Nobody needed that more than Wennberg. Glad they won but boy are the lucky Igor is in goal. He is going to have to be the Conn smythe if they’re going to win the cup
This team continues to get it done when their backs are against the wall. Unreal that it is Wennberg who wins a faceoff AND scores the winning goal. And look at what is happening. Mika and Panarin and Kreider not doing a lot, Goodrow and now Wennberg scoring, we cannot play 5 on 5 some say, yet we allowed 2 PP goals today, and scored none, and still won. And Igor is better than Bob who is lucky he has a very good team in front of him to mask his average play overall. Underdogs into the series, huge underdogs after game 1, even bigger underdogs into today, and now lead the series 2-1. And I have to believe at some point Mika and Panarin and Kreider and the PP will do some damage. Series is FAR from over against a very good team, play game 4 as if you are down 2-1, and see if we can take a commanding 3-1 lead. I expect Florida to play like we did in game 2, desperate knowing if you go down 3-1 it is a very difficult hill to climb, sure they will feel it is almost a must win for them. Need to be ready. If Igor is on his game, I like our chances to win game 4 on the road, where once again I feel we play a better overall game.
And yes, message once again should be get pucks on goal, especially against Bob. As for Igor being great, I don't see it as some negative outplayed and still won, equals not good. Goalie in hockey is like the only position people say if he carries you and you are outplayed it is trouble. If Mahomes carries the Chiefs, do they say that? Igor is one of the best goalies in the world, if not the best, and he gets it done because he is that good, and yes, we do count on him to be that good, which is okay sometimes. Of course, you don't want to play every game and get outplayed and have to rely on your goalie, but if that happens sometimes that is why we have Igor. And I think the first two periods were pretty even, and we had the edge overall in game 2. The 3rd period was a mess, but that is a good Panthers team that was desperate into the 3rd, and it showed. We bounce back yet again, and it's great to see. Two other observations: 1. Other teams make mistakes as well. They left Wennberg WIDE OPEN in front on the winning goal. We rip the Rangers for every mistake, but that just shows you all teams make mistakes, even the "great" Panthers and that was a bad one. 2. There were a ton of Rangers fans in that building, I'd say 20-30%. Florida, especially South Florida, is like NY South.
I wonder if there is a chance Trouba could be suspended for that elbow, that was pretty bad and cheap.
Lindgren has made some key offensive plays recently. Great job just throwing towards Wennberg there. Maybe our Norris Trophy winner can do more of that starting Tues.
I thought Fox looked a little better today, but still has work to do. The Rangers are up 2-1 in the series, yet Mika and Panarin and Kreider and Fox have done very little, and special teams have been a big edge Florida thus far. If we have a game where those things come together, that would be nice, and a big plus for us. I agree with Lav, the first two periods were pretty even, maybe small edge Florida, but the 3rd period was obviously Florida domination. Game 4 for Florida will be like game 2 was for us, as close to a must win as you can get in a non-elimination game, and maybe a little more for them since we would have 3 wins and Florida would have only had 2 after game 2. I would expect to see a big Florida effort similar to the 3rd period. With that said, maybe they are a little tight with pressure on them and we can take advantage of it. We'll find out.
Another amazing win by the good guys. The team seems to have a never give up spirit, bad game by Trouba but with what went on in the game 2 ticky tack calls, worse game by K'Andre who needs to get angry instead of hanging his head. I thought Sullivan's pantomime of the Florida floppers during the Boston series was hilarious but they are making Sid blush with the fakery while being quite a dirty bunch. Lav's rationale for benching Rempe makes no sense, he was penalized for pushing a guy off since Florida routinely latches onto players when they're knocked down, did love him punking Bennett. Hope Lav can figure out how to get the 1st line going and get the Rangers to shoot like the Panthers.
Goodrow is playing great hockey right now. Rempe was part of that goal setting up the screen. Have to wonder if his time could go to Wheeler now that Florida will be playing come from behind
