Game #10 – Red Wings 4, Devils 3

Posted on November 1, 2018 by hasan4978

Perhaps the only good thing about tonight’s latest disgrace in Detroit is that I wasn’t in front of the TV to watch it whistle to whistle.  I missed most of the first period but from what I read it seemed like the team laid yet another turdburger, as they fell behind 1-0 with a typically desultory start.  Sure, they tied the game in the second and eventually took the lead in the third period after I did get to start watching.  Of course that just put us right where the Red Wings wanted us – in front in the third as the Devils would blow yet another third-period lead, giving up all four of their goals on special teams with the coup de grace coming when Will Butcher set fire to a power play by giving up a two-on-one and playing it very suspect, which wasn’t helped with ill-fated Cory Schneder giving up a bad rebound goal.

Enough is enough now…we’re just ten games into the season and I’ve officially had it with this team.  We’re at DEFCON 1 now, in near-record time given how bad this team’s played for a couple weeks with what’s looming ahead on this road trip.  There’s just flat out no excuse for game after game of this kind of crap effort, particularly after you just had your doors blown off you two nights ago in Tampa.  To go to Detroit and that dopey new arena they have, and lose in regulation against a team that’s 3-7-2 and playing like they were expected to be – one of the worst teams in hockey – is just flat out inexcusable.  And not only lose in regulation, but do the same stupid things you’ve been doing for weeks now.  There are times where the process are good but the results are bad, and vice-versa.  Well now both are bad, with the team dropping to 1-4-1 after the what now seems like an illsuory 4-0 start.

There’s no one single person to blame for this fiasco, but when effort and intelligence are both major issues, you clearly have to start with the head coach.  For whatever reason John Hynes’ message only seems to resonate in odd-numbered years with overachieving 2015 and 2017 teams sandwiching a poor year in 2016, and now it looks like 2018 is fast heading for the dissapointing route.  Sure, there was always going to be the possibility that this team just didn’t have enough to make the playoffs again in a tough Metro division but the fact this team is playing like they’re satisfied after making the playoffs (and getting bounced almost as fast as you could blink, I might add) is just mind-boggling.

I’m not saying there aren’t problems with talent or that the players don’t need to take their own responsibility, god knows with the former the issues that went unanswered for this team in the offseason are all coming back to haunt them now – lack of a second-line center, lack of a real top four LHD aside from the aging Andy Greene, and the question marks in net.  You want to blame Ray Shero, go ahead.  At some point patience needs to give way to urgency, especially when you need to have your league MVP believing in the future path of this team before approaching him on an extension this offseason.  You want to blame ownership for not spending on a team that’s $20 million under the cap, go ahead.  It’s still just speculation whether they’ve put the cuffs on Shero or not so it’s pointless to even go there right now.

Even with what the team doesn’t have, that’s still no reason for the constant killer penalties, mental mistakes and suspect effort that’s plagued the players we do have all season long, or at least since the 4-0 start.  Did this team really believe their crap didn’t stink at that point after two weeks of the season?  When you lose in Tampa Bay that’s one thing, even with how ugly the loss was.  But tonight…oy vey.

Of course it would be nice to HAVE a second line in the first place (cough Pavel Zacha cough Marcus Johansson), but the fact you can’t even beat a team who was supposed to be bad and is bad to begin with, when they don’t have an entire second line is just mind-bogglingly awful.  In theory we at least have a second line…in theory.  In reality?  Zacha is still at ten games and counting not even having a point this season, and this was the bust that was supposed to be our second-line center going into the season.  Yes he’s only 21 and it’s his third NHL season but he’s played nearly 160 games in the league, at what point is the player off scholarship now?  In some ways Johansson’s been even worse given he was expected to be the leader on that line but he’s done absolutely nothing as a Devil.  Sure, injuries played a factor in last season but even when he was on the ice he just flat out didn’t get it done.  It’s of course laughable that Johansson picked the most meaningless time ever for his second goal of the season, with four seconds left down 4-2.  I mean are you kidding me?  He might as well have not scored at all, he hardly deserved to get off the schneid.

Defensively things started out promising but like the rest of the team has spiraled downhill, particularly in the last handful of games.  Even the game we won against Florida the defense gave up way too many quality chances and in particular Butcher seems to have regressed this year, particularly since his supposedly minor shoulder injury.  Not to mention the injuries to Steven Santini and Ben Lovejoy have made the third pairing a turnstile of rotating defenders.  Granted, all the penalties don’t help to that end either, but still you gotta kill something off at some point.  Special teams was utterly atrocious tonight giving up two PP goals, then two short-handed goals (albeit the latter was a seeing-eye empty-netter).

And in goal…well let’s just say it took one game for me to remember why Cory has exacerbated me over the last two years.  Enough with the darn excuses, I don’t want to hear about the surgically repaired hip which is supposed to be better now, I don’t want to hear about him being rusty when he had three rehab games, that horrible rebound on the decisive third period goal just can’t be rationalized.  It’s always the same crap though, he plays well until allowing the killer goal in crunchtime then here comes another loss.  Maybe if it wasn’t for the last two seasons I’d be more willing to go the ‘but it’s his first game back route’ but he doesn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt at this point.  It just feels like he embodies loserdom at this point, like the pre-2004 Boston Red Sox.

It’s bad enough this team has lost five of its last six games, but what looms ahead is Halloween horror-movie type scary – division matchups at Brooklyn against a fired-up Isles team playing well for new coach Barry Trotz (certainly much better than our group at the moment) followed by a trek to Pittsburgh.  Oh, and by the way three more road games after that.  Yes we did well against the Penguins last year, but as the last few games have shown us…that was last year.  Maybe this year’s megatrip is going to do to us what we feared the one in March was going to do to us last year.  Clearly bag skates, coach rants and pleading haven’t worked to this point.  It’s probably time for something more drastic now like a well-earned benching or three.  I have my candidates of who should get the axe for a game or more to send a message, but really at this point just about anyone outside of the first line and Blake Coleman will do to that end.  I’m not sure who else I’d exempt but it wouldn’t be too many more people than those four.

This team needs to start winning games, but more important they need to take their heads out of their rear ends first before they can even hope to win games again.  Perhaps this quote from Hynes sums it up when asked whether it concerned him that Johansson said they’re losing confidence in the locker room:

In other words, baby steps.

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Game #12 Rangers show resolve in 4-3 shootout win over Sharks

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Derek

It would’ve been real easy to cave in following a last second Tomas Hertl goal that tied it. It would’ve been even easier for Henrik Lundqvist to lose concentration in the closing moments of a back and forth overtime and not snatch Brent Burns’ shot out of the air to take an emotional rollercoaster of a game to a shootout. He didn’t, showing the resolve the Rangers did in a 4-3 win over the Sharks.

Somehow, they swept the head to head series against a formidable opponent. Don’t ask how. I’m not even sure myself. Both games required extras with Brady Skjei winning the first game between the teams in overtime at MSG. This time, it was some shootout magic from Lundqvist and Kevin Shattenkirk that got them their fourth win of the season. Following a great save by Lundqvist to deny Joe Pavelski the five hole, Shattenkirk patiently outwaited Martin Jones, going to a backhand deke top shelf to win the game in the third round to plenty of excited teammates who poured off the bench to congratulate him.

You can usually tell a lot about a team by their character. After disappointing efforts in consecutive losses at Chicago and Los Angeles, the Rangers responded to coach David Quinn’s challenge. They played with more passion and matched the dangerous San Jose offense. It was a welcome change.

On a night Pavel Buchnevich didn’t play for the second time, the eighteen skaters and goalie worked hard. They peppered Jones early and often in a impressive first period. In direct response to a Sharks goal, Mats Zuccarello replied back with a long wrist shot surprising Jones for his third.

Even though they were unable to finish more of their chances, the Rangers stayed right with the Sharks for two periods. Lundqvist was busier in the second keeping the game tied at one entering the third.

What transpired was as unpredictable as a suspense thriller. With it being Halloween, that feels appropriate. Chris Kreider scored the first of his two goals when he was able to take a Skjei feed and sneak a one-timer off Jones’ pad and in for a lead. However, a crazy sequence would unfold that had Quinn upset. Following a big Lundqvist save, the Rangers went the other way and had a shot ring off the goalpost. Vinni Lettieri got trapped to create a two-on-one. Timo Meier made him pay by ripping a shot high off the far post to make it 2-2. He’s been on fire lately. It was his ninth.

But the game didn’t stay tied for long. Kreider was able to beat Jones down low for his second of the period to give the Rangers another one goal lead. It looked like they would hold on for the win in regulation.

Instead, an even nuttier sequence allowed San Jose to tie it. With the puck behind the Rangers net, Neal Pionk lost a battle allowing Logan Couture to come out with the puck. With time to spare, he quickly passed for an open Hertl, who in one motion turned and fired a laser past Lundqvist to beat the buzzer. Replays confirmed that he scored with 1.4 seconds left. Skjei was too late on the coverage, kneeling down while Hertl unloaded. Skjei should’ve stayed on his feet and checked Hertl.

It was a pretty devastating way to end regulation. I couldn’t it. I was doing my podcast with my friend and couldn’t contain myself. I couldn’t help but laugh at what happened. It still was going to OT.

The Rangers gave away an opportunity to win it thanks to a lousy four-on-three power play. Their passing sucked. So did their entries. It was the worst part of the game. I must’ve counted five San Jose clears with three skaters. Eventually, Kreider got nabbed with a iffy slashing minor to even it up near the end. It was pretty cheesy.

If not for Lundqvist’s desperation glove save on Burns’ final offering with under two seconds left, there is no shootout. Only a brutal defeat. Afterwards, Lundqvist admitted that he didn’t know if he could’ve survived the night had they lost in that fashion. He picked up the shot late and had enough concentration to make the clutch save.

The shootout saw most shooters get stopped in their tracks. Hertl tried a backhand that went over the top. Zuccarello was poke checked by Jones to deny his forehand tuck. Couture took a great shot, but Lundqvist easily gloved it down. Mika Zibanejad also tried a forehand deke, but made one too many moves to get stopped by Jones. Then came Pavelski, who skated in and got off a good wrister, but Lundqvist closed up the pads to set the stage for Shattenkirk. Here’s how it looked and sounded with an exciting call from the legendary Sam Rosen:

What a game! What a game! Indeed. It was the first road win of the season. The Rangers finish the four-game road trip in Anaheim.

Three Rangers Stars

3rd 🌟 Kevin Shattenkirk assist plus shootout winner

2nd 🌟 Henrik Lundqvist 31 saves plus 3 of 3 in shootout

1st 🌟 Chris Kreider 2 goals (5, 6)

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Game #9 – Lightning 8, Devils 3

Posted on October 30, 2018 by hasan4978

So tonight was our playoff ‘rematch’ with Tampa after they wiped the floor with us in five relatively easy games six months ago.  Sure, it was nice to make the playoffs and Game 3 at the Rock was the best hockey memory in the last several years as a Devils fan but really the three playoff games in Tampa showed just how far apart the two teams were in skill level.  Of course regular season hockey isn’t always the same as playoff hockey – just look at the fact we were 3-0 against the Lightning last regular season.  More importantly, the hope going into tonight was to get our season high seven-game road trip off to a good start against a Tampa team without top defenseman Victor Hedman.

After about five minutes it looked like one of the 2017-18 regular season matchups, as the Devils got off to a fast start with Miles Wood and Travis Zajac combining for the game’s first two goals, finally giving the Devils some non-first line production.  Wood’s goal was punctuated by an exhuberant celebration and the team looked engaged in the game early.  That momentum carried over to the line’s next shift when Zajac scored on a partial breakaway.  Leading two-nil after five minutes it looked for a fleeting moment like this could be a reprise of the Caps home opener earlier in the month.

Then reality smacked us in the face and Tampa asserted their skill level while the Devils resumed their skittish, sloppy play that’s been too prevalent the last couple of weeks.  Still, there was no way I saw a 2-0 game turning into a 3-8 trainwreck in the span of two periods’ worth of time from the early first to the early third.  Sure every team has at least a handful of those type of games, the Lightning themselves had one against Arizona a few nights ago.  However, the timing of this game coming after three other uneven to desultory efforts in the last four games is alarming.  Especially against a team that everyone knows you have to be on point against.

Things looked bad enough when Tampa tied the game before the end of the first period, but an early second period goal, then back-to-back penalties by Blake Coleman (double-minor) and Zajac put the nail in the coffin when the defanged PK allowed two more goals to put the game almost out of reach at 5-2.  Kyle Palmieri’s goal at the end of the second gave the Devils an illusory chance going into the third but three lightning-quick goals at the beginning of the third turned the game into a complete and utter embarassment.  How embarassing?  After Keith Kinkaid was pulled allowing the seventh goal, poor Cory Schneider allowed a goal on his first shot faced of the season for the eighth goal of the night.

At that point I saw something I’ve never seen before, a timeout with a kick-butt rant called by coach John Hynes at 8-3 in the third period with the Devils already having given up 40+ shots and the game clearly over.  Normally the kick-butt timeouts come earlier in the game and when the score is closer, but the giveup in the third period and lack of engagement in the game throughout was alarming and needed to be addressed on the spot.  Clearly the Devils gave up after the sixth goal if not sooner…it looked like it got flattened with a Mike Tyson right hand.  Who knows, maybe that was the team’s rock bottom.  It better have been or things are going to get a lot worse before it gets better.  It’s up to this team to decide how they want to respond going forward, starting with a game in Detroit on Thursday night that is as must-win as an early November game gets at this point.  Even more importantly it’s a must get back on track in terms of the team’s effort and compete level.

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Suicide Watch on All Hallows Eve for Rangers fans

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Derek

It’s suicide watch on All Hallows Eve for Rangers fans. Pavel Buchnevich is a healthy scratch for the second time under coach David Quinn when the Rangers visit the Sharks later tonight.

Buchnevich got the only assist on Vladislav Namestnikov’s first goal of the season in a frustrating 4-3 loss to the Kings on Sunday. He also recently scored his third goal on a rebound. To be perfectly honest, the 23-year old enigmatic Russian right wing has been underwhelming in his third year. He has five points (3-2-5) in 10 games.

On a low scoring team, the three goals are tied with Jimmy Vesey, who remains a fixture in the lineup due to his more straight forward game. He works hard, but doesn’t have good hands. If he did, Vesey would be close to 10 goals. There lies the problem. There isn’t a whole lot of talent on the current 23-man roster. When Cody McLeod is playing regularly on the fourth line, it speaks volumes. He brings energy to his shifts and toughness, which Quinn prefers. But he’s not part of the future.

How many Rangers are? Mika Zibanejad leads them in scoring with nine points. But even he’s been up and down. His line was quiet at Los Angeles. So, it’s been changed again with Namestnikov getting his chance on the number one line with Mats Zuccarello. Chris Kreider will stay with Kevin Hayes and Ryan Spooner. Hayes works hard in all areas including the penalty kill, but is stuck on two goals. Spooner just scored his first goal on a great shift to tie the Kings the other day with under four minutes remaining.

If only the bitter conclusion had been better. I’m tired of Alec Martinez. A lot went wrong on that play including Brendan Smith and Kevin Shattenkirk backing in while Kreider waved his stick at Martinez, who snapped home the crushing game-winner with 54.8 seconds left. Quinn went ballistic over how easy it is for opponents to skate into his team’s zone. He’s right. He took responsibility for the latest bench minor that cost them the lead. That’s six too many men on the ice penalties. Way too many.

It’s hard to watch the Rangers right now. Think going to the dentist for a checkup. It’s that bad. But they’re exactly where they’re supposed to be. At 3-7-1 with seven points, they’re one of the worst teams in the league. So, if Quinn feels Buchnevich needs to sit out another game because he’s not playing the way he expects him to, that’s fine by me.

I didn’t see it coming. Maybe that’s what’s so surprising. Buchnevich hardly played in the third period the other day. It’s clear that another coach doesn’t fully trust him at five-on-five. He’s still a work in progress but people overrated him. He doesn’t take the body at all. A key missing element that’s been ignored by the charts people. You can’t always measure someone’s heart by pointing to analytics.

Look at the effort Brett Howden gives every game. The 20-year old rookie center busts his ass daily. You never have to question his effort level. It’s always there. Quinn wants his team to break the bad habits and become more consistent. That’s how it should be. Instill a harder work ethic.

Those who don’t get it will be gone. That includes the talented Buchnevich, who is getting by on skill only. It isn’t about production. If it were, Marc Staal would’ve been gone a long time ago. You know why he doesn’t sit? Because he plays the game the right way. He doesn’t mail in shifts and takes the body.

If we really are being fair, the most overpaid player right now plays right defense and is in the second year of a nice contract. I’m referring to Shattenkirk, who must be better than one good game where he had his only two assists and a shootout winner. Tony DeAngelo has out played him in three games with a goal and three assists. That’s not a ringing endorsement. But everybody wanted Shattenkirk because he was the local kid, who grew up idolizing Brian Leetch. Maybe Barry Trotz was right.

How would you feel if you were Henrik Lundqvist? He plays his tail off every game, but has already shown frustration after a couple of goals allowed. Can you blame him? He’s saying all the right things following games because King Henrik is accountable. He’s the emotional leader of this younger team.

It isn’t easy. It wasn’t supposed to be. When the Blueshirts face San Jose later, I fully expect the Sharks to avenge an earlier overtime loss at MSG. Joe Thornton is back. Timo Meier is scoring, and the teal are playing better.

When Buchnevich returns, who’ll be the next Quinn victim? Certainly not Michael Myers or Jason. Trick or treat.

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Pick your favorite scoring line

Posted on October 30, 2018 by Derek
2017-18 Hart winner Taylor Hall headlines one of the league’s best scoring lines in the game. 


In today’s game built on skill, speed and finesse, there are plenty of exciting options for hockey fans to choose from. When it comes to supremely talented scoring lines, it depends on your favorite flavor. Kinda like ice cream.

I’m a mint chocolate chip and banana kind of guy. Preferably by Egger’s out here in Staten Island. The best homemade ice cream parlor this town has to offer.


When it comes down to the league’s best lines, you have plenty of choices. Similar to ice cream or cool toppings like rainbow sprinkles, walnuts and hot fudge to name a few, it’s the same for who you enjoy watching during shifts.

Is it the cohesion of last year’s Hart winner Taylor Hall with Nico Hischier and sizzling starter Kyle Palmieri? The Devils offer up one of the best trios in the metro area. All three can score or set up goals with Hall the catalyst on the line that needs a nickname. Palmieri is off to a great start with eight goals and five assists entering tonight’s match in Tampa, who features dynamic duo Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov. They’ve yet to get going unlike Brayden Point or J.T. Miller.

What about the ridiculous chemistry between Avalanche trio Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon and Mikka Rantanen? They’re producing at a crazy clip to have the surprising Avs off quickly in a ultra competitive Central out West. Can anyone slow last year’s MVP runner up MacKinnon, Landeskog and emerging star Rantanen down?

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Anyone lucky enough to play with high flying superstar Connor McDavid is going to reap the benefits. McDavid is the game’s best player, although he’s shied away from agreeing due to the respect he has for three-time Stanley Cup champion Sidney Crosby. Crosby can still wow crowds like he did in a wild Penguins overtime win at Edmonton, scoring a ridiculous goal to win it 6-5. He entered with no goals, but tallied twice and hasn’t stopped scoring since.

As for McDavid, he does things so lightning fast that it’s like watching The Flash. He won a game in overtime at Chicago on a great Leon Draisaitl rush and pass to keep the Oilers hot. They play on separate lines but are often used together on the power play and three on three. McDavid is playing with Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Ty Rattie. Both are fitting in nicely on the new Oilers top line.

Imagine getting the chance to play with Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. While Malkin continues to work with exciting finisher Phil Kessel and Carl Hagelin, Crosby teams with playoff performer Jake Guentzel. Off to a slow start, it’s only a matter of time before the gifted Guentzel gets going. He could form a potent combo with Crosby, who said what was on everyone’s mind following the awful tragedy in Pittsburgh over the weekend. A true leader in every sense of the word.

John Tavares has moved on from his Islanders days to starring for the hometown Maple Leafs. It’s gone well thus far with his scoring prowess combining with Mitch Marner to form a deadly tandem in Toronto. Without leading scorer Auston Matthews for a month, Tavares will be looked upon for even more offense on a line with Marner and complement Zach Hyman.

If you are a fan of the Sabres, Jeff Skinner is already having an impact playing together with new captain Jack Eichel in Buffalo. Skinner’s seven goals pace the team that’s won six of its first 11 games (6-4-1). The surprising part is the play of veteran Jason Pominville, who’s contributed some key goals while getting moved onto the line. Wait till youngster Casey Mittlestadt figures it out.

Any line featuring the breathtaking Artemi Panarin is one to behold. The electrifying Russian continues to deliver clutch goals like his overtime winner to lift the Blue Jackets over the Sabres this past weekend. He and speed demon Cam Atkinson are a unique combination of speed, skill and playmaking that can blow the roof off. Or in Columbus, the cannon after each goal. Keep an eye on sophomore pivot Pierre-Luc Dubois, who had a breakout game with two goals and two assists. He gets to center those two, which has to make coach John Tortorella drool.

The defending champs still are the home of the game’s greatest finisher, Alexander Ovechkin. Alexander The Great or The Great Eight as most know him, remains unbelievable from his office in the left circle. One day, he could chase down Wayne Gretzky. It may sound far fetched, but if he can continue scoring at least 40 goals over the next five seasons, it’s possible. He and top Russian comrade Evgeny Kuznetsov have a great partnership. Kuznetsov is the flourishing young center who led everyone in postseason scoring last Spring. For the time being, they’re without antagonist Tom Wilson, who continues serving a 20-game suspension for his tomfoolery which forced the Department of Player Safety to severely punish him. A highly effective player who plays on the edge, we’ll see if that changes him.

How can I leave out the terrific top line the Bruins roll out? They boast the game’s best overall center in Patrice Bergeron. A heady two-way player who makes everyone around him better, he continues to light it up in Beantown. Since being stolen by the Bruins in the second round of the ’03 NHL Draft, he’s been front and center. Part of Boston’s only Cup since the 70’s when Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr won the chalice on a memorable team, Bergeron centers a great line with The Rat, Brad Marchand, and rising star David Pastrnak. Best known as Pasta to those familiar with him. They’re one of the most complete lines in hockey.

There are plenty of other great scoring combos. You have the trio of Kyle Connor, Mark Schiefele and Blake Wheeler in Winnipeg. The Jets are searching for a replacement for Paul Stastny to play with Patrik Laine and Nikolaj Ehlers. They’ve recently flipped Laine with Connor, who’s off to a better start. Don’t be surprised if they continue to ring Rangers GM Jeff Gorton for Kevin Hayes. For the time being, Bryan Little centers the second line.

It would be nice to see Islanders sophomore Mathew Barzal go on a run. He’s stuck with one goal and seven assists without Tavares. Barzal is sticking with familiar linemates Anthony Beauvillier and Jordan Eberle while Brock Nelson works with Anders Lee and Josh Bailey. We’ll see if Barzal can heat up. The Islanders need him to.

The Rangers lack a big line for now. New coach David Quinn is mixing and matching to find the right combos on a rebuilding club that’s struggling. The KZB Line was broken up due to inconsistency at five-on-five. Pavel Buchnevich now finds himself being tried out with Vladislav Namestnikov and surprising rookie Brett Howden. Chris Kreider is also not with Mika Zibanejad. Instead, he’s being tried with Hayes and Ryan Spooner. Zibanejad remains with Mats Zuccarello and Jimmy Vesey. It’s definitely a odd time. With the Rangers so bad, how soon before some vets go?

The Hurricanes are using the brilliant play of third-year center Sebastian Aho to get off to a good start in the Metro. He plays mostly with 2018 first round pick Andrei Svechnikov and Warren Foegle. Neither have been scoring recently. But Carolina is continuing to win games. Aho is a terrific player who is worth watching.

Scoring actually has been a problem in Philadelphia. It’s not just the defense or goaltending. The Flyers are not getting what was anticipated from Claude Giroux, Sean Couturier and Travis Konecny with only the latter playing okay. Wayne Simmonds looks healthy in a contract year. Nolan Patrick only has two goals. The Flyers are missing James van Riemsdyk.

Elias Pettersson is worth the price of admission in Vancouver. In only his second game back from a concussion, the Calder candidate scored twice in the Canucks win over the Wild. He has seven goals and three helpers so far.


Any line that features Johnny Gaudreau is fun to take in. We saw Johnny Hockey at his best in a Flames victory at MSG. He scored two brilliant goals to take apart the Rangers. He, Sean Monahan and Elias Lindholm are quite the trio. They have it all. It’s allowed Matthew Tkachuk to move down to the second line where he’s performed well.

Patrick Kane is once again lighting up the back of the net with regularity. Showtime still has a few tricks up his sleeve on the surprising Blackhawks. Jonathan Toews is also scoring with regularity.

We are still waiting on Tyler Seguin and Jamie Been to get untracked. They aren’t the same without Alexander Radulov.

If you want to see a new big scorer, check out Timo Meier in San Jose. He and the high flying Sharks host the Rangers later tonight.

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The best New York team plays in Buffalo

Posted on October 29, 2018 by Derek

Editor’s Note: This story began on Saturday night, but didn’t get completed until Monday morning.

While Game Four of the World Series gets going in Los Angeles between the Dodgers and Red Sox, following a wild and crazy seven hour and 20-minute Game Three that made baseball history into the late hours this morning, the search for a good New York team to watch is on. With the Yankees not in Boston’s league away for the Fall and Winter, there aren’t many good options for sports fans who live in this town.

The Knicks have lost five straight and are 1-5 without their best player, Kristaps Porzingis. The Nets are 2-3, looking a bit more competitive. Neither NBA team is expected to make the playoffs. The plight of the local NFL teams is similar. The Giants have become a blue laughingstock despite Saquon Barkley’s best efforts with an embarrassing 1-6 record. The Jets are 3-4 and have given their fans like Hasan hope, thanks to promising rookie quarterback Sam Darnold. While it’s unlikely they’ll win nine games to have a shot at a wildcard, at least things are looking up for Gang Green.

Unless you root for the Devils like our resident New Jersey blogger, whose team snapped a losing skid by holding off the underachieving Panthers thanks to the brilliant play of the dynamic Taylor Hall line with Nico Hischier and Kyle Palmieri, it doesn’t look too promising this winter. The rebuilding Rangers are exactly who we thought they were. They enter the first of three games in California tomorrow afternoon at the struggling Kings with a 3-6-1 record. Good for last in the Metro Division. They usually give an honest effort, but the lack of talent will give Henrik Lundqvist nightmares. The Islanders went into disappointing Philadelphia and buried the Flyers 6-1 led by new captain Anders Lee’s goal and three assists. An early boo to trick or treaters with Halloween approaching. Barry Trotz’ new club is a work in progress. So, a 4-4-1 mark isn’t bad considering John Tavares left them in the dust for the hometown high scoring Leafs. They don’t have a legit number one goalie with Thomas Greiss and today’s winner, Robin Lehner mixing and matching. The defense lacks a true number one. It’ll be an uphill climb between Brooklyn and Long Island.

If there are possibly no good watches in the metropolitan area that represent New York even if Met Life Stadium is located in East Rutherford, who’s left? Not the bumbling and stumbling Bills, who are quarterback less due to Josh Allen being injured. Their reward after getting blown out by the woeful Andrew Luck Colts is a Monday night mismatch against the despised Patriots. Good luck with that. At least they ended their playoff drought last year.

However, in Western New York located at KeyBank Center, are the Buffalo Sabres. Following a in auspicious start where they couldn’t score, they’ve quietly been playing better hockey. With new captain Jack Eichel leading the way, an improved roster that includes 2018 first overall pick Rasmus Dahlin and new sniper Jeff Skinner are winning games. Currently battling the Blue Jackets in Columbus, the Sabres are 6-4-0, which puts them in a tie in points (12) with the surprising Canadiens in a tough Atlantic that features three headed monsters Toronto, Tampa and Boston.

If you assume the Leafs, Lightning and Bruins will make up three of the eight spots for the playoffs, then it’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that the defending champion Capitals and uber talented Penguins will definitely be the top two teams from the Metro. That leaves third place up for grabs between the Devils, Blue Jackets and improved Hurricanes. Assuming the Flyers snap out of it like last season, they should be in the mix for a wildcard. They’re underperforming in all aspects. Not only defensively or in net. They’re not scoring either. They have too much talent for that to continue.

If the Habs prove they’re for real, then the Sabres will have to compete with them and a couple of Metro clubs for the postseason. The big question is what’s going on in Florida? Maybe the ageless wonder Roberto Luongo really is that important to the Panthers’ chances. I don’t believe second-year coach Bob Boughner is in trouble yet. He did a terrific job last Spring with the team just missing at the end to the Devils.

As of this writing, those Sabres are 6-4-1 after earning a good point by rallying from two goals down in an overtime defeat to the Blue Jackets. Most encouraging is that it’s not only Eichel or Skinner doing the scoring. In fact, former postseason hero Jason Pominville has come up with some big goals for this time. The elder statesman is playing on the top line with Eichel and Skinner, who notched his team best seventh goal on Saturday.

Kyle Okposo is rounding back into form. He wasn’t quite the same when he returned in ’17-18. However, he is delivering to provide Buffalo with secondary scoring. Something that’s badly needed. That he, Pominville and Conor Sheary are getting the job done demonstrates why they’re improved.

We will continue to keep a close eye on Tage Thompson, who is the young player that came over with veteran Patrik Berglund as part of the Ryan O’Reilly trade with St. Louis.

Improving team depth was crucial for this season. So too is having the teenage phenom Dahlin patrolling the blueline with Rasmus Ristolainen. Two exceptional Swedish skating defensemen who should be instrumental in the Sabres rise.

It also looks like they chose wisely by going for Carter “E.F.” Hutton, who’s provided stability in net as the number one starter. Funny enough. Former Blues teammate Jake Allen continues to struggle. Maybe Hutton is the steal Buffalo thought. If he can continue to be steady, then they’ll be in most games. Linus Ullmark has been okay so far as the backup. A late pick a few years ago, Buffalo didn’t rush him. That’s usually better with goalies for their development.

Maybe in Year Two, coach Phil Housley is a bit more confident behind the bench. It takes time and patience to see through a rebuild. Buffalo fans should be excited by the progress. They must continue to trust the process.

Before concluding this piece, former first round pick Alexander Nylander is faring better in his second pro year with Rochester. He’s got four goals and five assists in 10 games. Hopefully, he can be a part of it soon.

So, are the Sabres the best current New York team until the Yankees get going following a intriguing hot stove with Boston winning another Series? As of right now, I say yes. While we can be upset over the Red Sox latest championship, I truly think Alex Cora should send Dave Roberts a thank you card with an invitation to the parade. 😱😉

Maybe for people who live in the five boroughs, the Sabres don’t have the same appeal. However, no one can deny the obvious. Our teams stink. One Buffalo team is on the right track. They could be worth watching.

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Game #8 – Devils 3, Panthers 2

Posted on October 28, 2018 by hasan4978

Even for a weekend afternoon, 12 PM is still an ungodly early time to start an NHL game.  Of course, when you’re trying to cater to every part of your fanbase including overseas fans (re: new Swiss fans jumping on the bandwagon because of Nico Hischier) sometimes concessions have to be made.  Sure there’s not really that much of a difference between 12 and 1 PM – especially when you wake up a bit earlier – but it kind of does change lunch plans at least, either you’re eating at the arena just before the game or have a bigger breakfast then opt for an early lunch after.  My and my friend chose the latter, maybe in a prior season I’d have chosen the former but generally there’s really very little reason for me to eat the overpriced food at the arena without having a food and beverage credit this year that I’ve had in past seasons as part of my season tickets.

Speaking of overseas fans, ironically enough we ran into a few Czech fans who wanted us to take their picture – right when we’d finished taking our own – in front of the Patrik Elias puck display from last year’s retirement ceremony hidden upstairs just behind one of the escalators.  Elias himself was in the building yesterday, and I believe even taking pictures with some fans beforehand, but everyone got to see a glimpse of him and his lovely daughter on the jumbotron during the game.

https://twitter.com/NJDevils/status/1056246937320599555

So after an unusually quick drive into Newark (a marked change from my other trek up there so far this year!) and walking around the arena a few times, we settled in for the game.  For most of the first period it looked like the typical flat Devils matinee effort as they were a step behind the Panthers in the first period, as evidenced by most of the penalty calls going against us which were just stupid, unneccesary penalties to take – typical of our last few games.  I emphasize most, because the last call of the first period was a phantom Miles Wood ‘trip’ which was almost as bad as the Taylor Hall phantom trip in the last game that the officials surprisingly overruled themselves on – a rarity in itself!  While we weren’t that fortunate in the first period with Wood’s call yesterday, at least some good PK work and goaltending from Keith Kinkaid kept the Panthers off the board despite a hideous shot total for most of the period, I believe it was 12-2 at one point.

Fortunately the Devils found their game in the last few minutes of the period and got rewarded with a goal from Kyle Palmieri although (as would be the theme of the afternoon) even this was followed with drama as contact with the goaltender got challenged by the Panthers but ultimately the call was correctly upheld – Panthers goalie James Reimer DID initiate contact with Palmieri outside the crease after all! – and the Devils took a 1-0 lead into intermission.  Our first line continued its dominance into the second period as all three linemates got points on Hall’s early second-period goal, setup with some good board work from Hischier to get the puck over to Palmieri, who had a nice cross-ice pass to Hall on the resulting two-on-one in front.  After Hall won last year’s Hart trophy, Palmieri may actually be staking his own October claim to a run at the award with eight goals and thirteen points in the season’s first eight games.

Of course it’s too early to seriously handicap the 2018-19 Hart race, although yesterday’s giveaway at the arena was a nice Hall poster commemorating that award win from last year.  And thankfully it was also a poster that was wrapped up in plastic given yesterday’s damp weather throughout the day.  Through the second period the Devils looked to wrap up a win over the Panthers as neatly as the poster was, and nearly did so.  Blake Coleman’s tip of a Mirco Mueller shot later in the period upped the lead to three and was a novelty on top of it, a goal from a non-first-liner!  Perhaps if the Devils had converted on back-to-back Panther penalties later in the period to make it 4-0 the third period could have had a whole different feel than it did.  Or if Coleman and Hall could have scored on their respective breakaways in the third period.

To be fair, we probably were fortunate to still have just that 3-0 lead with less than six minutes left in the third period when no fewer than three Panther shots glanced off the post and crossbar in the game, and in general they had more and better chances to score throughout the afternoon.  Still, with so little time left even I was caught up in thinking ‘okay we finally got ’em now’.  As college football icon Lee Corso would say…not so fast, my friend!  Somehow, the red sea parted in front of the net for Mike Matheson and he deked everyone out for a goal to get the Panthers back in the game at 3-1 and spoil the shutout.  From there it turned into a typical 2018-19 Devils third-period hope and pray session as the Panthers threw the kitchen sink at us, nearly scoring on their next couple of shifts then pulling the goalie for an extra skater with nearly three minutes left trying to get closer.  Somehow the prevent defense held until fifteen seconds were left, and I again had thought ‘well now we got this surely’ before Mike Hoffman’s tip made it 3-2 and caused a couple of anxious faceoffs after.  Clearly I’m not even allowed to think we have a game in the bag.  Even just dumping their last attempt in and getting it on net made me nervous at that point, but finally the horn sounded not a moment too soon.

As I remarked to one of my other friends afterward that game was a perfect metaphor of the 2017-18 playoff chase where we held the lead throughout but the Panthers made a mad, late surge that nearly spoiled the party.  Even denying them the loser point could turn out to be big later on, as we found out last year when the entire season came down to one point in the end.  October points matter too, especially when October’s coming to an end with the first game of an upcoming seven-game road trip in Tampa on Tuesday night.  Despite Tampa’s abnormal blowout loss against Arizona yesterday, and losing top defenseman Victor Hedman to injury they’re still largely the same formidable unit that bounced us out of the playoffs in five games last year and are off to a 7-2-1 start this season.

Might that game be a season debut for Cory Schneider, who’s now played three rehab games and is nearly all the way back from injury?  Our goalie question is a secondary question right now given how well Keith’s played for the most part, but about to take center-stage as the team goes forward when they need to see what Cory can put together post-hip surgery.

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Game #10 Poor effort results in ugly 4-1 loss to Blackhawks

Posted on October 26, 2018 by Derek

How annoyed was I at the Rangers’ third period? It was to the point where I must have yelled at the poor flat screen TV 10 times. They had a opportunity to play one good period and steal a win against an improved Blackhawks in Chicago. Instead, they hardly could be bothered in what amounted to a listless effort, resulting in a ugly 4-1 loss.

I was so disgusted that I took a drive before the Alex DeBrincat empty net goal along with the Jimmy Vesey fight with the loathsome Brandon Manning. I’m sure I didn’t miss anything. It’s not like the Rangers could be bothered in an awful final period that saw them get one shot on goal on Corey Crawford. Between the five icings I counted, horrible giveaways that forced Henrik Lundqvist to make some ridiculous saves to maybe silence former Hawks scrub Adam Burish (more on that later), and flat out ineptitude of the $5.7 million man, Brady Skjei, I was livid.

Listen. I can take losing when our team gives an honest effort. But as coach David Quinn put it, it was their worst effort of the season. They were only down a goal entering the third. Only a handful of skaters could be bothered. I’ll single out the five I thought played hard. Lone goalscorer Pavel Buchnevich had arguably his best game scoring on a rebound to tie the game in the first. In what can only be described as a perplexing premonition, I had a dream that he’d score on a rebound. Who knew my subconscious state could predict the future?

Kevin Hayes was around the puck all night long, creating chances for himself and his linemates. Unfortunately, he has no puck luck with his shot off a brilliant feed from Vladislav Namestnikov going off the crossbar to prevent the Blueshirts from tying it up. He sure brings it every shift. They’re just not going in for him or rookie Filip Chytil. He didn’t play much in the third, but came very close to getting his first goal in the second on two point blank chances that Crawford stuffed. I don’t know why he barely got any shifts in the third.

It’s not like Jesper Fast was gonna bury anything. He’s back to being the hard working forward with stone hands. He can’t be in the top six. He should play with Brett Howden and Jimmy Vesey until Namestnikov gets going. He only has one assist in nine games. Quinn gave him an extended look in the third over Chytil. Namestnikov wound up with over 13 minutes and finished minus-three. They might be showcasing him if you believe Elliotte Friedman.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1055517092739395584?s=19

I’d like to see Buchnevich with Hayes and Chytil. Now that he’s buying in by working harder to get to the inside like his third goal of the season off a Brendan Smith rebound, created by Howden, I think Quinn owes it to the second line to put two offensively gifted players with Hayes. Let’s find out what Buchnevich and Chytil can do together. That could be a good combo in the future.

It’s disappointing that they didn’t give more in the third with Lundqvist performing his usual acrobatics. I wonder if Burish was paying any attention to our goalie who he called “overrated.” He must not have seen him carry the John Tortorella ’11-12 low scoring blocked shot roster as far as they could go, or been in a fog during the 2014 NHL Playoffs. Burish was a fourth liner on a loaded Blackhawks championship roster. I’m sure Lundqvist doesn’t care what he thinks anyway. While Crawford had a walk in the park, our goalie stood on his head like he usually does. He’s going to the Hockey Hall of Fame when his career is over. It would be a shame if he never gets another chance to play for the Stanley Cup.

I’m not gonna bother recapping the Hawks goals. It’s pointless. Jonathan Toews opened the scoring after the awful Skjei collided with Adam McQuaid, who left the game in the second with a lower body injury. It was pathetic. It was one of Skjei’s worst games. Maybe Alain Vigneault was right about him. He gets caught so out of position defensively. For a guy taken 28th overall in 2012 while Shayne Gostisbehere was stolen by the Flyers in the third round some 50 picks later, he sure has a lot to learn for a 24-year old defenseman in his third year. There were a slew of D taken much later who are better.

Following Buchnevich’s goal, the Hawks went back ahead. I didn’t see it because I decided to flip to some other games, but it sounded like some bad luck allowed Alexandre Fortin to score halfway through the contest. At the time, the best team in New York got a game-winner from Kyle Okposo on the power play with 61 seconds left in a Sabres 4-3 win over the equally surprising Canadiens. The Sabres have six wins in regulation. Third in the Atlantic Division. I also caught the end of the Devils game that Kyle Turris won in overtime for Nashville. Hasan recapped it.

Despite trailing by one, the Rangers came on late in the period and were outshot 12-11. There was a chance for a comeback. Instead, they mailed it in. There were way too many unforced mistakes in a lopsided third. It was all Blackhawks. They completely dominated play with their game breaking speed and forecheck. However, Lundqvist wasn’t cooperating. He really deserved better than he got.

The top line of Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Mats Zuccarello were shutdown. They couldn’t get anything going. I’m not sure if it was totally head to head versus Toews, but they were a non-factor. Kreider later admitted that he passed up a couple of shot opportunities. He indicated that they needed to be harder on the puck. They were too cute, trying fancy low percentage passes like the abysmal one Skjei made to nobody, resulting in a Hawks transition. I have no clue why Skjei didn’t shoot. There was enough traffic. Instead, he passed the puck like a grenade into the corner.

In this game, Marc Staal was good. He paired up with Neal Pionk, who’s become our most reliable defenseman. He played over nine minutes in the first. Both gave an honest effort. Somewhere in another space in a delusional rage, someone probably thinks Staal should be benched. They must not be watching his shifts too closely. He’s not perfect. But the vet gives a good effort daily. He has a clue how to take the body and get out of his end.

With McQuaid hurt and Fredrik Claesson on the mend, it looks like Tony DeAngelo is gonna get a shot out in California. This could be his last chance. He’s only played in two games so far. One good with two assists. The other bad. He’s still only 23, but that trade with the Coyotes that also netted Lias Andersson isn’t looking too good. Derek Stepan remains a top two center and Antti Raanta is the starter in the desert. He’s hurt right now. Just my luck. My goaltending in fantasy hockey is a joke. Come back soon Cory Schneider. I’m sure Hasan is thinking the same thing.

Eventually, Patrick Kane put the game away by sweeping home his own rebound that hit the post. He backhanded in his ninth before the net went off its moorings. Somehow, the refs were too blind to notice it. Then, Quinn challenged for goaltender interference. There was none. The goal counted. At that point, I checked out.

I’m only gonna say this once. They better give a damn good effort on Saturday. This was inexcusable. The loss dropped the Rangers to 3-6-1. They rank 29th out of 31 through the first 10 games.

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Game #7 – Predators 4, Devils 3 (OT)

Posted on October 25, 2018 by hasan4978

After yet another extended delay in the schedule, the Devils returned to the ice for just their seventh game in the last twenty-four days.  Early on it seemed as if the Devils were fine with the infrequent games but after desultory efforts in their last two losses, everyone in the organization was on high alert after coach John Hynes laid down the law with some tough words, and a brutal practice on Monday.  While I was confident the message would get through, I’d have felt better if we weren’t playing one of the best teams in the league tonight.  Against Nashville, you can play well and still lose, which as it turned out is more or less what happened.

I missed the first two periods of tonight’s game, maybe I would have been better off missing the third period as well since the Devils had a 3-2 lead going into the final twenty plus minutes in what was a high-octane game early (Thirty-five shots combined by both teams in the first period alone!), then settled in to a punch and counterpunch showdown later.  While both teams had 36 shots on net for the game, it was the Devils who jumped out to a lead three times in the game – only to blow it each time continuing at least one concerning trend that’s developed over the last three games.  Another disturbing trend is the overreliance on the first line, which granted was a problem last year but has only been exacerbated this season with the utter faliure of our ‘second’ line in Pavel Zacha, Marcus Johansson and Stefan Noesen/Jean-Sebastian Dea to generate any form of offense at all.  Johansson has just two points in seven games this season, while Zacha has two less than that.

True to form our fabulous first line factored in on all three goals, with Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri getting assists on Damon Severson’s first period marker, then Nico Hischier later scored on both the power play and at even-strength.  Yet it was all for naught with again Keith Kinkaid playing subpar, looking like the pumpkin he was pre-February last year rather than the Cinderella he was after it and for the first few games of this season.  Maybe he’s feeling the heat from Cory Schneider’s impending return?  Yes, the OT goal was screened but it was a screen twenty-five feet from the net, sorry – the goalie still had plenty of time to pick it up.  But even that goal wasn’t as bad as his first one, which I saw on the highlights moments ago – yuck for allowing that goal and yuck to the coaching staff for not even challenging offsides on the goal.  It looked plainly obvious that Kevin Fiala was in the zone a stride ahead of Yannick Weber after dropping the puck off to him.  Would have been nice to get one of those reversals our way, oh well.

Of course it would help if this defense could hold a lead this season.  Last year the team didn’t have a single regulation loss entering the third period with a lead.  While technically tonight wasn’t a regulation loss and they didn’t enter the third period with a lead against Colorado the fact remains they’ve blown either a lead or a tie in the final six and a half minutes of the last three games.  As a result, in a stretch where they could have tacked on four or five more points, they only got one.  While it’s probably too early to pull the ‘but last year’ wistfulness, the last few games do feel like ones we win last year somehow, that we’re now losing early this season.  Especially tonight where they weren’t really outplayed, although there was again too many penalties at crucial times and some more questionable decision-making.  What made Fillip Forsberg’s tying goal so gutting was the fact Blake Coleman was stopped on a shorthanded breakaway moments before by Predators goalie Jussi Saros.  Not to mention Kyle Turris’s OT winner came moments after Andy Greene shot a two-on-one right into Saros, who looked every bit the part of a starting goalie filling in for the injured Pekka Rinne.

Tonight the staff needs to accentuate the positive after coming down (rightly so) on the effort of the previous two games, but Saturday’s a vital home game to get against a Panther team that’s struggling to keep pucks out of the net.  Matinees are never kind to this team for whatever reason, but me and a friend will be in attendance before going to the Halloween movie at night so perhaps the karma can change back.  Plus after Saturday, the team begins their brutal seven-game road trip over the next two weeks.  At least they’ve had some good news on the injury front lately with Cory having two successful rehab starts in Binghamton and primed for a final one tomorrow before likely coming back to the team next week.  Travis Zajac returned after missing two games as well, but there still remains a hole on defense after Ben Lovejoy’s lower-body injury and Steven Santini’s broken jaw forced the staff to give Eric Gryba his first game of the season.  Jesper Bratt’s also on the mend and is probably a week or two away, but who knows.

Hynes accurately pointed out in the postgame they still need more from certain guys, and pretty much everyone knows who they are, but they also need to figure out how not to give away points in the third period of these games.  In many ways that’s even more concerning than the ineffective second line or taking a couple too many penalties each night.

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Game #9: Zibanejad’s big night leads Rangers to 5-2 win over Panthers

Posted on October 23, 2018 by Derek

Mika Zibanejad talked about what needed to happen for the Rangers offense to improve. He spoke following Sunday’s loss to Calgary about needing the second and third effort along with more grit in their game to score goals. He backed it up with a big night with his two goals and two assists highlighting a good 5-2 home win over the struggling Panthers (1-3-3).

On my brother’s birthday, the Rangers picked up their first win in regulation in the ninth game to improve to 3-5-1. It was a good way to conclude a home stretch with a big road trip ahead that starts Thursday in Chicago.

There are a lot of positives to take from this win. Coach David Quinn made a tweak to the first line, moving Mats Zuccarello up with Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Jesper Fast slid down to the Kevin Hayes unit with improving rookie Filip Chytil. He also reinserted Ryan Spooner, who subbed in for Vinni Lettieri. Cody McLeod stayed in on the fourth line. Pavel Buchnevich worked with Brett Howden and Jimmy Vesey.

Backup goalie Alexandar Georgiev got the start for a banged up Henrik Lundqvist, who according to Quinn, wouldn’t have started anyway. How did he respond? Following a brief stint in Hartford to get some games in, he played extremely well, finishing with 36 saves for his first win this season. That included 13 in a busy first period that saw Vincent Trocheck put the Panthers ahead with a power play goal through a screen. Without his work in net, it could’ve been a different game. Especially in the third when Florida applied tons of pressure following Mike Hoffman’s wrap around goal that put them within 4-2.

The turning point came early in the second stanza. Unsatisfied with a first period that saw them get only five shots on Panthers goalie Michael Hutchinson, the Rangers were much more active. A crucial penalty kill resulted in the first shorthanded goal of the season. With Brendan Smith off for hooking, Zibanejad took a feed from Adam McQuaid in the neutral zone and flew around the Florida net for a wraparound shorthanded goal that tied the game. To hear Zuccarello tell it to MSG’s John Giannone in the postgame, it energized the bench. It was a great play by a talented player, who is being counted on to lead the way. He was just getting warmed up.

A series of undisciplined penalties by the Panthers in an ugly second came back to haunt them. Consecutive power play goals by Zuccarello and Zibanejad turned a tie game into a two goal Rangers lead. On the first one, Zuccarello caught a break when his shot deflected off a Panther and past Hutchinson for a 2-1 lead. Zibanejad won the offensive draw back to Neal Pionk, who passed for an open Zuccarello. Instead of thinking pass, he shot and got the reward.

Up one, Zibanejad increased the margin to two with a pretty wrist shot top shelf through a good Kreider screen. Kreider also picked up a helper for his hard work after feeding Pionk up top. Pionk continued his excellent play with his second assist and sixth in the last three games. His play has been superb since returning to the lineup. As promised, Quinn has delivered by giving Pionk a lot of ice time. It’s paying off.

That’s not all they did in the period. Contrary to a bland first that featured no physical play, the teams ratcheted it up. The Panthers began to get frustrated. As so often happens, that can lead to bad penalties, which the Blueshirts capitalized on. It also can cause some animosity. During a battle near the benches, Maxim Mamin jumped Smith with a sucker punch. Aggravated, Smith got the gloves off and pounded Mamin. He yelled at him about the unnecessary cheap shot. For some odd reason, the refs didn’t give Mamin an instigator. Instead, they gave Smith a misconduct for continuing the dispute. It was a ridiculous call. Total ineptness. That’s been the norm for a while.

Following a soft call on Fast, a hustling Zuccarello drew an even up on Jonathan Huberdeau to make it four on four. The game remained 3-1 after two.

A Zuccarello goal off a Zibanejad face off win increased the lead to 4-1 at 1:27 of the third. It was a simple play well executed. All Zibanejad did was win it back to Zuccarello, who let go of a wrist shot that chased Hutchinson. He allowed four goals on 19 shots. James Reimer relieved him. He didn’t have much to do.

Florida played much better following Zuccarello’s 14th career two goal game. They wound up outshooting the Rangers 14-5. Eventually, they were able to cut the deficit to two thanks to a nice individual effort from Hoffman. Taking a lead pass from Huberdeau, he skated around the Ranger net and had his wraparound bank off Brady Skjei and Georgiev to make it 4-2 with still 9:23 left.

The Rangers didn’t play a good third. Maybe they thought it was over. They spent way too much time defending in their end due to relentless pressure from the Panthers. Similar to a key save he made to bail out Marc Staal in the second, Georgiev was cool. He didn’t blink, making the timely stops to keep the Rangers ahead by two.

On a rare chance off some good effort, Chytil nearly had his first. He made a great move, but had his backhand attempt stopped by Reimer. Chytil is about ready to break out. It should come soon.

Off some nice hustle by who else but Fast to negate an icing, Hayes scored his second into an open net while being checked. That concluded the scoring, giving the Rangers a well deserved victory in regulation.

Three Stars 🌟

3rd 🌟 Alexandar Georgiev 36 saves for first win of season

2nd 🌟 Mats Zuccarello first 2 goals of season, 14th two-goal game

1st 🌟 Mika Zibanejad two goals (4, 5), two assists, shorthanded goal, PPG, game-winner, two big face off wins that led to Zuccarello goals

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