Based on guardsWith the season’s penchant for resilience and their stellar record at Madison Square Garden, Saturday night’s loss at Carolina feels more like a blip than anything else in their second-round series in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
In other words, they should still be heavy favorites to close out the series in Game 5 on Monday night when it returns to the Garden, even if the Canes possess a bit of momentum based on a 4-3 home win.
But the Rangers still lead the series, three games to one. The Eastern Conference finals are one win away and it’s easy to think the Rangers can advance on familiar ice.
The Rangers were 30-11 at home this season and are 4-0 so far in the playoffs. In their last 16 home playoff games, the Rangers are 13-3 with a plus-23 goal difference. They’ve already beaten Carolina twice at the Garden in these playoffs, including a double-overtime victory in Game 2.
Returning home means “a lot going for you”, Rangers coach Pedro Lavioleta told reporters Saturday in his postgame news conference at PNC Arena. “Certainly the fans, coming back to our building. Our fans are incredible.
“That energy will be important.”
The Rangers have basically weathered everything thrown at them this season, including a midseason malaise that left some wondering if they were truly as good as they once seemed. Igor Shesterkin had a mini-vacation after the All-Star break when the goaltender himself didn’t feel or play like an All-Star, and he emerged from whatever fear attacked him as his old self, perhaps the best goaltender in the world. They suffered injuries and watched players like Alexis Lafrenière flourished.
They have 32 comeback wins this season, a team record. Don’t give up in New York, okay? No panic either.
Game 4, even though the outcome wasn’t what they wanted, was something of a microcosm of the way they handled the season. They reacted. Despite quickly falling behind by two goals – for the first time in these playoffs – they rallied to tie the score and put themselves in position to steal a game on hostile ice.
Shesterkin conceded a shocking three goals in the first period — on just 10 shots, after stopping 121 of 129 shots in the first three games, a .938 save percentage.
The Rangers trailed 3-1, and Laviolette said he emphasized to his players that they would win the second period. “We did it,” Laviolette said. He noted that they were tied at 3 in the third period and the game came down to a late power play for Carolina. The Canes, who were 0-for-16 on the power play in the series, finally converted.
You had to figure the Canes would get a man-advantage goal at some point, right? They were the second-best power play in the NHL during the regular season and were stifled by the Rangers’ penchant for penalty killing and the Blueshirts’ shot-blocking wizardry.
The Rangers lost, but they didn’t play badly. Well, except maybe the first period.
“I thought they played a great game, actually,” the Carolina coach said Rod Brind’Amour. “We came out good, which was really important, and then they answered the bell.”
That’s been one of the main themes of the Rangers’ season. They always respond. They have a big advantage in a tight series – the goal difference is plus-2 in favor of Rangers. The next chance to respond is Monday.
“It all comes down to believing in ourselves,” the Rangers said. Barclay Goodrow he told reporters in Raleigh. “We know it wouldn’t be easy. We know this doesn’t affect our confidence level.
“Come back with a better game on Monday.”
And finish the series.
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