RECAP: RANGERS VS SENATORS GAME 3 EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS

RECAP: RANGERS VS SENATORS GAME 3 EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMI-FINALS

By: Matthew Blittner

Rangers 4, Senators 1:          5/2/17        Madison Square Garden

The name of the game is DESPERATION! 

In hockey the more desperate team usually wins the game, and that's just in the regular season.

Come playoffs, a team's desperation level could determine not just a game, but a series, and sometimes, even more than that.

The Rangers are down 0-2 heading into Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.

Surely the boys in blue didn't want to fall behind 0-3 in the series, because that would almost certainly spell the end of their playoff run.

Well there was only one way to find out if they had the desperation level to match their skill.

Let's drop that puck!

OVERVIEW:

The Rangers came out fast with a strong start, looking to erase the pain of Game 2.

Two shots on goal and five hits in the first 2:30 of the opening period were good indications that the Blueshirts had their legs under them early on.

The Rangers came out fast and got faster and harder as the clock ticked on. 

An early 2-on-1 chance from Derek Stepan and Rick Nash resulted in a missed opportunity, but at just 5:31 of the first, Mats Zuccarello finished off a nice passing play in front of Craig Anderson from Mika Zibanejad to open the scoring and give the Blueshirts an early 1-0 lead. Assisted by Mika Zibanejad and Dan Girardi.

ZUCCARELLO, he doesn't just score, he sets up plays too! At 13:24 of the opening frame, Zuccarello used some tight forechecking and some of his unique hockey IQ to dangle the puck by the Ottawa blue line and then fired a pass off the board behind Anderson's net and Michael Grabner got hold of the rebound off the boards and put it in the empty net as Anderson tried and failed to play the puck. 2-0 Rangers. Assisted by the man of the period, Mats Zuccarello.

At 17:40 of the first, Craig Anderson, who was under siege the whole period stopped with the blocker, a shot from point blank range off the stick of Nick Holden to keep the score 2-0 Rangers.

The Rangers came out fast and furious, hitting every Senator in sight and building up to what would eventually be a 15-5 shots on goal advantage for the period. A quick goal by Mats Zuccarello and then a rebound shot from Michael Grabner build the Rangers a 2-0 lead. Lundqvist wasn't tested, which depending on how you look at it is either really good, or slightly worrisome.

The second period started with the standard push back from Ottawa, but New York started to turn the tide after a minute and then at 2:59 of the second, Ryan Dzingel was penalized for closing his hand on the puck as the Rangers went to the power play.

Unfortunately it wouldn't last as Chris Kreider took a "senseless" penalty when he slashed Dion Phaneuf at 3:41 to force the teams to skate four aside before Ottawa would get a truncated power play.

Craig Anderson remained under constant attack and at 7:08 and 7:14 of the second, he was forced to make incredible kick saves on a shot and a deflection from Michael Grabner and then Dan Girardi to keep Ottawa's deficit at two.

A broken play usually doesn't end well for the defending team. After an Ottawa skater fell down going back to defend Derek Stepan, Rick Nash saw an opportunity for a 2-on-1 odd man rush and instead of getting off the ice for a change, he stayed on, and after getting the feed from Stepan, Nash sniped it past Anderson at 12:21 of the second period for the 3-0 Rangers lead. Assisted by Derek Stepan and Jimmy Vesey.

Speed, grit, and determination, all key components to scoring goals in hockey. A solid rush up the ice and the corresponding cycle of the puck led to JT Miller throwing the puck through the crease to Oscar Lindberg who banged it past Anderson at 18:17 of the second for the 4-0 lead. Assisted by Miller and Tanner Glass.

Luckily the Rangers had a 4-0 lead built up, so that they were able to weather the storm of sudden Ranger Killer Jean-Gabriel Pageau's fifth goal of the series at 18:49 of the second to cut the lead to 4-1. Assisted by Cody Ceci and Bobby Ryan.

Two more goals for the Rangers as their speed continued to overwhelm the Senators, and only a late goal by sudden Ranger killer Jean-Gabriel Pageau kept this from being a perfect period for the Blueshirts.

The third period started off slow and steady, and then Brendan Smith committed a high-sticking infraction at 2:57 of the third, on Tommy Wingels, sending Ottawa to their second power play.

Ottawa was controlling play in the third, but then New York started to push back and that caused Fredrik Claesson to trip Rick Nash at 7:23 of the period for a Rangers' power play.

The Blueshirts' power play was once again cut short as Viktor Stalberg drew a holding penalty from Brady Skjei on a horrible call at 8:32 of the third. This lead to some extracurriculars after the whistle as Miller and Pageau exchanged pleasantries as each were called for slashing penalties.

The game continued to descend into old time hockey as Ryan Dzingel slashed Oscar Lindberg at 11:20 of the third for another Ranger power play.

Henrik Lundqvist made his standard highlight reel save at 14:35 of the third as he sprawled out to freeze the rebound off a shot from Clarke MacArthur.

A slower more methodical pace from both teams, the Rangers weathered the brief Ottawa push back but this game was never in doubt after 40 minutes of play.

WHAT WENT RIGHT:

1. MATS ZUCCARELLO: Two points (1G, 1A) are made even more crucial when they come early in the first period, which set the tone for the Rangers' offensive output.

2. HENRIK LUNDQVIST: 26 saves in a solid rebound effort from the King. He wasn't tested as much as he's been in previous games, but his defenders were able to give him clear sighted shots, which made the difference.

3. PENALTY KILL: 3-for-3, enough said.

4. FAST START: Two shots on goal and five hits in the first 2:30 of the opening period were good indications that the Blueshirts had their legs under them early on. That plus an early goal from Zucc at 5:31 set the tone for this win early on.

HIGHLIGHTS:

BEST SAVE PERIOD 1: At 17:40 of the first, Craig Anderson, who was under siege the whole period stopped with the blocker, a shot from point blank range off the stick of Nick Holden to keep the score 2-0 Rangers.

BEST SAVE PERIOD 2: Craig Anderson remained under constant attack and at 7:08 and 7:14 of the second, he was forced to make incredible kick saves on a shot and a deflection from Michael Grabner and then Dan Girardi to keep Ottawa's deficit at two.

BEST SAVE PERIOD 3: Henrik Lundqvist made his standard highlight reel save at 14:35 of the third as he sprawled out to freeze the rebound off a shot from Clarke MacArthur.

BEST GOAL PERIOD 1: At just 5:31 of the first, Mats Zuccarello finished off a nice passing play in front of Craig Anderson from Mika Zibanejad to open the scoring and give the Blueshirts an early 1-0 lead. Assisted by Mika Zibanejad and Dan Girardi.

BEST GOAL PERIOD 2: A broken play usually doesn't end well for the defending team. After an Ottawa skater fell down going back to defend Derek Stepan, Rick Nash saw an opportunity for a 2-on-1 odd man rush and instead of getting off the ice for a change, he stayed on, and after getting the feed from Stepan, Nash sniped it past Anderson at 12:21 of the second period for the 3-0 Rangers lead. Assisted by Derek Stepan and Jimmy Vesey.

BEST GOAL PERIOD 3: None were scored.

TURNING POINT: 

A broken play usually doesn't end well for the defending team. After an Ottawa skater fell down going back to defend Derek Stepan, Rick Nash saw an opportunity for a 2-on-1 odd man rush and instead of getting off the ice for a change, he stayed on, and after getting the feed from Stepan, Nash sniped it past Anderson at 12:21 of the second period for the 3-0 Rangers lead. Assisted by Derek Stepan and Jimmy Vesey.

WHAT THEY SAID:

NBC ANALYST PIERRE MCGUIRE: "The passing of the NY Rangers has been tape-to-tape-to-tape here in Game 3 and its been noticeable. Alain Vigneault must be happy early on."

NBC ANALYST MIKE MILBURY: "Craig Anderson is the only reason that Ottawa is not down more than 2-0 here midway through the second period."

"I think the crowd here at MSG has been worth at least a goal tonight and for each game here they're going to have to be."

MSG ANALYST RON DUGUAY: "They had to get excitable playing at the Garden and getting the crowd into it. They wanted to be engaged, and didn't take many penalties... There was a certain comfort zone for Zibanejad playing against his former team tonight...You wondered what you were going to get out of this fourth line, but JT Miller came out working hard tonight. He's a skill player, but he was working hard...Tonight was a game the Rangers had to come out and win, we're not used to them winning playoff games this way, but they came out and played strong."

MSG ANALYST STEVE VALIQUETTE: "When Craig Anderson comes out of the net, things get interesting...Henrik wasn't really tested until 10:53 of the first period...The against the grain pass in the new fashion in the NHL."

MSG ANALYST AL TRAUTWIG: "It was like there were three Mika Zibanejad's on the ice tonight...Henrik Lundqvist did not have to stand on his head tonight."

MATS ZUCCARELLO: "All my goals are lucky."

MATTHEW BLITTNER: "The most complete game from the New York Rangers that we've seen all season."

COMING ATTRACTION: The Rangers' next game will be Game 4 of their Eastern Conference Second Round matchup against the Ottawa Senators at Madison Square Garden on Thursday May 4th. Game Time: 7:30pm      TV: NBSCN.

BOTTOM LINE: A full 60 minute effort from the Blueshirts, a solid effort from Henrik Lundqvist, and an unexpected offensive showing, all contributed to the Rangers complete victory.