So heres the funny thing. I thought the Senators actually played a better period overall except for 1, very very very important facet of the game. They played just horrendous defense right in front of their net. Did you see the overhead replay that was zoomed out on the 2nd Nylander goal? Count the amount of Senators within 3 feet of the puck who stood still watching the play. I counted 3. When you have a loose puck, 2 feet from the goal mouth, and 3 players sitting around watching the play instead of getting their butts to the front of the net and crosschecking the crap out of the Blue Jersey players, youve got grounds for benchings galore. Several plays the Rangers had 2 and 3 men in front of the net, and the Senators just didnt try to move them out. They allowed them to park themselves there. While there is of course interference rules on the Rangers side, you NEVER see the Rangers parking themselves there without taking at least 2 or 3 crosschecks to the back. The problem today, the players werent between the Rangers and the goal, they were between the Rangers and OUR goal, looking to trap men behind the play. The trouble with playing like that is 2 fold. 1)If you dont score on your chances, you are up the well known creek. 2)If you allow the players that positioning, IF the puck gets there, you need to fight around them to get to the puck.
Now watch how the Rangers played in front of their own net. With the exception of the first shift for the 4th line (where they got caught on the ice for nearly 2 minutes, the bulk of it in their zone) the Rangers did a MARVELOUS job of keeping themselves between the opposing players, and the net. You of course sacrifice some offensive chances by doing this with 3 men down low continually, but you also save your own butts.
This is why the Rangers have been winning as of late. Their commitment to keeping the puck out of their zone. Now if they can just keep netting goals to make sure they get off the dreaded 2 goal lead, they should be ok.
Lastly, anyone else notice how the “Shoot The Puck” mantra seems to have sparked the Rangers?
-Inferno
