Goaltending and particular groups, all yr, have been the calling playing cards of this Rangers staff. And on that foundation, they need to have walked away from Recreation 3 of their first-round collection in opposition to the Penguins having taken dwelling ice again as a substitute of with a 7-4 loss.
At five-on-five by nearly any metric you choose, the Rangers had the higher of this match. Extra anticipated objectives, extra high-danger possibilities, a better-looking warmth map and three high ahead traces whose numbers mirrored that.
That’s, in fact, an oversimplification, but it surely does replicate that this was a winnable sport for the Rangers, had they managed to play to what we all know to be their strengths. And so the checklist of keys to win Recreation 4 start there.
Igor must be Igor
The Rangers are going nowhere on this postseason if Igor Shesterkin can’t drive the bus.