The Rangers have come back from a 3-1 deficit against the Penguins before, doing so in the second round in 2014 on the way to the Stanley Cup Finals by winning Game 1, losing three straight, then roaring all the way back.
They have a chance to do it again Sunday night at MSG, a win in the deciding Game 7 meaning advancement to face Carolina and a second 3-1 deficit erased against Pittsburgh.
And, besides the fact that they’ve done it before (albeit with an almost completely different cast of characters on Broadway), the Blueshirts are ready – because they’ve already played two Game 7s in their mind this week.
“We approached the last two games as Game 7s. Really, we had to win those games,” head coach Gerard Gallant said Saturday. “They were must-wins and we found a way to win those hockey games, so tomorrow’s no different: you lose, you go home. We’ve had two Game 7s, the last two for me.”
The Rangers’ Saturday skate was optional, Gallant calling it “a good rest day” for some players. Optional because, after a Game 6 where the veterans stepped up – Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, notably, the former notching two goals and the latter scoring two of his own and assisting on both of Kreider’s – he’s not worried about the team’s mindset.
“Game 7 is huge for us and now we’ve got to make sure we finish it off tomorrow and play the right way, but we’ve given ourselves an opportunity and worked hard to get back,” Gallant said. “I think everybody’s really excited. It’s a big game for sure. It’s a lot of fun, looking forward to it. [I’ve] been involved in a few of those over the years and they’re fun.”
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Gallant will hope his vets step up again, but he’s got one neophyte chomping at the bit to play a hero role in his first-ever deciding game.
“You grow up and you watch the playoffs and Game 7s are usually really fun to watch, so to actually be able to play in one is a privilege and I’ll try to enjoy every moment,” said Alexis Lafreniere, who has two goals and two assists in the first six games.
He may be young, but Lafreniere already has the Ranger mentality.
"We don't quit. Our character is really something,” he said. “We were down both games (5 and 6) and we came back. We never quit or stopped playing as a team, and as long as we play as a team like that, I think we have a good chance to win.”
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