Shesterkin to start for Rangers versus Blackwood and Devils, Islanders lose to Hurricanes on controversial rule

Posted on March 7, 2020 by Derek

They confirmed it earlier. Well, David Quinn did when he named Igor Shesterkin tonight’s starter for the Rangers when they host the Devils at the top of the hour.

Opposing him will be Devils rookie Mackenzie Blackwood. It’s definitely a good goalie match-up between first-year netminders. Blackwood leads all rookies in wins (21), games started (41) and games played (45). The 23-year old had a six-game winning streak snapped in an overtime loss at the Kings on Feb. 29. He also dropped his last start at Vegas.

Blackwood will face the Rangers for the fourth time this season. He’s 1-2-0 with a 3.88 GAA and .872 save percentage. However, he’s been much better as I noted above. So, it should be an intriguing match-up versus Shesterkin, who only comes in 9-1-0 with a 2.23 GAA and. 940 save percentage. His last start came 14 days ago in a nerve racking 3-2 comeback win over the Sharks on Feb. 22. He made 44 saves to steal the game.

Shesterkin has an NHL record four wins in his first 10 starts of 40 saves or more. The key tonight is will he show any rust. You hope not. Considering how big a game it is with the Hurricanes benefiting from a controversial uphold of a Vincent Trocheck overtime power play goal following what looked like a high stick by Andrei Svechnikov to stun the Islanders 3-2 in overtime, the Rangers trail both the Islanders and Blue Jackets by three points for the wildcard. They’re also a point behind the Canes, who are up to 77 points due to their strange win.

Here was the reason for why the NHL upheld Trocheck’s goal which was on a rebound following the odd Svechnikov high stick at shoulder height off the crossbar:

In regards to the explanation, this is a new rule they put in place this season. It’s still confusing. I thought it was no goal and felt the Isles got jobbed.

https://twitter.com/Kovy274Hart/status/1236393342067511300?s=19

https://twitter.com/Fixxser/status/1236397430163324929?s=19

As you can tell, there are differing opinions. Who the heck knows what’s a goal and what isn’t anymore? They did rule it a good goal on the ice. Islander replays on MSG showed Svechnikov’s stick above crossbar height. But if it’s not directly put in by the player if it’d at shoulder length, apparently the rebound is allowed if a teammate puts it in.

It’s puzzling. It seems that the league makes up rules as they go along. The Islanders got one point to tie the Jackets in the standings. Columbus is at Edmonton later.

In regards to tonight’s game with a very tough road trip coming with stops in Dallas, Colorado and Arizona, I’m nervous. This is a classic trap game. The Devils have been playing spoiler for a while. The Rangers better not take it lightly and they had better tighten up defensively unlike Thursday night when Mika Zibanejad bailed them out.

https://twitter.com/Kovy274Hart/status/1236433289369522183?s=19

https://twitter.com/Kovy274Hart/status/1236434161642229760?s=19

I’m headed over to Jon to watch this one. I’ll have a full review later.

Posted in Battle News, Devils, NYRangers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rangers face improved Devils in another big game, Shesterkin could return, DeAngelo talks with Zibanejad and trolls fans

Posted on March 7, 2020 by Derek

It’s without a doubt a big Saturday for the Rangers. Entering play two points out of the second wildcard that the Islanders are clinging onto, they know any misstep now could prove costly. That’s why the Devils visiting The Garden tonight is dangerous.

Not in the conventional sense. But with the close Hudson rival having improved under interim coach Alain Nasredinne, they’re no longer a pushover. So, if the Rangers take them lightly, it’s at their own risk. The Devils are fresh off a 4-2 home win over the Western leading Blues, who just went into MSG and beat the Blueshirts 3-1 to sweep the season series.

New Jersey has nothing to lose. Playing spoiler, they’ve quietly turned their season around. Even without Taylor Hall, whose new team the Coyotes are in danger of missing the playoffs, The Devils play hard for Nasreddine. They’re getting excellent goaltending from rookie Mackenzie Blackwood, who leads all first-year netminders in wins (21) while putting up respectable numbers that include three shutouts with a 2.71 GAA and .916 save percentage on not the best roster. He will be in net later.

Will it be Igor Shesterkin for the Blueshirts? Having already taken full part in team practice with no restrictions despite the rib fracture suffered in a car accident less than two weeks ago, the 24-year old Russian could be ready to go tonight. If he is, it’s the best case scenario for the Rangers with Alex Georgiev tailing off the past three starts. Despite having his worst game of the year, he was bailed out by the remarkable five goal game from Mika Zibanejad on Thursday night. A performance so good that it should merit first star of the week honors.

Tony DeAngelo got in on the fun by interviewing Mika yesterday on reviewing the instant reaction of clueless fans when he was acquired from Ottawa for Derick Brassard. This segment is priceless! Between DeAngelo’s humor and Zibanejad’s calm reaction to the hate and his smile, it’s one of the best productions the Rangers have given us.

If it is Shesterkin, it’ll be interesting to see if he can stay sharp after missing two weeks. He’s won nine of his first ten starts while putting up NHL records. No rookie had ever started this well and had four 40-plus save games that they won. It’s very impressive. Especially the poise with which he plays with. He’s the real deal. If he is back, you hope they’re not rushing him. Long-term is more important than short term even in a playoff race.

On your usual hectic Saturday, you have the Islanders hosting the Hurricanes at 1 PM. A game that’ll draw considerable interest from our fans. Who do you pull for? Carolina of course. Even if they have one fewer point than the Rangers, you don’t want the Islanders getting any points. They have 78 with a game at hand. So in spite of being winless in five (0-2-3), they’ve managed to pick up three points. You don’t want a three point game.

Carolina has more games left, but still have the unstable goalie situation. Petr Mrazek is getting closer to returning. The Canes can score goals, but aren’t as explosive since the loss of defenseman Dougie Hamilton. I’ve seen some of our fans point out that they haven’t won since Brady Skjei was traded there. It’s a bit unfair to blame the former Ranger for their goalie issues. David Ayres is looking better by the day.

Other games of interest include the Canadiens at the Panthers, the Caps at the Pens and the Flyers putting their eight-game win streak on the line against the Sabres. By virtue of one more win in regulation and overtime (ROW), Washington still leads the division. Both the Caps and Flyers each have 87 points while the Pens have 84. The Blue Jackets don’t play until 10 PM with a visit to red hot Edmonton. They’re locked into the first wildcard with 79 points, but only 14 games remaining.

The Panthers are still in play for both the wildcard and third place in their division due to the Leafs losing 2-1 at the Ducks. They also lost to the Sharks. Yikes. Toronto still leads the Cats by five points with 79. They only have 13 left. Florida has 74 points and 15 left. So, I guess you root for Montreal. They have 71.

There’s been a lot of overreacting to David Quinn deciding to flip Kaapo Kakko and Julien Gauthier. When the game begins after 7 PM, it’ll be Gauthier on the third line with Filip Chytil and Brett Howden. Kakko will start on the fourth line with Greg McKegg and Brendan Lemieux.

This isn’t a big deal. Kakko wasn’t good defensively the other day on for three goals against. Even though he had an assist on the Zibanejad power play goal for his fourth of the night, Kakko wasn’t good. He got moved down in the third period actually. That’s why when I see a few of our fans outraged by the change, it’s obvious they’re not paying attention. I was at the game and picked up on it. These people are either spending too much time on their phones or following biased blogs that overemphasize analytics.

We have to keep in mind that Kakko is 19. It’s his first year. While his offense has picked up (maybe not production wise), he still is inconsistent on the backcheck. You can’t have that at this crucial time of year. Especially in the playoff race. Who ever would’ve believed they would be here two months ago? Even following the All-Star break, in seemed far fetched to think they could make a run. Here they are with 15 games left only two points out with the first tiebreaker of regulation wins (30) in their favor.

No Chris Kreider again. But we know that. Quinn is right about this group. They’re resilient and have plenty of character. Even if it started badly with consecutive losses to the Flyers, they played the Blues toe to toe only to lose in crushing fashion. Then won a wild game over the Ovechkin Caps 6-5 in extras due to Zibanejad’s theatrics. I’ll never forget it. Nobody who was there will.

The lines for the start will only have the one tweak.

NYR Lines

Phil Di Giuseppe-Mika Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich

Artemi Panarin-Ryan Strome-Jesper Fast

Brett Howden-Filip Chytil-Julien Gauthier

Brendan Lemieux-Greg McKegg-Kaapo Kakko

Ryan Lindgren-Adam Fox

Marc Staal-Tony DeAngelo

Brendan Smith-Jacob Trouba

Igor Shesterkin

Alex Georgiev or Henrik Lundqvist

I don’t know that yet. Nobody does. Usually, it’s Lundqvist who backs up. But what if Shesterkin does start and has to come out? Who would you rather have in relief? I don’t like asking these questions because I don’t want to jinx it. But it has to be considered.

I would imagine the power play units will look like:

Panarin-Strome-Buchnevich

Zibanejad-DeAngelo

Lemieux-Chytil-Kakko

Trouba-Fox

If you’re wondering what the Devils still have, Kyle Palmieri is the top scorer with 23 goals and 43 points. He usually plays with Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes. But last game, they actually tried Miles Wood on the left side and had Hughes on a different line. Nikita Gusev quietly has 42 points (12-30-42). He’s normally on the third line due to defensive deficiency. He’s a good power play threat due to his playmaking.

Jesper Bratt has 16 goals and 16 helpers. He is similar in style to Carl Hagelin. A speedster with good two-way capability, the Swede works hard and can create opportunities due to that quick transition. Hischier has 34 points in 56 games. It’s another disappointing year for the former first overall pick with injuries and roster subtractions hurting his production. At some point, he needs to stay healthy and fulfill his potential. A solid two-way center, he’s capable of becoming a 60 point player who can play all situations.

Pavel Zacha shows flashes of what made him a high draft pick. But his lack of finish is hard to fathom. The 23 assists are fine, but eight goals including three on the power play and two shorthanded means he isn’t getting it done at five-on-five.

Keep an eye on Joey Anderson. A tenacious worker who captained Team USA at the WJC a couple of years ago, he could become a gritty third liner due to his work ethic. He’s 4-2-6 in 16 games.

Travis Zajac is still around. While it’s been a tough season with the checking pivot only coming in with 23 points, he’s a hardworking two-way center who kills penalties well and can win big face-offs. You know what he is. At this point, he’s Mr. Devil replacing former captain Andy Greene, who’s now with the Islanders.

Damon Severson is the best offensive defenseman they have this season. He’s always good at jumping into the play. He has a good shot and nice offensive instincts. His eight goals and 29 points pace all Devils defensemen. That includes three on the power play. Defensively, he is bad. I’m not just talking about the minus-22 rating either. He can be beat in transition and in front of the net.

In his first year as a Devil, it’s been anything but successful for PK Subban. Seven goals and nine assists for 16 points with a minus-17 in 66 games isn’t what was expected. While he has come around lately, Subban is going to have be much better if he’s still part of it next season.

Not long ago, Will Butcher once put up 44 points (5-39-44) in his rookie season in ’17-18 to help get them to the playoffs. That included 23 power play points (3-20-23). Now 25 in Year Three, 20 of his 21 points have come at even strength. What is he? His role has changed. Maybe Hasan can shed some light on why. UPDATE: From Hasan’s preview, Butcher had thumb surgery. So, we won’t be seeing him until next season. That’s how out of the loop I am on the Devils blueline. My bad.

Believe it or not, Fredrik Claesson is part of the Devils blueline playing alongside Connor Carrick. Recently recalled, he had an assist on a Carrick goal against St. Louis. Dakota Mermis recorded his first NHL goal the other day. I know nothing about him.

This is who the Devils are. Yet they’re winning games due to good goaltending from Blackwood and even Cory Schneider. They are more scrappy.

Final thought:

Jack Hughes 7-14-21 -24

Kaapo Kakko 8-13-21 -26

So much for great expectations. Get the book.

Posted in Devils, Game Preview, NYRangers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Rangers face improved Devils in another big game, Shesterkin could return, DeAngelo talks with Zibanejad and trolls fans

Devils-Rangers…for pride and more

Posted on March 7, 2020 by hasan4978

At the Prudential Center last night for the depleted Devils’ shocking win over the defending Stanley Cup champion Blues, I was texting a friend about the game and at one point he said, ‘they better play like this tomorrow’.  My interest in this season is such that it didn’t immediately register who we were playing tomorrow.  In fact I didn’t know at all, but his tone clued me in.  Looking at the schedule for confirmation, I found out my inference was correct.

Yep…we’re playing the Rangers.

While I’m not following the Devils on a day-in and day-out basis these days, I’m still paying enough attention to the sport in general to know the Rangers have been surging toward a near-miracle playoff berth.  Nobody expected them to make the postseason this year, least of all Derek, but I figured their days of rebuilding were over once John Davidson took over and brought in Artemi Panarin in a big splash move that harkened back to Ranger offseasons of yore.

Unlike most of their previous July 1 big splashes though, Panarin’s been worth every dime this year as his transcendent season (93 points in 66 games) has him in contention for the Hart and the Rangers on the brink of a playoff berth just two points behind a suddenly sagging Islanders team.  Perhaps the Rangers’ second most important player – at least lately – has been rookie goalie Igor Shesterkin, who’s given them a Sean Burke in 1988-like spark, going 9-1 in his ten starts before a recent car accident shelved him.  Fortunately for them, it looks like the rookie goalie will be back just in time for tonight’s all-important game, and a showdown with fellow rookie Mackenzie Blackwood.

Tangibly the Devils have little left to play for this season, but interim coach Alain Nasreddine has gotten more than expected out of a largely motley crew of dissapointments, castoffs and AHL lifers that still remain in the wreckage of our season-ruining October and November.  Nasreddine’s gone 18-15-8 in exactly a half-season worth of games, and that’s almost entirely been after the Taylor Hall trade, and lately without Sami Vatanen (injury/trade), Andy Greene (trade) and Blake Coleman (trade).  Who even knows who the GM’s going to be after April, let alone the coach?  Still, Nasreddine is making a case for not just having this job but for getting an opportunity elsewhere even if the Devils don’t hire him full-time.

You need only to look at last night’s game to see how unlikely the Devils’ surge has been.  In goal was Cory Schneider, demoted to the AHL for two straight seasons and speculated as a buyout candidate this offseason despite two years at $6 million remaining on his deal.  Even in junktime I wasn’t expecting much from Cory at this point, but since returning from Binghamton he’s 3-0-1 in his four starts, all strong games including a shutout at Anaheim and the first star last night in the Devils’ first win against the Blues in six years(!!!).  Scoring our second and third goals were defensemen Dakota Mermis and Connor Carrick – who, what?  Mermis has mostly been an AHL lifer and cast off from the Coyotes while Carrick has been a journeyman fringe defenseman who seems to have found a home here for the time being, signed through next year.

Without the traded Vatanen and Greene, or the injured Will Butcher (lost for the season after thumb surgery), the Devils’ defensive group last night included the likes of Mermis and Mirco Mueller playing 20+ minutes, our journeyman third pairing of Carrick and the recently acquired Frederik Claesson playing their fourteen plus minutes, and career middle-pairing D Damon Severson logging prime #1 defenseman icetime (25+ minutes).  Somehow it all worked against the defending champs, who unlike last year’s desperation winter surge to the postseason are just looking to fine-tune down the stretch this time, and get the Central Division title with the #1 seed out West for the playoffs.

Up front, our main guns have been struggling lately but Jesper Bratt’s sick first period goal and Joey Anderson’s empty-netter helped pick up the slack, not to mention every person on the D AND Cory all registering at least a point.  Whether it’s young players like Bratt and Anderson who the organization wants to develop, or role players looking to earn jobs for next year such as John Hayden and Kevin Rooney – who lost what would have been a sweet goal on an incidental contact goal overturn, and potentially another on a quick whistle in the third period – most of the current lineup at least is playing as if they need to prove something, which almost invariably they do.  You don’t crash out of the playoffs by December if you have a lot of sure things on your roster.

To that end, playing against teams like the Rangers fighting for a playoff spot in potential spoiler games can help both the player’s development and management in evaluating them.  Coach Nasreddine even said as much when giving his reasoning for playing Cory at home last night, and Blackwood at the Garden tonight in a big showdown game.

https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1235965414166982659

It’s not often fans get geeked up to play spoiler, unless it’s against a rival like the Rangers.  Make no mistake though, the Devils will have an impact on the East playoff race one way or another with no fewer than seven of their final fifteen games against the Rangers, Islanders, Hurricanes, Blue Jackets and Panthers (including two apiece against the Islanders and Hurricanes).  So far this season the Devils haven’t spoiled much other than their own season since October, losing their two most recent games against the Rangers in blowout losses.  And for an additional kernel of motivation, the Devils can amazingly enough get back to NHL .500 with a win tonight, however much that means considering our 12 OT/SO losses (27-28-12).

I’ll probably have the game on which is more than I can say for most of our remaining games, but how long I keep it on will probably depend on our start.  If this is going to be an actual back-and-forth playoff game as you might expect in a big rivalry showdown, then I’ll probably stay into it – especially after last night’s surprisingly fun game.  If it’s turning into another walkover for the Rangers, then it’ll be a quick click of the remote.

Posted in Battle Of Hudson, Devils, NY Rangers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Game #67 Mika Zibanejad Night! Becomes third Ranger to ever score five goals in a unbelievable 6-5 overtime win over Caps on Pride Night

Posted on March 6, 2020 by Derek

Mika Magic: On a special night, Mika Zibanejad became just the third Ranger to score five goals in a game. His overtime winner on a breakaway gave the Blueshirts a huge 6-5 win over the Alex Ovechkin Caps at a wild MSG. AP Photo credit New York Rangers via Getty Images

In all the years attending games, I can’t recall one quite like the one we got last night at MSG. A night that began celebrating Pride for acceptance of others became a one man show at The Garden.

Fittingly, it was Mika Zibanejad Night. The red hot top center made history by becoming only the third Ranger to score five goals in a game. In doing so to win a remarkable game in overtime on his signature move backhand top shelf for an emotional 6-5 win over the Caps, Zibanejad joined Don Murdoch (Oct. 12, 1976) and Mark Pavelich (Feb. 23, 1983) to record five in a game.

It was astonishing. Not only because of how wild and crazy the back and forth game was with the Caps refusing to go away. The significance of his virtuoso performance in a game the Rangers desperately needed made it that much more special. If you didn’t think he was a superstar, now do you believe? Five goal games are rare. For him to do it under these circumstances with the team chasing the Islanders for the playoffs is unbelievable.

Zibanejad became the first player since Patrik Laine to record a five goal game. Over a decade ago, Marian Gaborik did it to the Rangers while playing for the Wild. Yes. He scored his five on Henrik Lundqvist, who was frozen like a pizza on the fifth goal. I’ll never forget it.

Plenty of great players have done it. Wayne Gretzky did it four times. So did Mario Lemieux including a memorable five goal game at the Devils and another memorable one versus the Rangers after returning from Hodgins Disease. Sergei Fedorov, Mats Sundin and Peter Bondra also did it. So did Joe Nieuwendyk. Jari Kurri recorded one and Bryan Trottier did it twice.

Now, you can add Zibanejad’s name to the historic list. He scored goals 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 to pull within two of 40. The last time a Ranger reached 40 goals is when Jaromir Jagr was on his way to setting a new single season franchise mark with 54 goals in ’05-06. Since Jan. 31, Zibanejad has 20 goals. Over that same span, if you go back one game when he tallied two assists on Jan. 21, he’s 20-14-34 in 20 games. He’s up to 71 points (38-33-71) in 54 games. That’s with missing 13 games. Where would he be had he not missed that time?

What he’s doing is phenomenal. Right now, Zibanejad is one of the hottest scorers in the league. He is proving at age 26 that he’s going to be well worth his next contract. The good part is he’s signed through 2022 at a bargain of $5.35 million AAV. When next year rolls around at this time, the Rangers should be into discussions for an extension for their potential next captain. It’s either Zibanejad or Chris Kreider. At this point, I’m sold on Zibanejad, who says all the right things at his locker win or lose. An easygoing player that’s fun to root for, he gets it. It’s nice to see him fulfilling his potential.

In terms of what transpired at the building by 33rd and 8th Avenue, it didn’t start well. In a battle of Russian goaltenders, Alex Georgiev was called on early to make a couple of big saves. With Pavel Buchnevich off for holding in the offensive zone, the second-year netminder was sharp in denying a point blank opportunity late in the penalty kill. A bit later, he made a gigantic stop on Richard Panik to deny him on a breakaway. He came out and challenged before shutting it down to cheers.

For as good as those early saves were, the first goal he allowed was bad. On a simple Washington forecheck, former Blueshirt Carl Hagelin came out and used Marc Staal as a screen to sneak a tricky wrist short short side for a 1-0 lead at 7:05. It was a smart play by a heady player. Georgiev didn’t cover the short side and got beat. Nick Jensen and Ilya Kovalchuk got assists.

Trailing by one, the Rangers got a reprieve when Kaapo Kakko drew a tripping minor on Nic Dowd. Following the top unit methodically moving the puck around, Tony DeAngelo finally got the puck over for an Artemi Panarin low shot that Zibanejad redirected in at 9:01 for the tying power play goal. It was a great tip in by him to start off his big night.

The team would get another chance on the power play a few minutes later when Dowd again took a bad penalty for a hold on Staal. This time, they wouldn’t capitalize. Despite good puck movement from the in sync top unit with Pavel Buchnevich replacing the injured Chris Kreider, the game remained tied headed to the second.

Prior to the period, we saw the legendary Kenny Albert twice. He warmly greeted us and joked about the one and only Fuzzy, who’s still with us in spirit. He definitely loved Fuzzy, who’s best known for being on the Oh Baby video of the 1993-94 New York Rangers. Kenny is a class act. I’m so glad he represents our team and this city. Ditto for Sam Rosen. Both their calls were phenomenal on Zibanejad’s fifth goal.

In what amounted to a crazy second, the teams combined for four goals and 29 shots. It was wide open with little defense played. The Rangers would retake the lead at 5:29 when Adam Fox set up the second of the game for Zibanejad. On a strong shift from the first line, Phil Di Giuseppe made a good play in the neutral zone to get the puck to Buchnevich. After he gained the Washington zone, they went to work to draw a delayed penalty. Moving the struggling Caps defense side to side, Fox whistled a superb cross ice feed to Zibanejad from a unique angle where he absolutely rocketed a one-timer by Samsonov for his 35th. It was a remarkable shot that foreshadowed his big night.

After both clubs failed to convert on the power play, the Caps new line featuring Ilya Kovalchuk, Panik and Lars Eller connected. They badly victimized the Rangers third line. You could feel it coming. An Eller pass across for a Kovalchuk one-timer beat Georgiev high to the short side to tie the game at two with 7:59 remaining.

It was a rocket from the Russian who once was top dog prior to Ovechkin. Kovalchuk has 10 goals this season while playing for three teams (Kings, Canadiens, Capitals). The once certain Hall of Famer has 443 career NHL goals and 433 assists for 876 points over 924 games. Had he not gone home to play in the KHL, it would be different for the 36-year old veteran. It was his choice to waste whatever was left of his prime by ditching the Devils.

With the game knotted at two, the period became even crazier. The Blueshirts once again had a dominant offensive shift to reclaim the lead for a second time. On sustained pressure with Staal involved, he got the puck to Panarin. Drawing defenders, he made a perfect pass across for an easy finish from a pinching DeAngelo, who got his 14th at 14:42. He’s very good at reading and reacting. When on the ice with Panarin and Zibanejad, he’s lethal. It would be a harbinger of things to come.

But before anyone could get comfortable in their seats, the Caps got it right back 16 seconds later. A Panik pass for a Michal Kempny one-timer went high short side again on Georgiev. The goal was later changed to Garnet Hathaway, who got a piece of it for his ninth to tie the score just 16 seconds later.

It was again the third line that got victimized. In particular, Kaapo Kakko had a rough night defensively. He was on for three goals against and eventually found himself on the fourth line in the third with Julien Gauthier replacing him in the top nine. It had to be done. Kakko didn’t let it affect his game.

By this point of the game that already had six total goals, both goalies were shaky. Georgiev clearly was fighting it while counterpart Samsonov was having similar issues. A harmless Fox floater late in the period he fumbled out of his glove before covering it up for a face-off. Georgiev made sure to squeeze a long shot and secure it for a similar draw. It was the battle of the Russian Enigmas.

The issue at that point was the Caps were doing more forechecking and getting shots through with traffic in front. Their superior depth gave them an edge despite playing for the second time in two nights. If the Rangers wanted to win this one, they had to take a similar approach against Samsonov.

Before I could even look up after getting into my seat in the last row of our section, Zibanejad had scored 12 seconds into the third to complete the hat trick. Stunned, I wondered how he could’ve scored that quickly. A giveaway from Evgeny Kuznetsov resulted in a turnover right to Buchnevich, who set up Zibanejad for his third goal of the night. Hats flew everywhere onto the ice along with the flashy rainbow colored Pride towels they handed out and even wigs.

This was insane. It reminded me of when Ivan and me attended Dwight Gooden’s no hitter in 1996. They gave away socks. When the final out was recorded, we all tossed the socks onto the field in celebration. Of course, Joe Tolleson got on the PA system to ask fans not to throw the rainbow towels down. It was comical. They rarely have giveaways probably for this reason. As for me, I’ll gladly giveaway my Pride Night towel to someone who wants it. Yes. I took a picture. It’ll be included in this recap. I also got some funny video of the fan of the game. A cool Garden employee celebrating Zibanejad Night.

At 4-3 up, I knew what to expect. They made matching calls on Brett Howden and Jonas Siegenthaler. It was much ado about nothing. A waste if you ask me. At this juncture, it felt like the Rangers backed off. I told my Dad the Caps were tying it. He disagreed. Sometimes, I can just tell. The same way I called the mind numbing Oliver Bjorkstrand winner in a crushing loss late in regulation, sure enough Ovechkin finally did something.

On some good pressure during the four-on-four, John Carlson got the puck to Kovalchuk, who made a nice pass across for Ovechkin in his office. It was easy pickings as he ripped one of those patented wrist shots by Georgiev high glove for his 46th of the season at 9:22. The goal came less than a minute after my prediction. You cannot sit back against a team with their talent. The Rangers got burned.

With the game now 4-4, the Rangers went back to work right away nearly untying the score again. Buchnevich created a chance. They forced Samsonov to make some difficult saves. The Caps completely lost discipline. They took three straight penalties to hand the Blueshirts three consecutive power plays.

First, Eller roughed up Brendan Smith during a scrum that drew the ice of the crowd. It sure looked like the refs missed a boarding penalty. That’s what caused all the commotion. Eller wound up with the only penalty. The Rangers had two great chances to go ahead. Zibanejad setup Buchnevich for a one-timer that Samsonov kicked out with a toe save. His best of the game. On the same man-advantage, Panarin went to Zibanejad for a wide open shot that just missed. Had it hit the net, it was in. Never a bad thing to go to the hot hand.

There was also another great opportunity for Zibanejad off a centering feed, but his rocket shot went over the top. He sure was feeling it. He’s been in a zone since January. The amount of goals he’s scoring and the points he’s racking up make him a threat everytime he’s out for a shift. He’s dangerous. If he didn’t miss those 13 games, he could be in the Hart conversation with teammate Panarin. At this point, I’d be shocked if Leon Draisaitl doesn’t win. He’s got 110 points. Edmonton looks like they’re going back to the playoffs.

Right after Eller left the box, Carlson took a dangerous penalty by cross-checking Brendan Lemieux right in the face. We all know Lemieux is a royal pain in the ass. He’s been frustrating me with his penchant for dumb penalties. However, he also draws a lot due to his agitating nature. The Carlson cheap shot looked deliberate. He was lucky to only receive two minutes. I feel the league should’ve reviewed it. I doubt they did.

On another power play with the game still hanging in the balance, the Rangers couldn’t get the go-ahead goal. Instead, a more aggressive Washington penalty kill attacked and forced turnovers for easy clears and even a shaky play from Georgiev, whose play with the puck has become scary. It’s Henrik Lundqvist bad. A total adventure. That’s clearly a confidence issue. He’s had several misplays recently. They have to work with him on it and doing a better job tracking pucks on the short side.

Astonishingly with Carlson two seconds away from returning, they nabbed Eller for a high stick on Jacob Trouba, who sold it by going down easily. I thought it was a weak call. Especially given the power plays they already had. The Caps bench didn’t like it.

Once it was a five-on-four, the Rangers weren’t getting much done. However, a quick counter which really was a two on two saw Kakko do the right thing by taking the shot from the left circle. Initially, Samsonov made the save but it rebounded strangely with the puck taking a Ranger bounce off the back boards right to Zibanejad, who easily slammed it home for goal number four to make it 5-4 with still 1:42 left in regulation.

Despite our section and the fans going nuts, I didn’t know what would happen next. I think I kinda knew the Caps would tie it. It was that kind of game. There was too much time left. Sure enough, they pulled Samsonov for the extra attacker and gained the blueline with ease. That is an issue. Then, they began forechecking and firing away. Again, there was a opportunity to clear the zone. Only the Rangers couldn’t. Another sore spot.

Eventually, Kovalchuk passed up top for a Carlson shot that Georgiev couldn’t control, allowing a bad rebound right to Ovechkin, who buried it home for his NHL tying 47th with just over 43 ticks left in regulation. He’s amazing. He did nothing for two periods, but came to life and got the Caps even twice. 705 goals and counting. I think he’ll chase down Gretzky.

The game would go to overtime. It was fitting. This was as exciting a regular season game as I can remember. I’ve never seen a game where two teams went back and forth like this. There have been other great games like Gretzky’s last and Messier’s final one in which he scored. There was the classic goalie duel between Lundqvist and Brodeur where they each got shutouts with both making a ton of great saves. But never anything quite like last night. This was special.

A special game deserved a special ending. When David Quinn sent Zibanejad, Panarin and DeAngelo over the boards for the opening shift of the three-on-three overtime, I stood up behind our row and said get the puck to Mika. I felt if he got a clean look, he’d win it. On a smart DeAngelo recovery in the Caps zone and pass back to Panarin in the neutral zone, I saw the play developing before it happened.

Zibanejad was open for a perfect lead pass from Panarin that caught Tom Wilson. He powered through as Wilson tailed him. Once he broke in and went to his signature forehand deke, I knew it was Game Over. He is automatic on that backhand and hit nothing but twine top shelf to win an exhilarating game 33 seconds into extras for his fifth goal of the night. It touched off a celebration on the ice and in the stands where I jumped up along with other pumped up fans. This doesn’t happen in a regular season game. It felt like the playoffs.

It was a rare moment that was special. Everyone who went knew what they witnessed was terrific. A truly magnificent and memorable Garden moment. Mika Zibanejad became the third Ranger to record five goals in a game to join Murdoch and Pavelich. And he did it in clutch fashion by winning the all important game in OT to pull the team within two points of the Islanders, who somehow lost 4-3 at Ottawa.

This was as clutch a performance as you can ask for in their situation. It would’ve been crushing to lose after Ovechkin tied it back up for the fifth time. The same way it would’ve had the Islanders beat our team last week in overtime after rallying from two down in the final six minutes at the Coliseum. Who won that one? Zibanejad on a rocket from Panarin. Same common denominator. I don’t think you can ask for more than what we got last night.

I was too out of it to finish this game review last night. But it deserved this kind of attention. It was a great game to be at. I feel lucky. I don’t attend as many games as my family. So, to be there for that was awesome. Celebrating as if it was Game Six versus Montreal in 2014. Or Game Five against these Caps in 2015 when staring at elimination. Or the dramatic Brad Richards tying goal and Staal power play winner in sudden death in 2012. Or Marty St. Louis scoring that emotional first goal on Mother’s Day versus the Pens. Or Derek Stepan beating the Caps in Game Seven. A game my family attended. I went nuts at home.

There are 15 games left. It’ll be tough. The Devils are next up tomorrow. They’ve been playing well of late. It won’t be easy. The Rangers had better be ready to play. They need it with what’s coming up. There’s a road trip that includes visits to Colorado, Dallas and Arizona. All hard games. But as Zibanejad noted after his big night, they’re all going to be tough now.

I don’t know when Igor Shesterkin will be ready to come back and start. But if he’s the goalie and there’s no reason to think he’s not for now, Georgiev must raise his level. The last two games haven’t been good enough. He knows it. They will need better play from him to get this done. It’s right there for them. Especially with the Isles in free fall and the Hurricanes on the ropes following another loss to the sizzling Flyers.

This is the most exciting Rangers team since the Jagr years. They’re the underdog who’s not supposed to be in this position. Two points out with the first tiebreaker. It’ll be fun no matter what happens. Enjoy the ride.

https://twitter.com/TonyDee07/status/1235784241088249866?s=19

Battle Of Hudson Three 🌟

3rd 🌟 Artemi Panarin, Rangers (3 assists including the great lead for the Zibanejad 5th goal to win it, it’s not often he’s overshadowed, praised his teammate calling him elite afterwards)

2nd 🌟 Ilya Kovalchuk, Caps (easily could go to Ovechkin, but Kovalchuk was the best Cap recording a goal and 2 🍎 while playing like he used to)

1st 🌟 Mika Zibanejad, Rangers (a record 5 goals including the dramatic OT winner at 33 seconds to join Don Murdoch and Mark Pavelich as the only NYR to have 5 goal games, utterly brilliant on a night he could’ve had even more)

Posted in NYRangers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shesterkin getting close as Rangers face a must win versus Caps

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Derek

Losers of three straight, the Rangers desperately need tonight’s game versus the Caps. With 16 games remaining, they trail the second wildcard Islanders by four points. By virtue of a point in a 3-2 overtime loss at Calgary, the Blue Jackets moved up a spot to the first wildcard last night.

Columbus has 79 points with 14 games left. They’ve lost 11 times in the three-on-three OT. They have only 24 regulation wins. The Islanders have 78 points with 17 left and only 24 regulation wins. They visit Ottawa tonight. A game they should win. The Rangers are at 74 with 30 regulation wins. But unless they can make up ground, that all important first tiebreaker won’t matter.

Both the Panthers and Canadiens are also in action on a busy Thursday night. Florida has 73 points including 28 regulation wins with 16 left. They host the league-leading Bruins in a big game. The Panthers can also still chase down the Maple Leafs for third place in their division. They’re five points behind idle Toronto, who have 15 left. Montreal is up to 71 points and still believes they can sneak in. With 14 left, they only have 19 wins in regulation. They host the Lightning.

Perhaps the forgotten team in this wildcard chase are the Hurricanes. Still without either Petr Mrazek or James Reimer, they’re counting on Alex Nedeljkovic and Anton Forsberg in net. They’re 0-2-1 so far with truly ugly numbers. Maybe they should put a phone call into the Marlies and Leafs organization regarding the availability of David Ayres. I’m not kidding. The Canes have 75 points with 18 games remaining. If they put it together, they could make it. They are in action visiting the surging Flyers.

Here’s the scenario. A Flyers win of any kind and a Rangers win in regulation over the Caps and suddenly it’s the Alain Vigneault Flyers in first place of the Metro. They’ve reeled off seven in a row including a 5-2 win at Washington last night. The Pens are also playing when they invade Buffalo. They ended their six-game losing streak by blowing out the Senators 7-3 on Tuesday night. They have 82 points with 17 left. That’s three behind the Flyers, four behind Washington and three clear of Columbus.

You got all that? There’s a lot on the line later for the Rangers. They can’t afford to drop another game. It could really hurt in the standings. Especially with the Isles having a favorable match-up and other teams they’re competing against also playing. Win and they’re very much alive with 15 to go. They have the edge in the first tiebreaker.

It’ll be Alex Georgiev making his second straight start and fifth in six with Henrik Lundqvist backing up. He’s looking to rebound from letting in a tough wraparound goal to Brayden Schenn in a heartbreaking 3-1 home loss to the Blues the other day. It wasn’t all on him. The team didn’t score at five-on-five for a second consecutive game. That won’t work. They have to get in gear quickly.

On the encouraging front, Igor Shesterkin took part in the morning skate and has been upgraded to day-to-day. Some very good news for the team. He even spoke a little English while having fun.

It’s hard to believe he could be ready by the weekend. Given the situation, the Blueshirts sure can use him. While it’s hard to pin the last three losses on just goaltending alone due to how poorly they played in the one game Lundqvist got, Shesterkin is a difference maker. My hope is he isn’t rushed back. Don’t take that risk. He’s going to be special.

As far as tonight goes, it’s Georgiev versus Ilya Samsonov. So basically, an all Russian match-up. Even though technically, Georgie is from Bulgaria. He has represented Russia at the World Championships. So, two young netminders looking to spark their teams.

Do we see any changes to the lineup? Does coach David Quinn consider moving up Kaapo Kakko to the first line next to Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich? No disrespect meant to Phil Di Giuseppe, who brings a strong work ethic. But I’d prefer to see Kakko due to how he’s looked recently. He’s due.

I would keep Artemi Panarin, Ryan Strome and Jesper Fast intact. But again, Quinn loves to make in game adjustments. He can mix it up. You can see Panarin with Zibanejad and either Buchnevich or Fast. Maybe even Kakko. But then a lot changes. Filip Chytil can play with Brett Howden and Kakko like they have been, or wind up with Buchnevich or even Brendan Lemieux, who isn’t the same since a broken wrist.

I am in favor of seeing what Julien Gauthier can do in a more expanded role. He has the speed and power forward instincts. But he remains on the fourth line with Greg McKegg and Lemieux, who you can plug anywhere. I wonder how Gauthier would look with Zibanejad.

Defense I can’t see changing much. Tony DeAngelo needs a big game. So does Jacob Trouba. Adam Fox of course has to be involved. I’m curious to see Ryan Lindgren when he comes up against 700 Goal member Alex Ovechkin. They both love to hit. Of course, Ovechkin is like a freight train. Lindgren is like a combo of Mike Sauer and Darius Kasparaitis. Yes. I didn’t feel like making the popular Jeff Beukeboom comparison. Lindgren has that same edge to him as Kasparaitis and most recently and too briefly, Sauer.

So, what’s the key to winning? Keep the Caps off the power play. They have too many weapons that can hurt you. Not just Ovechkin in his office. But T.J.Oshie, who’s been hot of late in that slot area. The always dangerous John Carlson at the point for the one-timer or pass over to the Great Eight. Nicklas Backstrom, who is both playmaker and capable of sniping from the right circle if you give him time. Plus Evgeny Kuznetsov, who has great speed and skill in transition. The pesky Tom Wilson in front where he makes his living.

The Rangers want to play the Caps at five-on-five. Make them work. They played the night before. Generating a forecheck can tire them out. The defense hasn’t been good even after the addition of Brendan Dillon. Panarin should see a lot of him and probably Dmitri Orlov.

Of course, you always have to keep an eye on Jakub Vrana. A dangerous skater who makes his living in transition. He can fly and has great hands. Despite how they’ve played lately, Washington is deep.

It’ll take another full 60-minute effort to win. Stay disciplined. Especially Strome, whose penalties have been killing the Rangers. Reputation or not.

Posted in Game Preview, NYRangers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The crazy world of NYR Twitter

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Derek

Here is a small sample of the wacky world of NYR Twitter. A place that knows no bounds. Where anything can be Tweeted and get likes, RT’s while drawing crazy attention pro or con.

This was said yesterday at some point during the tough 3-1 Rangers loss to the annoyingly stingy Blues at The Garden.

I’m not going to pretend to be an expert here. I only consider myself a passionate Rangers fan blogger who gives unbiased opinions on the hockey team. Some are proven right while others aren’t. From time to time, I’ll give my two cents and make suggestions. Sometimes, David Quinn listens. Other times, he doesn’t.

Unlike other popular NYR blogs that only focus on our team, I try to keep perspective. I’m a bit older than some of the younger crowd known as millenials. I don’t pretend to know it all. I don’t make up rumors for clicks. I stay grounded. I think whether it’s me or Hasan contributing posts on our respective Hudson rival teams, we try to do it the right way. Professionalism counts. Even if we’re not making a penny.

I’ve seen the above person on social media give some good and bad takes on what the Rangers should do. In this case, I think they’re way off base. Vitali Kravtsov isn’t getting recalled from Hartford anytime soon. At 20 in what’s been a rollercoaster of a season, the fact is the former 2018 first round pick has five goals in 35 games for the Wolf Pack. Fourteen points (5-9-14) isn’t enough even if reports indicate Kravtsov is improving. You probably won’t see him until the bitter end. Why burn a year off his ELC?

The key to development is being patient. The Rangers have with Kravtsov and 2019 second overall pick Kaapo Kakko. Though the 19-year old Finnish right wing hasn’t spent a single minute in Hartford when at one point it could’ve benefited him, they’ve stuck with the kid. By continuing to play him mostly on the third line with the chance to learn at five-on-five, he’s been more noticeable lately. I know it’s frustrating that he only has eight goals with 12 assists over his first 62 NHL games. But that was once Leon Draisaitl.

Not everyone comes into the league and takes it by storm like Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Kane and McDavid. There are your high lottery picks who don’t establish themselves in Year One. Draisaitl had nine points his rookie year for Edmonton. He needed six games in the AHL before figuring it out his second year. Now, he’s part of the Oilers Twins. The dynamic duo of Draisaitl and McDavid are leading the Oilers back to the postseason. That four goal, five point game Draisaitl had should have clinched his first Hart. Sorry to Artemi Panarin, who will hit 100 points, but probably won’t get the Rangers to the big dance.

Kakko will be fine. Even if some manic panic Rangers fans are overreacting to the lack of finish. I’ve noticed more positives in his play since February. He’s even showing improvement defensively despite a team worst minus-23 rating. If he continues to create chances with his line, that’s a good sign. He’s shown more of a willingness to absorb hits and go to the net. Eventually, they’ll start going in.

In regards to the suggestion to break up Panarin, Ryan Strome and Jesper Fast, not at this moment. Filip Chytil has still not proven enough to center the second line. Neither has Kakko even though I’d hoped he would play with the Bread Man. Patience remains the key to good development. Had the organization applied that philosophy with Ryan Graves, maybe they’d be stronger on the left side of the blueline after dumping Brady Skjei to free up necessary space this summer.

As it is, Brendan Smith hasn’t played badly despite being teamed with disappointment Jacob Trouba. Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox remain the best tandem. Lately, Tony DeAngelo has seen a dip in play and Marc Staal has been up and down. The latter was steadier on Tuesday while DeAngelo had an unforced giveaway that led to a Blues power play they connected on. A tacky slash on Strome. The only penalty any Blueshirt took.

I don’t get the suggestion to send down Brett Howden. He’s finally playing good hockey. The secondary depth center has been contributing offense. Whether it be a big goal in a win at the Islanders or a nice assist recently despite the three-game losing streak, the second-year player is finally upping his level. He’s been more noticeable on the forecheck while continuing to do a sound defensive job on the penalty kill. A sore spot lately with the team having a dip that’s coincided with the departure of Skjei to Carolina.

With the team in a playoff race and 16 games still remaining including a huge one against the Caps, who were 5-2 losers to the red hot Flyers, the Rangers only have two recalls left. They aren’t going to be making any changes unless forced to.

GM Jeff Gorton updated the timetable for Chris Kreider, who suffered a fractured foot on a blocked shot against the Flyers. It’s four to six weeks for the key power forward, who they really could’ve used versus the stingy Blues. That rare combination of size, strength and speed along with the net front presence would’ve come in handy the other night. Instead, they’ll continue to try to figure it out without the 24 goalscorer.

With Igor Shesterkin still a couple of weeks away, it’s Alex Georgiev who must deliver in net. He will once again get the nod on Thursday against the Caps. Though he stopped 19 of 21 shots on Tuesday, he would love to have the Brayden Schenn wraparound goal back that banked in off his skate. A bad break at an inopportune time. It’s up to the 24-year old sophomore to keep the team afloat.

Tomorrow night is as much as a must win as possible. Even with teams around them losing, it’s up to the Rangers to start winning games again. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter what the Blue Jackets and Islanders do. The Hurricanes have two games at hand with 18 left. They remain without starting goalie Petr Mrazek, who’s expected to be out another week. That means they are still without an NHL goalie.

The race to the finish will continue to be unpredictable. It’s still in the Rangers’ hands to determine their playoff fate. That will mean stepping up in competition and beating good teams such as the Caps, Pens and Flyers down the stretch.

It isn’t time to panic. The postseason was never supposed to be an option. That they’re in the race is exciting for fans and the players, who are getting valuable experience that’ll help them in the long run. Enjoy it for what it’s worth.

Posted in Column, NYRangers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Game #66 Rangers are singing the Blues after latest stinging loss

Posted on March 4, 2020 by Derek

Mika Zibanejad gets some love at the bench from Brendan Smith, who was the Rangers beat defenseman in a awfully tough 3-1 loss to the Blues. AP Photo credit via Getty Images

Let’s be real. When John Davidson announced that Igor Shesterkin was out for two to four weeks due to a rib fracture he suffered in a car accident with Pavel Buchnevich in Brooklyn, the season all but ended. Combine that with Chris Kreider blocking a shot that led to a fractured foot versus the Flyers and the playoffs look like a wing and a prayer.

Right now, nothing is going right. They’ve now lost three in a row all in regulation to better teams headed to the postseason. If it wasn’t bad enough the Flyers swept them over the weekend, tonight’s 3-1 loss to the defending champion Blues was a reminder of how hard it is to make the playoffs.

It wasn’t that the Rangers were bad. They weren’t. They competed tooth and nail and inch for inch at five-on-five against one of the league’s best. There wasn’t a lot of space and hardly any specialty teams. Two goals were scored on the power play. But the lone one at even strength came from the detail oriented and stingy Blues with over 10 minutes left in regulation.

Brayden Schenn was able to beat Alex Georgiev on a wrap around to break a tightly contested 1-1 tie in the third period. That was enough to do in the Blueshirts, who let another opportunity slip away to gain ground in the wildcard race. Especially with the Islanders in free fall having dropped a fourth in a row by a ugly count of 6-2 to the suddenly alive Canadiens. It doesn’t matter if they don’t win. They’re running out of time.

On a night where at one point the teams played nearly 11 minutes straight without a stoppage during the fastest second period you’ll ever see, the Rangers couldn’t find enough real estate to beat Jordan Binnington more than one time. Only Mika Zibanejad was able to. He kept his torrid play going when he took a nice feed from Ryan Strome to score a power play goal for a 1-0 lead in the first period. Pavel Buchnevich did a great job behind the net setting it up. He was one of the best skaters along with Zibanejad and Brett Howden.

On a night St. Louis focused on bottling up Artemi Panarin, this was the kind of playoff caliber game they’ll learn from. As much as it stinks that they lost, there were some positives. The Kid Line of Howden, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko played well. They put together some good shifts at even strength. If only one of the young trio could’ve scored. Kakko nearly tied the game with over two minutes left in regulation. But his rebound which seemed destined for the back of the St. Louis net went off Binnington and wide.

It was a frustrating game even though it became entertaining following a bland first 10 minutes. Let’s just say the style was not the most appealing. Shots were at a premium. It felt like you had to work extra hard just to find one. The Rangers were credited with their first shot on goal for a dump in. Yikes. Even scarier, Greg McKegg got the first real shot on Binnington. Holy moly.

This isn’t a game you need a box score for. That’s how mind numbing it was. After it felt about as thrilling as watching paint dry or as close friend Brian Sanborn once sarcastically said to me, “Eating paint chips,” eventually the action picked up.

Brendan Smith drew a penalty out of sheer hustle thanks to some hard work with Chytil. Sam Rosen mistakenly thought it was Chytil who drew the penalty, getting the 2’s confused. I’ll let it slide. Who would think Smith would be the one skating like that and getting taken down? Truth be told, he was their best defenseman on this night. That included getting two big scoring chances and drawing the penalty Zibanejad scored on.

You cannot make this stuff up. Give credit where it’s due. Smith played a very good game. He actually was one-on-one with Binnington on a give and go. But the Blues goalie denied him. When Smith looks faster and more decisive than Jacob Trouba, that’s not good. I’ll say it again in the New York Lotto voice-over: “Eight million dollars!!!!!”

At least Zibanejad continues his roll by scoring his career high 33rd goal from Strome and Buchnevich. He is scoring all these goals and showing bursts of speed that just turn defenders to dust. Mika is blossoming in front of our eyes. Even without Kreider, he’s trying to carry this team. Why on earth did David Quinn think it was a good idea to play Phil Di Giuseppe on the top line again? He plays hard, but can’t be more than a third liner on this roster. That’s being generous. Give me Julien Gauthier already.

The issue for the Rangers became when they didn’t convert on a late power play that spanned the end of the first and start of the second. Those are always tough to score on. I was hoping they’d find a way to go up two before the first ended. But they didn’t take enough shots. In particular, Panarin was too passive. He didn’t have it. Too many passes that didn’t find the mark. Sometimes when facing such a good defensive opponent like the Blues, simple is more effective. He had a bad game.

I already singled out Buchnevich, Zibanejad, Howden and Smith. I will also give Kakko credit for doing some good work on the forecheck. He’s getting better. If only he could’ve buried that late chance.

The problem for them was at some point, the Blues were owed a power play. Sure enough, they called a tacky one on Strome. It was a reputation call. For most of it, it looked like the Rangers would get it done unlike the gloomy Mike Bloomberg and his ridiculous campaign slogan on an ugly Super Tuesday. Georgiev made a pair of great saves on Jaden Schwartz to rob him.

However, a broken play resulted in Colton Parayko getting to a loose puck that came right to him and bombing a shot right by Georgiev top cheese. That tied the score. It was a bad break. But sometimes, that’s the breaks. Parayko is one of the most underrated good defensemen in hockey. Big and imposing, he’s a shutdown D who has a heavy right shot. If you leave him open, beware. He made the Rangers pay.

The rest of the period was a playoff clinic. It was lots of skating, checking, back checking and defense. There were no whistles for the longest time. Rosen and Joe Micheletti raved about it. This was a playoff style game. Yes, the refs missed some calls. One in particular definitely aggravated the crowd that included my family.

Ultimately, the difference was small. Even with Quinn finally giving it the old college try by moving Panarin up to the Zibanejad line with Buchnevich, nothing got done. He attempted a couple of passes in front that missed connection. The really crazy part is this was the strange game where Smith and Marc Staal (seriously) got quality opportunities. It was exasperating.

Georgiev would allow Schenn to come around the net and sneak a wrap around off his skate for a 2-1 Blues lead. It was his 25th goal. The fourth time he’s reached that figure, doing it twice with the Flyers and now twice with St. Louis. He won a Cup with the Blues. Similar to how Jeff Carter and Mike Richards won Cups in LA. A bit of bad Flyers history.

There weren’t many chances to tie it. You had the Kakko chance that felt like an eternity. A gaping net or so it seemed awaited the snake bit rookie. But he missed. Apparently, Binnington got enough of it to push it wide. How I don’t know. He didn’t have to make many big saves unless you consider Smith a sniper. I wish I were kidding.

Eventually following some good Blues pressure, Quinn was able to lift Georgiev for an extra attacker. There was no chance they were scoring. What they really needed was the refs to call the Blues for taking down Adam Fox after he made an unbelievable defensive play to break up a three-on-one. It couldn’t have been a more obvious penalty. He was tripped up and mugged. The fans let them hear it. Rosen and Micheletti sounded incredulous.

It was a terrible missed call. They needed that power play. I knew when it wasn’t called, the game was over. But I’d felt that was after Georgiev gave up the bad goal to Schenn. I’m sure he wanted it back. That’s the Blues style. They get the greasy goals. I sound like the classic Mickey character (Burgess Meredith) from Rocky. That’s how I’d describe St. Louis Blues hockey.

They added an empty netter to finish it off. I think it was Schwartz. It was. I didn’t bother looking at the score sheet. Too tired. This was a painful defeat because the Islanders lost. I understand where this team is. I was realistic about tonight. I figured it would be really tough to win. And that’s how it played out.

There’s nothing left to add. I took out some frustration on my Instagram. A rare moment I discussed the hockey team on IG. I don’t do it often. But that’s how much this game meant. The playoffs are looking so far away. Kinda like the classic Dire Straits song.

The next game is only the Capitals invading MSG on Thursday. Only Ovechkin. At least it’ll be more up and down. Maybe they’ll surprise us. I’m afraid they’ll be looking up further at the standings by that point. It’s looking grim.

Kevin Owens poses with Adam Graves. That was the highlight of the night. AP Photo credit New York Rangers via Getty Images

Battle Of Hudson Three 🌟

3rd 🌟 Mika Zibanejad, Rangers (power play goal for career high 33rd, playing unbelievable hockey)

2nd 🌟 Pavel Buchnevich, Rangers (set up the one goal with an 🍎, the best Ranger forward)

1st 🌟 Colton Parayko, Blues (got the big tying goal on the power play and was very good defensively, so overlooked)

Posted in NYRangers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Henrik Lundqvist turns 38 today

Posted on March 2, 2020 by Derek

AP Photo credit Flyers via Getty Images

A day later, Henrik Lundqvist blows out 38 candles on his birthday. You wonder what he’s feeling today after losing his first start since Feb. 3. In actuality, it was his first appearance since a brief substitution for rookie Igor Shestyorkin at Winnipeg last month. A game Shestyorkin returned in to win.

Once the franchise goalie of the Rangers with the most wins (459), shutouts (64) and games played (886), the proud veteran who was the backbone of three teams that made the Eastern Conference Final and one Stanley Cup Final, is now the third wheel behind Shestyorkin and Alex Georgiev.

It’s been a tough year for Lundqvist. While he might still be considered the King of the city, in actuality he’s the odd man out due to the current situation. A season removed from basically splitting duty with then rookie Georgiev, who put up better numbers in the second half, Lundqvist has fallen to third on the depth chart. A far cry from the glory days when King Henrik was the benchmark for NHL goalies.

The former Vezina winner is now the current backup goalie behind Georgiev due to Shestyorkin recovering from a rib fracture suffered in a car accident last week. Astonishingly, he’s already practicing with the team where the Russian netminder is taking low shots. He can’t face high ones yet. The team will reassess his injury in another week. It’s a two to four week prognosis.

Anyone knew there was no way Georgiev could play every game. After winning the first two starts in Shestyorkin’s place against the Islanders and Canadiens, he lost to the Flyers on Friday. That made it three starts over four days. Yesterday was Lundqvist’s chance as March began. A day before his birthday, it couldn’t have gone any worse. He allowed five goals on 26 shots in a Flyers 5-3 win at MSG.

The game wasn’t even two minutes old when Matt Niskanen buried a rebound with Lundqvist out of position on the initial shot. The Flyers made rookie defenseman Ryan Lindgren pay for a bad penalty 23 seconds in.

More penalty trouble led to Lundqvist giving up a bad rebound off a Jake Voracek shot that Sean Couturier easily buried for a 2-0 deficit less than 12 minutes in. One of two penalties Ryan Strome took. Before the period was out, Strome was knocked off the puck causing a Flyers two on none with Derek Grant feeding Michael Raffl for a shorthanded goal.

Grant would catch Lundqvist out of his net less than two minutes into the second by easily putting home a backhand past the over committed goalie who never looked comfortable. Just like that, the game for all intents and purposes was over.

The Blueshirts trailed 4-0 in less than 22 minutes in Lundqvist’s return. When it was over, he would go on to admit he wasn’t very good. That it didn’t go as he had hoped. The team took some penalties which hurt their chances. That much is true. They weren’t disciplined enough and the penalty kill was lousy. There was too much standing around.

Even though they rallied with two more power play goals in the third from Pavel Buchnevich and Mika Zibanejad, it wasn’t enough to overcome a 5-1 deficit against a good Flyers team that won for the sixth straight time. They were by far the better team and continue to apply the pressure on the Capitals. Alex Ovechkin scored twice in a one goal win Sunday night. They lead the division by three points over the Flyers.

With the Blues in town tomorrow and the Caps later this week, you have to believe Georgiev will get the call for those two games. The Devils are the last game on the schedule for the week. What David Quinn decides will determine who plays. He’s handled a difficult situation as well as can be asked.

It isn’t easy for Lundqvist to go from the Rangers meal ticket to leftovers. With a cap hit of $8.5 million through next year, he’s a candidate to get bought out this summer. A far cry from where he was following the 2017 Playoffs. His last hurrah.

There’s also this. Following his best save yesterday which was a great glove stop to bail out Marc Staal, there wasn’t much reaction to it.

https://twitter.com/TheDraftAnalyst/status/1234198005068288000?s=19

Normally, it’s customary for teammates to tap a goalie for such a big save. Even if it was with the team still down a lot, that strikes me as odd. What exactly is the relationship between the elder statesman Lundqvist and the rest of the team?

When you watch the way the reporters are around him, they’re very careful with what they ask. It’s almost like they’re walking on eggshells. For better or worse, Lundqvist is treated differently. Even now with him clearly out of his prime looking in dire need of a change this late in his career, he’s treated like royalty.

Does it rub teammates the wrong way? This is a guy who voiced his displeasure at some of those guys after he allowed goals. Even the great Martin Brodeur did it when the Devils weren’t as good. But you never saw him bury players in any interviews.

Maybe King Henrik being bigger than the team has been bad for the Blueshirts. It might explain why they seem to play harder in recent years for backups. It dates back to Cam Talbot, who helped his former team by blanking the Panthers last night. However, the Blue Jackets rallied for four straight goals in a 5-3 win over the Canucks to increase their lead to four over the Blueshirts.

It’s definitely a strange time for Lundqvist. He’s not the man anymore. Gone are the days where he stood on his head and was the centerpiece for some very good teams that went far in the Spring. The numbers are still good. A 2.43 GAA and .918 career save percentage are excellent. In his postseason career, he’s 61-65 with a 2.28, .922 and 10 shutouts. Statistics that should one day make him a Hall of Famer.

So, how is he celebrating his birthday? A family man who loves the city and all that it offers, you have to think a night out on the town could do wonders for his psyche. It’s not ending the way he envisioned. However, most great careers don’t end well.

What does the future hold for number 30? Might he wind up chasing a Cup in a different jersey? One never knows. He is not the young 23-year old anymore who wowed New Yorkers in ’05-06. He’s a older 38-year old veteran with the gray beard.

Things sure do change. In a New York minute.

Posted in Column, NYRangers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Game #65 Flyers dominate undisciplined Rangers on special teams to deal a big loss, Strome benched, Comeback falls short

Posted on March 1, 2020 by Derek

Newest Flyer Derek Grant shows off his two pucks after scoring his first goal and assist as a Flyer in a 5-3 win over an undisciplined Rangers, who wasted a big opportunity on Sunday. AP Photo credit Flyers via Getty Images

Any loss at this point of the season is bad. That’s understood. The Rangers weren’t ready to play hockey today. They got what they deserved. An ugly 5-3 loss to the Flyers, who swept the home-and-home series at MSG.

By losing again to the Alain Vigneault and Kevin Hayes Flyers, they’re now 0 for 3 against them having allowed five goals in each loss. That’s sad. Even sadder were the special teams. The Rangers took some very undisciplined penalties to cost themselves a golden opportunity. The Flyers made them pay by connecting for three power play goals and even a gut wrenching one shorthanded that really hurt.

It was so bad that Ryan Strome got benched by coach David Quinn for the entire third period after his second awful penalty led directly to a Travis Konecny power play goal. That made it 5-1. It took all of five seconds for Jake Voracek to set up Konecny. Strome never saw the ice again. He earned his seat.

In the first start by Henrik Lundqvist in nearly a month, it was an unmitigated disaster. After he made a first save to cheers from the supportive home crowd, it turned ugly real fast. A very bad Ryan Lindgren hooking minor 23 seconds into play guaranteed that. Before two minutes had been played, Matt Niskanen tapped in his eighth from Nicholas Aube-Kubel and Travis Sanheim at 1:52.

Even though the game remained 1-0 Flyers for a while, you never got the sense the Rangers were in it. They misfired on some chances during a power play drawn by Brendan Lemieux. The first unit held the puck for a long time by patiently moving it around. But Mika Zibanejad missed on a great opportunity that would’ve tied it. That would cause frustration later in the period.

The Flyers did a good job limiting Ranger shots. While they were willing to test a rusty Lundqvist from everywhere, the home team didn’t get enough shots on Carter Hart early. They let him get comfortable. He’s been playing well. By not being more aggressive shooting the puck, it only hurt themselves. They needed a better start with Lundqvist not sharp.

A tacky Strome penalty for hooking Voracek, who embellished it, didn’t help matters. While I hated the call, the penalty kill barely tried. They seemingly gave the Flyers too much space and watched them move the puck around until Voracek wisely threw a low shot at Lundqvist that he gave up a bad rebound on right to Sean Couturier for a tap in at 11:19 that made it 2-0.

Even if I didn’t like the penalty on Strome, it was another example of him taking an unnecessary minor in the offensive zone. He takes a lot of them due to being lazy with his stick. A bad habit that must be corrected the last 17 games for the team to have any chance at the playoffs. By losing, they now most hope Vancouver can go into Columbus later and keep them reeling. I wouldn’t bank on it. The Rangers have their own issues with the Blues coming in Tuesday.

Prior to Hayes tripping up Brendan Smith, the afternoon crowd were all over the refs for a missed stick hold on Julien Gauthier. However, Hayes went to the box for tripping Smith. This was a chance to breathe some life into the building. Instead, the top unit stayed out too long and gave up a draining shorthanded goal to noted sniper Michael Raffl. This was embarrassing. They lost the puck at the Flyers blueline and allowed a two on none with Derek Grant passing for Raffl, whose backhand beat Lundqvist for a 3-0 lead with 2:07 left.

What a disastrous period. Not only were they abominable. But they didn’t exactly help out Lundqvist in his return. You don’t get a penalty 23 seconds in from one of your best defensemen, who doubles on the penalty kill. And you certainly don’t kill penalties like you’re allergic to the puck and the opponent. This was one of the worst periods of the season. The rebound Lundqvist allowed on the second goal was horrible. It also was predictable.

There were so many things wrong that it really fell apart fast. The second was no better. Before I even got back from a stop at the deli, it was 4-0 Flyers. Apparently, Grant was permitted to go right through the defense and beat a slow reacting Lundqvist, who went for the poke check. That made it a four goal deficit for the Rangers.

Humiliating would be one way to describe it. In a game they needed, there was zero urgency. Why should I rush back to see them mail it in? It was no better when I walked back in. At least I enjoyed my roast beef and hot peppers. It was like they said to Lundqvist, “Welcome back. Hope you missed this.”

I am not going to pin blame on the goalie for this one. He hadn’t played since Feb. 3. They set him up to fail. It would’ve been nice of them to come out sharper. That was the most disappointing aspect. I half wondered if he’ll ever get another game. There are 17 left. Alex Georgiev needed a rest after going three games over four nights. Despite what drunk Mike Milbury said on NBC, he was wrong. This would’ve been start four in less than six nights. Not ideal. How Milbury stays employed while Jeremy Roenick isn’t is one of life’s great mysteries.

The bottom line is the Rangers took a risk. They can’t start Georgiev in every game. Lundqvist wasn’t up to the challenge. But this was a piss poor effort by the team until the third period. Why they waited so long to finally play is better left for them to answer. Chris Kreider or no Chris Kreider.

I didn’t care for the officiating. In a reputation call, they sent Brendan Lemieux to the box for 12 minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct and a tacky misconduct. How dare him challenge Aube-Kubel with his team looking like they saw dead people. That put the Blueshirts a man down. They managed to kill a penalty. Miraculous in itself.

The Flyers gave them opportunities to come back. Zibanejad drew consecutive penalties on Nate Thompson (hi-sticking) and Sanheim (tripping). On the first one, it took Zibanejad all of 13 seconds to neatly deflect an Artemi Panarin pass by Hart for a career high 31st goal that cut it to 4-1 with 7:26 left in the second. Tony DeAngelo added a secondary helper.

On the second, they were unable to cash in. Had they, things could’ve gotten interesting. The best chance came from Pavel Buchnevich, who had some room in front. But instead of taking the puck to the net and trying a backhand, he passed it instead to no avail. He was in the spot Kreider usually occupies. Buchnevich is a different style player. But he is getting better at playing a more involved game for offense. Something we saw later.

Following the Flyer penalty kill, then Strome took his ill advised slash on Robert Hagg. This came nine seconds following the power play. What happened next was so predictable, it was like they saw their shadow. Off a face-off win, they watched Provorov and Voracek combine to setup Konecny for a tip in front for his 23rd to restore a four goal lead at 15:34. That gave Voracek six assists in the two game series. It was way too easy.

As soon as Strome got back to the bench, his day was done. He did it to himself. At that point, the Flyers were 3-for-4 on the power play and one other goal came shorthanded. They only had one even strength goal which was early in the period on a defensive breakdown. There was so much not to like about the Rangers game, it was too much to list. They only got five shots in the second. Pathetic.

In the third, they decided to try. After getting outshot 20-14, Quinn mixed up his lines. Strome was never seen again. Filip Chytil centered the second line. Panarin was teamed up with Zibanejad. Howden got bumped up.

Buchnevich drew a interference minor on Niskanen. He got rewarded for drawing the penalty when he was able to redirect a harmless DeAngelo wrist shot by Hart from Zibanejad only 12 seconds in for his 15th goal. That cut the deficit to three with 14:27 remaining.

Kaapo Kakko, who much earlier was robbed by Hart, drew a tripping minor on Thompson with 8:31 left in regulation. This time with Howden taking Strome’s place on the top unit, he kept the puck in the zone with some hustle. Panarin then passed for an open Zibanejad in front. One on one with Hart, he had a sweet finish going forehand, backhand top shelf for his 32nd goal at 12:39. It was the third power play goal of the game for the Rangers and gave Zibanejad three points (2-1-3). Panarin picked up his second assist to reach 90 points for the first time in his career.

With still 6:21 left in regulation, there was enough time. Suddenly with the momentum, the Rangers attacked the Flyers at every turn. A great move by Buchnevich behind the net and terrific pass in front nearly resulted in a hat trick for Zibanejad. But Hart made the biggest save of the game to deny his bid. Had he scored there, who knows what could’ve happened.

The Blueshirts would generate more chances in by far their best period by outshooting the Flyers 12-6. They just couldn’t get the one goal they needed to make it interesting. Even with Lundqvist pulled for an extra attacker with over two minutes left, they threatened but couldn’t get the one shot by Hart to make their opponent sweat.

Philadelphia did a good job keying on Panarin. They took away his big shot and even limited Zibanejad, who spent a lot of time behind the net. Despite all the puck possession and no Flyers empty netter, the Rangers would fall short in their comeback attempt.

It was too little, too late. Now, it’s time to regroup. These last two games were a bust. Nobody from Hartford was recalled for Kreider. We’ll see if that changes by Tuesday. One thing that must change is Strome and his bad penalties. He really cost the team. So did Lindgren. You can’t do that against good opponents. They’ll make you pay.

Right now, the Flyers have won six in a row and sit a point out of first place in the Metro. The Caps play later. The way Vigneault has his team playing, would it surprise anyone if they won the division and made a run? They’re getting good goaltending from Hart, improved team defense (not kidding) and balanced scoring. They have strong special teams and are deep at center. They’re a threat.

While the Rangers try to figure their way out in the wildcard race, the AV Flyers could wind up reaching the Conference Finals. Especially the way the Caps and Pens have struggled. I knew they’d be good. Maybe not this good.

Somehow, some way, the Rangers better figure it out. There’s still a great opportunity to do something here in a mediocre conference. It won’t get any easier.

Battle Of Hudson Three 🌟

3rd 🌟 Mika Zibanejad, Rangers (2 PPG for new career high 32 goals plus 🍎, 6 shots, -1 in 23:56)

2nd 🌟 Jake Voracek, Flyers (2 primary assists on two power play goals, 6 assists in the 2 Flyer wins)

1st 🌟 Derek Grant, Flyers (game-winner for 15th plus 🍎, +2 in 14:37)

Posted in NYRangers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

HARD HITS: The Hart Race nobody wants to acknowledge

Posted on March 1, 2020 by Derek

Last night in a big 3-2 win over the Jets, Oilers center Leon Draisaitl scored twice and picked up an assist to help move Edmonton into second place in the Pacific Division. The power play goal he scored in the first period allowed him to become the first player to reach 100 points for the season.

With three points including his 38th and 39th goal along with his 62nd assist, Draisaitl leads the league in scoring with 102 points. His 10 game-winners are tied with Bruins power forward David Pastrnak for tops in the league. Pastrnak got his NHL-leading 47th goal in a Bruins 4-0 shutout at the Islanders to spoil Butch Goring day. He ranks second in scoring with 91 points (47-44-91). Nobody has more power play goals (19) with Draisaitl’s 15 second best.

Connor McDavid picked up two assists on both Draisaitl power play goals yesterday. The Oilers superstar is up to 58 assists along with 31 goals to give him 89 points in 59 games. The 58 helpers rank second behind Draisaitl. Third in scoring despite missing six games, the former MVP ranks second in power play points with 41 (11-30-41). That trails Draisaitl (15-27-42) by one. Pastrnak’s 36 (15-21-36) are third.

Many observers would point to these three players as the front-runners for the Hart Trophy. They’re the three top point getters as Doc Emrick likes to say. All are dynamic talents who make their teams better. The dynamic duo of Draisaitl and McDavid is scary while Pastrnak is featured on the best line that includes the overlooked rat Brad Marchand along with the well respected two-way pivot Patrice Bergeron.

Before you nominate these three for league MVP, Artemi Panarin is fourth in scoring with 88 points (32-56-88) for the Rangers, who are chasing the wildcard. The 32 goals and 88 points are new career highs for the Bread Man, who doesn’t play with a superstar at five-on-five. He’s mostly done it with Ryan Strome and Jesper Fast on the second line. Somehow, Panarin leads everyone in even strength points with 67. Twenty-five of his 32 goals are even strength along with 42 of his 56 assists. He’s 7-14-21 on the power play despite playing with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider until he got hurt on Friday.

Signed last summer by the Rangers for a huge salary that has an average cap hit of $11.64 million per season, the 28-year old Russian left wing boasts two point streaks of 10 or more in the same season. With an assist in Friday’s 5-2 loss to the Flyers, it made his current streak 12. Over that span, he’s got five goals and 12 assists for 17 points. While he’s certainly put the biscuit in the basket, perhaps the highlight of his first year on Broadway was the extra effort he gave to make this unreal pass for a Zibanejad rocket to beat the Islanders Tuesday.

The sheer hustle and recognition that he had run out of time due to three back checking Isles, demonstrated how brilliant he is. Not many players would make that play. He’s not only supremely skilled, but smart too. There haven’t been many off nights for Panarin, whose 88 points are 26 better than Zibanejad (62) and 30 more than linemate Strome (58). His plus-35 rating tops all NHL forwards and ranks second behind former Rangers draft pick Ryan Graves (+44).

Panarin deserves to be included in the Hart discussion. He’s been dominant for a team that wasn’t expected to make the playoffs. They might still not. Injuries to Igor Shesterkin and Kreider threaten to spoil a great run. The Rangers enter today’s afternoon return match against the Flyers two points behind Columbus for the second wildcard. They’re at 74 points with 18 games remaining on a tough schedule that includes one more home game versus the Flyers along with three big match-ups against the suddenly slumping Pens. It will not be easy to beat out the Blue Jackets, Hurricanes and Panthers.

Without Panarin, it wouldn’t be possible. He doesn’t rely on the Rangers top center Zibanejad, who’s over a point-per-game. However, they should see more time together down the stretch with Kreider out due to a fractured foot. Maybe they can create more magic together like the huge tying goal Zibanejad scored from Panarin to spark a four goal third period comeback at Montreal on Thursday.

For now at least, the Bread Man will stay with Strome and Fast on the second line at today’s start. For how well he’s played overall, it says here that he merits serious consideration for MVP. A more complete player than scoring machines Draisaitl or McDavid, if he can get this team in, it would be like what Taylor Hall did for the Devils.

We’ll see what happens in the final month plus.

Body Checks:

It comes as no surprise that David Quinn will go to Henrik Lundqvist for today’s important game. It’ll mark his first start since Feb. 3. With Alex Georgiev having worked extremely hard the last three starts over four days, it makes sense to go to the proud veteran. A day from turning 38 tomorrow, let’s see if Lundqvist can turn back the clock and deliver in front of what should be a supportive home crowd at noon.

When both Quinn and Tony DeAngelo point out that Adam Fox is overlooked for the Calder due to less points than Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar, they’re right. Fox has a plus-21 to go with his 35 points (7-28-35) while forming great chemistry with rookie partner Ryan Lindgren. Maybe he won’t be among the three candidates which could also feature Hawks sniper Dominik Kubalik. But Fox is a complete player. He could be special.

The trade for Jean-Gabriel Pageau was a good one by GM Lou Lamoriello for the Islanders. Pageau already has two goals in three games. He improves the Isles center depth that includes Mat Barzal, Brock Nelson and Casey Cizikas once he returns. But while Pageau is a solid addition, the Islanders are still struggling to score goals. It’ll come down to Anders Lee, Jordan Eberle, Anthony Beauvillier and the struggling Josh Bailey. It can’t just be about the centers with Nelson pacing them with 23 goals and Pageau, who is more finisher than playmaker.

Barzal has a tendency to hold onto the puck too much and over pass causing turnovers. He hasn’t been scoring much. A complaint we’ve started to see from Islander fans. A great skater and pass first center, he needs to shoot the puck more. He has no goals in his last 13.

The Stars and Blues played another excellent game last night that was reminiscent of their seven game second round series last year. John Klingberg forced overtime with 18 seconds left in regulation. Following a good overtime, it went to a shootout where Ryan O’Reilly got the only goal in the shootout to give St. Louis the win. They look pretty tough without Vladimir Tarasenko, who could be their big pickup once April hits.

With the Blues, Avalanche and Stars all in the same division, it’s a shame. Only one will advance out of the Central into the Western Conference Final. Meanwhile, you have the Golden Knights thanks to an eight-game winning streak a couple up on the Oilers for the Pacific with the Canucks third. Then it’s the Flames and Coyotes hanging around in the crazy playoff race that includes the Jets, Predators and Wild. The format needs to be changed.

Tough loss for the Lightning losing captain Steven Stamkos for six to eight weeks. That means they’ll likely have to get through the first round without him. With Nikita Kucherov back in MVP form, Brayden Point quietly having a big second half and Andrei Vasilevskiy in net, they should still advance. But it’s looking like they’ll finish second behind the Bruins, who should have home ice for the postseason.

I like the additions of Ondrej Kase and Nick Ritchie for Boston. Both should fit in well. Especially Ritchie, who plays the no nonsense physical style Bruins fans appreciate. Tuukka Rask should win his second Vezina. Charlie McAvoy remains one of the best kept secrets defensively. Charlie Coyle is a handful. They’ll be a tough out.

Can the Leafs continue to win games despite not being equipped defensively? The offense that featured 45 goal man Auston Matthews and the more consistent William Nylander should continue to produce.

Another blown third period lead by the Canadiens last night. They led the Hurricanes 3-0, but once they scored in the second period, it spelled trouble. Sure enough, Carolina rallied for two in the third including a clutch game-tying redirect from Justin Williams. That earned them a point in a 4-3 overtime loss. Jeff Petry won it for the Habs. Still, isn’t it about time Montreal cleans house? Does GM Marc Bergevin have a job for life due to two trades? At least Claude Julien finally played backup Charlie Lindgren. He got the Carey Price experience. Yes, he’s the brother of the Rangers’ Ryan Lindgren.

I don’t see why NBC has these early noon starts. It’s a inconvenience for fans who go. But whatever.

The Caps don’t look to have the goaltending to go far unless Ilya Samsonov supplants Braden Holtby, who’s been unsteady. The Pens are very strange. Can the Flyers make a run led by Carter Hart?

David Ayres is a big hero in the hockey community for coming in to relieve Carolina duo James Reimer and Petr Mrazek in a unreal Canes win at Toronto. His team he practices with while working for the Marlies as a Zamboni rider. But the NHL can’t acknowledge how good a story this is. It doesn’t fit the narrative. A 42-year old local became the most popular hockey player due to being an emergency goalie that won a game. He went on big shows and became a celebrity as well as a hero in Carolina. Only the NHL would not like this story.

Mackenzie Blackwood is an excellent goalie for the Devils despite being on a bad team.

Jack Eichel is elite on the Sabres, who remain mediocre. Get him some help.

I am not sure how you lose at the Ducks and then get shutout by the Sharks and Martin Jones as the Pens just did. This is all too confusing. They lost all three games in California including to the Kings, who compete hard for Todd McLellan. It’s a strange game.

Posted in Column, Hard Hits | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment