LA Kings Shut Down Rangers, Lead Series 3-0

The unthinkable goal with less than a second on the clock (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

The unthinkable goal with less than a second on the clock (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Coming into tonight’s game, the anticipation almost boiled over. It was the biggest game for New York hockey in 20 years, since that unforgettable season in 1994. Fans were expecting their team to play like their backs were against the wall, and the New York Rangers did just that. However, Jonathan Quick was sensational in net and the same mistakes came back to bite the Rangers, giving the Los Angeles Kings a 3-0 series lead, and a stranglehold over New York.

All seemed to be going well throughout the first period, it was played even between the teams and was tight defensively, but a Jeff Carter goal at 19:59 of the period and that derailed the Rangers right from their tracks. A goal at the tail-end of a period is never good, and it proved that way tonight.

From then on, the Kings took some momentum, and carried with it for the remainder of the game. Although, the Rangers almost full-out dominated play in the second period, getting shot after shot and at one point had 14 shots on goal before the Kings even put one on Lundqvist. But, as I said before, Quick was absolutely outstanding tonight, and gave his team the victory this evening, spoiling the Garden party.

Goals were added by Jake Muzzin and Mike Richards, pushing LA to a 3-0 victory at MSG. Quick did not seem phased by the lights of Madison, as tonight was his first career playoff start here. He made 32 saves.

I’m not going to sit here and try to make you feel better about this. I am a young fan and did not experience the 94′ season, so this is probably one of the most painful feelings I will ever endure throughout my life.

The Rangers are down 3-0 in the Stanley Cup Final, and although it is a very daunting task to come back from that kind of situation (has not been done in the Final since 1942), I will not lose hope.

New York still has a chance to prove themselves and show why they deserve to be in this position. They did not get here by chance or luck, they got here by grit and determination, and that is exactly what they need to show on Wednesday night, which could be their last game of this season.

Leave it all out there, no regrets. Pour everything you have into the remaining games of this series. Take it one shift, one period, one game at a time.

It’s not over until somebody has lifted the Cup over their heads, until then, keep the faith, and believe in blue.

 

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