Rangers were 2-8 in past five playoff seasons in Game 2
LOS ANGELES -- Teams that won Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final captured the Cup eight of the previous 11 years. But deuces have not been wild in playoff series for the Rangers.
In recent years, winning Game 2 of a playoff series has not been easy for them. After Saturday night's double-overtime loss, they have gone 2-9 in Game 2s in the past five seasons in which they made the playoffs.
This year, they were 1-2 in Game 2s in the three previous series, beating Montreal but losing to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. In 2013, they lost in Washington and Boston; in 2012, they lost all three at home, to Ottawa, Washington and New Jersey.
In 2011, they fell in Washington. In 2009, they won in Washington.
Moore back in lineup
John Moore, available after his two-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of Montreal's Dale Weise, was back in the lineup. Raphael Diaz was a scratch. Cam Talbot, believed to have been injured in warm-ups of Game 6 against Montreal, was scratched for the second straight game. David LeNeveu, 31, dressed as the backup to Henrik Lundqvist.
Return flight today
The Rangers opted to fly back to New York Sunday rather than after Game 2. "It's just common sense," said Alain Vigneault, whose team will not practice Sunday. "We'd be getting home at 5 or 6 in the morning and we'd be losing a full night's sleep.''
When Vigneault was coaching the Vancouver Canucks, former GM Mike Gillis hired a company that researched sleep patterns and travel, which helped planning, Vigneault said.
Below 'C' level
Cup history lesson: Fifteen below-.500 teams made it to the Stanley Cup Final. The Rangers did it in 1950 (28-31-11) and 1937 (19-20-9).