Sunday, May 18, 2014

2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs Review: (M1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (M2) New York Rangers

Series Summary

At the start of the series it was expected that Pittsburgh (the more rested team) would come out firing in Game 1. That wasn't the case, as the Rangers scored twice in the opening frame and would outshoot the Penguins 13-8. Pittsburgh would come back in the second, with Lee Stempniak and James Neal scoring to tie the game. While Pittsburgh would outshoot New York the rest of the way, neither team could find the back of the net afterwards. In overtime, Derek Brassard would score...then a moment later Benoit Pouliot would score. Brassard's goal would hold up, and New York would take the 1-0 series lead. Pittsburgh would rebound in Game 2, as Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 22 Rangers shots in the 3-0 victory. Fleury would continue his shutout streak in Game 3, this time stopping 35 shots by the Rangers. Pittsburgh would take the game 2-0, giving them the series lead. Pittsburgh would open the scoring in Game 5, as Evgeni Malkin would score minutes into the game. Fleury's shutout streak would come to an end in the second period, as Carl Hagelin would tie the game. Brandon Sutter would score shorthanded before the second period ends. While both teams would swap goals in the third, Pittsburgh never relinquished the lead. The Penguins won and pushed the Rangers closer to elimination. The Rangers would come out firing in Game 5, scoring twice in the first period. Malkin would score early in the second to cut the lead in half, but it was the closest the Penguins would get. The Rangers would add 2 more in the second and 1 in the third to take the game. Just like in Game 5, Game 6 saw the Rangers get 2 goals in the first. Brandon Sutter would score later in the period to pull the Penguins within 1. Brassard would score the last goal of the game in the second period, as the Rangers would win Game 6 and force a Game 7. In Game 7, New York would socre first (once again), as Brian Boyle would squeak one past Fleury. In the second, Jussi Jokinen would beat Henrik Lundqvist to tie the game. Minutes later, Brad Richards would score on the powerplay to give the Rangers the lead again. Despite the Penguins efforts, they could not solve Lundqvist and the Rangers' defense. In the end, New York would win the game 2-1. The Rangers eliminate the Penguins in 7 games.

Games

New York Rangers 3 (OT)
Pittsburgh Penguins 2

New York Rangers 0
Pittsburgh Penguins 3

Pittsburgh Penguins 2
New York Rangers 0

Pittsburgh Penguins 4
New York Rangers 2

New York Rangers 5
Pittsburgh Penguins 1

Pittsburgh Penguins 1
New York Rangers 3

New York Rangers 2
Pittsburgh Penguins 1

Three Five Thoughts on the Series
  1. Rangers coach Alain Vigneault with the line of the playoffs (so far)
  2. Bob Cole, still the best.
  3. Fleury had back-to-back shutouts?!?!
  4. Crosby broke his pointless streak against Lundqvist. Wonder where I've seen that before...
  5. You want a nut shot? You've got it.
Picture of the Series

Our condolences to Martin St. Louis and his family after his mother passed away. Him opening the scoring on Mother's Day was poetic.

(Image via NHL.com)
 
Highlight of the Series

This scrum has everything. Spear to the nether regions? Check. Kunitz with a left hook? Check. Water bottle incident? You bet!

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