This Time N.Y. Rangers Sustain and Finish Game Two

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

GAME TWO

Penguins   2

Rangers     5

FINAL

Ch ... ch ... changes!

Pittsburgh provided the Rangers just one power-play opportunity through five-plus periods in game one.  On Thursday, the Pens were whistled four times which is somewhat uncharacteristic.  Three minutes into the second period Ryan Strome scored on a power play giving the Rangers a 2-1 lead. The Blueshirt PP is now 2/5 through two games.  Expect the Pens to be more disciplined and provide fewer opportunities as the series progresses.  But the Rangers must continue making the Penguins pay a heavy price for any indiscretions.

Artemi Panarin in game one clocked nearly 32 minutes of ice time but finished with no points and only two shots on goal.  This time Bread Man assisted on Andrew Copp's first-period goal and assisted Strome in the second.  But before the second session came to a close, Sidney Crosby scored, bringing the Pens within one.  At 8:02 of the third period, Artemi Panarin scored to restore the Rangers' two-goal lead and finished the game with three points.

Cycling back, trade-deadline acquisition Andrew Copp opened the scoring in the first period.  Likewise, acquisition Frank Vatrano effectively put the game out of reach at the 9:49 mark of the third - and what a move by him, powering down the right side.

K'Andre Miller was also stellar, and not because he had two assists.  On a night the Rangers were shy of Ryan Lindgren, Miller was great defensively and, on one particular play, directed traffic when the Rangers got caught in an odd-man rush.

Igor Shesterkin took care of the rest, turning in another brilliant performance.  He stopped 39 of 41 shots in just two games and has made 118 saves against 124 attempts for a .951 percentage! 

Unlike game one, the Rangers, this time, sustained and finished.