The New York Rangers put forth their best effort of the Eastern Conference second round to take Game 5 and stave off elimination. The Blueshirts hope to stay alive once again when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins in Sundays Game 6 battle at Madison Square Garden. New York recorded a 5-1 victory Friday evening in Pittsburgh to cut its series deficit to 3-2. It was the first win for the Rangers since they claimed Game 1 in the Steel City by a 3-2 score in overtime. In order to extend this best-of-seven set to a decisive seventh game, however, New York will have to pick up its first home victory of the series. The Rangers lost Games 3 and 4 at MSG to the Pens and were outscored by a combined 6-2 margin in those contests. New York is 3-3 on home ice in this postseason, but has won its last five games at the Garden when facing elimination. The Rangers are 8-2 over their last 10 elimination games overall. The Rangers hope to build off Fridays emotional victory in Pittsburgh. Perhaps drawing additional inspiration from the presence of forward Martin St. Louis, who returned to the team one day after his mother, France, suddenly passed away in his native Quebec, the Rangers sense of urgency was evident right from the start in Game 5. St. Louis registered just one shot on goal in 16-plus minutes of ice time, but his participation in the game was enough to inspire his teammates. "We played for Marty and his family," said Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. "Thats the thing we had going for us." It expects to be another emotional night on Sunday, as St. Louis sister and father expect to be in attendance at MSG. New York outshot the Penguins 10-3 over the games opening 10 minutes and peppered Pittsburgh goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury with 17 chances while jumping out to a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period. After mustering a mere two goals over three straight losses in their Eastern Conference semifinal series, the Rangers scored four over the first two periods en route to the blowout victory. Derick Brassard led the charge with a pair of goals and an assist, with Mats Zuccarello lending three helpers to support a 31-save effort from Lundqvist. Ryan McDonagh and Chris Kreider each added a goal and an assist, while Kevin Klein tacked on an empty-net tally to finish off the rout. "We needed to step up tonight," said Brassard. "I dont think the last two games ... we were OK. We didnt play bad but we were nothing special. We just tried to play hard today. We had some lucky bounces and we made some plays." Kreider, playing for just the second time in this postseason after missing time with a broken hand, began New Yorks outburst by putting home a long rebound of a McDonagh shot with the Rangers on the power play midway through the first period. The goal snapped an 0-for-36 drought with the man advantage for New York, tied with the 2007 Anaheim Ducks for the longest in NHL playoff history. The Rangers finished the night 2-for-3 on the power play and is 5-for-47 with the man advantage in this postseason. "I think weve been doing some things well on the power play," Kreider said. "Its hard when you see that looming statistic. But its nice when you finally get one. I think it was huge. I think it was a really important goal." Evgeni Malkin had the lone goal for Pittsburgh, which is trying to go 5-0 all- time in playoff series against the Rangers. Fleury, who helped Pittsburgh build a 3-1 series lead by recording shutouts in Games 2 and 3, stopped just 30-of-34 shots on Friday. "They came really hard, really aggressive down the walls," Pittsburgh head coach Dan Bylsma said of the Rangers. "We turned over a few pucks as a result, let to their offensive-zone time. In addition to that we had some unforced errors." Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik did not play after sustaining an undisclosed injury in Wednesdays Game 4 win. Robert Bortuzzo filled in for Orpik in Game 5 and will likely do so again on Sunday. Pittsburgh is 9-2 all-time in series when holding a 3-1 lead. The last time the Penguins blew a 3-1 lead was in the 2011 Eastern Conference quarterfinals against Tampa Bay when both Sidney Crosby and Malkin were injured and missed the series. .com) - Marc Gasol and the Grizzlies withstood 18 Dallas 3-pointers, as Memphis took control in the third quarter and fended off a Mavericks rally en route to a 114-105 win in a Southwest Division showdown. . -- The defending Canadian womens curling champions squandered an opportunity to take sole possession of first place in the standings Tuesday at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
http://www.wholesaleairjordan13.com/. Not that he was complaining. Davis had 13 points, nine rebounds and a career-high eight blocks, and the New Orleans Pelicans emphatically snapped a three-game skid with a 135-98 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday night. . -- The NFL cancelled its Hall of Fame game between St. . Yahoo! Sports columnist Marc Spears says that the Boogie Smooth album may have been an elaborate April Fools prank.Danny Drinkwater is fully deserving of his call-up into Englands squad by Roy Hodgson, according to former captain Terry Butcher. The 26-year-old is set to earn his first senior international cap during the Euro 2016 warm-up games against Germany and the Netherlands at the end of this month.His selection came at the expense of veteran Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick but Butcher believes that was the right call and feels Drinkwater has a lot to offer Englands midfield. Drinkwater in England squad Danny Drinkwater named in England squad for March friendlies From a midfield position he has made more tackles than anyone else in the Premier League so he is there on merit, Butcher said, speaking on Sky Sports Today.He has been at the fulcrum of a lot of the Leicester attacks and also helps to stop teams from playing. He is very strong and a good long passer of the ball as well.If you look at other players in that midfield area, he is head and shoulders above them in terms of his passing and tackling in particular and what he can give a team. Leighton Baines was left out of Englands squad We will wait and see if he can progress to the next level. It is a massive leap from the Premier League up to international level but he has earned the right to be there.In addition to Carrick, another high-profile name omitted from Hodgsons squad was Everton left back Leighton Baines, with Southamptons Ryan Bertrand and Tottenhams Danny Rose selected instead.Baines has been hampered by an ankle injury all season and Butcher believes that is the reason for his omission but feels Hodgson will be keen to have him in the squad for the Euros this summer. Roy Hodgson says the door is open for others to make Englands squad for Euro 2016 Butcher said: There is obviously a reason [Baines] is not in the squad with his injuries.ddddddddddddHe has been in the squad for a good number of years now.He has had his injury problems this season and is obviously not quite right but that doesnt rule him out for the Euros.Id like to think Roy has spoken to Roberto [Martinez] and they have come to some sort of agreement. Ryan Bertrand of Southampton is expected to start at left back for England Although Butcher expects Baines to play his way back into Hodgsons good graces, he feels Bertrand is the man who will be starting for England in their opening Euro 2016 game against Russia in Marseille on June 11.I think Bertrand will be the starting left-back, Butcher said. He is in pole position because he has got the jersey. But Danny Rose is in there on merit as well so that is another success story. Also See: Drinkwater in England squad Thommos 23-man squad Pochettino: No Kane concerns Neville to help Hodgson ' ' '
