Rangers must continue to force pressure on Louis Domingue in Game 6

It’s amazing what can happen for the New York Rangers when quality shots are finally mustered — especially on a third string goaltender.

One must give Pittsburgh credit from Game Four through the halfway point of Game Five; the Rangers found themselves trying to skate through wet cement in the neutral zone. Subsequently, they couldn’t execute a stretch pass and contended with a forecheck as aggressive as ever.

Furthermore, whatever the Rangers would bring into Pittsburgh’s end would be spit right back out. It was a clinical display of structurally sound hockey and it fortified Louis Domingue from having to respond to any even semi-challenging events.

When Adam Fox patiently waited for the right opening and wristed the screen shot over Domingue’s shoulder, it burst the door wide open for the remaining half of the game. The Rangers were able to start settling in and testing a goaltender that had breezed his way to Game Three and Four victories.

Their efforts converted in the following 2:42 after Fox’s goal with a point-blank slot stuffer from Alexis Lafrenière and a relatively soft five-hole squeaker surrendered to Jacob Trouba’s backhand. As the Penguins started to break down and commit penalties for the remainder of the game, Domingue was forced into exposure.

Media personalities are always bloody thirsty for the next big storyline. With that said, it’s so easy to jump on the tale of an AHL journeyman that played in two regular season games who got the call in double overtime of a playoff game after eating “spicy pork and broccoli” and voila — the Penguins are in the driver’s seat.

It’s become the perfect fodder for everyone to quench themselves by scripting a misleading narrative: Louis Domingue is “outplaying” Igor Shesterkin, a Hart and Vezina finalist.

That is simply not the narrative of this series.

Shesterkin has certainly looked unsettled at times and hasn’t been able to access his regular season rhythm as of yet. But it’s clear to anyone tuned in that the goaltending on either side is not the primary factor behind the last nine days.

If the Rangers can conquer their PPG Paints Arena woes from their last two games there, pressuring Domingue is the obvious answer to winning. It’s easier said than done as the Penguins have been superb in front of him, but the Rangers’ best players need to be their best players.

The Rangers found themselves in a 3-1 hole simply because their best have been dust in the wind while the Penguins’ best have been converting. At full potential, the Rangers proved this season they can match anyone — and that certainly includes the likes of Louis Domingue.