New York Rangers @ Los Angeles Kings, Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final
The Rangers are back in the business tonight when they visit the Los Angeles Kings in the Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Blueshirts already led the Game 1, 2-0 after the first period but they weren’t able to secure the victory. Drew Doughty tied the game with magnificent goal and Justin Williams scored the game winner after Dan Girardi’s mistake in own zone. While the Rangers maybe played their best hockey of the playoffs in the first period, they were completely dominated by the Kings in the third period. Carl Hagelin was stopped by Jonathan Quick on the breakaway with under minute to go in the regulation time but Kings netminder was able to make a big save. Alain Vigneault told the media after the game that “every single player needs to bring his A game, too many guys brought their B effort”. Wise words by the head coach, tonight the Rangers need big effort from every single player throughout the line-up. Game 3 will be played at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.
LAK:
This Kings team is stacked with offensive power in Marian Gaborik, Anze Kopitar and Jeff Carter but Justin Williams has melted the hearts of the Kings fans with his superb performances in this post season. Williams, who is 7-0 in career Game 7’s, scored the game winner in the Game 1 and he now has 8 goals in the playoffs. The Game 1 was like Kings’ post season in the nutshell. They didn’t start the game well, improved their game as the game went on and when the stakes were high enough – they were able to left the ice as winners. Darryl Sutter wasn’t pleased with his teams performance and told the media that “we have to be better in every category of the game in the next game”.
NYR:
Carl Hagelin has been one of the best Rangers forwards this spring and he keeps surprising people in every series. In the Game 1 he had a breakaway goal and almost the game winner in the winding seconds of the third period. Hagelin’s and Chris Kreider’s speed is the key for success in this series. The Kings defense is highly skilled but they don’t have the best skaters on their blueline. John Moore is eligible to make his return to the line-up tonight after two game suspension. Moore will take over Raphael Diaz spot in the third defensive pair. Benoit Pouliot and Hagelin scored for the Rangers in the opening game of the series but they will need much more from their star players like Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis. Henrik Lundqvist made some spectular saves along the way but he wasn’t pleased with his performance. The Rangers aren’t facing elimination and this isn’t the Game 7 but you can sense that tonight’s game is a big one. 4 wins out of 5 games against the Kings? Sounds tough enough. Win tonight and head back to NYC with series tied in one.
Let’s Go Rangers!
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