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PHT Morning Skate: Rangers seek Game 7, Wild-'Hawks in crucial Game 5

Chicago Blackhawks v Minnesota Wild - Game Four

ST PAUL, MN - MAY 9: Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks stops a shot by Erik Haula #56 of the Minnesota Wild during the second period in Game Four of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 9, 2014 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. The Wild defeated the Blackhawks 4-2. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)

Hannah Foslien

With a pair of games on Sunday night, there’s a chance we see someone sent home for the summer.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in New York City to face the Rangers in Game 6 and they’re hoping to do what they couldn’t in Game 5: Close out the series. To do that they’ll need a much better effort, but the Rangers are feeling good after getting the power play monkey off their back on Friday.

In Chicago, the Blackhawks are hoping to again defend home ice. After dropping both games at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, they’re hoping a return to United Center sees a return to better play. The Wild are hoping they found the key to beating the ‘Hawks in Games 3 and 4.

Game 6: New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins [Pittsburgh leads series 3-2] (7:00 p.m. ET -- NBCSN)

The Rangers are feeling good after exploding for five goals in Game 5, two on the power play. Their play all playoffs long has been so bad with the man-advantage that beating Marc-Andre Fleury twice could be the kind of thing that snaps the Rangers out of the fog they’ve been in during the playoffs.

Oddly enough, the Penguins don’t need answers for Rick Nash or Martin St. Louis, but they have to find a way to keep Derick Brassard and Benoit Pouliot in check.

The Rangers’ third line was a menace for Pittsburgh again in Game 5 and they’ve had great opportunities all series. That puts the pressure on the Pens’ depth defenders as well as the third and fourth line. Guys like Rob Scuderi and Robert Bortuzzo could have their hands full with other assignments.

Pittsburgh will need more than Evgeni Malkin to show up in Game 6. Malkin’s great play in the Game 5 loss got lost in the shuffle. He’s been excellent in this round.

Expect Game 6 to be an emotional one for St. Louis once again as his family will be in attendance on this Mother’s Day. Keep a tissue handy.

Game 5: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild [Series tied 2-2] (9:00 p.m. ET -- CNBC)

The Blackhawks may not have expected to be in a tied series in Game 5, but now they know they’re in a battle. The Wild’s strong play in Games 3 and 4 showed that they weren’t going to roll over for the defending champions.

One thing that has to get better for both teams is the goaltending. It hasn’t been a dire issue for Chicago or Minnesota, but after the defensive battle the two sides put into Game 3, seeing things go sideways in Game 4 for both Ilya Bryzgalov and Corey Crawford was a jarring site.

Expect to see Chicago’s star players have better games on home ice. Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, and Patrick Kane were all big in wins in Games 1 and 2. For the Wild, they’re hoping they’ve got things headed in the right direction for Zach Parise and Jason Pominville who were big factors in the past two games.

The double-secret difference maker in Game 5 for Minnesota may have been Matt Cooke. His return to action following his seven-game suspension saw him create defensive issues for the ‘Hawks best players. The Wild won’t always get to have the same match-ups on the road, but it’s clear his return was a positive for the Wild.
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