Heading into Thursday's Game 3, the New York Rangers were in an ideal position. They had won the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals on the road and were coming home for Games 3 and 4. And Montreal's best player was taken out of the series in Game 1. Realsitically, I never expected the Rangers to sweep the series, but up 2-0, it would be bad to let Montreeal back in the series. The Rangers won their last two series in seven games, they had to win this series in less than that, especially as Chicago and L.A. beat each other up in the Western Conference.
Since I was having dinner with a friend, I had to watch Game 3 from Madison Square Garden on delay. Three minutes in, current Canadien, ex-Ranger, and former fan fave Brandon Prust elbows Derek Stepan in the head, shattering his jaw. Amazingly, Stepan returned to the game late in the first period. But now he's undergone surgery to repair the jaw and nobody knows when he'll be back. Oh, and depth forward Daniel Carcillo gets thrown out of the game for touching a official. He didn't use any force, but he's been suspended for ten games. The Rangers are already missing Derick Brassard, who has been one of their best offensive forwards throughout the playoffs.
The game itself was entertaining. When I saw Daniel Briere score for Montreal to give the Canadiens a 2-1 lead with five minutes left, I should have been nervous. But I wasn't. And why? Because two hours earlier, my friend Jen, who is a huge Blackhawks fan sent me a text. It simply said "OMG!!!!!" So I knew the Rangers had done something huge. Sure enough, Chris Kreider ties the game with 30 seconds left. Somehow, that felt a little anti-climactic.
I set the DVR to record for five hours just in case the game went to overtime. I shouldn't have bothered. Alex Galchenyuk scored on a fluke deflection just 1:12 in and Montreal was right back in the series. the Rangers now lead the series 2-1 with Game 4 on Sunday night. Considering the injuries to Brassard and Stepan, I wish they had three days off between games.
The good news is Brandon Prust was suspended. He got two games, he probably should have had 3-4 games. I think he would have received that if Stepan had been unable to play again. If the Rangers actually handle their business, they won't have to see Prust again in this series. If they lose Game 4, all the advantage they had is history. I don't expect the Rangers to win three straight games in Montreal. If they are going to win this series in six games or less, they really need to snatch control back, win Sunday, and take a 3-1 series lead.
This is the best opportunity the Rangers have had to reach the Stanley Cup Finals since 1994. I know they had home ice against New Jersey two years ago, but they are a more offensively-capable team now and they're not facing Martin Brodeur in goal, they're facing Montreal's 3rd string goalie. The opportunity is ripe for the Rangers. It is hard to imagine a scenario that will be this Taylor-made for them. Montreal plays a speed game, but the Rangers are quicker. The Rangers have dominated special teams play and they have outhit Montreal too. Now they have to take control back.
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