Some Moore magic from Blueshirts
Resilient Rangers eke out win by one goal — yet again
NEW YORK — What’s surprising is not that the Rangers were in another one-goal playoff game, nor that they came out on top, nor that it took them until late in the proceedings to pull it off.
All that is as trendy as this spring’s styles in Manhattan’s Garment District. What’s surprising is not even that the deciding goal in a 2-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning to kick off the Eastern Conference final — their seventh win by that score in this year’s playoffs — was scored by a 34-year-old third-line centre who is on his 10th NHL team in nine seasons, including a pair of stints with the Blueshirts.
What is surprising, however, is that it was Dominic Moore’s first goal of this post-season tournament.
Given how good he’s been thus far, you had to double check the stats because you would have sworn he had more.
“At this time of the year, the way he plays, he becomes even more important,” said Martin St. Louis, who lined up with Moore and Carl Hagelin in Game 1.
“He’s a guy that can really grind it out and be tough to play against, brings a lot of puck to the net, protects the puck really well. I had a chance to play with him in Tampa, in the playoffs, and he was a key contributor then. Last year, he was a key contributor and again this year.
“This is the kind of play we need from everybody. I’m glad that Mooresie gets rewarded tonight.”
Moore’s reward arrived with 2:25 left in the third period, or a second after he appeared on the edge of Ben Bishop’s crease.
Rookie Kevin Hayes did the gift wrapping with some strong work along the back boards as former Rangers captain Ryan Callahan followed him like a shadow.
From near the left wing boards, just beyond the goal-line, Hayes sent a shot toward the front that bounced in off Moore’s shin pad, just as he was blindsiding Lightning defenceman Anton Stralman to the ice.
Moore celebrated with the proper amount of emotion befitting such a huge tally, especially from a guy who could have been the goat as, only 30 seconds earlier, he had stepped out of the box after serving a penalty for tripping Stralman.
“I think it’s just a matter of wanting to win,” Moore said when asked about his elevated excitement level. “It’s a fun time of year for us. Everyone in this room relishes playing in these games and it’s a good thing to enjoy it.”
This promised to be an enjoyable, close series and Game 1 certainly lived up to the billing.
Both goalies were sharp despite modest shot counts, with Bishop making 28 saves and Henrik Lundqvist 23. The Rangers — who have played 15 straight one-goal games in the playoffs, including all 13 so far this year — won because they were able to get the ugly goals that Tampa couldn’t muster up.