Blue In New York

After another disappointing 5-3 loss last night, the New York Rangers are in a dire position down 3-0 in their Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It has been 33 years since a team in the NHL has come back from a 3-0 deficit. Ironically, the team that gave up the 3-0 lead was the Pittsburgh Penguins, who lost to the Islanders 4 games to 3 in the 1975 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. But the Rangers cannot rely on history repeating itself if they want to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1997. They need to play focused, determined, and inspired hockey. Clamping down on Pittsburgh’s snipers would be ideal as well.

The main problem the Rangers have face this series is their inability to match up with Pittsburgh high-powered offensive attack. Because they are divisional foes, the Rangers had played the Penguins 8 times during the regular season. There’s no doubt that the Rangers knew what they were up against heading into this series. Furthermore, they beat the Penguins 5 out of those eight times, proving that the Rangers can skate with the Pens. In fact, in those 5 wins against the Pens during the regular season, the Rangers surrendered only 8 goals to the Penguins. In the series so far, the Rangers have let up 13 goals in just 3 games. While the Rangers defense is definitely its Achilles’ heel, are the blue liners really that bad? Maybe its a combination of things, such as playoff inexperience and Pittsburgh’s up temp style of play, but the Rangers defense has been shredded by Evengi Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and the rest of the Pens. Even fourth line goon Georges Laraque managed to net a goal in last night’s game. While the group is resilient and well coached, they seem to lack cohesiveness and have seemed very shaky playing in front of Lundqvist this series. And while Lundqvist has let in a few cheap ones, if that, the three time Vezina Trophy finalist has been unbelievable this series. If it weren’t for him, the Rangers would have been embarrassed in the first two games. If the Rangers had an offensive force from the back end or a true punishing physical presence on the blue line, it may be a different story. But they do not, and they have to work with what they have (which is a very promising group of defensemen). Unfortunately the Rangers blue liners have not been up to the task of defending against Pittsburgh’s deadly offensive strategy: a combination of lightening fast puck movement, speed, and crowding the front the net. It will be interesting if the Rangers make any big moves this off-season to acquire a perennial defender or if Tom Renney continues to work with what he has. In short, while the Rangers problems in the second round have come from all areas, it is the defense that is struggling the most, and as the saying goes defense wins championships. If that saying holds true, the Rangers won’t be hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup come this June.