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New York Rangers Come up Short in Critical Game Five Against the Florida Panthers

By Conor Power

May 30, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a save in front of New York Rangers defenseman Erik Gustafsson (56) and right wing Kaapo Kakko (24) during the third period of game five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
May 30, 2024; New York, New York, USA; Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) makes a save in front of New York Rangers defenseman Erik Gustafsson (56) and right wing Kaapo Kakko (24) during the third period of game five of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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The New York Rangers will play for their playoff lives in game six after being pushed to the brink of elimination by the Florida Panthers after losing game five 3-2 to the Florida Panthers. It means game six is now win or go home, and the reigning Presidents Trophy winners are going to have to show some fight if they are going to get back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in a decade.

Game five started well when the Rangers forced a shorthanded turnover at the blueline by stealing the puck from Matthew Tkachuk. Chris Kreider forced the turnover before giving the puck to Mika Zibanejad to allow his speed to burst up the ice. Zibanejad got the puck back to Kreider, who was alone on Sergei Bobrovsky, and a nice move allowed him to put the puck home on his backhand to give the Blueshirts an early lead.

Florida would tie the game up soon after when Sam Bennett played a beautiful no-look pass through the Rangers defense to Gustav Forsling, who had gotten behind to the edge of the blue paint. His backhand bounced off the pads of Igor Shesterkin, but the big Russian could not bail out the Blueshirts this time. As the puck trickled over the line to tie the game up at one, the Rangers found themselves back at square one.

Florida would tally twice in the third period to blow the game open as the Rangers struggled out of the box. A rush up the ice after a save from Bobrovsky saw Eetu Loustarinen carry the puck on a three-on-two into the offensive zone. He was able to find a pass over to Anton Lundell, who buried the shot past Igor Shesterkin to give the Panthers a lead that they would never relinquish.

Sam Bennett would hit the empty net. Alexis Lafreniere would pull one back with 50 seconds left, but the Rangers would come up short. New York was unable to overcome the Panthers in a critical game five. New York still hasn't won a game 5 in the Eastern Conference Finals since 1987. It's been a long time, and the Rangers now have to do what they did in 1994 to progress. Win games six and seven to play for the cup.

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