Gerard Gallant believes he wasn't harsh on Rangers after Game 5 loss to Carolina
Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant fist bumps left wing Artemi Panarin after Panarin scored the game-winning goal against the Penguins during overtime in Game 7 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Sunday at Madison Square Garden. Credit: AP/Adam Hunger
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The post-defeat words may have sounded harsh, but Rangers coach Gerard Gallant insisted that was not the case. Nor was his description of his team as “tired” an attempt at motivation for Saturday night’s Game 6 at Madison Square Garden as the Blueshirts try to stave off elimination.
A more relaxed Gallant addressed the media on Friday at the MSG Training Center after the Rangers lost to the Hurricanes, 3-1, in Raleigh on Thursday night in Game 5 of their second-round series. They trail the series 3-2, with the home team having won every game.
“I wasn’t hard on our team,” Gallant said. “Disappointed, that’s part of it. We lost the game and didn’t play as well as we could have. So I was disappointed. But I wasn’t harsh on them. That’s playoffs. That’s the way she goes. We’ll be ready to go tomorrow night.”
The Rangers did not practice on Friday after a midday flight back to New York and do not have a morning skate scheduled before Game 6.
After Game 5, Gallant noted that the Rangers were reaching with their sticks instead of making body checks and said, “We looked tired. We weren’t as quick as them,” adding that it was the worst of their five performances in the series.
Notes & quotes: Gallant said neither Sammy Blais (lower body) nor Barclay Goodrow (lower body) will return for Game 6. “I see it, hopefully, in the near future,” Gallant said. “But it’s not tomorrow.” . . . The NHL announced that if Game 7 is necessary on Monday, the start time will be 8 p.m. . . . Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour told media in Raleigh on Friday that goalie Frederik Andersen (lower body), who has yet to dress in the playoffs, is close to being available as a backup but that it’s not likely for Game 6.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
