(1A) Panthers at (1M) Rangers
Eastern Conference Final, Game 5
8 p.m. ET; ESPN+, ESPN, SN, TVAS, CBC
Best-of-7 series tied 2-2
NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers have an opportunity on home ice to retake the lead against the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final when they play Game 5 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.
"It's a good spot for us," Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. "We split here, we split down there, we come back for a Game 5 in our building. I'd rather just try to keep it as I always do, just right on today and make sure we're ready to go.
"But definitely exciting. We're in a position where we know there's three games remaining and we're at MSG tonight in front of our fans and they've been incredible. They were incredible down in Florida. Certainly incredible in our building here. No place we'd rather be."
Each team has won a game at home and a game on the road in the series, with each of the past three games ending in overtime; New York won Games 2 and 3, Florida won Game 4.
A best-of-7 series in the round preceding the Stanley Cup Final has never featured four straight overtime games.
"You've got to embrace it," Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk said. "It's the conference finals. You knew it was most likely end up being even after four games. Each game is very tight. I would say that we've probably controlled three out of the four and then Game 2, they played really well. But I think we like the way our game is trending right now and, yeah, it's been very even."
The Rangers best and most complete game of the series was Game 2 at the Garden, when they won on center Barclay Goodrow's goal 14:01 into overtime. That's the only game of the four that New York outshot Florida (30-27) and had more shot attempts (78-75).
In Games 3 and 4 in Florida, the Panthers outshot the Rangers 77-46 and had a 197-87 advantage in total shot attempts.
But New York won Game 3, 5-4, on center Alex Wennberg's goal 5:35 into overtime. Florida won Game 4, 3-2, on forward Sam Reinhart's power-play goal at 1:12 of overtime.
"There's only four teams left and then two unbelievable teams that are going against each other," Panthers center Anton Lundell said, "and it's just you have to battle for every chance, every shift is an opportunity. But at the same time, it's a grind. But it's fun. That's what we're built for, that's what we're here to do. We just want to go out there and have fun and try to enjoy even if it's tight games."
When a Stanley Cup Playoffs best-of-7 series is tied 2-2, the winner of Game 5 goes on to win the series 78.8 percent of the time (231-62).
Here are 3 keys to Game 5:
1. Limiting Florida's surges
The Panthers dominated play for long stretches in Games 3 and 4, attacking the Rangers with waves of pressure and high shot volume for periods at a time.
Florida had 41 shot attempts to New York's 11 in the third period of Game 3. It had 70 shot attempts to New York's 16 after the first period in Game 4.
The Rangers were better at limiting those pushes from the Panthers in their two home games in the series, stopping them earlier and turning it back on them. They also played on their toes and in attack mode in the first period of Game 4.
Pushing back harder and quicker will be a big part of their game plan Thursday.
"That's what we have to do," Laviolette said. "I thought we did a better job of that at home. I just think there's room for us to be better with our defense, our exits and getting into the offensive zone. Those are the things we'll look at and talk about."
2. Panthers popping on power play
Florida is doing what the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals couldn't do previously in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and that's find holes in New York's aggressive and offensive-minded penalty kill to cash in on power-play goals.
The Panthers are 5-for-12 on the man-advantage in the past three games after going 0-for-3 in Game 1. They went 4-for-10 in their two home games, albeit with a short-handed goal allowed in Game 3.
The Rangers allowed four power-play goals on 38 times short-handed in the first two rounds.
Tkachuk described why Florida has been effective in this area.
"I think a big thing is you don't necessarily have to race to your position," Tkachuk said. "We've got five guys -- I've seen sometimes where [defenseman Brandon Montour] is ending netfront or in the slot. It really doesn't matter where you are on the ice. Don't worry about racing to your position. Just worry about moving the puck as quick as you can. That's what kind of what it is with us. There's some penalty kills that you play that are really passive where you can easily get in your set-up and move it around and feel good, but you've almost got to treat it like 5-on-5. Just move it quick and when you see an opening, take it to the net."
