be a good one.
The Canadiens got on the board first on a bizarre sequence. Brendan Gallagher broke Henrik Lundqvist’s stick and the Rangers didn’t seem to realize. Not only did they not get him a stick, but they didn’t get a stoppage in play.
Lundqvist was without a stick for a long stretch where the puck was up and down the ice a few times. A wide open Jeff Petry eventually fired one through a crowd and past the stickless goaltender. It was a microcosm of the night in general. Lundqvist trying to will the team to victory, but just failing.
Related Story: Rangers Must Find the RIght Forward Combinations
The second period was more of the same, with big hits and scuffles all over the ice. The referees took the whistles out of their pockets and made some odd calls, including a double minor on Matts Zuccarrello for roughing the much bigger Steve Ott, who had taken a shot at his head.
A scuffle broke out and J.T. Miller and Shea Weber went off for fighting. This worked out for the Rangers as they were able to kill off two penalties with Weber and his big shot in the box.
New York showed plenty of fight in refusing to let Steve Ott get away with the big hit without consequences.
Related Story: New York Rangers Must Utilize Depth to Beat Montreal
Things tightened up in the third period. Lundqvist seemed to play half the period without his stick. But he was up to the challenge until the final minute when Tomas Plekanek tied it up on a wild sequence with under twenty seconds left with the Montreal net empty.
The puck when in off Nick Holden, who was standing in front of the net without his stick. J.T. Miller had just blocked a big shot from Weber and the puck just missed going out of the zone.
In overtime, the Canadiens dominated the first ten minutes. Lundqvist stood tall, including great saves on Artturi Lehkonnen and Phillip Danault. The Rangers found their game and got some opportunities after the ten minute mark. Nash came within a whisker of winning it, but Price just got his chest on his rising shot.
But it was not to be and the Canadiens pulled it out. It was a thrilling game but the Rangers missed a golden opportunity to take a stranglehold on the series.
Next: Should Tanner Glass Stay in the Lineup
The Rangers showed a lot of heart against the determined Canadiens but were not able to finish the job. They fought back time and time again, but there are no moral victories in the playoffs. The series shifts to the Garden on Sunday and looks destined to be a long one. Buckle up.