The second round of the NHL Playoffs is reaching the point of no return in the Eastern Conference. The Pittsburgh Penguins routed the Ottawa Senators 7-3 in the Canadian capital Wednesday night to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their series. In the other conference semifinal the New York Rangers are being skunked 3-0 in their series by the Boston Bruins.

There are two Game Fours and a Game Five on Thursday night, quite possibly one of the last tripleheaders of the 2013 season. The Detroit Red Wings can push a skate boot firmly on to the throat of the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks with a 3-1 lead. The Bruins can finish off the sluggish Rangers and in a potentially series swinging Game Five, the Sharks or Kings can gain an upper hand.

At this point in the postseason every game is a must win. No one wants to play any more games than they need to. Everyone is a little banged up, every check is a little harder, every shot blocked comes off the stick a little harder and it seems like when you start to get a little rest it’s time to drop the puck again. This is for the Stanley Cup though. No one that has ever laced up a pair of hockey skates would dare miss an opportunity to skate for the chance to lift the most hallowed trophy in sports.

Of the teams that need to win the most, the Rangers are the obvious choice. Down 0-3, but within a whisker of winning two of the three games, New York must dig far deeper in Game Four than we have seen from them at any point this year.

Glen Sather went out and assembled a high-priced squad that looked built for a lengthy playoff run. Unfortunately Stanley Cups aren’t won on paper; they are won inside of my television. They might have the best goalie in the game, but he can’t stop every shot. At some point the Rangers need to score some goals and show some heart. I'm looking at you Rick Nash, Brad Richards, Ryan Callahan, Carl Hagelin.....I should just include everyone else in a RAngers' jersey to be fair.

Coach John Tortorella inadvertently gave himself a gag order at the conclusion of the first round series with the Washington Capitals. By accusing the Capitals of “whining” Torts essentially took his most effective tool away from his club. His badgering of the officials and use of the press to “comment” before or after each game is one of the most entertaining aspects of New York Rangers hockey.

For the sake of Tortorella, possibly his job, the Rangers and the legions of fans filling Madison Square Garden tomorrow night; let’s hope that they can at least salvage one win in this series. It might only prolong the inevitable, but it will give some of us hope and even better, guarantee more playoff hockey!