With Henrik Lundqvist steady in front of the net, the Rangers were able to tie the series 2-2 with a dominant 4-1 home win over Ottawa in Game 4 Thursday night. They go back on the road for Game 5, looking to get the series upper hand for the first time.
Center Oscar Lindberg scored a pair of goals, while Nick Holden and Chris Kreider each netted one for the Rangers, who are seemingly having their way on Ottawa’s defense. The Rangers have scored 13 goals since Game 2 and they will look to rattle again the struggling Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson this Saturday.
As for the Rangers’ own netminder, Lundqvist gave up a goal on 23 shots faced in Game 4. The goalie appears to be locked in, as he’s allowed just two goals on 50 shots the last two games. That doesn’t sound good for the Senators, who will try to avoid getting behind in the series in Game 5.
Betting on the Ottawa Senators
The Senators have to find their scoring moxie back. It’d help them if they win the possession battle after getting outshot by the Rangers for the third consecutive game.
Ottawa made 23 shots in Game 4 compared to the Rangers’ 30, though the discrepancy was largely because of the six power play opportunities the Sens giftwrapped New York. (The Rangers went 2-for-6 on the man advantage). With the Rangers having gained offensive momentum, the Senators can’t afford to give any more advantages to New York, especially with Craig Anderson’s troublesome play.
Anderson was pulled midgame in favor of backup Mike Condon on Thursday after giving up three goals on 20 shots faced.
Kyle Turris scored the lone goal in Game 3 for the Senators, who have scored just a goal in each of the last two games. Jean-Gabriel Pageau has scored five of the Sens’ 10 goals so far in this series so Ottawa is pressed to find offense from its other capable scorers. Bobby Ryan returned Thursday after missing Game 3 with an injury but failed to register a point. He leads the Sens this postseason though with eight points on two goals and six assists.
