PREVIEW: RANGERS VS SENATORS GAME 5 EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS

PREVIEW: RANGERS VS SENATORS GAME 5 EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS

By: Matthew Blittner


Well that was fast.

An 0-2 series became 2-2 after last night's 4-1 win by the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Now, all of a sudden, a series in which the Rangers were left for dead by the media after their collapse in Game 2, has become tied as the teams prepare to play Game 5 in Ottawa tomorrow afternoon at 3pm.

A big difference in the past two games has been the level of play of the teams' goaltenders. 

Henrik Lundqvist has rebounded in spectacular fashion from his Game 2 meltdown, to allow just a single goal in both Games 3 and 4. With his teammates making it a priority to allow him a clear line of sight on the opposition's shots, the King has been able to re-ascend to his throne.

Meanwhile, his counterpart Craig Anderson, has fallen further into the abyss as he has surrendered seven total goals over the two games at MSG. It hasn't been entirely Anderson's fault as his defense apart from Erik Karlsson, has hung him out to dry. It has gotten so bad, that Ottawa head coach Guy Boucher removed Anderson from Game 4 after two periods of play and three goals against. 

When pressed in the post-game about why he removed Anderson, Boucher claimed that he was "resting" his netminder. Let's not forget, this is the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and we are in round two of this crazy tournament. You don't just pull your starting goalie to "rest" him in the middle of a playoff game, especially when it is by no means a laugher in the mold of a 6-0 score. While it was highly unlikely that Ottawa would be able to score three goals to tie the game in the final 20 minutes, let us not forget that they scored two goals in the final 3:18 of Game 2 to send the game to overtime. 

So, yes a comeback was unlikely, but the game was by no means over when Mike Condon came on to start the third period in relief of Anderson.

Besides the goaltending, the 7th Avenue Skaters have finally started to resemble their early season form, by asserting their speed and dominance over their opponent.

Coupling their speed with some added physicality (what we call the Tanner Glass Effect) has seen an added dimension to the Blueshirts' offensive attack, and it has paid off with back-to-back four goal games.

Game 5, is now the ultimate swing game in this series, as the winner will be one win away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The NHL's Public Relations Department, tells us that "Per Elias Sports: When a best-of-seven series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 owns an all-time series record of 196-54 (78.7%)."

With that in mind, remember to tune into NBCSN Rangers' fans for Game 5 at 3pm in Ottawa tomorrow, Saturday May 6th and root on your team as they look to add yet another piece to their Stanley Cup puzzle!

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