N.Y. Rangers: New York, New York, a desperate hockey town...

From the desk of:  RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

In Henrik We Fret

NEW YORK RANGERS: Henrik Lundqvist received an inadvertent stick to the eye because the Blueshirts did not, and do not, clear the crease well.

Clear out the traffic, and Henrik never gets Marc Staal's stick to the eye.  This goes hand in hand with allowing Pittsburgh to administer Lundqvist a snow shower.  It's not like we can suit up Henrik with even more equipment and pads, so the Rangers' defense had better come up with a better plan for protecting their liege.

NYR: Here We Go Again - Round One 

On that note, Alain Vigneault had defenseman Brady Skjei lace up the skates.  The man is 6'3" and listed at 215 lbs., which is fine, aside from the fact he only participated in 7 regular season games. Meanwhile, Dylan McIlrath is 6'5" and listed at 230 lbs, and played in 34 regular season games.

My question, then, is - if you were head coach, which of the two would you have started to open the playoffs?

Personally, Brady Skjei was never a consideration for me.

Alain Vigneault's aversion to Dylan McIlrath continues.

2015-2016

Stanley Cup Playoffs

GAME ONE FINAL

Rangers     2

Penguins   5

Henrik Lundqvist exited Game One after the 1st period, and is doubtful for Game Two due to swelling around his eye.  Otherwise, Henrik and the Rangers say there is no damage/injury to speak of.

The Rangers, however, were already down 1-0 when Antti Raanta took over.  Sidney Crosby then made things look too easy in giving the Pens a 2-0 lead in the 2nd.  Both Pittsburgh goals were of the taboo variety - meaning they were both scored within the final two minutes of the period.

Despite Derek Stepan's best efforts, things naturally got worse for Tex's Rangers in the 3rd.

Question #2 - What's the only type of goal worse than one scored within the last two minutes of a period?

Bingo! A short handed goal!  Scored by none other than Tom Kuhnhackl ...

Who?

It doesn't matter ... Patric Hornqvist continued turning the rest of the 3rd period into his personal showcase anyway, netting the game's first goal, then completing a hat trick with two more goals in the 3rd.