Bear in mind that Feb. 26 goaltending duel in Pittsburgh between Igor Shesterkin and Tristan Jarry that went the Penguins’ method, 1-0, on a third-period power-play objective by Evgeni Malkin?
Or perhaps the one on the Backyard on April 7 that turned contentious, with Shesterkin waving goodbye to the Penguins as they left the ice after a center-ice scrum instantly following the Blueshirts’ 3-0 victory?
Every of these video games featured a “playoff-style” environment. Every of these video games featured “playoff-style” hockey.
Properly, allegedly they did.
As a result of that’s how we within the business — gamers, coaches, writers, broadcasters — reflexively describe video games which can be extra intense and carry a bit extra which means than the overwhelming majority of the 1,312 on the NHL schedule.
The reality is, and this best-of-seven was not wanted to remind us, there may be nothing throughout the common season that's even remotely corresponding to the high-stakes hockey that's performed throughout the playoffs. There may be nothing just like the tempo. There may be nothing just like the setting. There may be nothing just like the dedication.
Gamers form of know that, regardless that they might want reminders. I recall Sean Avery telling me he would by no means once more make the error of equating vital late season video games with the playoffs after the Rangers’ Sport 1 victory over Atlanta within the 2007 first spherical, which represented the primary postseason match of the winger’s profession.
The day earlier than Sport 1 of this first-round sequence with the Penguins, which marked his first official NHL playoff recreation, Shesterkin stated: “I believe it's the identical because the common season. I believe for goalies, nothing adjustments.”
If Shesterkin didn't perceive that earlier than this first-round sequence towards the Penguins started, he absolutely does now within the wake of driving a four-game curler coaster, which started with a triple-overtime loss by which he made 79 saves. He added one other 39 saves in a Sport 2 victory, then was pulled from consecutive matches in Pittsburgh after he allowed 10 targets in three durations whereas on the receiving finish of fixed, cacophonous taunts.
And the Rangers most actually perceive after the four-game misadventure put the membership on the precipice of elimination coming into Sport 5 on Wednesday evening on the Backyard. They'd grow to be the primary staff in franchise historical past to permit a minimum of seven targets in consecutive playoff contests (7-4, adopted by 7-2).
The four-game season sequence, which the Blueshirts received 3-1 whereas limiting Pittsburgh to a sum of 101 photographs, had about as a lot relevance because the Mets’ 10-1 file towards the Dodgers did coming into the 1988 NLCS, which Los Angeles received in seven video games.
The Rangers allowed 101 photographs within the first 4 video games. Take into consideration that for a second. How about the truth that the Penguins averaged a playoff-leading 42.3 photographs per 60:00 by the sequence’ first 4 contests? I might say, and so presumably would Shesterkin, that one thing very undoubtedly has modified for Rangers goalies in these playoffs.
You by no means actually know the way a staff goes to reply whereas dealing with elimination. Everybody talks an enormous recreation. Everybody repeats the cliché, “The fourth one is the hardest one to get.” Typically it's. Heaps and plenty of occasions it comes fairly straightforward.
The Blueshirts recorded a outstanding 15-4 file when dealing with extinction from 2012-15. They got here again from 3-2 down in 2012 towards the Senators and in 2013 towards the Capitals. They turned the primary and solely staff in NHL historical past to beat 3-1 deficits in consecutive years, doing it towards the Penguins in 2014 and the Capitals in 2015.
However that was no assist when the 2016 Blueshirts waved the white flag of their potential elimination Sport 5 in Pittsburgh and misplaced 6-3. And resolve proven earlier within the decade was absolutely not related when the 2017 Rangers exited meekly when dealing with extinction in Sport 6 of the second spherical towards the Senators.
By the way in which? The celebrated and beloved Emile Francis Rangers went 4-9 whereas dealing with elimination from 1967-75.
In addition they received the identical variety of Stanley Cups because the group that went 15-4 from 2012-15.
The 2021-22 Rangers have been a resilient group throughout the season, capable of handle and proper points earlier than they might spin uncontrolled. A lot of that high quality emanated from the Vezina-caliber goaltending they acquired from Shesterkin, whose finalist standing for the award was introduced on Tuesday. His confidence and his aura infused the staff with self-belief.
The symbiotic relationship remained in full pressure by Video games 3 and 4 in Pittsburgh, although to a harmful impact. When Shesterkin turned rattled, the Rangers turned rattled. The Penguins rocked and rolled.
If playoff hockey itself has been new to this Rangers group, playoff hockey whereas dealing with elimination was distinctive. Again on the cozy confines of the Backyard, the place Shesterkin is adored, the goaltender was making an attempt to reveal that it was no totally different than the common season.
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