After opening the playoffs with a Game 1 loss to the Rangers, the Penguins’ locker room was filled with frustration. The game had been even for only 27 seconds before the Rangers took a lead they never let go, ending with multiple Pittsburgh players bothered by their lack of discipline and inability to score on chances in front.
Missed opportunities were the basis for their frustration, but the existence of those opportunities made optimism easy to find heading into Game 2 on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
“We’re a confident team in here,” Penguins defenseman Ben Lovejoy said after the 2-1 loss.