Henrik Lundqvist kept the New York Rangers in the game and managed to keep Sidney Crosby at zero playoff goals in 2014, but the Pittsburgh Penguins’ top players still excelled in Game 2. That wasn’t lost on Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault, who called out his own best weapons heading into Monday’s big Game 3.
AV says Pens' top players put on their "big boy pants" in Game 2. Time for Rangers to do the same.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) May 5, 2014
That sounds like a challenge, although Vigneault had an interesting take on how his top guys might view that “big boy pants” bit.
After calling out top players with the "big-boy pants" comment, AV says he doesn't need to challenge them. "I think they picked up on it."
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) May 5, 2014
Vigneault called out his top two defensive pairings in particular, stating that they collectively experienced a tough night on Sunday.
It doesn’t sound like there will be too many big changes, although it appears that Jesper Fast will replace Derek Dorsett in Game 3. No word on whether Fast gives the Rangers more big boy pants than Dorsett would. (Do pests like Dorsett wear big boy pants too? There are a lot of questions and not enough answers about big boy pants ...)