Rangers relying on lesser lights
NEW YORK — While New York stars Rick Nash and Chris Kreider receive playoff-level attention from the Ottawa Senators, Oscar Lindberg and Tanner Glass are providing an unexpected lift for the Rangers.
Lindberg fired two goals and Glass had two assists as the Rangers beat the Senators 4-1 on Thursday night to tie their NHL Eastern Conference best-of-seven semifinal series at two games apiece.
“I think our line has been doing a really good job, getting pucks back from the forecheck,” Lindberg said. “We had two good chances today and we were able to bear down.”
Kreider and Nick Holden also scored for the Rangers, and Henrik Lundqvist had 22 saves.
Kyle Turris scored for Ottawa, and Craig Anderson made 17 saves before being replaced by Mike Condon for the third period. Condon finished with nine stops.
“They are a good hockey team. They came out and played they wanted to,” Anderson said. “They had their fans and the momentum. We weren’t able to get anything going.”
Senators star defenseman Erik Karlsson also left the game after the second period with an injury. He played the quarterfinal with two microfractures in one of his feet from blocking a shot late in the regular season.
Coach Guy Boucher said he expects both Anderson and Karlsson to play in Game 5 on Saturday at Ottawa.
“We felt it was better for him to keep him off the ice in the (third) period,” Boucher said of Karlsson. “He could’ve come back, but we just wanted to make sure. He has a lower-body injury.”
Lindberg also scored the Rangers’ final goal in their Game 3 win, with Glass picking up an assist. Glass, a forward who was scratched in the first two games of the series, has brought an edge.
“Look at these assists,” Glass said. “They are not exactly playmaking assists. They are just kind of the gritty, grinding game I bring.”
Rangers coach Alain Vigneault appreciates the balanced scoring.
“Definitely tonight Oscar’s line came up big for us with a couple of big plays,” Vigneault said.
“Tanner is just playing disciplined, smart hockey and that’s what he needs to do.”
The game got physical in the third period as the teams combined for 78 penalty minutes.
Lundqvist has stopped 48 of his past 50 shots after allowing six goals in Ottawa’s Game 2 victory in double overtime.
The Rangers have won four consecutive home games this postseason.
“I think the last couple of games we’ve really come together,” Lundqvist said.
“It’s not a one-man show here. It’s about four lines doing everything right and that’s what you need this time of the year.”
Hayward began 1 for 5 but bounced back to shoot 11 of 21. “We play with attitude when we get down. We have to do it from the beginning,” Gobert said. “I think we need to play angry from the first minute.”
Warriors coach Steve Kerr missed his fourth straight game as he deals with symptoms stemming from complications after two back surgeries following the 2015 championship run. Kerr won’t travel with the team to Utah as he seeks answers in his healing and goes to medical appointments. Mike Brown and a veteran staff of assistants are filling in.