The Rangers scored two quick goals to start the game, Brassard and McDonagh, but the Pens came back in the second and the third period turned into trench warfare. But, we won 2-1, and took a 1-0 lead in the series. Only fifteen more to go.
The game winner was a power play goal by McDonagh. The Rangers were 1-5 on the power play but the significant part of the power play was that it kept Crosby off the ice for most of the first period. I believe he got a little over three minutes in the first. He seemed out of sync the rest of the game. He and Malkin had no shots in the third period.
The goalies, Marc-Andre Fleury and Lundqvist were very good. Fleury made 36 saves, Lundqvist 24. However, the big difference was in front of the nets. Fleury basically had open sights. Lundqvist had a mob in front of the net. There was much goalie interference, but the refs decided to let boys be boys. That has to change in the upcoming games and if the Rangers can't ward off the Pens then Kreider, Miller, Hayes and Nash have to start crashing the Pens net.
A minor, at least I hope its minor, was Girardi getting a puck in the face. The defense led by McDonagh and Staal was outstanding. I thought Staal played a rough, gritty game especially after Girardi's absence. But we need Dandy Dan, the shut down man, back. Can't afford to lose him even for one game.
So one down, fifteen to go and coach you are right. Don't critique a win.
ICINGS: update -- Girardi is okay, ready to go for game 2.
Rangers’ Girardi ‘ready to go’ after puck scare --
The Ironman remains in one piece.
Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi returned to practice on Friday afternoon after he took a puck in the face near the end of Thursday’s 2-1 win over the Penguins in Game 1...
“They just checked to make sure all the teeth were still there,” said Girardi, who missed the final 9:29 after a Chris Kunitz shot deflected up and caught him near his right jaw. “Everything is fine. I’m ready to go.” ...
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