With the 2-1 win on Saturday afternoon, the New York Rangers made it 15 straight decisions in the post season (including the 2014 Stanley Cup Final) with a one-goal decision. Thirteen of those have come this season and of those, nine have been by a 2-1 count.
Saturday’s win came as a result of a shot/pass from Kevin Hayes toward the Tampa Bay Lightning crease. The pass ended up deflecting off the shin guards of Dominic Moore for a 2-1 lead with 2:25 left in regulation.
“Well, it was a good (penalty) kill right before that, then we had that odd-man break,” Moore said after the win. “I thought I put the puck in Brass’s (Brassard)
Hands, but I guess he wasn’t expecting it. So just tried to stay with it after that shift, and when Hazy (Hayes) got it, I knew it was eventually going to get to the net, and good thing happened.”
Moore had been driving the net most of the game and it finally paid for him and the Rangers.
“A couple of shifts earlier, I drove right in front and it just rolled off my tape,” Moore said. “I tried to stay with it and hope for a good bounce.”
Derek Stepan opened the scoring for New York with 13 seconds left on the clock in the middle frame. His goal gave the Rangers a spark heading into the third and some confidence.
“There’s not much room out there,” Stepan said. “It’s super important that you do the things without the puck and with the puck. Obviously, Henrik has been a big part of it. We’ve just got to find ways to continue to get better.”
With the Rangers defense limiting the Lightning’s chances on shots, Henrik Lundqvist faced 24 on the afternoon, saving 23 for the win.
“Obviously, we need to focus on their top players. They’re moving the puck really well and they have a lot of speed. Lundqvist said of the team’s defensive efforts in Game 1. “If you lose the puck in the wrong areas, you’re going to see the speed even more.
“So I think we did a really good job of putting pucks in the right place, and that’s when you really slowed them down a little bit. But they also showed, especially on their power play, the skill they have and how they can move the puck. So it’s something we have to remember going forward.”
For Lundqvist, the idea of too many one-goal games is not so much exhausting as it is an opportunity to prepare for each contest and build confidence in the team in front of him.
“I think it helps us when we’re in that position almost every night that you keep your focus on the right things, and that’s what it comes down to,” Lundqvist. “We all understand that every play matters throughout the game. We’re that close every game. So all the board battles and making the right plays in our own end offensively, it all matters. So to keep your focus throughout the game is key.
“I think we also have confidence in our group when it comes down to it because we believe in each other and the system that we have. It’s always a good feeling to go into the third and just try to push you to get that win.”
Ryan McDonagh was called for a high stick in the second period, giving the Bolts a power play that they capitalized on when Ondrej Palat one-timed a shot past Lundqvist to tie at one all.
“Obviously, we wanted to start off with some momentum here. Obviously being our home rink. Thought right away from the start we did a good job of getting our strength into the offensive zone, kind of got everybody into a flow,” McDonagh said. “We did a really good job of rolling all four lines, and three pairs allowed us to play fast and effective. Some good examples, but obviously things we need to look at, too.
“They got some good looks, obviously throughout the game, and for us, we need to continue to defend hard.”
Game 2 is Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
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