This was not exactly how Igor Shesterkin or the New York Rangers had envisioned the series going, but the Blue Shirts will try to keep their season alive in a win-or-go-home Game 5 against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.
Pittsburgh has given a young Rangers squad a run for its money all series and has driven Shesterkin from the net in consecutive games. The Rangers have struggled to contain the Penguins’ offense since the series shifted to the Steal City, allowing a combined 14 goals in their last two games.
As the series shifts back to Manhattan, for possibly the final time, New York will look to cut the series deficit to 3-2 and force the Penguins to make another trip back to PPG Paints Arena for Game 6 on Friday.
NEW YORK RANGERS VS. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
How to Watch
Date: Wednesday, May 11.
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Madison Square Garden in New York, NY.
TV: MSG, ESPN
Tale of the Tape
| Rangers | Stat | Penguins |
| 52–24–6 | Record | 46–25–11 |
| 3.50 | Goals per game | 5.00 |
| 42.0 | SOG per game | 50.5 |
| 5.00 | Goals against per game | 3.50 |
| Igor Shesterkin | Starting goalie | Louis Domingue |
| .905 | Starting goalie save % | .906 |
| 33.3 | Power Play % | 22.2 |
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Rangers leaders:
- LW Artemi Panarin: 5 points, 2 goals, 3 assists
- C Andrew Copp: 3 points, 3 goals, 0 assists
- LW Chris Kreider: 4 points, 2 goals, 2 assists
Penguins leaders:
- C Sidney Crosby: 9 points, 2 goals, 7 assists
- C Jake Guentzel: 6 points, 5 goals, 1 assist
- RW Bryan Rust: 5 points, 1 goal, 4 assists
Odds, Lines, and More:
Rangers Moneyline: -130
Penguins Moneyline: +108
Spread: Rangers -1.5
For more Rangers news, visit AMNY.com
The Pick:
The Penguins have proven that even with the team’s best years behind them that they still have plenty of fight left in them. Pittsburgh has gotten strong efforts out of its key player and scoring has come from up and down its lineup. Add to that the most unlikely of playoff heroes so far in Louis Domingue answering the call after Casey DeSmith was injured in Game 1.
The Pens have outscored the Rangers 20-14 in this series and 14-6 in the last two games alone. They were held to just two goals in Game 4 and despite being the favorite for the Vezina, Igor Shesterkin has had his night end early twice in the series. To say it just hasn’t gone the Rangers’ way may be an understatement.
Pittsburgh should close the door on Game 5 and the series and finally move past their first-round shortcomings of the past.
