Ok ok lets get it out of the way early no the refs didn’t lose us this game bad turnovers did, but should some of the calls gone the other way? Of course!
The biggest play of the game was the Artemi Panarin hit on TJ Oshie’s head which clearly should have been a penalty and a power play chance for Washington in the 3rd period, but instead McMichael gets a roughing penalty for having his teammates back capital B Bullshit!
This hit could have been avoided if Oshie was given a penalty on this play
Listen I love TJ playing like this because if we want to have a chance in this series we need guys being pests on the ice and getting under the Rangers skin, but by doing this puts a target on your back and unfortunately for us it came on a headhunting hit that no penalty was called.
Also, if Tom Wilson makes that hit the league might sentence him to the electric chair, even though the league “says” that prior suspensions don’t influence future ones.
Speaking of Wilson there was no call on this either!
Now that I got that out of the way onto the game.
One of our young guns got us on the board first with a heads up move by trailing the play waiting for a rebound but instead McMichael got a wide open look off a poke checked puck off Oshie’s stick and ripped it passed a lying on the ground Shesterkin. (This was McMichael’s first career playoff goal)
Before we could get settled with a nice 1-0 lead the Rangers changed that off a solid deflection from friend of the pod Vincent Trocheck to notch the game at 1 a piece.
Then after a corner battle in our zone that we lost a wide open Mika Zibanejad was waiting with a wicked wrister who beat a sliding Alexander Alexeyev and Lindgren glove side, a save I think Charlie knows he should have had. This gave NY the lead going into the intermission.
Then on the powerplay with some tic tac toe passing between Wilson and Strome finishes it at the door step to tie the game back at 2 a piece.
With the game tied and around halfway through the 2nd period the Rangers were on the powerplay with the Caps’ D collapsed NY took advantage in the hands of Jack Roslovic who beat Lindgren top cheese and gives the Rags a 3-2 lead.
The Caps then got a much need powerplay after a delay of game penalty, but Alex Ovechkin picks the worse time to turnover the puck at our blue line giving the Rangers a 2v1 shorthanded chance which they succeeded on a trailing K’Andre Miller beat a almost hopeless Lindgren who was left out to dry. 4-2 Bad Guys
Then after a too many men penalty from NY the Caps go back on the power-play and this time they succeed with a shot from the point from Lapierre and a great deflection from Wilson to beat he NY goalie and bring the boys back to down one goal.
The boys had some solid chances in the remaining minute of the game but just ran out of time, 4-3 final now NY has a 2-0 series lead, but you know the saying the series doesn’t start till someone wins on the road. (fingers crossed)
The boys had a great start to the game again similar to how game 1 started. Unfortunately again the Rangers survived the plethora of Washington shots.
It has been great seeing McMichael excel and step up to the playoff hockey grind he has been ready for the bright lights of Stanley Cup hockey.
After two games I have seen enough off Aube Kubel and that old ass Paciorretty, why in the blue hell is Max getting so much ice time and POWERPLAY TIME he hasn’t earned that all season he has been such a non factor.
Since we are already down 2-0 lets give Ivan Miroshinichenko or Mike Sgarbossa a chance plus we get the young legs hungry for playoff action, we have nothing to lose to be honest.
Have to shoutout Lucas Johansen who played 11+ minutes in his 1st career NHL playoff game and with him on the ice the Caps did not give up one high danger chance.
As for goalies I think we still ride with Lindgren even though I wouldn’t be shocked if they give Kuemper the start Friday.
We need Rasmus Sandin or Nick Jensen back in the lineup like we need air to breathe.
The biggest headline of the night happened after the game with Spencer Carbery’s comments on Ovi’s struggles.
“I thought the first two games he looks a little bit off, he’s struggling,” Carbery stated “It’s hard. It’s the playoffs, on the road, he’s getting a tough matchup.”
He is the first coach that I can remember that has called out Ovi based on his play and personally I think that shows that Ovi respects the hell out of Spencer. So I think this will light a huge fire under Ovechkin going into a must win game 3.
See you all Friday for Game 3 in Washington with a much need two days off for our guys.
The Morning Skate 