Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals is over and the New York Rangers came away with a win to take a 1-0 series lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning. Excellent goal tending once again highlighted this game. Both Lundqvist and Bishop were phenomenal. In the end, Dominic Moore was the hero (just like everyone expected) after Kevin Hayes banked one off of Moore’s leg and in with 2:25 left in the third period.

If Game 1 is any indication of how the rest of the series will pan out, we are in for a much different series than last round. Last round vs Washington was a tight checking defensive struggle. It featured just as many blocked shots as saves at times. Game 1 vs Tampa Bay was much more wide open. Both of these teams are very fast and highly skilled. The entire game featured high flying action from the drop of the puck to the final buzzer. Here are my three takeaways from game 1:

1. Tampa Bay’s power play is really, really, really good. This is not a team to take penalties against. The power play goal by Ondrej Palat was a thing of beauty. Perfect puck movement finished off by an absolute snipe by Palat. The Rangers will not survive this series if they continue to take penalties.
2. Ben Bishop is a behemoth, The man is just massive. His long legs allow him to cover up almost all of the lower part of the net and his gigantic upper body takes away just about everything else. The combination of his size and good positioning will make it very difficult for the Rangers to score. He likes to move the puck and he is very good at it, but if the Rangers can put pressure on him he is prone to turn the puck over. It happened in the first period when Brassard picked him off and set up Hayes who rang one off the post. They need to get the big man moving too. Make him go post to post and create some scoring angles.
3. The Rangers literally only know how to play in one goal games. The have played in an NHL record 15 straight playoff games in which the differential was only one goal. When Tampa Bay pulled Bishop late in the third period, the Rangers spent just as much time in Lightning zone as Tampa spent in the Rangers’ and they still couldn’t score! Moore had a chance to ice the game when he ripped a slap shot at the empty net from just inside the blue line and he hit the post! Are you kidding me?! Just once I would like the Rangers to put a team away early and cruise to a victory. I guess that is too much to ask for with this team, but hey I’ll take the wins any way I can get them.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals did not disappoint by any means. It was fast paced, exciting, and everything we expected between these two great teams. I am excited to see what the rest of the series has in store for us. Tampa Bay will come at the Rangers hard in game two but these Blueshirts are ready for anything. Keep fighting boys and let’s go Rangers!!!

-Kev