3 Keys: Penguins at Rangers, Game 5 of Eastern First Round

Welcome to NHL.com, the official site of the National Hockey LeagueBienvenue à LNH.com , le site officiel de la Ligue nationale de hockeyTervetuloa NHL:n viralliselle nettisivustolle NHL.comiinVälkommen till NHL.com, NHL:s officiella web-sidaVítejte na NHL.com, oficiálních stránkách National Hockey LeagueVitajte na NHL.com, oficiálnych stránkach National Hockey LeagueWillkommen auf NHL.com, der offiziellen Seite der National Hockey LeagueBienvenido a NHL.com, el sitio oficial de la National Hockey League(3M) Penguins at (2M) Rangers7 p.m. ET; ESPN, CBC, SN, TVAS, MSG, ATTSN-PTPittsburgh leads best-of-7 series 3-1The New York Rangers return home after two road losses facing elimination from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a must-win Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden.The Rangers lost three games in a row twice this season, from Nov. 2-6 (0-1-2) and from April 23-27 (0-3-0), which was after they clinched a playoff berth."I'm certainly really confident in our group," New York center Ryan Strome said. Igor Shesterkin, who on Tuesday was named one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, voted as the best goalie in the NHL during the regular season, was pulled from each game.Shesterkin played the first period in Game 3 and allowed four goals on 15 shots in a 7-4 loss. We expect to get their best and we're going to bring our best."Teams that take a 3-1 lead in a best-of-7 series are 296-30 (.908), including 5-1 in the 2021 playoffs.Here are 3 keys to Game 5:Pittsburgh is in control in the series because it has been taking care of the puck, pressuring all over the ice, and playing in the offensive zone, aided by winning 59.6 percent of the face-offs in Games 3 and 4 (62 of 104).It's a credit to the Penguins' pressure that the Rangers have unraveled defensively, leading to odd-man rushes, backdoor plays available at the far post and openings in the slot that have led to goals off deflections and screens."We're just trying to play on our toes, play in their face, and when opportunities present themselves try to make quick and hard plays," Penguins forward Bryan Rust said. But Shesterkin can fall back on how he played in Games 1 and 2 at home, when he allowed six goals on 124 shots (.952 save percentage).If he plays like that, New York will have a legitimate chance to push this series back to Pittsburgh for Game 6 on Friday.