New York Rangers Embarrassed In Game 4 By Pittsburgh Penguins

Apr 21, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) after scoring the Penguins fifth goal against the Rangers during the third period in game four of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin (71) after scoring the Penguins fifth goal against the Rangers during the third period in game four of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Rangers were embarrassed by the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 4, losing 5-0 and never recovering from an early Penguins’ onslaught.

The New York Rangers were facing what was essentially a must win game in Game 4 of their NHL Playoffs first round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins went into the game with a 2-1 series lead, so the Rangers needed a victory to avoid being pushed to the brink of elimination.

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They must not have been aware this is a best-of-seven series, as the Rangers were embarrassed by the Penguins, and it did not take long. The Penguins came out scorching, as Eric Fehr scored 1:09 into the game and was assisted by Ben Lovejoy and Evgeni Malkin.

It didn’t take long for the Penguins to continue their onslaught, as Patric Hornqvist continued terrorizing the Rangers. Hornqvist scored his four goal of the series, this time on the power play courtesy of a Rick Nash interference penalty. Sidney Crosby and Malkin were credited with assists on the play.

The Penguins did their best to allow the Rangers back in the game, they were just never able to take advantage. The Rangers went on the power play three times total in the first period, and came away empty handed each time. The Penguins were also on another power play in the period, but came away empty handed as well.

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It didn’t take long for them to recover though, as they would score their third goal of the period with 3:48 remaining to go up 3-0. This time Conor Sheary lit the lamp, scoring his first goal of the postseason.

The game was essentially over at that point, but the Penguins continued imposing their will on the Rangers. Dominic Moore was called for a holding penalty on Malkin early in the second period, and the Penguins capitalized almost instantly. Only 24 seconds into the power play, Malkin got as good of revenge for a player that had a penalty committed on them by scoring the fourth goal of the game. The goal was assisted by Crosby and Hornqvist.

A little while later Henrik Lundqvist was removed from the game. He struggled on the night, albeit his teammates didn’t always put him in the best position taking penalties. Lundqvist finished the night with 14 saves and four goals allowed in 26:04 played.

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Antti Raanta relieved him, and made 13 saves in 33:56, allowing one goal. He allowed the fifth and final goal of the game in the third period, as Malkin put it home for his second goal of the game, giving him a monster four-point game to give the Penguins a dominant 3-1 series lead.

Credit needs to be given to Penguins’ goaltender Matt Murray. The rookie pitched a 31-save shutout, as this was his second overall shutout in his career. Murray has been outstanding for the Penguins in net the last two games, making 47 saves and allowing only one goal. Murray has stabilized the position for the Penguins after third stringer Jeff Zatkoff started the first two games and was shaky at best.

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The Rangers will look to stave off elimination on Saturday night when the series returns back to Pittsburgh for Game 5. It is hard to imagine the Rangers circling the wagons for that game after coming out so flat tonight in front of their home crowd, losing at Madison Square Garden for the fifth consecutive time in the postseason.