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Vigneault to top Rangers: Put on your ‘big boy pants’ tonight

New York Rangers v Pittsburgh Penguins - Game One

PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 02: Benoit Pouliot #67 of the New York Rangers celebrates after scoring in the first period against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game One of the Second Round of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Consol Energy Center on May 02, 2014 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

Justin K. Aller

Henrik Lundqvist kept the New York Rangers in the game and managed to keep Sidney Crosby at zero playoff goals in 2014, but the Pittsburgh Penguins’ top players still excelled in Game 2. That wasn’t lost on Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault, who called out his own best weapons heading into Monday’s big Game 3.

That sounds like a challenge, although Vigneault had an interesting take on how his top guys might view that “big boy pants” bit.

Vigneault called out his top two defensive pairings in particular, stating that they collectively experienced a tough night on Sunday.

It doesn’t sound like there will be too many big changes, although it appears that Jesper Fast will replace Derek Dorsett in Game 3. No word on whether Fast gives the Rangers more big boy pants than Dorsett would. (Do pests like Dorsett wear big boy pants too? There are a lot of questions and not enough answers about big boy pants ...)

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins