Rangers won't change their approach for Game 7 against Penguins
Chris Kreider #20 of the Rangers is congratulated by his teammates after scoring the game winning goal during the third period in Game Six of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG PAINTS Arena on May 13, 2022 in Pittsburgh. Credit: Getty Images/Kirk Irwin
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Game 7s are special. The Rangers know that.
But that doesn’t mean they want to change their approach on Sunday night at a sure-to-be-delirious Madison Square Garden after winning their last two games to push their first-round series with the Penguins to a deciding game.
“We’re real excited,” coach Gerard Gallant said after Saturday’s well-attended optional practice at the MSG Training Center. “Being down 3-1 and battling back to get back to a Game 7 is huge for us. Now we’ve got to make sure we finish it off tomorrow and play the right way.”
It will be the Rangers’ 16th Game 7 but first since losing the Eastern Conference finals to the Lightning, 2-0, at the Garden on May 29, 2015.
The Rangers evened this series with Friday night’s 5-3 win in Pittsburgh. Chris Kreider scored twice, including the winner at 18:32 of the third period. Linemate Mika Zibanejad also had two goals and Igor Shesterkin stopped 31 shots while earning his first road playoff win.
Penguins captain Sidney Crosby missed Game 6 with a suspected concussion but could return in Game 7. No. 1 goalie Tristan Jarry also might be available after missing the first six games while recovering from a broken foot.
But the Rangers know they must focus on their own play rather than whom they are playing.
“It’s a huge game, but I don’t think we should change anything,” said Alexis Lafreniere, who will play in his first NHL Game 7. “Just get ready and go out there and have fun. I know the building is going to be probably loud.”
“We just need to settle down and get to our game,” said Kreider, who has played in six of the Rangers’ seven Game 7s since joining the team in the 2012 playoffs. “We’ve been doing a better job of that over the last few games, and that’s why we’ve had results. There’s not a playoff way to play or a regular-season way to play. There’s Rangers hockey, and that’s all there is.
“We’ve been treating every game since we’ve been down like it’s a Game 7. It’s been do-or-die for us, so nothing changes.”
Well, perhaps some things could change.
For instance, not falling behind by two goals, as they did in each of the last two victories.
“It’s worked out for us so far,” Gallant said. “But I don’t like it.”
The Rangers were able to start well in splitting the first two games at the Garden. But their last four first periods have been sluggish, especially in establishing a forecheck or winning puck battles.
“We never want to go down,” Lafreniere said. “But when we’re down, we’re still playing good hockey. You always want to play with the lead and have good starts, but it’s something they’re trying to do, too. Try to have the best start we can and play a full 60.”
That the Rangers are still alive in this series speaks to their resilience.
“It’s going on the whole year and, every time, we’re making good comebacks,” said Artemi Panarin, who has two goals and four assists in the series. “It’s a good thing. But we have to start, probably, playing in the first period.”
Sunday will mark Panarin’s first NHL Game 7, and he’s not sure if he’ll be nervous.
“I feel good now,” he said. “We’ll see what happens tomorrow. But I think our fans give us great energy so we try to do everything that we can do.”
Like almost every hockey player, when Lafreniere grew up in the Montreal suburb of Saint-Eustache, Quebec, he imagined what it would be like to play in a Game 7.
He understands the task at hand for the Rangers. But he also understands the magnitude of the moment.
“Big games,” Lafreniere said. “You grew up, you watch playoffs, and Game 7s are usually really fun to watch. To actually be able to play in one is a privilege, and I’ll try to enjoy every moment.
“Just to play in one, it’s actually hard to believe a little bit. It’s pretty special.”
Game 7 review
The Rangers will play the 16th Game 7 in franchise history against the Penguins on Sunday night at Madison Square Garden and bring a 9-6 overall mark into the contest, including 7-1 on home ice:
April 2, 1939, Bruins 2, Rangers 1 (3OT) at Boston: Mel Hill scores winner in semifinals for eventual Stanley Cup champion.
April 23, 1950, Red Wings 4, Rangers 3 (2OT) at Detroit: Future Ranger Pete Babando scores Cup-winning goal. Rangers don’t return to Cup Final until 1972.
May 2, 1971, Chicago 4, Rangers 2 at Chicago: Rangers eliminated in semifinals three days after Pete Stemkowski’s triple-overtime winner in Game 6.
May 5, 1974, Flyers 4, Rangers 3 at Philadelphia: Gary Dornhoefer’s semifinal winner sends Flyers on their way to the first of back-to-back Cups.
May 1, 1992, Rangers 8, Devils 4 at MSG: Rangers finally win a Game 7 in the division semifinals.
May 27, 1994, Rangers 2, Devils 1 at MSG (2OT): “Mat-teau, Mat-teau, Mat-teau.”
June 14, 1994: Rangers 3, Canucks 2 at MSG: Rangers and captain Mark Messier thwart pesky Canucks from rallying from a 3-1 series deficit in the Cup Final, ending a 54-year title drought.
April 28, 2009, Capitals 2, Rangers 1 at Washington: John Tortorella’s first playoff series behind Rangers’ bench ends with his team blowing 3-1 series lead and includes the fiery coach being suspended for throwing a water bottle at a fan.
April 26, 2012, Rangers 2, Senators 1 at MSG: Defenseman Dan Girardi’s winner propels Rangers in the conference quarterfinals.
May 12, 2012, Rangers 2, Capitals 1 at MSG: Second straight series in a Game 7 as defenseman Michael Del Zotto nets winner.
May 13, 2013, Rangers 5, Capitals 0 at Washington: Conference quarterfinals is Tortorella’s last playoff series win with the team, and only time Rangers shut out Game 7 opponent
April 30, 2014, Rangers 2, Flyers 1 at MSG: Benoit Pouliot scores first-round series winner.
May 13, 2014, Rangers 2, Penguins 1 at Pittsburgh: Rangers, rallying around Martin St. Louis after his mother passes away, complete their comeback from a 3-1 series deficit in the second round with his buddy, Brad Richards, scoring the winner.
May 13, 2015, Rangers 2, Capitals 1 (OT) at MSG: Rangers again rally from a 3-1 deficit in the second round as Derek Stepan scores winner.
May 29, 2015, Lightning 2, Rangers 0 at MSG: Rangers denied second straight trip to Cup Final.
Andrew Gross
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.
