After Henrik Lundqvist stole the show in Game 4, the New York Rangers need to keep the physical, nasty, structured play going in Game 5.
By Robby Sabo
In fact, it was the lone game of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs that allowed Blueshirts faithful to actually enjoy a Rangers win. No one-goal affair in Game 4, it was New York early and often, finishing the Lightning 5-1 on their own home ice.
From the get-go, it was apparent what the Rangers strategy was. They decided they couldn’t get in the run and gun nature of play head coach Jon Cooper preaches. That type of game yielded 12-goals in two games against Lundqvist and company.
Instead, a nasty, physical and structured defensive format was decided as the ticket for success in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Perhaps nothing represented what the Rangers were after more than Kevin Hayes' game.
Early on, he and Tyler Johnson got into it, and then he provided a little love top to Johnson's wrist as a reminder.
This is the one aspect of New York's game that can ruin the transitional speed and sniping game of Tampa.