By LARRY BROOKS
New York Post
Pittsburgh Penguins' Jordan Staal (11) flips the puck over New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundquist, of Sweden, during second-period NHL playoff hockey action in Pittsburgh, Sunday, April 27, 2008.
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
April 28, 2008 -- PITTSBURGH - They lost a track meet in Game 1 on Friday and they lost a pitchers' duel in Game 2 yesterday. Now the RangersNew York Rangers have to be much better if they are going to win a hockey game against the Penguins when this Eastern Conference semifinal continues with Game 3 at the Garden tomorrow night.
"We have to up it a notch, there's no doubt about that," Scott Gomez said after yesterday's 2-0 empty-net abetted defeat. "We have a lot to work on. We're making too many mistakes. We're playing a good hockey team. We have to make it harder for them."
If the players in uniform have to be sharper, then so does Tom Renney. The coach simply must ride his best players against a deep opponent. He must make adjustments on the fly.
He must get Jaromir JagrJaromir Jagr more than the 19:35 of ice he got yesterday. He must be willing to get speed - and/or Jagr - on Gomez's right side more often than he has thus far. He mustn't have the fourth line on the ice for an offensive zone draw midway through the third period of a 1-0 game as he did yesterday.
The Rangers played perhaps their best defensive game of the playoffs - Marc Staal was gigantic - but they failed to pressure the Penguins' defense off the forecheck and they failed to test Marc-Andre Fleury to any substantial degree.
PITTSBURGH - APRIL 27: Goaltender Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers dives across to block a shot by Ryan Malone #12 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during game two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 27, 2008 at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Unable to create traffic in front at even-strength, the Blueshirts were abysmal on the power play. They were even worse than late in the third, unable to manufacture a single shot in two advantages within the final 6:06, even while operating 6-on-4 after pulling Henrik Lundqvist with 50 seconds remaining on the power play.
"We seemed to be scrambling on the power play all the time," Chris Drury said. "The puck was bouncing and jumping, but that's no excuse.
"We have to generate more."
The Blueshirts were 0-for-6 in 11:38 with the man-advantage. The Penguins, meanwhile, were able to break the scoreless tie at 13:55 of the second when Jordan Staal scored on the power play, beating Lundqvist from close range off a feed from Evgeni Malkin. Adam Hall got the empty-netter with 17 seconds to go in the third.
"We know we have to put more pressure on them," said Lundqvist, whose big-time performance was highlighted by a first-period stop on a Marian Hossa breakaway. "It feels like the difference between the two teams is not so big.
"They made it tough for us to get in there, but hopefully in New York we'll find the way. We have to be confident that when we get back home we can take two the way they did here."
PITTSBURGH - APRIL 27: Sean Avery #16 of the New York Rangers has words with goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Pittsburgh Penguins as Hal Gill #2 of the Penguins holds Avery back after the end of regulation of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 27, 2008 at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Brandon Dubinsky, who overstayed too many shifts, did not have one of his better games. Gomez, who was able to routinely gain the zone, nevertheless turned over the puck too often and wasn't pinpoint on his passes.
Brendan Shanahan, who established a presence in front on the power play, wasn't an even-strength factor. Sean Avery, who got into a bit of brouhaha with Fleury and Hal Gill at the end of the game, wasn't a factor, either.
"You know how a playoff series is," said Jagr. "Everything can change in a minute."
The Rangers and Renney have 60 minutes to change things tomorrow night.
larry.brooks@nypost.com
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