PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Ultimately, the Pens got what they were looking for, even with the 5-2 loss on Thursday at Madison Square Garden. They got a split of the first two games and now the Pens have home ice advantage in the best of seven series.
"It's good," said Pens defenseman Marcus Pettersson of the team's mindset after the loss Thursday. "We said after to keep our heads up. It's a best out of five now going home. They are a good team. We knew it was going to be a tough series."
"Five-on-five for the most part, we were pretty good," said Pens Head Coach Mike Sullivan. "We are playing a real good opponent, they are a good team too. When we were in our end zone, I thought we defended hard. We had some looks in the offensive zone as well."
"We've shown at times we can get O-zone time," said Pens Captain Sidney Crosby. "Obviously it's the playoffs, there are going to be swings of momentum. They are going to get their looks as well. I thought in both games probably as the games as gone on, we've gotten better."
"I think our starts they are still lacking a bit. We have to find a way to come out of the gates a little better. Hopefully being at home will do that for us."
I don't know what the time frame would be, one second, that the Pens have held a lead in the series. The only time on the triple overtime goal from Evgeni Malkin. Where they must get better to take advantage of the split is special teams, they've allowed a pair of power play goals and their own power play allowed a short-handed goal.
Sullivan said they've been hampered is by not winning enough faceoffs. Add to that not getting clears which increases the Rangers zone time.
"I think we want to try and play fast," said Pens forward Danton Heinen. "Keep guys on the ice, get pucks behind their D. When we are doing that, we are creating more and getting more zone time."
"It's tough, they are a good team," Pettersson said. "Get traffic like we have been talking about. We have been shooting a lot. Keep shooting, be desperate."
"We have to find a way to continue to get better as the series goes on," Crosby said.
They attempt to do that with the series tied 1-1.
Injury
Jason Zucker was a game-time decision, but unable to play Thursday. Defenseman Brian Dumoulin missed his first ever post-season game. He is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. In 81 career playoff games, Dumoulin has 25 points and is a plus six.
New lines
Due to the Dumoulin injury and with Zucker and Rickard Rakell out. Here was the lineup:
Jake Guentzel-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust
Danton Heinen-Evgeni Malkin-Kasperi Kapanen
Brock McGinn-Jeff Carter-Evan Rodrigues
Brian Boyle-Teddy Blueger-Drew O'Connor
Mike Matheson-Kris Letang
Marcus Pettersson-John Marino
Mark Friedman-Chad Rudwedel
Up Next
Game three at PPG Paints Arena Saturday night at 7p.
