Rangers penguins game 2

By: Dinner

Rangers Penguins Game 2 Takeaways

What a fucking bounce back from the Rangers from Game 1 to Game 2! The Rangers came out quick and pulled off a 5-2 win in game 2. I am absolutely thrilled the boys came out and spanked the Penguins. They played extremely well, generated a billion shots & I have very few complaints about this game. That being said, let’s dive into my takeaways on the game.

First up, the Rangers have to stop the Crosby line. This line is single-handedly carrying Pittsburg, they’ve scored five of the six Penguins goals and have 11 of the team’s 18 points. Mike Sullivan, having the last change, will try his absolute hardest to get the Crosby line out whenever the Rangers’ kid line is on the ice. We know that the kid line has been playing well but in head to head match-ups, they have been challenged. I mean for god’s sake when Crosby is on the ice the Rangers need to keep the puck off his stick. He had an incredible goal in game 2 and if the Rangers want to win this series someone needs to put the clamps on him.

Panarin must have read my Game 1 recap because the breadman went off in Game 2 putting up 1 goal & 2 assists, to help the Rangers tie up the series. My only complaint is the fact that he has been extremely hit or miss recently with 12 giveaways in the two games, one of those giveaways leading to a goal. It really doesn’t help that his linemate Andrew Copp is just behind him with 11 giveaways. Gallant might need to switch up the lines or something because the number of turnovers is outrageous.

Igor put on another show with 39 saves on 41 shots, He’s pretty much a lock for the Vezina Trophy (You still have time to toss money on it by the way) , and just balling between the pipes. There was a scary moment in game 2, with 2:04 remaining in the game when Penguins forward Jeff Carter ran into him after he came out of the net to play the puck. Now Penguins fans will say that Igor kicked his leg out, and the first replay showed that. But after numerous replays I honestly couldn’t see it, so fuck Jeff Carter I hope Ryan Reaves lights you the fuck up in Game 3.

Barclay Goodrow will likely not return to this series. A huge blow to the line up. Goodrow blocked a shot in game 1 and it appeared that the puck hit in the ankle / skate and Goodrow being the warrior he is would normally play through an injury, but with him being out that can only mean one thing, something is fractured. I’m no doctor but I have fractured my ankle before and that shit fucking hurt I can not believe he took that shot and played another 14 minutes in the game. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery because if the boys are looking to make a run this year we are going to need Goodrow back in the line up, especially in the second round where we will most likely be playing Carolina.

Game 3 is in Pittsburgh which is an electric atmosphere to play in. It should be another building block for this inexperienced team. I can not wait for Saturday night, hoping for another bloodbath out of the Rangers, stealing the first game in Pittsburgh will be huge for this series. Series prediction still stands: Rangers in 6.