PREVIEW: NY RANGERS VS OTTAWA SENATORS GAME 3 EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
PREVIEW: NY RANGERS VS OTTAWA SENATORS GAME 3 EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS
By: Matthew Blittner
Down 0-2 after two? Check.
Lost Game 2 due to late collapse? Check.
Lost Game 2 for second straight series in similar fashion? Check.
Deuces seem to be wild don't they?
Tonight's Rangers-Ottawa Game 3 is not just any game.
Game 3 of any 4-out-of-7 series is the classic "swing game." What that means is that in the event that the two teams split the opening set of games, the Game 3 winner would have a 2-1 series lead and a 67% chance of winning the series, based off historical data.
Should one team win both of the opening games, then Game 3 becomes a double-edged sword. The team that's up 2-0 could put the hammer down and gain a 3-0 series lead, which only four teams in the history of the NHL have ever come back from. Or it gives the team that's down 0-2 a chance to climb back into the series at a more manageable 2-1 series deficit.
The Rangers hope that tonight is their chance to climb back into the series.
According to reports out of the Blueshirts' morning practice, coach Alain Vigneault and his staff have yet to determine who will play on the fourth line with JT Miller and Oscar Lindberg. The two options are rookie Pavel Buchnevich and veteran checker Tanner Glass.
In the Montreal series, it was Glass who started the series, and after the Rangers replaced him with Buchnevich, they took off and won the series.
Not seeing an even-strength shift after period two in Game 2, it looks like Glass could be back to take Buchnevich's spot. But Vigneault has stated that they won't make a decision until warmups.
The defense pairings are slated to remain the same from Game 2, for better or worse.
So what's it going to be Rangers' fans? Are they going to enjoy some home cooking and get back in this series or are we about to see the last of the Blueshirts until the fall? Here's hoping for the first choice.
Should one team win both of the opening games, then Game 3 becomes a double-edged sword. The team that's up 2-0 could put the hammer down and gain a 3-0 series lead, which only four teams in the history of the NHL have ever come back from. Or it gives the team that's down 0-2 a chance to climb back into the series at a more manageable 2-1 series deficit.
The Rangers hope that tonight is their chance to climb back into the series.
According to reports out of the Blueshirts' morning practice, coach Alain Vigneault and his staff have yet to determine who will play on the fourth line with JT Miller and Oscar Lindberg. The two options are rookie Pavel Buchnevich and veteran checker Tanner Glass.
In the Montreal series, it was Glass who started the series, and after the Rangers replaced him with Buchnevich, they took off and won the series.
Not seeing an even-strength shift after period two in Game 2, it looks like Glass could be back to take Buchnevich's spot. But Vigneault has stated that they won't make a decision until warmups.
The defense pairings are slated to remain the same from Game 2, for better or worse.
So what's it going to be Rangers' fans? Are they going to enjoy some home cooking and get back in this series or are we about to see the last of the Blueshirts until the fall? Here's hoping for the first choice.
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