One More Win...Take 2
If these playoffs have proven anything, 3 wins in a series doesn’t mean shit. Both teams learned that in the last round, overcoming 3-1 and 3-2 deficits. The Blueshirts allowed the Habs to live another game after Tuesday’s wacky loss, but have another chance to seal their fate tonight at MSG. I don’t think there’s much to take from Game 5 other than the Rangers & Lundqvist were flat while Montreal came out flying like any home team should in that position. This time, it’s gotta be the Rangers’ turn.
They have to smarten up though. Habs fans were barely finished cheering the national anthem before Kreider took a seat in the sin bin & the Canadiens capitalized. NY needs to get the jump tonight, keep the crowd loud & force Montreal to take risks. Assuming Hank is back to his usual big game self, the Blueshirts will have every opportunity to take advantage of the rookie across the way. Tokarski was mediocre at best and let a 3-goal lead slip away before the Rene Bourque Show. There’s little reason to believe he’ll outplay the King – not under these circumstances. Brandon Prust’s return to the series is just another reason why the Garden crowd will play a factor in fueling NY.
With Stepan a little more comfortable after a game & 2 goals under his belt, Lundqvist with something to prove & a much more decisive Raphael Diaz in for the suspended John Moore, there’s every reason to believe the Rangers will move on to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in 20 years. When disciplined, their game has been better than the Habs. One more solid effort is all that stands in the way of a shot at the Cup, and there’s no better place to celebrate than the world’s most famous arena.
