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Rangers vs. Penguins: Beware Pittsburgh after a bad loss

By Steve Paulus

Apr 6, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Pavel Buchnevich #89 of the New York Rangers (R) celebrates his goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins at 10:41 of the third period and is joined by Libor Hajek #25 (L) and Filip Chytil #72 (C) at Madison Square Garden on April 06, 2021 in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Pavel Buchnevich #89 of the New York Rangers (R) celebrates his goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins at 10:41 of the third period and is joined by Libor Hajek #25 (L) and Filip Chytil #72 (C) at Madison Square Garden on April 06, 2021 in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports /
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Pavel Buchnevich #89 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 06, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Pavel Buchnevich #89 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 06, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Three keys to winning

  1. Stop the Crosby line – This was our number one key last game and it worked. They held the Crosby line to one meaningless goal in the third period. After an 8-4 loss players like Sidney Crosby tend to step up and the Rangers needs to be wary.
  2. Tighten up the D – 45 shots allowed is way too many.  True, the Rangers were so far ahead that defense was not the priority, but the Penguins have a loaded offense and the Rangers cannot expect to score eight goals on 25 shots again.
  3. Special teams – The recipe for victory was going 3-3 on the power play and stopping the Pens twice in three PP’s.  They need to do it again.

East Division

For scoreboard watching, the Bruins have a tough match-up in Washington and the Flyers visit the Islanders.  While the Flyers result is really  meaningless, it would be nice to get out of the tie and into fifth place alone.  It will make the Flyers play harder against the teams the Rangers need the to beat.

A Bruins loss and they pull within three points of Boston, though the Bruins still have two games in hand.

Toinght’s games

Penguins @ Rangers
Bruins @ Capitals
Flyers @ Islanders
Devils @ Sabres

Standings

1-  Washington   39    25-10-4    54 points
—Islanders         39    25-10-4    54 points
3- Pittsburgh       39   24-13-2    50 points
4- Boston             36   20-10-6     46 points
5- Rangers            38   18-15-5    41 points
—Philadelphia    38   18-15-5     41 points
7- New Jersey       37  13-18-6    32 points
8- Buffalo              38    9-23-6     24 points

About the game and join the live conversation

The game starts at 7pm EST and it will be It will be televised on the MSG Network with the radio call on  ESPN 98.7 FM.

Be sure and join the live conversation here on Blue Line Station. The live thread can be found in the conversations section (below).  The thread is active now, but will heat up when the game starts.  Join your fellow Rangers fans and talk about the playoffs, David Quinn and whatever lineup the team starts.

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