East goalies know pressure is on
Senators, Pens win openers thanks to strong play in net.
When the difference between winning and losing is a puck shot from behind the goal line that goes in off his helmet, all Henrik Lundqvist can do is shake his head.
Among the hundreds of decisions and 41 saves he made against the Ottawa Senators, the New York Rangers goaltender knew all anyone wanted to know was how that one crazy goal went in.
“That’s the life of a goalie,” Lundqvist said.
Life as a goaltender in the Eastern Conference during the second round of the playoffs is complicated, whether it’s the matchup between Lundqvist and very capable Senators counterpart Craig Anderson or the Washington Capitals’ reigning Vezina Trophy winner Braden Holtby against the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Marc-Andre Fleury. The Senators and Penguins are each up in their respective series going into today’s Game 2s because of goaltending, with it taking on greater importance moving forward.
“If you don’t have the goalies, it’s hard to win,” Capitals coach Barry Trotz said Friday. “In a series there’s going to be games where the difference is going to be the goalie on the other side is going to make one more save or your goalie is going to make one more save.”
One more save by Holtby on Sidney Crosby or Nick Bonino in Game 1 would’ve made a difference even considering his 18 other stops. Meanwhile, Fleury stopped 33 of the 35 shots the Capitals put his way, including four without his stick during a mad scramble in the final minutes that he called “fun.”
Fleury was the Penguins backup goalie this season after Matt Murray led them to the Stanley Cup last year, but so far he has looked very much like the goalie who won it for Pittsburgh in 2009.
“He’s always been up for the task, making those big saves at big moments,” veteran winger Chris Kunitz said. “We have to do a better job for him and not give up those quality chances.”
Some things to watch today:
Rangers at Senators, Ottawa leads 1-0 (3 p.m. ET, NBC): All eyes are on the crowd at Canadian Tire Centre after 16,744 fans — almost 2,000 below capacity — showed up for Game 1.
Though the arena being a half-hour from downtown continues to be an issue, a Saturday afternoon puck drop for Game 2 should make a difference.
Penguins at Capitals, Pittsburgh leads 1-0 (8 p.m. ET, NBC): Carl Hagelin could return to the Penguins’ lineup after being out since mid-March with a lower-body injury. Coach Mike Sullivan called Hagelin a game-time decision after the speedy winger took part in a full-contact practice Friday and said he’s feeling good.