Chytil decision should wait

Posted on April 30, 2024 by Derek

With the Rangers waiting to see who their next opponent will be in the second round, they can sit back and watch the Islanders and Hurricanes battle it out in Game 5 later tonight.

The Hurricanes need one more victory to advance and set up another showdown with the Rangers. They faced each other in the same round two years ago. The home team won the first six games. But it was the Rangers who prevailed in the deciding game to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

After defeating the Hurricanes in double overtime on Robert Bortuzzo’s goal, the Islanders look to extend the first round series. If they can, Game 6 would be back on Long Island this Thursday.

While that’s still being decided along with the Maple Leafs and Bruins, the Rangers have some time before the second round gets started.

After taking care of the Capitals in four games, they should be satisfied with how the lineup played. All 18 skaters contributed in the first round. For that reason, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette never made any changes. He stuck with the same lines and defense pairs.

The big topic remains when Filip Chytil could return. He’s been skating with the team and traveling. Chytil hasn’t played since last Nov. 2 when he collided with Jesper Fast against Carolina. He suffered a concussion.

When he returned to practice in January, he fell and had another setback. At the time, it looked like his season was over. Instead, the Rangers got good news before the regular season concluded. Chytil returned to practice and was cleared for contact.

He was unavailable to play in the last two games due to the salary cap. It was similar to the Golden Knights holding Mark Stone out until he became eligible for the playoffs. Many refer to what Vegas does as cap circumvention. But it’s within the rules. The Rangers are doing the same thing with Chytil.

There’s been plenty of anticipation for his return to the lineup. As long as they continue to have success, the Rangers should stick with the players that got them here. Unless they struggle early on in the second round, I’d expect Laviolette to stay with the same 12 forwards and 6 defensemen.

There hasn’t been a reason to make changes. That’s why Zac Jones remained the extra defenseman while Erik Gustafsson performed well enough in the first round. It’s also why Matt Rempe stayed on the fourth line over Jonny Brodzinski. Rempe’s energy was effective against the Capitals.

Of course, things could change. If they do, then Chytil will likely return to the lineup. He’d be an upgrade over Alex Wennberg on the third line. Chytil is a more gifted offensive player who’s had success with Kaapo Kakko before. In 2022, they teamed with Alexis Lafreniere to deliver some key goals during the Rangers’ postseason run that year.

Will Cuylle has proven he will play the same North/South game that’s made him a pain in the butt for opponents. His physical style creates space for linemates. If Chytil is back, it makes sense to have him play with Cuylle and Kakko.

Wennberg can slide down to the fourth line with Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey. Rempe would likely come out in that scenario.

Chytil gives Laviolette another option. He can generate offense due to his skating and ability to keep the puck moving on the forecheck. Getting offense from the third line is a key moving forward. They were an effective line in the last round but only scored one goal. That came courtesy of Kakko, whose one-timer off a Nick Jensen giveaway gave the Rangers a quick start in Game 4.

For now, we’ll have to wait and see what happens with the Islanders and Hurricanes. If that series ends tonight, Game 1 of the second round won’t start until this weekend.

It’ll be interesting to see how Laviolette handles the return of Chytil.

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Blueshirts did what was expected in first round sweep

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Derek

When you’re the number one overall seed, a lot of pressure comes with it. That’s precisely what the Rangers are playing for this spring.

In sweeping the Capitals out of the first round, they did exactly what was expected.  There are no style points for winning in the postseason. Even if the games were ugly due to their underwhelming opponent, the Blueshirts don’t have to apologize to anyone.

When you earn home ice for the entire playoffs, that allows you to take advantage of an inferior opponent in the first round. The Rangers had a huge edge in talent, skill, speed, and depth. They also were the much better team on the power play – going 6 for 16 (37.5 percent). They held the Capitals to 2 for 17 (11.8) and scored two shorthanded goals.

They exposed the Caps’ biggest weakness. Special teams have been a big weapon all season. There’s a reason they ranked third in both the power play and penalty kill. Those are areas they’ll have to continue to excel at in the next round.

With key personnel that features Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Vincent Trocheck, and Adam Fox on the top unit, the Blueshirts executed well. Even the little used second unit contributed with Alexis Lafreniere and Erik Gustafsson setting up power-play goals in the series. Jack Roslovic had a key PPG in Game 2. He was a factor.

The two-way play of Zibanejad, Trocheck, and Barclay Goodrow played a part in the four-game victory. They were outstanding on the penalty kill with both Zibanejad and Trocheck setting up shorthanded goals from K’Andre Miller and Goodrow. The attention to detail was pivotal in taking care of the Capitals. They harassed Alexander Ovechkin, who was ineffective throughout the first round.

Defensemen Ryan Lindgren and Jacob Trouba were part of the superb defense that made life difficult on Ovechkin and the Caps. They found it hard to get setup time and find clean shots up a man. Trouba was a blocked shot machine leading the way with 21 in the first round. Fox distinguished himself defensively with 13 blocks.

Miller had a very good series. He used his size and reach to make key defensive plays. He also played with more edge, getting physically involved against the Caps. It was a strong first round for Miller, who had 10 hits, nine blocks, and five takeaways while averaging 19:53 of ice time.

Gustafsson wasn’t a liability. He had two assists and played better than expected at even strength. Outside of a couple of hiccups, he performed admirably on the third pair with Trouba.

By making the switch late in the regular season, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette strengthened the team defense. Having Miller play with Braden Schneider provides better balance. He seems more comfortable at five-on-five. Trouba played his usual rugged style, adding 17 hits. He had two helpers and finished a plus-4.

Fox and Lindgren were very good in the first round. They continue to be one of the league’s best top pairs. Lindgren provides the nuts and bolts while Fox can supply the strong puck possession that leads to offense.

Fox is playing with more tenacity. He gave it to Tom Wilson following the Trocheck power-play goal that came with 16 seconds left in the second period on Sunday. That caused Wilson to become unhinged and take an undisciplined roughing minor.

Igor Shesterkin was on his game against the Caps. He gave up seven goals on 101 shots to post a 1.75 goals-against-average (GAA) and .931 save percentage. While he wasn’t under constant pressure, the former Vezina winner rose to the occasion when called upon. Shesterkin is the backbone of the Rangers. As he goes, so does the team.

One of the best statistics to come out of the first round victory was that they had 10 different goal scorers and 14 different point getters. Their superior depth was a factor in advancing to the second round.

In Game 1, rookie Matt Rempe set the tone by scoring the first goal of the series. He is more well-known for his crushing hits, fisticuffs, and occasional bad penalties. However, he also brings a key physical element that the Rangers haven’t had.

Rempe’s presence is felt by opponents on the forecheck. He can create havoc on the boards for defensemen. The identity of the fourth line is to get pucks in and finish checks. They were effective against the Caps. It was their play in the first game that resulted in goals from Rempe and Jimmy Vesey. Goodrow was right in the middle of it, picking up two assists.

Although he didn’t score in his debut series, rookie Will Cuylle was a constant on the cycle. He pressured Caps’ players into mistakes and drew penalties. He was quite effective in his role on the third line. Kaapo Kakko finally got rewarded for his hard work with the first goal last night. He took advantage of a Nick Jensen turnover to bury his first of the postseason.

Alex Wennberg is trusted by Laviolette at five-on-five. He isn’t going to wow anyone. But he is a solid player defensively who is capable of keeping plays alive on the wall. Although he had a couple of bad turnovers that Shesterkin bailed him out on, Wennberg usually makes the right decision with the puck. He’ll need to be a factor along with his line moving forward.

Both Zibanejad and Trocheck led the way. Trocheck had three goals and three assists for six points with a 71.2 winning percentage on faceoffs. He was their best player.

Zibanejad was a constant at finding open teammates, pacing the team with six assists. He also had a power-play goal. The best part is he shot the puck more. His line with Kreider and Roslovic improved in the games at Washington. Kreider got both his goals at even strength. Roslovic potted a pair on the power play.

The Rangers didn’t get a dominant series from Panarin. But he had two game-winners, including the series clincher on the power play in the third period on Sunday night.

Panarin continued to be aggressive looking shot. His 11 placed him right behind Zibanejad, who led the team with 12. Most noticeable is that he was more engaged in the battles. His open ice hit on T.J. Oshie in Game 2 was an eye-opener. It’s a different Panarin, who wants to deliver a Stanley Cup to the Blueshirts.

Lafreniere didn’t score a goal in the first round. But he had four assists with three coming on the man-advantage. His one assist during five-on-five was a jarring hit that injured Caps defenseman Vincent Iorio, leading directly to Trocheck finding Panarin for a goal in Game 1. Lafreniere was very noticeable during shifts and physically involved.

The Rangers are in the second round without breaking a sweat. They know they’ll have to be better. That means not as many defensive lapses like they had in Game 4. Stronger puck management.

If it’s the Hurricanes in the Division Final, they excel at five-on-five by aggressively pinching their defense on the forecheck. They’re very good in the neutral zone at forcing turnovers that lead to quick plays in transition.

The Rangers will want to clean up those areas. Carolina has an improved power play since key addition Jake Guentzel joined up. Discipline will be vital.

Game 5 between the Islanders and Hurricanes isn’t until tomorrow night. The closest the Rangers could start the next round is this weekend. We’ll see what happens.

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How Sweep It Is: Rangers finish off the Capitals to advance to Second Round

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Derek

How sweep it is. The Rangers took care of business by defeating the Capitals 4-2 to advance to the second round. They swept the best of seven series.

Now, they’ll await the winner between the Hurricanes and Islanders. The Canes lead the first round series three games to one. They’ll look to close it out on Monday night at home.

For the Rangers, they didn’t make it easy on themselves. In fact, the Capitals played their best game of the series. Facing playoff extinction, they showed plenty of urgency.

Despite falling quickly behind on a Kaapo Kakko goal off a Nick Jensen turnover 57 seconds in, it was the Caps who were quicker to the puck and created some dangerous scoring chances. That included Dylan Strome being turned away by Igor Shesterkin on the following shift.

The Rangers were guilty of some sloppy  turnovers. They played very loose in the first two periods. It led to the Caps forcing Shesterkin into some tough saves. He made a good stop on Sonny Milano. There also were consecutive saves on Tom Wilson that had him shaking his head as he skated back to the bench.

When they got shifts, the fourth line was effective. Barclay Goodrow, Jimmy Vesey, and Matt Rempe chipped pucks in and got in on the forecheck. Along with the third line, it was the play of the bottom six that got things done in the first period.

However, the fourth line did get scored on by the Caps with 5:06 left to tie the score. After a long Vesey shot was turned aside by Charlie Lindgren, Dylan Strome got the puck over to Aliaksei Protas. He fed a pinching Martin Fehervary across for a quick shot that beat Shesterkin.

On the goal, Rempe got caught exiting the zone. It was a lesson learned. He’d see no ice time in the third period.

There were plenty of hits throughout the period. The Caps held a slight edge. As expected, they played like their lives depended on it.

Peter Laviolette sent back out the fourth line. They were strong when they had the puck in the offensive zone. On another strong shift, they had the Caps pinned in when Jensen’s leg came together with Adam Fox’s to send him down to the ice in some pain. Jensen went off for tripping.

With only 16 seconds remaining in the first, Vincent Trocheck scored his third goal of the series. Artemi Panarin passed down low for Mika Zibanejad, who moved the puck in the slot for a Trocheck shot that caught Lindgren leaning.

As they celebrated, an animated Wilson exchanged words with Fox, who must’ve gotten under his skin. Wilson took a bad roughing minor to put the Rangers back on the power play.

At the start of the second period, Panarin had a puck go by him at the right point, sending Beck Malenstyn around him for a shorthanded bid. He made a good move, but Shesterkin got his pad on a backhand in tight.

After failing to capitalize on the five-on-four, the Rangers played about as poorly as possible. It was all Caps. They got seven of the first eight shots in the period. Eventually, their aggressiveness led to Hendrix Lapierre scoring his first of the postseason.

Following another lackluster power play due to the Rangers’ penalty kill blanketing Alexander Ovechkin, Lapierre skated right past Chris Kreider in the neutral zone and then got around Ryan Lindgren to beat Shesterkin with over 12 minutes remaining. It was a lazy defensive play by Kreider. He puck watched.

With the game tied, the Caps continued to press the attack. Shesterkin made timely saves on Fehervary and John Carlson. He stopped nine of 10 shots to keep the Rangers even on the scoreboard.

The Caps couldn’t grab the lead even with their best effort. They finished checks and certainly had their opportunities.

Laviolette began to shuffle his lines during the period. One shift saw Zibanejad with Kakko and Will Cuylle. The trio nearly hooked up for a goal. But Zibanejad missed wide in front. Panarin had a shift with Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere. Goodrow came on to take a faceoff and played with Alex Wennberg and Kakko.

Finally, seeing his team show some positive signs, Laviolette went back to his regular combinations. They escaped the period still tied.

In the third period, the Rangers were awake. A Braden Schneider shot led to a Kreider rebound that Lindgren handled.

On the opposite end, Protas got a great chance. But Shesterkin made the big save. Trocheck then was stopped by Lindgren, who gave his team a chance.

Following a Shesterkin save on T.J. Oshie, he got his stick up behind the Rangers’ net on Trocheck. That put them on the power play. This time, they made Oshie pay. It took only 11 seconds for Panarin to put the Rangers ahead.

Fox moved the puck for Zibanejad. He then got it over for a quick Panarin shot that went underneath Lindgren into the net for a 3-2 lead with 16:39 left. It was his second goal of the series and first since Game 1. After being held off the score sheet for the last two games, Panarin had a goal and an assist in the series clincher.

A Jacob Trouba giveaway forced Goodrow to take a hooking penalty to eliminate a scoring chance for Connor McMichael. It was a smart penalty. The Blueshirts shut down the Caps again by giving them nothing. Ovechkin had an attempt blocked by Trouba, who made up for his turnover.

During the series, Ovechkin struggled to get shots through. He was often stifled by K’Andre Miller and Schneider, along with whatever forwards were on. Whether it was Miller, Schneider, or Lindgren and Fox, Ovechkin had a hard time getting anything going. He was far too stationary on the power play. For the first time in his career, he was held without a point in a series.

As beloved as he is, Ovechkin looked like a shadow of the player who’s been a dominant force. He’s still trying to chase down Wayne Gretzky’s goal record. Washington coach Spencer Carberry hardly played him in the first two periods. That’s how ineffective he was.

At 38, he’s signed for another two years through 2026, making an average cap hit of $9.5 million. You have to wonder what Ovechkin has left. He looked old and slow.

Unlike the eyesore that was the second period, the Rangers came to play in the third. They didn’t give up much to the Caps. At one point, they were outshooting them 6-3.

The only adjustment from Laviolette was double shifting Panarin. He decided not to play Rempe in the third. While it was frustrating, it was understandable why. Instead, he played 11 forwards. At times, Goodrow and Wennberg played together. Those are the kind of checking players you win with in close games at this time of year.

You never got the impression that the Caps would score. They didn’t have much offense. Shesterkin was locked in, too.

When Panarin made a move that led to Rasmus Sandin taking him down with 2:42 remaining, it pretty much ended things.

Eventually, Carberry lifted Lindgren with over a minute left in regulation. Lafreniere had a good back check on Oshie. That led to him taking a Trouba outlet and sending the puck over for Jack Roslovic to fire it by a diving Ovechkin into an open net. That made it 4-2 with 51 seconds left.

Acquired from Columbus at the trade deadline, Roslovic had a good series. He finished with two goals and two assists. He had a point in each game.

With time winding down, Shesterkin made one final save on Wilson. After the buzzer, the Rangers contingent cheered.

The traditional handshake between the two rivals was respectful. Even Wilson and Panarin shook hands. Both Lindgren brothers exchanged pleasantries in an emotional moment. Laviolette and Carberry talked. Ovechkin congratulated Shesterkin and Panarin.

One round down. The Rangers know that it’ll get a lot tougher. The Capitals deserve some praise for reaching the playoffs. They weren’t expected to after the deadline. They were no match in the first round.

It’s good that the Rangers ended it quickly. They can rest up and start preparing for the next opponent. Most likely, the Canes. If that happens, it’ll be a big step up. They’ll have to play better.

For now, let’s enjoy this series victory. It was their first sweep since 2007 when they beat the Thrashers in four straight.

If I were to give a series MVP, it would go to Trocheck. He was every bit as good as he was during the season. He led the Rangers in with three goals and added three assists for six points. He dominated on faceoffs and in every key area.

Zibanejad paced the Rangers in scoring with seven points (1-6-7). He had a good series. Let’s see if he can follow it up.

Miller was the best defenseman. He really stepped up while paired with Schneider. He played with more edge and scored a big shorthanded goal. Miller has to continue to assert himself in the playoffs.

Goodrow gets an honorable mention. He played well in the checking role and added offense. That’s why the Rangers paid him. He is very effective in the postseason.

Now, let’s sit back and watch the rest of the first round.

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Experts Chime in on Rempe hit

Posted on April 27, 2024 by Derek

Matt Rempe remains a hot topic in the playoffs. In his first series, the 21-year-old rookie forward has been noticeable for the Rangers against the Capitals.

It’s hard not to see what he brings to the table. A player with size and strength, he plays with energy during his shifts on the fourth line. Teammates appreciate his contributions.

When coach Peter Laviolette thought Rempe was ready for the postseason, he’s been proven correct in his assessment. It was Rempe who scored the first goal of the series when he parked in front to take a Jimmy Vesey feed and beat Charlie Lindgren. Over two minutes later, goals from Artem Panarin and Vesey broke it open to send the Rangers to a 4-1 win in Game 1.

Rempe followed that up with seven hits in seven and a half minutes in the Rangers’ Game 2 victory over the Capitals. He took a penalty that Washington scored on in the third period. They held on for a 4-3 win.

On Friday night, he delivered a heavy hit on Caps defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk with less than eight minutes left in the first period. The refs called him for interference on the play. Judging from his reaction, he didn’t like the call.

The thing about Rempe is that he’s so big that some of his hits are hard to determine if they’re legal or illegal. He plays on the edge due to his tenacious style.

When he was tossed from two games against the Devils, those were legitimate. He served a four-game suspension for elbowing Jonas Siegenthaler. That led to him dropping the gloves against Kurtis MacDermid in the line brawl on Apr. 3. He was accountable for his actions.

Since the suspension, Rempe’s tried to play within the boundaries. He’s officiated differently. That’s led to some marginal calls against him.

Following last night’s 4-1 victory in Game 3, experts chimed in on the interference minor that was called on Rempe. The consensus is that his hit on van Riemsdyk was clean.

Both ESPN’s P.K. Subban and the NHL on TNT panel that includes Paul Bissonnette, Anson Carter, and Wayne Gretzky felt that it was a legal check. Gretzky said that his only concern was that it was a tad late. Van Riemsdyk had just released the puck to a teammate when Rempe crushed him into the boards.

Part of the issue was that van Riemsdyk turned and didn’t see Rempe coming. That put him in a vulnerable position. Rempe finished his check. The end result was that the Caps lost van Riemsdyk for the remainder of the game. They played with five defensemen the rest of the way.

The Rangers picked up Rempe by killing off the penalty. Their penalty kill went a perfect 6 for 6 against the Caps with a shorthanded goal scored by Barclay Goodrow.

At the end of a shift later in the game, Rempe declined to fight Tom Wilson. The Rangers were leading 2-1. It was the right decision. Why give the Caps a chance to get fired up.

In seven shifts, Rempe had four hits over 5:16 of ice time. In three games, he has a goal, six penalty minutes, and 15 hits. He’ll likely be in again for Game 4 tomorrow night.

Considering the Rangers have a 17-2-1 record with him in the lineup, that’s just the way they want it.

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Shesterkin slams the door shut to put Rangers within a game of Second Round

Posted on April 26, 2024 by Derek

The Rangers are one win away from reaching the second round. In stifling the Capitals to take Game 3 by a score of 3-1 at Capital One Arena, they silenced the crowd who rocked the red.

On Sunday night, they’ll go for a series sweep. With the Hurricanes also leading the Islanders three games to none, it could be crucial to eliminate the Caps as soon as possible. A short series would be ideal with a much tougher opponent on the horizon.

It wasn’t the most exciting game. However, the Rangers earned the victory due to special teams and the brilliance of Igor Shesterkin.

The biggest edge they had in the series has played out. They were plus-two on special teams on Friday night. That included a Barclay Goodrow shorthanded goal that held up as the game-winner in the first period. Vincent Trocheck added a power-play goal late in the second period for insurance.

Shesterkin was particularly strong in the third period when his team sat back. He stopped all 14 shots en route to 28 saves to earn the game’s first star. He wasn’t that busy early on. But the Caps made a good push halfway through the second. His best save came when he got over to rob Max Pacioretty of a sure goal.

With Washington applying heavy pressure, Pacioretty was all set up in front for what looked like a goal. Shesterkin made a sprawling pad save and kept the puck out. It was the biggest play of the game.

That key stop more than made up for an uncharacteristic bad goal he allowed to John Carlson. At the time, the Blueshirts were dominating play. Charlie Lindgren made some good saves to keep the game scoreless.

After a shift from the fourth line, the Caps caught the Rangers in a line change. Martin Fehervary moved the puck up for T.J. Oshie. He quickly gained the zone and dropped the puck for a long Carlson wrist shot that Shesterkin whiffed on at 5:34.

But with the Caps’ fans still celebrating the goal, the lead was short-lived. On the following shift, Jack Roslovic provided some good work on the forecheck. He passed the puck for a Mika Zibanejad shot that Chris Kreider tipped in past Lindgren to tie the game only 34 seconds later.

Most notably, the goal came at five-on-five. An area the Zibanejad line has struggled with. They were effective during the first two periods. Although they didn’t combine for many shots, the trio spent some time in the Caps’ zone. Roslovic had a good night due to his skating. He’s got a goal and an assist in the last two games.

Shortly after Kreider’s tying goal, Ryan Lindgren took the first of many bad penalties. He cross-checked Beck Malenstyn from behind. That gave the Caps a power play.

It actually worked in the Rangers’ favor. Jacob Trouba blocked an Alexander Ovechkin shot. That set the wheels in motion for Trocheck and Goodrow to come on a two-on-one rush. With a delayed hooking call on Dylan Strome, Trocheck moved the puck across for Goodrow, who scored a shorthanded goal to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead with 11:52 left.

With the Caps still up a man, Tom Wilson just missed wide on a point blank chance. His one-timer didn’t connect. The Rangers dodged a bullet.

Back at even strength, the physicality picked up. Will Cuylle finished a check on Dylan McIlrath. Ovechkin got one in on K’Andre Miller. Then, Matt Rempe came in and nailed Trevor van Riemsdyk with a heavy hit that sent him flying to the ice. He was called for an interference minor penalty.

Van Riemsdyk had just reversed the puck when Rempe came in with his hit. It wasn’t interference. It could’ve been a different penalty. The question is, did he board or elbow him. He’s a bigger man. That makes it tough for refs to officiate. Van Riemsdyk never saw him coming. He’d exit the game with an upper-body injury.

The Rangers easily killed off the penalty. Truth be told, the Caps are too predictable on the man-advantage. Ovechkin is verh stationary, which makes him easier to defend. The only dangerous player is Wilson, who camps out in front.

Shesterkin made one good save on Strome and turned away a long Ovechkin shot. That was it. The Caps went 0 for 6 on the power play.

With under five minutes left, Wilson was sent off for a soft interference minor on Erik Gustafsson. Lindgren had a save on an Adam Fox try. Kreider missed on a redirection.

Late in the period, Alex Wennberg went off for hooking Pacioretty. Shesterkin stopped Ovechkin. The power play carried over. 

At the start of the second period, they successfully killed off the penalty. Oshie had a tip-in miss wide.

When play returned to full strength, Alexis Lafreniere created a couple of opportunities off hard work. He’s really brought it so far. Of the three on the big line, it’s been Lafreniere who’s been the most noticeable at five-on-five. That’s saying something when Panarin and Trocheck are your wingmen.

With it still a one-goal game, the hitting continued. Nobody passed up an opportunity to finish a check. Even Kaapo Kakko has been delivering hits in this series. Fox has also been more physically engaged. Miller paced the Rangers with six.

The Blueshirts sacrificed their bodies to get the win. They blocked 21 shots. Jacob Trouba led the way with seven. Goodrow added three. He was his feisty self. He’s played a superb series. Goodrow has a goal and two assists along with his usual gritty play at both even strength and on the penalty kill.

A Gustafsson slashing minor on Alexander Alexeyev forced them to kill off another penalty. Due to the diligent work, Shesterkin only had to come up with one big save stopping Connor McMichael.

On a good shift from Kakko, he was denied by a sliding Lindgren on a one-timer. He then drew a tripping minor on Alexeyev to put the Rangers on the power play.

They connected thanks to a smart play by Kreider. With Zibanejad and Trocheck working the left side with Fox, Kreider set a pick to create enough room for Zibanejad to pass in front for a Trocheck power-play goal with 4:38 remaining. He didn’t get an assist. But Kreider created the key insurance.

Miller got heated with Nic Dowd. After drawing the original call for roughing, he went back at Dowd when play halted. It was one of the most animated games Miller’s played. Dowd got the extra two.

The Rangers were unable to take advantage. Panarin couldn’t hit the net, missing twice. He finished the game without a shot in five attempts.

Lafreniere had the best chance on the second unit. But Lindgren stopped him. 

From that point on, it was the Shesterkin show. He made one save on Hendrix Lapierre in the final minute. He was just getting started.

In the third, the Rangers got themselves in trouble by taking bad penalties. First, Goodrow cross-checked Dowd. Shesterkin made a pair of saves to deny Wilson in front. 

The Caps continued to carry the play. Shesterkin then made two more stops on Strome with the sides back at full strength. With them in attack mode, Will Cuylle boarded Fehervary.

Like a broken record, the Blueshirts easily killed off the penalty. They limited the Caps to a single McMichael shot, which a locked in Shesterkin handled.

As the clock wound down, Shesterkin was busy stopping a flurry, including two Ovechkin shots. He also bailed out Wennberg after a giveaway by aggressively coming out to take away a Lapierre chance.

It wasn’t until there were less than five minutes left that the Rangers finally got their first shot of the period. That came from Lafreniere, who tested Lindgren. He then made a stop on Braden Schneider.

Miller drew a hold on Malenstyn, who showed his frustration going to the box. That allowed the Rangers to kill off two minutes – leaving the Caps with very little time to pull Lindgren. He finally went to the bench with 1:17 left.

The Caps hardly threatened. In fact, Shesterkin took a shot at the empty net with time running down. Ovechkin blocked the attempt.

That was it. The Rangers finished it off by killing the remaining seconds.

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Lafreniere a Factor for Rangers in First Two Games

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Derek

Entering the playoffs, most of the focus was on Artemi Panarin for the Rangers. He had a great regular season by achieving new career highs in goals (49), points (120), power-play goals (11), shots (303), and even strength points (75).

In a 4-1 victory over the Capitals to take Game 1 on Sunday, Panarin had a goal and seven shots. It was exactly the start he needed. Game 2 was a different story. The Caps focused on shutting down the Rangers’ best player. He went without a shot in over 20 minutes of ice time.

Instead, Tuesday night was all about Panarin’s linemates. Both Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere had good games. Each made an impact in the Rangers’ 4-3 win over the Caps to take a two games to none series lead.

With the Blueshirts behind on a Connor McMichael tally, Trocheck won a faceoff and got to the front of the net to tip in an Erik Gustafsson shot for his first of the postseason. That tied the score.

On the second half of a power play, Lafreniere dug out a loose puck in the corner and got it over to Trocheck. He then came out and passed across for Mika Zibanejad, who beat Charlie Lindgren to give the Blueshirts the lead.

It was part of another strong game for Lafreniere. At 22, the former 2020 top pick is starting to come into his own. He found great chemistry with Panarin and Trocheck on the top scoring line. His confidence grew thanks in large part to Rangers coach Peter Laviolette staying patient with him.

Lafreniere remained on the Panarin line throughout the season. That allowed him to gain confidence and grow as a player. The end result was setting personal bests in goals (28), assists (29), points (57), shots (217), and even strength points (51).

Even without playing on the top power play unit, he proved he could make an impact. Most of his production came at five-on-five. An area he excels at. That’s due to how hard he competes.

After picking up a helper in Game 1, Lafreniere had two more assists last night. Ironically, they came on the power play. For the season, he totaled six power play points (2-4-6) while being used on the second unit.

With the first unit unable to get going, Laviolette sent out Lafreniere and Gustafsson. It paid dividends. On the Zibanejad power-play goal that made it 2-1, Lafreniere won a battle behind the net and softly moved the puck to Trocheck, who then set up Zibanejad.

It’s that gritty edge Lafreniere plays with that makes him most effective. He’s not afraid to mix it up in the trenches to win battles.

In the second period, with the game tied, Lafreniere again came on in the second half of the man-advantage. He made a good back pass to Gustafsson, who then moved the puck quickly for a Jack Roslovic shot that beat Charlie Lindgren upstairs for the go-ahead goal.

The heads-up play by Lafreniere made it hard for the Caps’ penalty killers to recover. That allowed Gustafsson to set up the Roslovic power-play goal.

It was a huge open ice hit by Lafreniere on Caps defenseman Vincent Iorio that led to Trocheck feeding Panarin for a goal in the first game. Lafreniere separated Iorio from the puck and picked up a key secondary assist on Panarin’s tally that gave the Rangers two goals over a 33-second span to break open a scoreless tie.

The Blueshirts also got a Jimmy Vesey goal to make it 3-0 in just 2:06. They went on to a 4-1 win in Game 1. Lafreniere had an assist, three shots, five attempts, and tied Jacob Trouba for the team lead with five hits. None were bigger than the one that injured Iorio and led to the Rangers scoring a second straight goal.

When he plays with a physical edge, Lafreniere is very effective. His skating improved in his fourth season. So did his ability to score and set up teammates.

One strong characteristic is that Lafreniere has a high battle level. He brings a lot of grit and energy to go with his skills. That’s a unique combo.

If he continues to bring that to this series, Lafreniere will continue to have success in the postseason. They’ll need him to go far.

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Rangers go two up on Capitals: Dig deep to take Game 2

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Derek

It didn’t come easy. Two days later, the Rangers held off the Capitals in a hard fought game. They dug deep for a 4-3 win to take Game 2 at a loud Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.

They now lead the best of seven series two games to none. The next two games shift to DC. The Rangers did their part by holding serve at home. Now, they’ll look to get a game at Washington. Game 3 is Friday night.

Unlike Game 1, this one was mostly about special teams. Aside from the game’s first two goals, the last five were all due to the power play and penalty kill.

The teams had a combined 11 power plays. The Rangers were a little better, going 2 for 6 while getting a big shorthanded goal late in the second period from K’Andre Miller. That proved to be the difference.

Trailing one game to none, the Capitals played with more desperation. They were more aggressive from the outset. Right away, they applied pressure on the Rangers. That led to them getting five of the game’s first seven shots.

Igor Shesterkin was sharp by making key stops on T.J. Oshie, Hendrix Lapierre, and Alexander Ovechkin. Ovechkin never registered another shot. He has been held in check. The Rangers have done a good job defensively at limiting Ovechkin. He only has one total shot in two games.

Sloppy play finally caught up when the Caps grabbed an early lead. After Oshie went around Miller, a good forecheck forced Ryan Lindgren into a turnover. Connor McMichael converted his first of the postseason to put the Caps up 1-0 at 5:09.

The physicality picked up after the goal. Ovechkin got a hit on Braden Schneider, and Oshie finished a check on Artemi Panarin. Will Cuylle stepped into Dylan McIlrath. Cuylle continued to play well offensively. He makes things happen on the third line.

Following an icing by the Capitals, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette sent out the top line. Vincent Trocheck won the offensive draw. Six seconds later, he tipped in an Erik Gustafsson shot to tie the score with 12:04 left.

It was a gritty goal by an honest player who plays playoff style hockey. Trocheck had a strong game. He had a goal, assist, and dominated on faceoffs by going 17 for 25. That earned him the game’s second star.

On what was a quiet night for Panarin, who was held without a shot, Trocheck provided some offense. He would later set up a power-play goal to put the Rangers ahead.

Halfway through the first period, some heavy Caps’ pressure forced Jacob Trouba to take down Tom Wilson in front. It was a good penalty because it prevented a scoring chance.

On the penalty kill, the aggressiveness of the Rangers created two shorthanded chances. Mika Zibanejad was stopped twice by Charlie Lindgren. They held the Caps without a shot on the power play.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel hooked down Trocheck to put the Rangers up a man. With the top unit unable to get much going, Alexis Lafreniere and Gustafsson came on. Lafreniere got the puck to Trocheck in the left circle. He then found an open Zibanejad on the right side for a shot that beat Lindgren for a power-play goal to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead with 5:32 remaining.

On a shift for the fourth line, Matt Rempe made his presence felt by getting a couple of hits on Ovechkin and John Carlson. He heard it from the crowd, which had more energy than the first game.

Panarin made a great move to draw a holding minor on Oshie. Oshie showed some frustration. He and Panarin were going back and forth during the game.

With the Rangers set up in the Caps’ zone, Chris Kreider took an ill-advised cross-checking minor in front of the net on Trevor van Riemsdyk. TVR helped sell it. Kreider didn’t like it. But it wasn’t a good penalty.

Before the first expired, Miller got a shot on Lindgren that he handled.

The second period saw the Capitals take advantage of a call on Rempe to draw even. During a shift, Rempe went to finish a check but caught Lucas Johansen just enough to go off for roughing. It was a penalty, but it feels like they’re gonna find a way to send Rempe off.

On the man-advantage, Washington was able to tie it up again. Max Pacioretty and Wilson combined to set up Dylan Strome for his first of the series at 4:14.

The next shift, Lafreniere forced Martin Fehervary to take him down behind the Caps’ net. It was another good night for Lafreniere. He also had two assists to help the Rangers’ cause.

It was the Caps who blanketed the Rangers on the power play. They only managed one shot with a Kreider tip-in denied by Lindgren.

With the game still tied, Shesterkin made a couple of key stops. For the game, he finished with 22 saves on 25 shots. However, he faced more traffic, which made some of the stops more difficult.

Another good shift from Trocheck led to him drawing a cross-checking minor on Carlson. Following some Lindgren saves on Zibanejad and Trocheck, Panarin had a shot blocked. Out came the second unit. They made the most of their time.

Lafreniere moved the puck up for Gustafsson. He then passed across for Roslovic, who fired a high rising shot that beat Lindgren short side inside the goalpost. That gave the Rangers a 3-2 lead with 7:34 left.

With over four minutes to go, Gustafsson took a delay of game minor that put the Caps on the power play. Instead of getting momentum from it, they turned the puck over, which led to a shorthanded goal.

On what was an outstanding defensive play, Zibanejad stole the puck in the neutral zone. He then passed it up for Kreider before getting it back. He waited until he found a trailing Miller for an easy shorthanded goal that made it 4-2 with 3:08 left.

The Rangers took the two-goal lead to the locker room. It was far from over.

In the third period, the Caps came hard. Hendrix Lapierre had a tricky tip-in stopped by Shesterkin. On the flip side, Kaapo Kakko had a shot denied by Lindgren. He finished a check on Martin Fehervary. He played a solid game with three shots and three hits.

With Washington continuing to press the attack, Jacob Trouba blocked a pair of shots. Rempe also had one drawing cheers.

The atmosphere at MSG was great. I hadn’t been to a game since Zibanejad’s five-goal performance before the pause four years ago. Our section had plenty of funny chants. Especially for Wes McCauley, who missed some calls. There were other fun-filled things being shouted. I can’t repeat them.

It was nice to see familiar faces again. I missed the environment. It was exactly why I love going. Watching the action from up top, it’s easy to follow the play. You can see things easier. If only McCauley knew what a clean hit was.

On what was an absolute heavy hit by Panarin on Oshie, he flattened him. The Caps forward was on the ice afterward. It drew an immediate response. McMichael went after Panarin, who had to wait for a video review to determine if the hit was a major penalty. I saw it live and knew that he had landed a clean shoulder that caught Oshie in the chest. There was nothing dirty about it.

When they came back quickly from watching the replay, it was obvious that they made a mistake. There was no penalty on the play. McMichael got one for roughing Panarin.

Unlike previous power plays, the Rangers wasted two minutes. The Capitals blocked a couple of shots. They did a good job to kill it off.

After getting checked out by concussion spotters, Oshie was able to return later. That was nice to see.

A Nic Dowd rough on Jimmy Vesey gave the Blueshirts another opportunity to put the game out of reach. Instead, Lindgren made a good stop on Kreider in front. Then, the Rangers made a bad line change that caused a bench minor.

During a four-on-four, Alex Wennberg made a mistake at the Caps’ blue line. His turnover allowed them to gain the Rangers’ zone and get set up. Carlson moved the puck for Lapierre, whose shot was tipped in by Wilson on the power play. That cut it to 4-3 with 8:15 left in the third period.

A strong effort from Cuylle led to a scoring chance that Lindgren swallowed up. It came down to the wire.

The Capitals pulled Lindgren with over two minutes remaining. Vesey took a shot at the empty net and iced the puck. The Rangers iced the puck once more.

Despite Strome controlling a faceoff, most of the Caps’ shots missed, including a Pacioretty backhand from in close.

Shesterkin only had to make one save in the final minute when he stopped Oshie on a tip-in. The Rangers took care of the rest by defending their net well. The puck remained behind the net as the final seconds ticked down.

It wasn’t an easy victory. There are no style points at this time of year. Maybe winning a hard fought one-goal game this early will benefit the Rangers. They had to earn it.

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Rempe Believes he’s Built for Playoffs

Posted on April 22, 2024 by Derek

His initiation to the Stanley Cup Playoffs came early. Out came Matt Rempe for his first shift over a minute into Game 1 for the Rangers.

Immediately, he heard the MSG sellout crowd chant, “Rempe, Rempe!!” Ever since his arrival, the 21-year-old former 2020 sixth round pick has taken the city by storm.

There was the welcome to the NHL moment from well-respected Islanders veteran Matt Martin in the Stadium Series played at Met Life Stadium on Feb. 18. A game the Rangers rallied to win 6-5 in overtime.

After getting ejected in his third game versus the Devils for an illegal check on Nathan Bastian, Rempe had a memorable fourth game in a 2-1 win over the Flyers on Feb. 24. He took on Nicolas Deslauriers early. Then, Rempe scored his first career goal when he had the puck deflect off him for the game-winner.

There was the lesson he got taught by Mathieu Olivier in a loss to the Blue Jackets. He battled veteran Ryan Reaves to a draw against the Maple Leafs.

In a rematch with the Devils, Rempe was given the gate for an elbowing major that concussed Jonas Siegenthaler on Mar. 11. Following serving a four-game suspension that set the stage for what happened on Apr. 3 at MSG, Rempe was ready to take on Kurtis MacDermid in what turned into a line brawl.

In 17 games, he had a goal and assist with a whopping 71 penalty minutes and 50 hits. When Rangers coach Peter Laviolette decided to play him over Jonny Brodzinski for the final two games of the regular season, it was a vote of confidence for Rempe.

Indeed, he made his playoff debut on Sunday afternoon at the World’s Most Famous Arena. The Garden came alive when the cult hero shocked everyone by scoring the first goal of Game 1 against the Capitals.

It came when linemate Barclay Goodrow made a pass to Jimmy Vesey, who quickly sent the puck in front for Rempe to bury for the big goal early in the second period. The reaction in the building told the story.

The Rangers erupted for two more goals to build a 3-0 lead. Artemi Panarin and Jimmy Vesey followed it up to give the Blueshirts three goals in 2:06 to break it open. They took the first game 4-1 over the Caps.

Rempe nearly had another goal later. It was a successful postseason debut. One that the Calgary native will remember. He played in front of his Mom for the first time at The Garden. It was special.

“I think I’m built for the playoffs,” Rempe told reporters at his locker following the victory.

“It’s pretty cool. Today was the first day my Mom was at The Garden ever. It was really special because she had to get a chance and get a goal for us. It was really special for her to be there.

Asked if he had some juice due to his Mom being in the building, he quipped, “I always got juice,” with a grin. “I always got some juice. Obviously, I love her so much. She’s my biggest fan.”

For his first ever postseason game, Rempe had an impact. He finished with a goal, three hits, and some pleasantries exchanged with Dylan McIlrath near the conclusion. They’re familiar with each other from the AHL.

It was quite a day for Rempe. He gets to do it again on Tuesday.

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Fourth line stars in Rangers’ Game 1 win over Capitals

Posted on April 21, 2024 by Derek

For a period, nothing happened. Aside from some penalties taken and power plays killed off, there wasn’t much to get excited about. Unless you like watching paint dry.

After a flat start, the Rangers sprang to life in an inspired second period. In the playoffs, it isn’t always what you expect. That point was proven by the fourth line in a 4-1 Rangers’ victory over the Capitals to take Game 1 of the best of seven series.

It was the line centered by Barclay Goodrow that had the most impact to give the Blueshirts a one game to none series lead on the Caps. The trio of Goodrow (2 assists), Matt Rempe (goal), and Jimmy Vesey (goal and assist) combined for two goals and three assists to highlight the win before 18,006 screaming fans at Madison Square Garden on Sunday afternoon.

If the day started on the wrong foot for Rempe, who was called for a dubious charging minor on his first shift, then he more than made up for it later on. The fan favorite scored his first career postseason goal to get the Rangers started.

On what amounted to a perfect play on the forecheck, Goodrow moved the puck behind the net for Vesey, who made a smart tip pass that Rempe buried past Capitals starter Charlie Lindgren for a 1-0 lead at 4:17. The building went crazy. “Rempe, Rempe, Rempe!!” were the chants.

His goal not only got the crowd into it. But it woke up the team. On the next shift, a big hit by Alexis Lafreniere forced Capitals defenseman Vincent Iorio to cough up the puck. With him down due to landing hard into the boards, Lafreniere and Vincent Trocheck combined to find leading scorer Artemi Panarin for a wrist shot that beat Lindgren to the glove side for his first goal of the postseason.

It came only 33 seconds after Rempe’s goal. For Panarin, it was significant. After going without a goal in seven games last year, he got the all-important first goal in the first game of the playoffs. The goal was his first in the postseason since Game 4 against the Lightning in the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals.

Despite being paid close attention to by the Caps, Panarin had a good game. He led all skaters with seven shots and 10 attempts. It’s imperative that he continues to stick with an aggressive mindset this playoffs. That’s what led to him scoring a career best 49 goals. If he plays with confidence, that should bode well.

With his team leading by two, Laviolette went back to the fourth line for another key shift. They delivered again to make it 3-0. On a Goodrow faceoff win in the Caps’ zone back for Vesey, the former Hobey Baker winner let go of a high shot that sailed into the top half of the net at 6:23.

On the scoring play, the Caps weren’t happy with refs Kelly Sutherland and Chris Lee. They felt Rempe interfered with Beck Malenstyn following the draw. However, replays showed that Malenstyn accidentally skated into Rempe’s forearm. It was a case of a smaller man running into a bigger man without any impeding.

They already were fuming over the tough Lafreniere hit that injured Iorio, which resulted in Panarin making it 2-0. That was a close play. But Lafreniere came from the side when he delivered a crushing check that sent Iorio into the boards. Had it been directly from behind, it would’ve been a penalty. Iorio went to the locker room and didn’t return.

By turning it around, the Rangers scored three goals over a 2:06 span. That forced the defensive minded Caps to search for offense. They got it from defenseman Martin Fehervary. On a pass from Tom Wilson, his shot banked in off the skate of Fehervary past Igor Shesterkin to give the Caps some life. He beat Mika Zibanejad on the play to make it 3-1 just 1:08 after Vesey’s goal.

With less than nine minutes left in the second, Lafreniere took a slashing minor on Connor McMichael to put the Caps on the power play. Similar to their first two back in the first period, they were unable to get much accomplished.

The aggressiveness of the Rangers’ third rated penalty kill had something to do with it. They pressured the points and took away time and space. Instead, Zibanejad came on a two-on-one with Kreider for a shorthanded chance. But Kreider was unable to hit the net on a tough Zibanejad pass, missing high and wide.

Special teams were quiet on Sunday. The Rangers went 0 for 2 on the power play. Both came in the first period. They killed off all four Caps’ power plays, including an early one in the third period to maintain a two-goal lead.

Alexander Ovechkin found it tough to get shots through against a stingy penalty killing unit. He had a couple blocked and missed another five attempts wide. That included a couple of dangerous one-timers from his office. He was held without a shot in 19:36, including 7:54 of power-play time.

Although they were successful in killing all four penalties, the Rangers shouldn’t make it a habit. Especially with Ovechkin set up in his wheelhouse.

The Caps are offensively challenged. They want to muck it up as much as possible. That was on full display in a mind-numbing first period that saw the teams combine for 11 shots. The Rangers had seven. None were particularly dangerous. They shot a few into Lindgren’s right catching glove.

Rempe heard his name chanted during his first playoff shift by MSG. He went to finish a check on Malenstyn along the boards but was sent off for charging. It definitely wasn’t a charge as he never left his feet. Maybe it was boarding since it came from behind. Rangers coach Peter Laviolette didn’t like the call.

On an early penalty kill, the Blueshirts blocked three shots. Chris Kreider and Adam Fox got in the path of Ovechkin twice. Fox also blocked a Carlson shot. Eventually, Shesterkin got over to make a save on Carlson later.

Playing his first career playoff game, Will Cuylle was effective on the third line. On one early shift, he drove to the net to draw a holding minor on Capitals defenseman Alexander Alexeyev.

On their first power play of the series, the Rangers couldn’t get what they wanted. However, Zibanejad tested Lindgren from the slot with a wrist shot that he handled. Most of the Caps’ focus was on taking away Panarin. He still managed to get off a shot that was stopped.

A few minutes later, Trocheck was caught for knocking the stick out of Hendrix Lapierre’s hands. However, during a scrum initiated by Adam Fox, they got the retaliation on Max Pacioretty for cross-checking. It probably should’ve still been a Capitals power play. Fox wasn’t called.

Not much materialized during the four-on-four. Tom Wilson finished a check on Braden Schneider. Later, Panarin had another shot stopped by Lindgren, whose right  catching glove was a factor.

Shots were hard to come by. The Caps did a good job playing a structured defensive system. They blocked shots and limited the Rangers’ offense. There was plenty of physicality.

Goodrow and Rempe finished checks. Lafreniere and Jacob Trouba each paced the Rangers with five hits. As a team, the Rangers outhit the Capitals 31-20. That was despite Wilson picking his spots, including catching Zibanejad with a clean shoulder that sent him down during the second period. Nic Dowd had six hits to lead Washington.

Following a Caps’ successive kill, they tested Shesterkin late. His best stop came on Wilson in front. That kept it scoreless through one.

The Rangers’ second period explosion put the Capitals in a hole they couldn’t climb out of. It was exactly what the building needed.

Rempe’s energy electrified The Garden. Nobody could’ve predicted he’d get the first goal. But he made a good read to spin in front to fire home Vesey’s pass for a memorable moment. He joined Matt Gilroy as the only two Rangers to score goals in their first postseason game.

Then, Lafreniere lit up Iorio to force a turnover. It led to him getting the puck over to Trocheck, who had Panarin open for his first of the playoffs.

Rempe was a factor on Vesey’s goal that made it 3-0. He was in the way of Malenstyn on Goodrow’s faceoff win. The incidental collision allowed Vesey to snap home his first of the series over Lindgren.

As much as the Capitals bench didn’t like it, it wasn’t a penalty. Rempe didn’t set an illegal pick. He was just bigger, and Malenstyn ran into him.

They got one back thanks to Wilson firing a shot pass that Fehervary redirected legally off his back skate.

The Caps had opportunities. They didn’t take advantage of them. Shesterkin came up with a big save to deny John Carlson. He was pretty quiet. The Rangers did a good job paying close attention to him. Vesey made a diving block on a Carlson shot that killed the remainder of the second period.

The third period was a defensive clinic. The Rangers held the Caps without a shot for over 12 minutes. It was all about team defense and backchecking. They got in the path to take away shots and continued to make life difficult on their opponent.

When they pressured, the Blueshirts forced Lindgren into some tough stops. That included Rempe making a bid for his second. Lindgren kept the Caps around for a while.

Eventually, Shesterkin was busy making key saves on Aliaksei Protas. He heard the familiar “Igor, Igor!!” chants from the fans.

Following a good defensive play that led to a two-on-one rush with Zibanejad, Kaapo Kakko hit the crossbar with a shot.

With the Caps continuing to take chances down two, that eventually led to a strong defensive shift from the Zibanejad line putting it away. Jack Roslovic made a good read to get the puck over for Zibanejad. He made a great stretch pass for Kreider, who broke in and beat Lindgren with his patented backhand deke for his 41st career postseason goal.

Somewhat predictably, things got a bit noisy. With exactly a minute left, Wilson gave a chop to Shesterkin following a save. Schneider had a quick response, not backing up an inch. Dylan McIlrath also got involved. All three got misconducts.

On the final shift, Laviolette sent out Rempe to keep things under control. When the final buzzer sounded, the Rangers celebrated their first win of this postseason.

Now, it’s onto Game 2 on Tuesday night.

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Inside the First Round: The East

Posted on April 20, 2024 by Derek

On Saturday, April 20, the Stanley Cup Playoffs get underway. There are two games featured on TBS and TNT.

Both are in the Eastern Conference. First up is the Islanders taking on the Hurricanes. That’ll be followed by the Maple Leafs challenging the Bruins.

Sunday will include four more matchups. The Lightning and Panthers renew their rivalry at brunch time. The Capitals and Rangers will follow tomorrow afternoon.

The Western Conference kicks off with two intriguing series. In what could be an exciting battle between two good teams, the Avalanche take on the Jets on Sunday night. Then, the Predators will take on the Canucks late tomorrow night.

The Golden Knights challenge the Stars in a juicy first round matchup that begins on Monday, April 22. Once again, the Kings and Oilers will clash later on Monday night.

How will it all shake out? Some of these series are tough to call.

FIRST ROUND

Eastern Conference

(W1) Lightning vs. (A1) Panthers

Analysis: It’s got the makings of a classic. It won’t be easy for the Panthers, who feature a strong cast. The Lightning enters playing well led by Nikita Kucherov. Matthew Tkachuk will renew acquaintances with Victor Hedman. Can Sam Reinhart duplicate his regular season success? Brayden Point is usually pretty clutch in the spring. Steven Stamkos is lethal on the power play. Aleksander Barkov gives the Panthers an edge at center.A great goalie matchup between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Sergei Bobrovsky could determine who wins.

Pick: Panthers in 7

(A3) Maple Leafs vs. (A2) Bruins

Analysis: Anytime Toronto and Boston collide, expect fireworks. The Leafs want to erase past stinging defeats when Patrice Bergeron led the Bruins to a remarkable first round win for the ages. Auston Matthews will be front and center. So will David Pastrnak. You have Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy on the Bruins’ side. There’s Mitch Marner, William Nylander (uncertain), and Morgan Rielly on the Leafs’ side. Is Ilya Samsonov up to the challenge, or will Joseph Woll replace him? The Bruins seem to have the edge with the tandem of Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark. Will the Leafs’ depth make a difference?

Pick: Leafs in 6

(M3) Islanders vs. (M2) Hurricanes

Analysis: It feels like these teams meet often. The Hurricanes usually have the answers due to their superior skating and puck possession. The Islanders will ride the hot hand in Semyon Varlamov. The Canes will go with Frederik Andersen. The pressure is on Carolina after adding Jake Guentzel to a core that includes Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, Jordan Staal, Martin Necas, Teuvo Teravainen, Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, and Brady Skjei. The Islanders come in hot thanks to Varlamov, who supplanted Ilya Sorokin as the starter. Mat Barzal and Bo Horvat headline the offense along with Kyle Palmieri, Brock Nelson, and Noah Dobson. Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock will be keys along with Alexander Romanov. Can Anders Lee provide support?

Pick: Canes in 6

(W2) Capitals vs. (M1) Rangers

Analysis: I had plenty to say about this matchup in a series preview. Unless the Caps can slow down the Rangers’ offense led by Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, Alexis Lafreniere, Adam Fox, power play sniper Chris Kreider, and Mika Zibanejad, it probably won’t last long. Alexander Ovechkin looks to play the underdog role with John Carlson, Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome, T.J. Oshie, and Connor McMichael. Can Charlie Lindgren outplay Igor Shesterkin?

Pick: Rangers in 5

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