Photo Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Rangers and Penguins head into a pivotal Game Three matchup at MSG with the series tied at one tonight. It’s been a roller coaster ride of emotions, with strong play, poor defensive zone coverage, improved play, injuries, and poop-your-pants scares. With Jeff Zatkoff starting to look like the third string goalie he is, Rangers fans who didn’t think their team stood a chance now all of a sudden have some hope. So naturally, I have some thoughts heading into the contest.

1. Zatkoff was always going to be the wild card in this series. All goalies, no matter what level, can get extremely hot and carry a team. Look at what Andrew Hammond did in Ottawa last season. It happens. But there is so much skill on this Rangers team that if they do the little things in their own end right, they will feast on these kinds of goalies. Zatkoff played very well in Game One, but wasn’t perfect and was slow laterally. That was exploited in Game Two. The longer Marc-Andre Fleury is out, the better.

2. As tough as it is to say, the Rangers played significantly better in the defensive zone without Dan Girardi. They were tighter in their own zone, and their passing out of the zone was much more crisp. If this team wants to have a serious chance at winning a Cup, they will need to keep him out of the lineup. Even when he’s healthy. Brady Skjei has proven he can handle the minutes, and at the very worse, the team can use Keith Yandle or Ryan McDonagh on the right side.

3. Speaking of McDonagh, it was great news to see was a full participant in practice yesterday. He may not play tonight, but a full participant in practice means he’s close. Maybe Game Four, probably Game Five. The Rangers could really use him back in the lineup, and it opens up some interesting lineup possibilities if Girardi continues to be out.

4. Those lineup possibilities: Does AV stick with his fascination of having three lefties and three righties on the blue line? Assuming Marc Staal isn’t sitting, the Rangers can have him, McDonagh, Skjei, and Yandle in the lineup with Klein and Boyle. Move Yandle to the right to open up his offensive contributions. Move McDonagh to the right side since he’s the best defenseman on the team. I personally think that’s what will happen, since AV isn’t enamoured with McIlrath and Raphael Diaz is likely on a short leash.

5. The forwards are really impressing me. They are in on the forecheck, they are moving the puck, they are getting chances. They are a very deep group. It’s nice to see.

6. The penalty kill. Yikes. Stop taking penalties.

7. This is a huge game for both teams. I don’t expect the Penguins to allow the Rangers to come out the way they did in the first two games, and dominating them in every facet of the game. I expect these to get nasty. Time for some old time hockey.

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