Tuesday evening brought some must win games in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers faced off in game 7, while the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild entered game 6.
The New York Rangers came into the game 7 winning their last two games. Down 3-1 and the series on the ropes, Henrik Lundqvist stepped up huge the last few games to keep the Rangers alive. To even have a chance in game 7 that’s exactly the type of performance they would need.
It didn’t take long into the opening period for the rest of the Rangers to step up. Brian Boyle broke the scoring open with a wrist shot that beat Marc-Andre Fleury, just five minutes into the opening period. Though they outshot the Rangers 10-7, the Penguins couldn’t get any scoring in the opening period.
Jussi Jokinen tied the game just under five minutes into the second period. His wrist shot would be the only one to get past Lundqvist. After a bad tripping penalty by the Pens, the Rangers took full advantage.
Brad Richards scored the eventual game winner, with a wrist shot that found its way past Fleury. Not Fleury’s best game in net last night, but was enough to keep the Pens close.
The final period was a desperate one for Pittsburgh. The Rangers pulled out all the stops, and Lundqvist kept the Pens at bay. After making 36 saves Lundqvist will give the Rangers an opportunity to play in the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1994.
“It shows you can’t give up, you just have to believe in yourself and what you’re doing here,” Lundqvist said. “After we won Game 5, you slowly started to believe. You still feel like it’s a lot of work ahead of us, but let’s just focus on the next one and we’ll see what happens. Then you win that one and then it’s up for grabs here. I think it’s extremely important that you stay in the moment and not think too much about the consequences of what might happen if you lose. Just go out and play your game.”
The win was Lundqvist’s NHL record fifth straight Game 7 victory. In six Game 7 starts, he is 5-1 with a 1.00 goals-against average and .961 save percentage.
Penguins Coach Brad Blysma’s seat just got a little warmer after that loss and not even a Conference Final finish this season.
Game 6 between the Chicago Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild was also a goaltenders showcase.
Corey Crawford and Ilya Bryzgalov stole the show, as both teams fought for their chance to be in the Western Conference Finals.
Kris Versteeg helped out Crawford as he scored 1:58 into the opening period. Versteeg’s shot hit Wild defenseman Clayton Stoner and bounced over Bryzgalov’s shoulder. That was all the scoring in the opening frame, but the Wild had many opportunities.
The Wild wasted little time into the second period before tying the game at one. Erik Haula found his way in front of the net before finishing a wrist shot that would be the only goal that Crawford allowed all night.
Crawford and Bryzgalov would trade save after save the next two periods. Neither team could find the winning goal in regulation, and the game would go to overtime. The Wild led on shots 30-22.
In overtime each team had their chance at scoring opportunities. That would all change 9:42 into the extra frame.
Mr. Showtime, Patrick Kane found the puck and rushed in on Ilya Bryzgalov before beating him backhand to the top shelf.
Not even in practice,” Bryzgalov said when asked if he could ever remember the puck reacting as it did on what turned into the season-ending goal.
Crawford finished the night with 34 saves and finished as the games third star, none bigger then shutting the door on Justin Fontaine.
“I felt pretty good,” Crawford said. “Our D-men made some big plays, too, on a couple pucks that were sitting there in the blue [of the crease]. They came up big on those ones. It’s just sticking with it throughout the whole game and just giving our guys a chance.”
The Rangers have to wait until tonight’s game 7 in Boston between the Canadiens and Bruins to see who they play in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Blackhawks may have more time to get some rest if the Los Angeles Kings figure out a way to win game 6 in L.A. against the Anaheim Ducks.
Tonight’s Game Picks
Bruins 3-2, Ducks 4-2
photo credit: getty images gifs: sohockeyeh
