The Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t put away the Rangers when they had the chance and now they’ll pay 

Penguins at Rangers

Madison Square Garden – New York, NY

7:00 PM ET

New York -135

Can the Rangers make it three straight to advance past the Penguins? If the answer to this question – Can the Rangers force a Game 7? – is an indication, then the answer is still a resounding yes. 

Down 3-1 in the series, New York has been playing “must-win” games since Game 5. If we’ve learned anything about the Rangers, it’s that they’re extremely resilient. Or, perhaps it took being on the brink of elimination to realize who they’ve been all season. 

The game being at MSG can’t be overlooked either. Yes, the Rangers lost the first game of the series at home, but don’t forget that it was a 4-3 overtime thriller. It wasn’t as if they were blown out. In Games 2 and 5, they were solid, winning 5-2 and 5-3 respectively. Last year’s Norris Trophy winner, Adam Fox, is living up to his own reputation by leading New York with nine points in the series; in Game 6 he was on another level, assisting on four out of the Rangers five goals. 

And while Vezina Trophy favorite Igor Shesterkin struggled early in the series – so much so that he was benched twice – it would appear he’s righted the ship. In do-or-die situations, Shesterkin had 29 and 31 saves in Games 5 and 6 respectively. He’s clearly trending upward, a good sign heading into Game 7. 

All of the pressure Sunday night is on Pittsburgh, as the Penguins have let a sluggish Rangers team return to form. 

As ‘Ol Blues Eyes used to say, “New York, New York!” 

Norm LaChatlier’s Pick: New York M/L (-135)

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Sunday’s NHL Quick Picks

Calgary -174

Dallas-Calgary UNDER 5.5

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Saturday’s NHL Winners

Tampa Bay +115