Collision leads to key goal
NEW YORK • Matt Murray’s post- season debut was a rousing Broadway success,
But it was an unfortunate comedy act by the New York Rangers in the third period that proved to be the difference in the Pittsburgh Penguins’ 3-1 victory in Game 3 of their eastern conference series at Madison Square Garden. And, trust us, no one in the stands or the Rangers dressing room found it humorous.
Out since the final game of the regular season when he was bowled over by the Flyers’ Brayden Schenn, Murray made his first career playoff start between the pipes for the Penguins and was steady throughout.
Then, with the game tied 1- 1 in the third, disaster struck for the hosts.
On a seemingly innocent play, Rangers defencemen Dan Boyle and Keith Yandle collided with each other, al- lowing Matt Cullen to bust in alone on Henrik Lundqvist and beat him through the legs, giving the Penguins a 2-1 lead at 4: 16 of the third period. Kris Letang then scored into an empty net in the game’s final minute to seal the deal.
The Penguins now lead the best- of- seven series 2-1 heading into Game 4 Thursday at Madison Square Garden.
The Rangers welcomed back captain Ryan McDonagh to the lineup Tuesday night, a boost for the Rangers both in the dressing room and on the ice.
While there were blips of rust in the early going, the veteran for the most part played his normal steady shutdown game.
The Rangers appeared to get on the board late in the first when Chris Kreider drained his own rebound after Murray made the initial save. Or so they thought.
But Mike Sullivan and the Penguins coaching staff had other ideas, calling for a video review after suspecting the play leading up to the goal was offside. Sure enough, replays showed the Rangers’ T. J. Miller had been offside on the play, wiping out the goal in the process.
The Rangers would eventually open the scoring early in the second period by looking more like the speedy Rich Nash of 2010, not the aging forward who appeared to have lost a step this past regular season.
With the Penguins on the power play, Nash gobbled up the puck and turned on the jets through the neutral zone, breaking away from the Penguins defence before snapping a shot past Murray to give the Rangers a 1- 0 lead.
But just when it appeared the Rangers would take that slim advantage i nto the intermission, the Penguins knotted the game 1-1 in the period’s final minute.
With Marc Staal in the penalty box for hooking, a Phil Kessel pass/shot — there was plenty of debate in the press box as to exactly which of those Kessel was trying to do on the play — was directed past Lundqvist at the side of the net by Crosby. Evgeni Malkin also drew an assist on the play.
Enter Cullen.