Faceoff Factor

Penguins Vs. Rangers Game 2 Preview

Matt Bodenschatz | National Hockey League

Apr 27, 10:24 AM | Hype this story!

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Penguins (2) vs. Rangers (5) Game 1
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Series Score: Penguins 1 – Rangers 0
Game Time: 2:00 EST
Location: Mellon Arena (Pittsburgh)
Television: NBC, CBC

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Preview
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After falling behind 3-0 in the first half of game one, the Penguins bounced back and won 5-4, bringing back memories of their 1992 Stanley Cup run — the last time they achieved such a playoff comeback.

But the Penguins aren’t getting ahead of themselves, and they realize that falling behind early isn’t the way to win games in the second season.

“Obviously, we have the confidence that we can come back, but we can’t start 3-0 every game,” left winger Pascal Dupuis said yesterday to Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “That’s going to come back and bite us if we try to do it every game.”

Now, however, the Rangers will be playing even better, as they know the Penguins can take control of a game at any point.

“We want to put pressure on Fleury,” New York center Brandon Dubinsky said to the Post-Gazette’s Shelly Anderson. “We want to continue to go to the net hard — within the rules; we don’t want to run him over and take penalties — but we want to go to the net and be ready for second and third opportunities.”

For the Penguins a win this afternoon gives them a commanding 2-0 series lead against a team many thought would give them troubles.

For the Rangers, a win this afternoon ties the series and takes away the Penguins’ home ice advantage, as they then would be forced to win at least one game on the road.

The keys to victory for the Penguins are simple. First and foremost, they must start the game with mid-game intensity. Controlling the puck and the tempo in the early minutes could provide them with a nice lead — but, as we all know, no lead is safe, and they must continue a high-tempo game in order to win.

Secondly, continue to pound the Rangers. Jarkko Ruutu led the way Friday night, playing one of his best games as a Penguin, and he must continue to agitate without taking penalties. When he is on his game, he encourages every one of his teammates to play a physical, in-your-face kind of game.

Lastly, keep the front of the net clear. The Penguins did a great job of limiting the Rangers’ chances from in close Friday, and they must find a way to do the same this afternoon — especially after the Rangers have claimed their priority is to get in the face of Fleury. This is where Brooks Orpik and Hal Gill come into play.

The momentum certainly is on the side of the Penguins, and the Rangers undoubtedly are questioning their ability to put away the Penguins, but this series is far from over, and anything can happen.

For a complete list of team leaders and statistics, click here.

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Injuries
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Penguins: Roberts, DTD (Groin)
Rangers: Rozsival, DTD (Undisclosed); Orr, DTD (Toe)