Pens eliminate Rangers in 5 games with dominant win

The Penguins will be advancing to the second round for the first time since the 2014 playoffs, where they faced the Rangers and lost 4-3. The Penguins exacted redemption today, not just for 2014 but also for 2015 when the Rangers beat them in the first round 4-1. The difference between the two series is incredible and the adjustments that Pittsburgh made are why they won.

Last year the Penguins struggled to score on Henrik  Lundqvist. Not a problem this year as he was chased today for the second straight game after giving up 6 goals on 23 shots. It would be easy to look at the goals against column and blame Lundqvist, but that wouldn't be fair. He has been weak on a few goals but the Rangers defence has left him to dry far too much in this series with bad coverage and poor clearing.

The Rangers scored the first goal in this game with a shot by Dan Girardi deflecting in off Ben Lovejoy and past Matt Murray. Murray set a 100 minute shut-out briefly before that goal. The Rangers dominated the first 10 minutes but the Penguins took their chances and levelled on a neat move between Hagelin and Kessel that allowed the former Rangers to pot it in front of the net.

The Rangers determination to avoid elimination was clear as they wasted no time in getting the lead back, a puck pinging in off Hornqvist in front of the net and for the second time, the Penguins had a hand in giving the Rangers a goal. Despite the Rangers having the better of play in the first the scores were tied at Desmond after Kessel ripped Lunqdvist with a wicked snipe.

From that point on the Penguins dominated with Conor Sheary showing particular promise with continued attacking drives and strong body players. Considering Sheary's frame it is incredible to see him pushing people a good deal taller off the puck. Sheary and Rust both started this season in Wilkes-Barre and both were rewarded with goals today on the rush. Bryan Rust had a particularly good game, finishing with two goals and showing good chemistry with Malkin.

Matt Cullen continued his excellent season, making the most of a poor turnover in the Rangers zone to slot the puck through Lundqvist's legs. Cullen's season is reminiscent of Bill Guerin in 2009. The Rangers pushed heavily in the third period in the hope of scoring early and closing the gap to give them a chance to push the game to overtime. They managed to score a goal on the man advantage 5 minutes into the third but it was too late. Murray stood tall and rode it to advance the Penguins.

The Penguins impressed me in this series and aside from Game 2 they never really looked out of it. A bigger test awaits though in either the Capitals or Flyers. But, their series isn't over yet and they have Game 6 in Philadelphia tomorrow. The best we can hope for is that both destroy each other making whoever comes through weaker.