Bantering Points: 4/16/17

As the playoff series between New York and Montreal shifts to Madison Square Garden, the time has come for the Rangers to buckle down and fix their home-ice woes. The Rangers stole home ice advantage with their win in Game 1, so giving it right back by dropping one of the next two would only prolong the series. Here are today's news and links:

Rangers News:

• Larry Brooks names the seven biggest storylines before the puck drops for Game 3 (NY Post)
• Brett Cyrgalis details why net-front battles could swing momentum of the series (NY Post)
• Justin Tasch discovers why the teams has chosen to grow playoff goatees as opposed to the usual playoff beards (NY Daily News)
• Arthur Staple highlights Brendan Gallagher as one of the bigger players on Montreal despite his small stature (Newsday)
• Game Preview: New York finds themselves in a must-win situation as the series shifts to Broadway (CBS)
• Shayna Goldman argues the Rangers have to solve their defensive woes as soon as possible in order to play deep into the spring (FanRag)
• Ben Whitney discusses how the playoff series between the Rangers and Canadiens is on a crash course for seven games (Blue Line Station)
• Media Availability: Ryan McDonagh (3:59) and Rick Nash (4:23) (Official Team Site)/

Around the NHL:

• Kyle Cantlon reports the hockey gods were mortified with the Washington Capitals' decision to hand out cowbells at the Verizon Center, and as punishment, handed them a nice, fat L courtesy of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Puck Daddy)
• Speaking of the Maple Leafs, what a win for them. Former Ranger Brian Boyle set up Kasperi Kapanen (who has more goals in the playoffs than Phil Kessel) for the game-winning goal in double overtime to send the series back to Toronto tied up (5:55 Video via NHL.com)
• It seems that Islanders General Manger Garth Snow will remain with the organization in that capacity, as Doug Weight's late season run as head coach was enough to save his job (Sportsnet)
• Columbus Blue Jackets forward Matt Calvert will be suspended for Game 3 against the Pittsburgh Penguins after he cross checked Pittsburgh Penguins forward Tom Kuhnhackl after a whistle (TSN)/