Working overtime doesn't pay for Rangers

Working overtime doesn't pay for Rangers

Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press/AP

Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist allows the game-winning goal in overtime of Game 4 against the Senators.

The Rangers have never trailed, not for one second of play, in their first-round playoff series against the Senators.

While that oddity will not make it easier for fans to accept that the Rangers have dropped two of the first four games bot h in OT the Blueshirts overall play has not been a glaring concern for John Tortorella as they face a pivotal Game 5 Saturday night at the Garden.

PHOTOS: RANGERS FALL IN OVERTIME OF GAME 4

(The Senators) made a play. Theyve scored a couple of overtime goals and we havent, Tortorella said on a conference call Thursday about the game-winners by Ottawas Chris Neil in Game 2 and Kyle Turris in Game 4, making that seven straight playoff overtime losses for Henrik Lundqvist and the Rangers since 2007. (Wednesday) night, we had a couple of chances. Its not a concern. Its about trying to find a way to win. They have done that. Weve got another opportunity to go about our business and see if we can get it done.

The Rangers, who did not practice or play Thursday for the first time in 10 days, will reconvene Friday at their Greenburgh practice facility to prepare for what is now a best-of-3 series beginning Saturday .

Despite givin g back an early two-goal lead built on power-play goals by Anton Stralman and Ryan Callahan in a frenetic second period, Tortorella insisted his team, which blocked 30 shots in front of Lundqvist in the game, wasnt gassed and played very well in the final 20 minutes of regulation.

I thought the third period was our best period. Other than a couple spurts they had, that was when we really played our best hockey, Tortorella said. You may look at the minutes and think our guys were gassed. Our guys werent gassed. I thought that was our best period since the first game.

When asked if he believed some of the Rangers players were not at their best Wednesday night, Tortorella added: Im not, at Game 4, about to start naming names. Weve had some people, secondary players, play some good minutes. But Im not going to start naming names. We win and lose as a team here. We just dont get it done in overtime. I thought we played a pretty good game, so well just get ready fo r another one.

STAAL TACTICS
Rangers defenseman Marc Staal wasnt expected to hear from NHL VP of player safety Brendan Shanahan for his unpenalized hit to Jason Spezzas head in the second period of Game 4. Spezza, who was leaning forward with his head down as the puck rolled off his stick on the play when Staal leveled him, told reporters Thursday that he thought the hit was a little bit dirty.

With Kevin Armstrong