Rangers penguins game 5
By: Dinner
Rangers Penguins Game 5 Takeaways 5/12
The Rangers responded in a huge way Wednesday night coming off an embarrassing 7-2 road loss in Game 4 on Monday. The momentum changing second period was all the Blue shirts needed to keep their season alive and I am for it. If the Rangers come out with the same physicality like they did Wednesday then I fully believe we may be witnessing history repeat itself, because it’s beginning to look a lot like 2014. Only thing I am worried about is the fact that we now have to steal game 6 on the road, which we have not been able to get a win in Pittsburgh this postseason. Now let’s get to talking about Game 5.
The difference in play style from Games 4 & Game 5 is night and day. The Rangers played so soft Monday night and they were able to bounce back and come out the gate throwing hits all over the ice. Bodies were flying, and everyone was getting involved in the physical play. I loved it, it looked like that gritty team we had seen all season and it affected play so much. There was even a huge hit on Penguins captain Sidney Crosby which resulted in him leaving the game early. Now I never root for an injury but that being said Crosby got tripped up early in the second period off a faceoff and he wasn’t looking the same the rest of the game. The hit just gave him the excuse to leave early. Not too sure if he will be in the lineup in Game 6, but if he isn’t that could be the edge that the Rangers needed.
Second period spark. Within a matter of minutes from Crosby leaving the game, Adam Fox got a quick wrist shot off to cut the Rangers’ deficit to 2-1 and MSG went from dead to alive. The crowd was electric from that point on and I could feel the energy from my own couch. “Once we got that first goal, it was a big boost for our club,” Gallant said during the postgame interview. After foxes goal Lafreniere & Trouba both scored within 2 minutes from the first goal to give the Rangers an extremely brief 3-2 lead. That shift in momentum is exactly what we need to come out with a Game 6 win and force Game 7.
Besides Igor playing flaky, the Rangers kid line has to be the biggest surprise this postseason. The line with zero playoff experience is the most productive. Absolutely insane. Even if Friday night doesn’t go as planned Lafrenière , Chytil and Kakko – have been electric in this series and their development and progression is huge for the immediate future of this organization. They haven’t been afraid to shoot and it paid off Wednesday night as both Laf & Chytil both scored. This line will be a factor Friday night as well I can guarantee it.
I am extremely pleased with the effort in Game 5. Fingers crossed that Crosby is out and the Rangers can finally get a win in Pittsburgh on Friday night. They are going to have to come out fast and play physically just like they did Wednesday and hopefully set the tempo right from puck drop. Again I hope this isn’t the last time I have to say this but, Series prediction Rangers in 7.
