The New York Rangers raced out to a nice start to take a 1-0 lead in Game 5 ... and that about covers the positives for Henrik Lundqvist & Co.
The Pittsburgh Penguins ended this first-round series 4-1 thanks to Saturday’s 6-3 rout, winning the last three games in increasingly lopsided ways.
It’s impossible to ignore Henrik Lundqvist’s struggles, even if you pin many of the goals he allowed on his teammates’ inability to contain the Penguins’ speed and skill. Lundqvist will enter the summer in sobering fashion as he was pulled from two straight games.
With Lundqvist in net, Penguins scored 10 goals on 41 shots in Games 4 and 5.
— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) April 23, 2016
Let’s face it; the Penguins owned the perennial All-Star in 2015-16. Remember when they made Lundqvist flip out?
The Penguins enjoyed great performances from big guns such as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Phil Kessel. Even so, Pittsburgh looks especially dangerous because this team isn’t just leaning on those core scorers.
What's the one thing Pittsburgh's 5 goal scorers in this game have in common? None played for the Penguins in the playoffs last season.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) April 23, 2016
Indeed, the Penguins saw the likes of Matt Cullen, Bryan Rust and Conor Sheary pitch in goals and other big plays (not to mention a speedy and focused Carl Hagelin).
Things really got out of hand in the second period; a 2-2 tie transformed into a foreboding 6-2 lead for the Rangers pushed back in the final frame but couldn’t beat Matt Murray very often.
Special teams will stand as one of the other key differences between the teams.
The Rangers’ power play was barren ...
That's New York's second power-play goal in the series and first since a 5-on-3 in Game 1.
— Dave Molinari (@MolinariPGH) April 23, 2016
... While the Penguins’ man advantage was downright prolific, generating at least one power-play goal in each game of the series and eight tallies overall.
Fair or not, this defeat generated a lot of heat on Lundqvist and the Rangers in general.
This is the worse playoffs I have ever seen lundqvist play. Thanks Hank for costing us the post season! #YouHave4YearsLeft
— hunter alderman (@hunter_alderman) April 23, 2016
Could have moved Yandle to recoup assets before deadline, and not done Staal deal. But decided to go all in instead. https://t.co/JQ7eDFg5qw
— Damien Cox (@DamoSpin) April 23, 2016
Where does Henrik Lundqvist rank on the list of best players to never win a Cup? I'm thinking he might crack Top 5.
— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) April 23, 2016
(Not a good sign when people are writing your sports career obituary.)
Now the Rangers look ahead to an offseason rife with plenty of questions. Meanwhile, the Penguins await the Washington Capitals and Philadelphia Flyers in what should be a captivating series either way.
The Rangers had been getting the better of the Penguins lately, yet history is on Pittsburgh’s side:
The @penguins improved to 5-2 in all-time series vs NYR. They met in #StanleyCup Playoffs for 3rd straight year (2014 SR, 2015 FR: NYR wins)
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) April 23, 2016