For the second straight series, the New York Rangers have taken Games 2 and 3 in overtime. Now with a 2-1 series lead on the Florida Panthers, the Blueshirts will look to go up 3-1 before heading back to MSG. The Rangers have a rare opportunity to head home for a Game 5 with a 3-1 series lead for the second straight series, both against top-five teams in the NHL.
It won’t be easy, and Florida won’t go quietly. Game 3 was a bit of a mess, but it was mostly a low danger mess with the Rangers actually taking 11 high danger chances to Florida’s 10, signifying they held Florida to the outside for the overwhelming majority of their 109 shot attempts. Still, that’s way too many and it’s not a recipe for success.
To counter, the Rangers will need their powerplay to start scoring again. They’ve been held without a powerplay goal for the first three games, and without the man advantage firing on all cylinders, it’s been the depth that has carried the Rangers to their 2-1 series lead. That, too, is not a recipe for success.
Still, it’s overblown by the national media. Expect the Rangers to adjust and tighten up defensively while making changes on the powerplay to find more open space.
If you missed our previews, check them out: Stats preview. Systems preview. Goaltending preview. Keys to victory.
Panthers Lines
Vladimir Tarasenko-Aleksander Barkov-Sam Reinhart
Carter Verhaeghe-Sam Bennett-Matt Tkachuk
Eetu Luostarinen-Anton Lundell-Evan Rodrigues
Ryan Lomberg-Kevin Stenlund-Nick Cousins
Gustav Forsling-Aaron Ekblad
Niko Mikkola-Brandon Montour
Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Dimitriy Kulikov
Sergei Bobrovsky gets the start
Rangers Lines
Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trocheck-Alexis Lafreniere
Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Filip Chytil
Will Cuylle-Alex Wennberg-Jack Roslovic
Kaapo Kakko-Barclay Goodrow-Matt Rempe
Ryan Lindgren-Adam Fox
K’Andre Miller-Jacob Trouba
Erik Gustafsson-Braden Schneider
Igor Shesterkin gets the start
Injuries: Jimmy Vesey (shoulder)
Crazy Prediction: The powerplay scores twice.
Game time is 8pm.
