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Penguins vs. Rangers Game 4 Preview

Matt Bodenschatz | National Hockey League

May 1, 08:44 AM | Hype this story!

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Penguins (2) vs. Rangers (5) Game 4
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Series Score: Penguins 3 – Rangers 0
Game Time: 7:00 EST
Location: Madison Square Garden (New York)
Television: Versus, CBC

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Preview
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After Tuesday’s intense game three, which saw no less than five players suffer injuries, the Penguins and Rangers will continue their series tonight at Madison Square Garden.

In what could be a record setting night for the Penguins, the Rangers simply are looking to win a game.

“It’s really important as a team to just think about winning one game,” Brendan Shanahan said to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I’ve seen it a lot in the playoffs, with momentum, how quickly it can change.”

But the Rangers could be forced to do so without several players. Sean Avery is out with a lacerated spleen and won’t return until next season; Blair Betts took a puck to the face and is out of the lineup for tonight; and Chris Drury is battling a shoulder injury that kept him out for the second period and limited his mobility in the third period Tuesday.

Likewise, the Penguins won’t be looking beyond the Rangers, despite having a second round series victory in view.

“You don’t want to overlook things,” Sidney Crosby said to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “When you realize how hard you work to win, you don’t want to get burned by looking ahead.”

And, like the Rangers, the Penguins could find themselves without a few important players.

Indications are that Max Talbot, who is believed have broken his foot while blocking a shot during a second period penalty kill Tuesday, could be in the lineup tonight, as could Rob Scuderi, who has a bruised foot that stems back to the same penalty kill.

If either one isn’t able to take the ice, the Penguins have a pair of veterans — Gary Roberts and Darryl Sydor — to fill in.

“I had a good skate [yesterday] and feel good,” Roberts said to the Post-Gazette. “If called upon, I’ll be ready.”

While the Rangers have tried many game plans, nothing has worked against the dynamic Penguins.

Game one was wide open with plenty of goal scoring, and despite earning a three-goal lead, they ultimately surrendered the game to the offensive-minded Penguins.

Game two turned to a defensive philosophy, which happens to be the Rangers’ preferred style of play. The Penguins beat them at their own game, and shut them out.

So, when game three moved to New York, the Rangers reverted back to their offensive style, knowing that the only way to win a game is to put at least one puck in the net. Despite outplaying the Penguins for much of the game, the Rangers, once again, fell short.

Tonight is do-or-die for the Blueshirts, who appear to be all-but-eliminated.

For the Penguins, the game should be viewed as practice for the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, where the competition will be much tougher.

The keys tonight are to reduce the number of penalties taken, play an up-tempo offensive game with plenty of puck control, and build on a stellar defensive effort that featured blocked shot after blocked shot.

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

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Injuries
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Penguins: Talbot, DTD (Broken Foot); Scuderi, DTD (Bruised Foot); Eaton, IR (Knee)
Rangers: Avery, IR (Lacerated Spleen); Drury, DTD (Shoulder); Betts, DTD (Facial Injury)