Once again facing elimination the Rangers need to execute the same type of game Sunday in Pittsburgh that they were able to play in game four.

They will once again have to stay out of the penalty box. After getting killed with penalties during the first three games they did a good job collectively to stay out of the box. In game five the Penguins had just four chances on the power play and the Rangers were able to shut them down every time.

They also went back to playing a similar physical game as they did against the Devils targeting Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Marian Hossa. This type of play seemed to keep these big three offensive tools off their game.

Of course if Henrik Lundqvist can duplicate his performance from Thursday night things can go well for the Rangers. They need to help him out as much as they can by playing solid defense, blocking as many shots as they can.

Some changes will be in order as well for the Broadway Blueshirts.

Lauri Korpikoski, 21, will be getting into the game after it looked liked he was going to get into game four only to be scratched for Ryan Hollweg. Then early this week head coach Tom Renney moved him out of the main locker room signaling that he would go with a similar forth line today. It now appears Korpikoski will be dressing for today’s game five according to Newday’s Steve Zipay.

“With Blair (Betts) out, it will give us a little more versatility,” said Renney. “Not to mention the fourth line…These young guys are capable of playing. I felt the same way last year with Nigel (Dawes) and I feel the same way about Lauri, We need that kind of help at center ice, he’s the best guy under the circumstances. It’s an opportunity to grow another player, and this will be a great environment for him, a real challenge, but it’s no different for anybody else.”

On his line will likely be Hollweg on the left wing and Fredrik Sjostrom on the right. Colton Orr will sit as will Christian Backman on defense, in his place will be Jason Strudwick. Strudwick started game four and didn’t do a whole lot while playing ten minutes.

“It just helps us a little more in our end defensively,” said Renney. “The experience there of playing in a tough situation helps us…Christian will get there there’s no question in my mind. He adds to the offensive side of the equation, but we thought under the circumstances, it would be good to come back with Struddy.”

If the Rangers stay out of the box, play strong defense, and get a strong performance by Lundqvist maybe Jaromir Jagr can play a strong enough game to bring them back to the garden for a game six tomorrow night. That’s a lot of things that need to go right.

“We have to believe,” Jagr said. “That’s where you start everything. If you don’t believe, you don’t have a chance. You have to believe that anything is possible. Then you have to put the pieces together.”