RANGERS LOOKING TO CLOSE

The New York Rangers celebrate the OT win in Game 7 against 

the New Jersey Devils in 1994.

It has been exactly twenty years since Stephane Matteau scored his game-winner in OT against the New Jersey Devils in Game 7 of the 1994 Conference Final. Tonight the New York Rangers will try to repeat that effort in Game 5 against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Rangers have made life very difficult for the Habs so far. They have scored first in most of the games and made Montreal chase the game throughout the series. Even though Dustin Tokarski is not to blame for any of the losses, he has been pretty solid, he has still been outplayed by Henrik Lundqvist, who has been nothing short of spectacular. The Rangers are also firing on all cylinders offensively now that Rich Nash seems to have regained his scoring touch.

The Habs, on the other hand, are desperately looking for more contribution from, first and foremost, Max Pacioretty who has only 9 points so far in the playoffs. Getting points from the slumbering Thomas Vanek would also be welcomed by the desperate Canadiens. There isn't much that would indicate this season will continue for Montreal past Game 5. Other than just desperation that is. Being on the brink of elimination makes for a dangerous team and the Rangers are well aware of this, having come back from being down 3-1 against the Penguins. They know how tough it is to get that elusive forth win.

I think we will see a faster and more urgent Montreal team. But I also think it won't be enough. Henrik Lundqvist will once again give his team a chance to win and I think they will take it.

ALL HAIL THE KING

This post comes a little late, but still.. King Henrik of Manhattan proved me wrong. He was not about to go down in five. Instead he showed us how great he is under pressure and what a clutch goalie he is when it matters the most. He carried his team for the remaining three games against Pittsburgh and he was spectacular in Game 7.

Lundqvist earns his fifth straight Game 7 win. 

After Game 4 I thought the New York Rangers were done. The Penguins really looked like they were in control of the series after having won three straight since losing Game 1. I still don't think I was way off doubting the Blueshirts after what really was a poor performance through those three losses. But this is what is so great about hockey. Anything can happen and momentum is hard to predict. It can shift from game to game or, as in this series, in sets of three games. What is clear is that while the Rangers seemed to rally together and lift their game to a higher level while the Pittsburgh Penguins fell apart completely. And, although Sidney Crosby stated after Game 7 that he was healthy, something clearly wasn't right with the Pittsburgh star player. Except for a game or two, he was a non factor in this series.

So what will happen in Pittsburgh? Was this Dan Bylsma's last game as a Penguins coach? Likely, yes. Crosby's leadership has been questioned. Will that have further consequences? We'll see.

RANGERS DONE?

I really try never to say it's over until it's over, and in the Stanley Cup playoffs that is almost a given. However, in the case of the New York Rangers, and the way they are playing against the Pittsburgh penguins right now, I am ready to say they are done. Down 3-1 in the series, they show no signs that they are about to turn this around.

TSN panelist, Mike Johnson, stated earlier this season that, "No player has ever gone to The New York Rangers and become a better player or even remained as good." This is painfully true when one looks at Martin St. Louis. Even though Rick Nash has been pretty awful so far in the post season, Marty hasn't been much better. If the Rangers are to have any chance in this series, they both have to find their game real soon.

Prediction: Penguins in 6

Henrik Lundqvist looks on as Chris Kunitz celebrates his 4-2 goal.

GAME 7 PREDICTIONS

The first round of the 2014 playoffs ends with quite a bang. Three Game 7 and here are my predictions. 

San Jose were up 3-0 but were unable to put away the LA Kings, who suddenly found new life and now has pushed the series to a 3-3 tie. I'm not a big believer in history's impact, but the Sharks do have a way of choking in the playoffs. LA clearly has the momentum and are rolling after their poor start so I'm going with the Kings here. 

New York vs Philadelphia is a tough one. The Rangers have won their last three Game 7 but the Flyers are a typical comeback team. Wayne Simmons was great in Game 6 while most of the Rangers were not. I think this one comes down to which of the two goalies can steal the game, Mason or Lundquist. I'm going with King Henrik and his Blueshirts. 

The Colorado Avalanche will host Minnestota in a series which has seen only home wins. The Avs, and especially Nathan McKinnon, have been spectacular at home and I have a feeling they will be again. My guess is this Avalanche will roll to at least the next round. 

Bunyan, Osgood and humilated Habs

Some first round thoughts...

What kind of fertilizer is Paul Mara using on his face? We're only four games into the first round and the Ranger defenseman already looks like Paul Bunyan! Perhaps Mara's head start on his playoff-beard is what tips the scale in favor of the Rangers, who knows, but they are one win away from eliminating the high-scoring Caps.

Alex Ovechkin and Mike Green were two major reasons why the Caps were favorites to move past the New York Rangers. Instead, they, along with Jose Theodore, are major factors why the Caps are facing elimination when the series return to D.C. for Game 5.

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The Detroit Red Wings are up 3-0 against playoff debutants Columbus. No long trips to Disneyland must feel pretty good right about now.

Chris Osgood has been as solid as he said he would be. Big surprise!

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Being eliminated and humiliated by the Boston Bruins (I just have to point out that I had the Bruins in 4), of all teams, and in the first round was probably not what the Montreal Canadiens had in mind for their big centennial year. I say they have no one but them selves to blame for it. The whole centennial circus has gotten way out of hand and it has added unnecessary pressure on the team. I understand one hundred years as a club must be celebrated, but the way the Canadiens thought it should be commemorated is just rediculous. They have milked this thing througout the season by having countless different celebrations on game nights and, personally, I am not surprised it ended the way it did.


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RANGERS LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER NIGHT

The New York Rangers finally did what they couldn't do in the first three games, and what the Ottawa Senators never could, that is to beat the seemingly invincible Pittsburgh Penguins. The question is if they can do like the 1942 Maple Leafs and the 1975 NY Islanders and mount a history-making comeback from 0-3. I doubt it, though it seems more likely the Rangers would than the San Jose Sharks or the Colorado Avalanche.