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| Quick stonewalled NY last night in Game 3. Photo Credit: Getty Images |
By: Sunil Sunderraj
After 20 years when the last Stanley Cup game played at Madison Square Garden in New York City there was much anticipation and energy in the building. However, with 0.7 seconds left in the period, the New York Rangers fans were silenced when Jeff Carter ripped his 10th goal which deflected off defensemen Dan Girardi and past Henrik Lundqvist who got a piece of the puck top shelf into the net. It was the first time Los Angeles had led in the series.
The Rangers had a terrific opportunity in the first period to take the lead but Mats Zuccarello was robbed point blank by Quick who dived to swat the puck away with the paddle of goalie stick before the puck crossed the goal line.
In the second period New York would take a couple of high sticking penalties. Los Angeles cashed in as Jake Muzzin’s sixth goal of the playoffs glanced off the glove of Martin St. Louis past Lundqvist at 4:17 of the second period increasing the Kings lead to 2-0. Muzzin had a total of five goals in the regular season.
New York came very close to getting on the board again but a wraparound attempt by Rick Nash was denied by Drew Doughty who did take a hooking penalty on the play. Quick made another sensational stick save off a Derrick Brassard shot. At one point the Rangers had 13 consecutive shots on goal. The Kings took a commanding late in the period on a 2 on 1 rush. Mike Richards pass bounced off the skate of Ryan McDonagh but came back to him as he buried the puck past Lundqvist making the score 3-0.
The Rangers led in shots on goal 21-13, faceoffs and hits but Kings led on the scoreboard. Seven seconds into the third period Chris Kreider broke in alone but Quick corralled the shot in the bread basket. New York unable to convert on the power plays. Los Angeles’s defense cut off the shooting lanes and applied pressure at the points.
Overall the Rangers dominated in several categories. Outshot the Kings 32-15, led in scoring chances, blocked shots 20-11 and hits 25-18. Lundqvist allowed 3 goals on 15 shots.
Los Angeles goes for the sweep of the series on Wednesday night at MSG.
The Rangers had a terrific opportunity in the first period to take the lead but Mats Zuccarello was robbed point blank by Quick who dived to swat the puck away with the paddle of goalie stick before the puck crossed the goal line.
In the second period New York would take a couple of high sticking penalties. Los Angeles cashed in as Jake Muzzin’s sixth goal of the playoffs glanced off the glove of Martin St. Louis past Lundqvist at 4:17 of the second period increasing the Kings lead to 2-0. Muzzin had a total of five goals in the regular season.
New York came very close to getting on the board again but a wraparound attempt by Rick Nash was denied by Drew Doughty who did take a hooking penalty on the play. Quick made another sensational stick save off a Derrick Brassard shot. At one point the Rangers had 13 consecutive shots on goal. The Kings took a commanding late in the period on a 2 on 1 rush. Mike Richards pass bounced off the skate of Ryan McDonagh but came back to him as he buried the puck past Lundqvist making the score 3-0.
The Rangers led in shots on goal 21-13, faceoffs and hits but Kings led on the scoreboard. Seven seconds into the third period Chris Kreider broke in alone but Quick corralled the shot in the bread basket. New York unable to convert on the power plays. Los Angeles’s defense cut off the shooting lanes and applied pressure at the points.
Overall the Rangers dominated in several categories. Outshot the Kings 32-15, led in scoring chances, blocked shots 20-11 and hits 25-18. Lundqvist allowed 3 goals on 15 shots.
Los Angeles goes for the sweep of the series on Wednesday night at MSG.
