The Eastern Conference finals move to Florida on Sunday for Game 3 between the Rangers and Panthers and we should probably expect more of the same type of hockey that marked the first two – tight, hard-hitting, low-scoring games.
“This is what happens when you have the two best teams in the conference,” said the Florida forward Carter Verhaeghe told reporters Friday after Game 2 at Madison Square Garden. “They are playing a tough defense, we are playing a tough defense and it is difficult to get chances.
The Panthers took away the Rangers’ home field advantage by winning a split of the first two games, but the Blueshirts can claim a little more momentum heading into Sunday’s 3 p.m. matchup. This is due to the overtime victory in Game 2.
The Rangers are an excellent road team – they were 25-12-4 in hostile arenas during the regular season and are 4-1 so far in the playoffs. Florida won the only meeting between the teams at Amerant Bank Arena during the regular season.
Here are five things to watch for in Game 3, where any lead could tip the series:
power Rangers
A hallmark of the Blueshirts’ offense this season was their deadly power play, which finished the regular season ranked third in the NHL. He has also been a reliable source of goals in the playoffs. Except in this series. The Rangers are 0 of 6 so far against Florida’s penalty kill, which is third in the playoffs with an 88.1 percent success rate, just behind the Rangers.
Overall in the playoffs, the Rangers are 11 of 41 with the man advantage and that 26.8 percent rate puts them fourth among playoff teams and is slightly better than their regular season percentage. But the Rangers, who are potentially vulnerable at 5-on-5, should generate results on the power play against the rugged Panthers, who excel at shrinking open ice.
Man’s (Great) Advantage?
We will see Matt Rempe again in game 3? It seems likely, especially since he delivered physicality and energy in 10:06 of ice time in Game 2 and made more hits (nine) than any other skater. His presence created a buzz in the Garden crowd, and he would likely receive a lot of attention from Florida fans as well. The 6-7, 241-pound Rempe had five shifts in the third period and one in overtime and could look bigger on Sunday depending on Jimmy Veseystatus – Vesey left the game in the second period of Game 2 after taking a big hit from Ryan Lomberg and didn’t come back.
Rempe didn’t take any penalties in Game 2, which probably helped him stay on the ice. He went to the penalty box four times in his first five playoff games as referees appeared to be scrutinizing his punishing play. But he hasn’t been whistled in any of the last three. Friday, Rempe played instead Kaapo Kakko, a healthy scratch for the first time in these playoffs. This is also something to watch out for, considering it raises questions about Kakko’s role moving forward.
Sugarplum
The Rangers obviously got a great goal from Barclay Goodrow, who pocketed the OT winner in Game 2, another example of a non-star making an outsized contribution to their playoff run. Goodrow is a forward who is highly regarded in the room for his defense, versatility and his Stanley Cup talent – he won two of them with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He scored four goals in the playoffs, including two game-winners, after scoring just four all season. While the stars fuel the Blueshirts and should mostly dictate how they perform in this series, the less glamorous skaters have had an impact as well. Will they get another jolt from this group in Game 3?
Adam’s Apples
Adam Fox made the beautiful pass that led to Vicente Trocheckin Game 2, giving Fox 31 career playoff assists. He is tied for fourth most in Ranger playoff history by a defenseman with Ryan McDonagh, Brad Park It is Ron Greschner (32 each) next on the list. Brian Leech (61), of course, is the leader of the club. But Fox’s assist ended a five-game point drought for a skater who is the Rangers’ best attacking threat from the blue line. He had five streaks of two consecutive games where he didn’t score a point in the regular season, but he never went more than two consecutive games without scoring. Fox has no goals in these playoffs – the Rangers only have two goals from defenders in the playoffs (short per K’Andre Miller It is Jacob Trouba) after finishing tied for seventh in the NHL with 44 D-men goals.
Numbers racket
Trocheck made his seventh multi-point game of the playoffs in Game 2, scoring that goal and assisting the game-winner and is now tied with Mika Zibanejad (seven in 2022) for the second most multi-point games in a single Ranger postseason. Leetch also holds that mark – he had nine multi-point games in 1994. It might be hard for Trocheck to challenge that record with how close the games have been, but maybe the games will get a little more open. Florida coach Paulo Maurício allowed that possibility after Game 2, noting in his press conference: “There is better skill on both teams than the plays that are being completed. I think it’s a challenge out there right now.”
