New York Rangers

CSF: Gm 4: NYR-OTT, Rangers look to even series on home ice
May 4, 2017, 1:52 AM ET [145 Comments]
Jan Levine
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The Rangers take on the Senators in a Game 4 at MSG today. New York dominated Game 3, winning 4-1, to cut the series to two games to one. Game 5 is Saturday afternoon at 3pm in Ottawa.

Tuesday's win was great, but it was just one game. Lose Thursday and the impact of that win gets heavily blunted. The Rangers understand that and so will Ottawa, as I expect the Senators to put forth a much better and more consistent effort that they did Tuesday.

“At the end of the day, all we’ve done is win one game,” coacb Alain Vigneault said. “That’s all we’ve done. So we’re going to need a better effort [in Game 4]. We’re going to need a complete game from start to finish, and that’s what we talked about.”

“Momentum shifts from period to period, shift to shift, game to game,” Vigneault said. “[Game 3] is behind us. The most important game we have right now is the one that we have in front of us [on Thursday]. We’re getting ready for it.”

“I think it’s [Game 4] going to be a more challenging game,” Henrik Lundqvist said after practice at the Garden on Wednesday. “It’s a big one, we’re trying to tie it up here . . . It’s a lot better position to go up there [to Ottawa for Game 5] 2-2 than 3-1. Right now, it’s important that we not think about the series as a whole, just take tomorrow and make the most of it.”


While the Rangers fans were rightly excited by the Game 3 win, we are still left wondering why it took to that contest to receive that kind of effort. Of course, despite not playing at that same level, New York could very easily be up 2-1 in the series. New York has led for 104 minutes and trailed for just 4:11 through the first three games. But those number look great only on paper, as all that matters is Ottawa is up 2-1 and New York needs to send the series back to Canada all square at two.

Injuries to Bobby Ryan and Zack Smith (day-to-day) will force Senators coach Guy Boucher to alter his lines. In addition, Chris Wideman might come in on defense. Ryan took a shot in the thigh from Erik Karlsson and limped off in the third while Smith got hit by Tanner Glass in the first and didn’t return. The belief is that Ryan will go but Smith is doubtful to play.

Tom Pyatt, who suffered an upper body ailment in Game 4 against the Bruins, will likely suit up for Smith. Look for him to play on a line with Mike Hoffman and Jean-Gabriel Pageau as well as kill penalties. If Ryan can't go, Chris Kelly or Colin White probably dress for him. Wideman might replace Ben Harpur, who struggled in Game 3. There is no timetable on Mark Borowiecki, who is out with a leg injury. He hasn’t played since Game 2 of the series against the Bruins and hasn’t even been skating with the team. He would bring a physical quotient, evidenced by his 364 hits during the season.

The Rangers will stay the course and why not. The changes made before Game 3 had an immediate impact with all four lines scoring. In addition, we know the six D will be the same and hopefully Brady Skjei-Brendan Smith are the second pair again. With Pavel Buchnevich scratched, Derek Stepan moved from the second power play unit to the first as a second righthanded shot, though it didn't help the PP.

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My keys to Game 4:

1) Come out physical and strong early to get the crowd into the game and prevent Ottawa from getting a lead
2) Use speed to generate chances, especially 5v5
3) Maintain the same commitment to defense. Force Ottawa wide. Clear the front of the net to give Henrik Lundqvist an unobstructed view of the shooter.
4) Balance usage of offense and defense. If that happens, it means New York had a lead throughout the game.
5) Hard dump ins around the boards, especially when inside the offensive zone, forcing Anderson to play the puck
6) Avoid silly penalties, especially like the ones seen from Kreider and Miller the past few games
7) Consistent effort throughout the game and from everyone on the ice

Playoff Schedule:

Ottawa Senators (A2) vs. New York Rangers (WC1)

Thursday, April 27, Ottawa 2 Rangers 1, Ottawa leads series 1-0
Saturday, April 29, Ottawa 6 NY Rangers 5, Ottawa leads series 2-0
Tuesday, May 2, NY Rangers 4 Ottawa 1 |Ottawa leads series 2-1
Thursday, May 4, 7:30pm: Ottawa @ NY Rangers | NBCSN, CBC, TVA Sports
Saturday, May 6, 3pm: NY Rangers @ Ottawa | NBC, CBC, TVA Sports
*Tuesday, May 9, TBD: Ottawa @ NY Rangers | TBD
*Thursday, May 11, TBD: NY Rangers @ Ottawa | TBD