New York Rangers’ Top Five Moments of First Round Series
It was a hard-fought, physical, and downright nasty series played between the New York Rangers and the Montreal Canadiens. The Rangers played strong, particularly in the last three games, which were all wins. They came out on top in the end, winning the series 4-2. Now it’s time to look back at the magical moments of that series. Here’s the top five plays:
Montreal was the favorite coming into this series. A lot of critics and analysts thought the Rangers couldn’t match their physicality. But they did, posting the most amount of hits of any team in the 2017 Playoffs as of Game 6.
Others thought Price would outdo Lundqvist. But he didn’t, as Lundvist came out on top with spectacular saves, some season-saving saves one might argue. Through it all, the Rangers proved how tough they are and how difficult they are to play against. Let’s relive the top five moments of the series.
5.) Jesper Fast’s Short-handed Goal in Game 5
In a series the Rangers had tied only two nights prior in Game 4, Fast knew he would have to put up an extra special effort. The talented right winger received a great pass that sent him right in one Price on the Canadiens’ power play.
Mika Zibanejad made a small but nifty pass to Fast, who shot the puck past Price to knot the important game up at one. He later stated in a post game interview that he only knew the puck went in because “Mika was yelling at me.”
As it would have it, the Canadiens also scored on that power play. However, his goal gave momentum to the Rangers and definitely helped in the long-run that night.
4.) Lundqvist’s Save on Pacioretty in Game 5
As if Game 5 wasn’t aneurysm-inducing enough, right? In the dying minutes of the third period, specifically with 7:15 remaining, Henrik Lundqvist stuck out the right pad on Max Pacioretty. He denied him the goal that would have put the Canadiens ahead.
At the time, the game was tied at two, and a long stretch pass to Pacioretty made him fly by Smith and straight in on Lundqvist. Instead of getting closer to Lundqvist, he decided to take a shot, and play continued as the Rangers were able to clear it out of the zone.
We all know what happened after that, as the Rangers defeated the Canadiens to move on and face the Ottawa Senators in the second round.
3.) Lundqvist’s Save on Plekanec in Game 6
With the Rangers finally looking like they found a way to win at home, Lundqvist knew he’d have to come up with a spectacular performance. And he sure did.
Arguably nothing was more important than Lundqvist’s save on Plekanec with seconds remaining in the third period. The puck came out in front of him and with a reaching pad, he blockered it away, barely keeping it from trickling in.
If that puck had gone an inch further, it would be a different series right now. He was amazing from Game 1 to Game 6, and his motivation was evident every second.
2.) Mats Zuccarello’s Two Goal Game 6
A reporter had asked in the post game what it meant for Zuccarello to have a night like Game 6 considering the injury he battled his way back from. Alain Vigneault stated that it meant a lot and that he chose a good night to have a great performance.
Zuccarello was all over the ice in this series. He made his presence known, and he was a force to be reckoned with. In Game 6, he came out at his best and scored the Rangers’ first goal of the night to tie the game.
Later on, Hayes and Miller both received their first points of the post-season, getting assists on the Rangers’ first power play goal of the playoffs, also a beauty by Zuccarello. He finished off a great pass and beat Price with an open net to his side for a 2-1 lead.
1.) Mika Zibanejad’s Overtime Winner in Game 5
Apparently Game 5 was the most invigorating game of the series. After all, the stats are in the favor of the team who wins Game 5, as 78% of the time that team goes on to win the series. For the majority of the first period, the Rangers appeared to be a step behind. After taking two penalties early in the second and killing them well, their play picked up.
With two minutes to go in the second, Rick Nash knotted it all up at 2, and the Rangers went on to have a strong third period and most importantly, an even stronger overtime.
Next: New York Rangers Have Figured it out at the Garden
Chris Kreider took a shot that was deflected and went straight to Zibanejad. He wasted no time snapping it by a sprawled Carey Price for the game-winning overtime goal. According to him, he blacked out after the goal because of all the excitement. That goal was the momentum shifter and the most important one of the series.