Kings Take Game One But Rangers Can Play With Them

If it weren't for two costly turnovers, the New York Rangers would be on the opposite end of a 0-1 deficit one game into the Stanley Cup Final.

After burning the Los Angeles Kings with their trademark speed for the first two goals of the Game 1, Derek Stepan failed to clear the puck out of the Rangers' zone. Jeff Carter found Kyle Clifford in front to cut the Rangers' lead in half just 2:30 after Carl Hagelin scored to make it 2-0 in favor of New York.

Clifford's goal was a huge momentum swing in favor of the Western Conference Champions who then tied it in the second period on a gorgeous move by Drew Doughty. If the Rangers go into the dressing room with a two-goal lead after the first, perhaps it would've been a different story in Game 1.

It also didn't help the Rangers that they were dominated by the Kings in the third period as they were outshot 20-3 and couldn't muster their first shot on goal until the second half of the stanza. Los Angeles was relentless in the third and the Rangers survived, again, because of all-world goaltender Henrik Lundqvist.

The game was lost on a horrendous turnover by Dan Girardi 4:36 into overtime. Girardi, in his own zone, whiffed on the puck, fell and then coughed it over. Justin Williams found himself in front of Lundqvist, who started to cheat to his glove side, which Williams noticed and then scored short-side. It was a brilliant move by one of the most clutch players in the history of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Kings made some key adjustments in the first intermission as they were able to take away the Rangers speed, which led to a lot of dump-and-chase hockey which worked in the Kings favor and cut New York's scoring chances dramatically.

One key factor I worried about coming into this series was the style of Los Angeles' play with their big bruisers and it showed in Game 1. The Kings threw their bodies around ferociously landing more than 20 hits in the first period. I love their style of play, unfortunately it comes against the Blueshirts in their biggest series in two decades. They play hard, they play aggressive and they can really skate.

But so can the Rangers. The experts picked the Kings to win this series in a landslide. They may have won Game 1, but it wasn't by a landslide, not even close. It was evident the Rangers can play alongside the Kings despite a horrendous third period. If Girardi is able to get the puck out of their zone, who knows if the Ranges get a bounce their way down in Los Angeles' zone.

I expect the Rangers to answer strong in Game 2 because that's what they've done throughout the playoffs. If they feel the slightest moment their backs are against the wall, which isn't yet, they don't back down. This team has tremendous heart which helped them erase their 3-1 deficit against Pittsburgh. While the experts were singing the praises of the Kings after Game 1, this series is far from over. I still stand my prediction: Rangers in 6.

The Intermission That Won Game One For The Rangers

While watching the second period of tonight's Eastern Conference Final Game 1 between the Devils and the Rangers, you could visibly tell the Rangers had played 14 games in the first two rounds.

They started the game setting the ice ablaze. They were all over the ice and controlled most of the first period while peppering Martin Brodeur with 8 shots.

After the first intermission, the Devils came out and owned most of the second. The Rangers looked like a very fatigued group while giving every ounce of energy they had. Things looked even more bleak at the 17:15 mark of the period when Brandon Prust took an unexcused roughing penalty. While never giving up, looking gassed and desperate for rest, they got through the remaining 2:45 of the period unscathed.

Then came the intermission. Of course we'll never know what was said in the locker room between periods because, as you know, John Tortorella is not a man of words with the media. But you have to wonder if it was simply the 20 minutes of much-needed rest that the team needed.

53 seconds into the third, the Rangers took the lead for the remainder of the night. On the power play (go figure), boy wonder Chris Kreider possessed the puck along the boards so patiently as he was hounded by two Devils penalty killers. He then found an undetected Dan Girardi fresh on the ice after a change who blasted home a one-timer that ended up being the game-winning goal.

The goal for Girardi was a huge one as he was having a very unGirardi-like game. In the first, he tried to pinch on the blue line to prevent a Devils scoring chance and he was beaten badly by Zach Parise. Ryan McDonagh made a tremendous play getting back on defense stopping Parise on the breakaway without taking a penalty.

In said wretched second period, Girardi was behind his own net and tried to flick the puck up the ice over Dainius Zubrus in front of the net. The puck ricocheted off Zubrus and was nearly tapped in for the series' first goal.

The goal by Girardi set the tone for the remainder of the period and the Rangers owned it in its entirety. Kreider tacked on the 2nd goal on the power play and Artem Anisimov closed the book with an empty netter for a 3-0 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final.

A complete victory all around for the Rangers stamped with the second postseason shutout for NHL MVP nominee Lundqvist. Seven more to go to hoist Lord Stanley's Cup. I can't believe I'm saying that.