Rangers vs. Penguins Game Four Preview: Looking For More
The Penguins ride a wave of momentum into Game Four.
2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs Round One, Game Four: Penguins vs. Rangers in Pittsburgh, PA
Watch out folks because after a wild win in Game Three where the Penguins put a touchdown and extra point on the scoreboard more positive news in their favor came to light this morning. The cavalry is coming! Starting goalie and the NHL’s sixth-best netminder of the year, Tristan Jarry, not only returned to the ice for another skate today, he faced his first shots since breaking his foot last month. It's the surest sign yet that relief is in sight for the team soon if they can continue to move along with third-string goalie Louis Domingue in net through this Round One series.
The Pens are currently riding a decent high from Game Three as well. They chased the Vezina-front runner Igor Shesterkin from the net in the first period using that aforementioned #3 goalie! A scenario that would have been considered laughable if suggested as a possibility just a few days ago.
Game Three was fruitful for them in a number of ways including getting their secondary scoring going too. Every single goal came from a depth player except for Jake Guentzel’s empty netter. Two of those Pens depth players had multi-goal games: Evan Rodrigues and Jeff Carter. Four depth players had multi-point games as well: Evan Rodrigues (3), Brock McGinn (2), Jeff Carter (2), and Mike Matheson (3). The Penguins also finally got a powerplay goal, two of them to be exact. That's something they'll look to build on further going forward.
Now speaking of forward, here's looking at tonight's game info:
Game Info:
Pens Playoff Game #4-
Matchup: Pittsburgh Penguins (2) vs. New York Rangers (1)
Date: Monday, May 9, 2022
Time: 7 PM (ET)
Place: Pittsburgh, PA
Venue: PPG Paints Arena
TV Broadcasts: Local- ATTSN (PIT), MSG (NYR) | National- ESPN | Canada- CBC, SN, TVAS
Radio Broadcasts: Local- 105.9 The X & The Penguins Radio Network | National- SiriusXM
Streaming Broadcasts: Broadcast TV over select streaming services, next day on ESPN+
App Updates: Penguins App
Social Media Hashtags: #Pens #NYR #LetsGoPens #StanleyCup
Team Matchup:
Series: 2-1 PIT
Team Streaks: PIT- 1 Win, NYR- 1 Loss
Power Play % (Rank): PIT- 33.3% (2rd), NYR- 25% (7th)
Penalty Kill % (Rank): PIT- 75% (10th), NYR- 66.7% (13th)
Faceoff % (Rank): PIT- 54.6% (2nd), NYR- 45.4% (15th)
Goals For/Game (Rank): PIT- 4.33 (2nd), NYR- 4 (5th)
(*Ranking=among playoff teams)
Player Matchup:
(Stat leaders by team comparisons-)
Penguins Leaders:
Goals: Jake Guentzel, 4.
Assists: Sidney Crosby, 5.
Points: Sidney Crosby, 6.
Shots: Jake Guentzel, 17.
Plus/Minus: John Marino, +3.
TOI/G: Kris Letang, 33:54.
FO%: Teddy Blueger, 69.4%.
Hits: Bryan Rust, 9.
Blocks: Kris Letang, 10.
Takeaways: Sidney Crosby, 7.
Rangers Leaders:
Goals: Andrew Copp, 3.
Assists: Mika Zibanejad, 3.
Points: Chris Krieder/Frank Vatrano/Artemi Panarin, 4.
Shots: Ryan Strome, 18.
Plus/Minus: K'Andre Miller, +4.
TOI/G: Adam Fox, 31:43.
FO%: Alexis Lafreniere/Kevin Rooney, 50%.
Hits: Ryan Reaves, 15.
Blocks: Adam Fox, 7.
Takeaways: Mika Zibanejad/Adam Fox/K’Andre Miller, 6.
Goalie Matchup:
(Projected starting goalie comparisons-)
#70- Louis Domingue, Penguins-
Series Record: 2-1-0, 4.03 GAA, .903 SV%
Career Record vs. Rangers: 3-1-0, 2.73 GAA, .906SV%
Last 5 Games Record: 2-3-0
~VS~
#31- Igor Shesterkin, Rangers-
Series Record: 1-1-0, 3.23 GAA, .928 SV%
Career Record vs. Penguins: 5-3-1, 2.11 GAA, .924 SV%
Last 5 Games Record: 2-3-0
Net Notes:
(Extra Misc. Info-)
-Milestone Watch: Sidney Crosby can surpass Jari Kurri for seventh place in most NHL playoff assists with one more tonight after tying him in Game Three. If he gets two assists he can tie Doug Gilmore for sixth place and if he gets three assists he can leapfrog Gilmore and tie Nicklas Lidstrom for fifth place. If he gets four assists in one night, which can happen with him, he jumps everyone all in one flew swoop and takes sole fifth place for himself.
-Milestone Watch: With the win on Saturday Mike Sullivan is now tied for most playoff wins by a Pens coach with Dan Bylsma at 43. He can take the superlative for himself alone tonight with a victory, which would give him 44 playoff "W"s behind the Pens' bench.
-Tyler Motte did not make the trip to Pittsburgh with the Rangers, so he’s not a roster option for them. New York might get Ryan Lindgren back for this game though. He was named a game-time decision by Rangers coach Gerrard Gallant and successfully took the morning skate today. Lindgren, you might remember, is the player who was responsible for knocking out the Penguins’ Rickard Rakell with a high hit in Game One.
-Rakell, meanwhile, also skated this morning but is still not cleared for contact. Since he’s trying to return from a concussion it will likely be a few more games at least that he has to sit out as he still hasn't progressed to full practice.
-No update was given on Brian Dumoulin by the Pens and he did not skate today.
-Keep an eye on the Rangers' formation as the game begins tonight as Coach Gallant suggested they might attempt an 11-forward, 7-defenseman lineup. That's an interesting choice considering during all the action in Game Three one of the most noticeable deficits was from New York's offensive stars. Mika Zibanejad, Chris Krieder, Ryan Strome, Alexis Lafrienere, and Filip Chytil all were very quiet. Taking one of the forwards away doesn't seem like an appropriate remedy to a lack of offense.
Game-Goers Guide:
(Info For Fans Attending-)
-It’s a beautiful day for a game and for heading down to the big screen. The sun should be shining but a light jacket or hoodie may be needed after sunset. Remember the screen is in the lot on the former Igloo site across from PPG on Centre Avenue.
-Check out the patio lounge at the Cambria Hotel next door to PPG Paints Arena to enjoy the pre-game weather if you’re headed inside.
-There are two new photo op stations for fans to use outside the arena: A giant human-sized Stanley Cup Playoffs puck outside the Centre Avenue F.N.B. Gate and a lighted Let’s Go Pens Hollywood-style letter sign on the lawn at the People's Gate on 5th Avenue.
-Grab your gold rally towels on entry again tonight.