Pens' Rodrigues & Domingue Make Fatal Mistakes as Rangers Force Game 7

But then came the second period, which throughout the series has been nuts.

And now, a word about Evan Rodrigues.

If you’ve been around here for a while, you know that I’ve been firmly on the E-Rod bandwagon. I like his toughness, I like his versatility, I like his willingness to play whatever role is handed to him.

What I don’t like, however, is his impulse control or lack thereof. Five minutes into the second period, Ryan Lindgren hit him. He retaliated by sticking Lindgren, which resulted in a roughing call and a Rangers power play. Literally five seconds after E-Rod hit the sin bin, Mika Zibanejad, who has done next to nothing in this series, scored on Louis Domingue’s wide-open stick side. Obviously making up for lost time, Zibanejad got off an almost identical shot 76 seconds later to tie the game, although to be fair to Louis Mike Matheson blocked his view, not the shot. 

That was not the only stupid move Otter made. He earned himself a four-minute major at 12:57 for high-sticking Frank Vatrano. When the other team contains the player who got the most power-play goals this season, you don’t want to get a major. It took the aforementioned Chris Krieder a mere 51 seconds to gain the lead for the Rangers.

But here was Evgeni Malkin. Geno beautifully stole the puck from K’Andre Miller and raced up the ice on a breakaway. I don’t care how good of a goalie you are, Geno barreling towards you on a breakaway has to strike fear into your heart, and Geno capitalized at 16:36 to tie things up and send the Pens into the second intermission with hope, although I have no doubt Mike Sullivan ripped E-Rod and Matheson new ones in the locker room.

The third period was notable for its tight play--you know that both Sully and Rangers coach Gerard Gallant were like “don’t do anything dumb,” and their players heard and obeyed. 

And now, a word about Louis Domingue. 

Look, I like the guy too. He was a great story, but he is also a third-string goalie. The fact that the Penguins were up in this series 3-1 speaks more about its solid defense than Domingue’s play. Krieder’s second goal was a high deflection that Domingue did not follow. Carter valiantly dove for the puck, but it bounced over Domingue to make it 4-3 Rangers with 88 seconds left in regulation. Of course Sully pulled Domingue. Of course Andrew Copp got the Rangers’ insurance goal 61 seconds later. Of course I was like I HATE WHEN THE GOALIE IS PULLED.

So everything will finish in New York. Here’s a prediction--unless he dies between now and Game Seven, Tristan Jarry will be in goal. You already know Sid is agitating to get back in the lineup. There will be those who will say that Blue Steel should have been in Game 6, but Sully obviously had faith enough in his players and the general advantage of home ice to hope for a series-ending PengWIN.

Don’t let it end like this, Penguins.