The second period was the Rangers undoing in Game 6 at Philadelphia, a 20-minute stretch of unraveling that looked as if it might doom them to a one-and-done playoff run.
But one night later, in Game 7 at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers owned the second period, thanks very much in part to a player making the most of a second chance — Dan Carcillo.
One night after the Rangers allowed three goals in the second period to the Flyers at Wells Fargo Center, falling behind 4-0 in what ended in a 5-2 loss, the Rangers seized control of Game 7 and the series climax in their 2-1 win Wednesday, and it started with a massive Carcillo goal at 3:06 of the period.
Carcillo, who was activated for Games 3 and 4 after sitting out the first two of the series but was benched in favor of J.T. Miller in Games 5 and 6, one-timed a beautiful back-handed cross by Mats Zuccarello past Flyers goalie Steve Mason for a 1-0 lead.
Carcillo called the Zuccarello pass “just a great play by a good hockey player.’’
After a scoreless first period that raised the nervous tension in the home building a few levels, the Carcillo goal seemed to liberate the Rangers, who got instant energy from it, and awaken the Garden, which pretty much rocked the rest of the game after it was nervously quiet in the first period.
“First goals are huge in Game 7s — not as much in the rest of the series — but in Game 7 when you get first goal at home it gets the crowd into it and you feel the building come alive,’’ said Brad Richards, who centered the line on which Carcillo played. “Even when we weren’t scoring in that second period [the fans] were behind us. It just felt like we had another gear in the second period, and a lot of that was getting that first goal.’’
Carcillo, clearly unhappy about sitting out the previous two games, said he found out he was playing when he arrived at the Garden before the game. When he was activated for Game 3, Carcillo scored a goal in Game 3 in Philadelphia, where he used to play.
“I just felt that in a Game 7 I’d rather go with experience,’’ Vigneault said. “He has been in these situations before. He came and did a good job, scored that big first goal for us.’’
Carcillo said sitting out “it not easy, it will never be easy … you never get used to it.’’
Now, because of Carcillo’s flair for the dramatic in the big moments, it looks like it might be difficult for Vigneault to get him out of the lineup.
“I’ve always liked the big stage,’’ Carcillo said. “When I was younger, the more people watching I played harder.’’
“Whenever you’re in and out [of the lineup], when you’re in you try to do something to stay in, whether it be offensively or bringing a lot of energy. That’s just what I was trying to do every time I was in this series.’’
Carcillo’s teammates were not surprised at his contribution.
“He’s won the Stanley Cup before,’’ Zuccarello said of Carcillo, who was on the champion Blackhawks last season. “He’s one of those guys you look to for experience in the locker room and he’s a guy that steps up every time he’s on the ice. That was a great finish ‘Carce.’
Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi called the Carcillo goal “huge.’’
“He gets inserted into the lineup and makes a difference right away,” Girardi said. “He’s that type of player that can make a big play, make a big hit or score a goal. He was big for us.’’