The Eastern Conference semifinal series between the Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers shifts back to the Consol Energy Center for Game 5 on Friday. The Penguins have won three in a row in the series, putting the Rangers on the brink of elimination.
Once again the Pacers provided hope for their fans by bouncing back after their series opening loss at home. It was hardly a dominant victory but one that provided some hope for the rest of the series thanks to the fact that they actually got some production from Roy Hibbert.
The Oklahoma City Thunder roared back to even the series at one game apiece after shutting down the Clippers offense in game two on Tuesday, and will look to take at least one of two in Los Angeles when the two meet on Friday in game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals.
Ducks Try to Dig Themselves Out of a Hole – Visit Kings in Game 3
The Anaheim Ducks head out on the road Thursday night looking for that elusive fist win in their second round playoff series with the Los Angeles Kings. Down 2-0 in the series, it is no secret as to why the Ducks are in such a predicament – their potent offense has gone cold.
Boston Looks to Reclaim Home Ice Advantage – Game 4 vs. Habs Thursday Night
The Montreal Canadiens have become used to fast starts in their second round series with the Boston Bruins – unfortunately they have become used to coughing up leads in the third period and letting their Original Six rivals back in each game.
The Brooklyn Nets look to rebound in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal against the Miami Heat on Thursday night. The heat ran away with the opener in this series, claiming a 107-86 victory.
The Los Angeles Clippers set a franchise playoff record for 3-pointers in a single game in game one of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday, and will look to take home court advantage totally away from the Thunder, when they square off with them in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night.
I know some are saying the Wizards stole game one but since I thought that would happen I am of a different opinion. Washington has been a strong road team all season long and in these playoffs even stronger.
The New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins will continue their Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series with Game 4 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. The Penguins wrestled back home ice advantage with back-to-back wins, but they can now put their foot on the throats of the Rangers with a win in Game 4.
Eastern Conference semifinals Game 4
Pittsburgh Penguins (6-3) at New York Rangers (5-5)
Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Time: 7:30 PM ET
Venue: Madison Square Garden
City: New York, New York
O/U Odds: 5
In Canada? Try Pinnacle!
Money Line: Pittsburgh -106, New York -102
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The Penguins don’t get shutout wins often, particularly in the postseason, but that’s been the case in each of their last two outings. The team usually relies on its high-powered offense, but the team didn’t even do much in the way of generating chances in Game 3.
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In that contest, the Rangers actually outshot the Penguins by a wide margin, 35-15, and the Rangers even had a 5-to-1 edge in power plays, but like we saw in some of their games against the Flyers, the Rangers just couldn’t catch any breaks.
Now, having been shut out in back-to-back contests, the Rangers are desperate to find goal-scoring anywhere they can. The team wasn’t shut out in back-to-back contests in the entire regular season, so it seems safe to say they won’t be shut out for a third consecutive game on Wednesday night.
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The last time the team was shut out in back-to-back games, they responded by scoring four goals against Winnipeg, then six against this very Pittsburgh team in back-to-back wins. Derek Stepan scored twice against Winnipeg, while Rick Nash had a goal and a helper. Derick Brassard had a goal and three assists in the win against Pittsburgh, and Brad Richards had a goal and two assists in that game.
Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault would love for any one of those players to step up right about now. Vigneault blasted the schedule-makers after Game 3, and his team will now have to put up, or shut up.
The Rangers need this win in a bad way. The schedule-makers deserve a lot of the blame for the speed bump the team just hit, but now that they’ve had a day off, there won’t be any excuses after this one. Expect an A-effort from the Rangers in this one after back-to-back duds.
Additionally, with goals being hard to come by for the Rangers in their last two games, goaltender Henrik Lundqvist knows he’s going to have to stand on his head in this one if the team has a chance. With competent play from Marc-Andre Fleury at the other end, this game should stay under the number.
The Rangers are 11-2 in their last 13 games played on a Wednesday, and 5-2 in their last seven home games.
The under is 16-6-3 in the Rangers’ last 25 home games, and it is 9-2-6 in their last 17 conference semifinal games.
The play: New York -102, Under 5
Habs Bring Home Ice Advantage Back to Montreal
The Boston Bruins have a little work to do in order to regain home ice advantage in their series with the Montreal Canadiens. But a win in front of a rabid Bell Center crowd certainly won’t be easy.
The Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets will face off in the second round of the postseason in a battle of the first and sixth seeds in the Eastern Conference.
The Brooklyn Nets will make the trip out to South Beach just two days after a deciding Game 7 in their opening round series, as they will continue into the Eastern Conference semifinals with a visit with the Miami Heat.
Kings Look to Take Stranglehold Back to Staples Center
We all knew that Game 1 between the Kings and the Ducks would be tight and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Marian Gaborik’s goal with seven seconds left in Regulation and then his goal at 12:07 of the first OT period gave the Kings their fifth straight postseason win.
The New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins will head over to Madison Square Garden as their series shifts to New York for Game 3 on Monday. The Rangers laid an egg in Game 2 on Sunday, and while the schedule played a major factor in their performance, they’ll need to get up for this one on the second night of this back-to-back.
Los Angeles won’t get any time to relax when they travel to Oklahoma City to open the Western Conference semifinals against the Thunder on Monday night.
The Wizards have been cooling their heels waiting to see who they are going to play. The fact that it is Indiana is hardly a surprise and even though they lost the season series to the Pacers, 2-1, I am sure they are going into this game with a high level of confidence.
