Blue Line Station
Fansided

Rangers lose triple OT Game 1 heartbreaker

By Steve Paulus

May 3, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) reacts with left wing Brock McGinn (23) after scoring a goal past New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) during the third overtime in game one of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) reacts with left wing Brock McGinn (23) after scoring a goal past New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) during the third overtime in game one of the first round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 3, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) makes a save in front of center Frank Vatrano (77) and defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) during the third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins in game one of the third round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2022; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) makes a save in front of center Frank Vatrano (77) and defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) during the third period against the Pittsburgh Penguins in game one of the third round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

What they need to do next game

  • Draw more penalties –  The Penguins took the third fewest penalties per game of any NHL team and they did it in this game too. The Rangers need to keep doing what they were doing in the first period and inevitably it will lead to more power plays.
  • Stay out of the box – The Rangers didn’t take an egregiously dumb penalties, but Jacob Trouba’s boarding penalty put the Rangers down two men and while the Penguins power play wasn’t the best in the league,  they will prevail up two men most of the time.
  • Take more shots – The Rangers’ habit of trying to find the perfect shot reared its ugly head.  They needed to get more shots on Casey DeSmith and the fact that they couldn’t get one past an ice cold Louis Domingue was criminal.
  • Keep hitting – The Rangers had 19 hits in the first 20 minutes.  They had 24 hits over the next 85 minutes.  The Blueshirts’ physical play in the first period had the Penguins off balance and it was when they stopped hitting that Pittsburgh was able to get their game going again.
  • Do better on draws – The Penguins six of the last eight faceoffs in the Rangers’ zone and they got dangerous scoring chances after most of them.  Although overall draws were close in favor of the Penguins (54-48), winning those key defensive draws if vital, especially in overtime.

Here’s a full extended video recap of the game:

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