ECQF vs. OTT G2: NYR fall in OT 3-2

Rather than going goal by goal like I normally do, I'm just going to point out a couple things.

First off, Hagelin is probably going to get a one game suspension for his elbow that knocked Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson out of the game in the second period. Although it definitely wasn't intentional, the damage was still done and he is going to have a hearing about it. If Hagelin is suspended, the Rangers need to give Kreider his chance to show what he can do. There's nothing wrong with giving Kreider 3rd line minutes with Boyle and whomever else Torts decides to throw in there after lineup changes. Considering how hot Boyle's stick his right now, Kreider feeding Boyle the puck I don't consider to be a bad thing.

Speaking of Boyle, once the Rangers learned of Ottawa's intention to dress their tough guys and start them no less, the Rangers and Boyle himself knew what was coming. Still, it really didn't seem like Ottawa was all that interested in playing hockey until Erik Karlsson was the recipient of a lucky goal on a pass to the middle of the ice that caromed off of Del Zotto's skate and behind Lundqvist towards the end of Hagelin's elbowing major. Quite frankly, all of Ottawa's goals tonight were fortunate bounces that landed on Senator sticks and behind Lundqvist. Del Zotto was perhaps out of position on the goal that went off of his skate but he is far from the reason why the Rangers lost.

Finally, the Rangers played the third period far too passively for me up until Foligno's goal with 5 minutes left. Where as the Rangers stepped on the throat of Ottawa at the start of the third period Game 1 with Richards' goal, the Sens held the puck for far too long in the third period for Game 2. By the way, with less than 5 minutes to go in the third period with the lead, the Rangers need to do a better job at finishing.

Again, for Game 3 if Hagelin is suspended, Kreider and trade deadline acquisition John Scott need to be inserted into the lineup and John Mitchell scratched who has done little to nothing for this team in months. Ranger fans cannot panic with the series shifting to Ottawa, they are the better team with deeper scoring and a much better goaltender, but as a long time die hard of this team, the Rangers always like to make things interesting for us.