Devils hire Sheldon Keefe as head coach

Posted on May 23, 2024 by hasan4978

More than a month after the Devils’ season came to a quiet end, and closer to two months since I stopped caring about the 2023-24 season, the Devils finally have made some big news in the announcement of a new head coach. On the one hand, I’m not surprised one of the bigger names on the market in Sheldon Keefe has apparently taken the job, on the other I’m relieved that GM Tom Fitzgerald seemingly put a little ego aside after last year’s reality check and went for (arguably) the best guy available rather than just rolling the dice on some young assistant who’ll presumably do management’s bidding and go by the numbers.

Say what you want about Keefe and his failure to get the Leafs over the top, but having experience managing younger star players in a big market can only help here. Heck, he doesn’t even need to worry about the bigger market here – we’ll be a day at the beach for him compared to the Toronto meat grinder, which by all accounts he seemingly handled well without snapping at the media in potentially viral moments. If you want to look for viral moments, only two stand out – one of them his good-bye message less than two weeks ago to Leafs fans, presumably on vacation after a brutal end to his season, the other being footage of an intermission playoff team talk. You definitely see…fire in that one at least. Seemingly more so than at least our last few head coaches.

I don’t remember even thinking Keefe was a possibility last month when I was wondering who Fitz was going to get as our next coach considering he was still employed by the Leafs as of two weeks ago, although you know certain coaches might be on the hot seat if they don’t get playoff results and he was obviously one of them. Are there reservations he could be one of those guys who continually finds ways to come up short, sure but let’s be honest – we can’t concern ourselves with playoff exits yet until we start consistently making the playoffs again. Last year surprising the league didn’t cement us as a perennial winner, as this year proved.

Plus, it’s not like the coaching market was full of proven winners – forgetting about the two recent Cup-winning sociopaths who shall remain nameless since they likely won’t be getting jobs this offseason anyway (one being still on the ineligible list, the other likely getting himself blackballed after the Columbus fiasco last fall), where were the guys with better track records than Keefe on the market? You could argue Craig Berube, who does have a Cup win but is also under .500 in the playoffs, and his teams declined in St. Louis while they got a significant new coach bounce the rest of this season.

Thing is, I think Toronto (once they became available) was always going to have first pick of the available coaches and they clearly wanted Berube themselves. They’ve been more consistent winners than we have in recent years with several big-name stars in their prime, and a star-crossed big hockey market where if you win there, you’re forever a legend a la Theo Epstein with both the Red Sox and Cubs in baseball. Given that Toronto hired him, and the fact guys like Mike Sullivan and Rod Brind’Amour who were rumored to move this offseason didn’t, then we were likely going to have the next pick of coaches available. Fitz did take his time, seeing which way the playoff landscape fell – but also acted quickly when Keefe became available.

Admittedly I’ve paid very little attention to Keefe as Leafs coach so I can’t really give the first critique of whether I think he’ll solve our structural issues or enforce accountability up and down the roster and not just with younger players and role guys. Let’s be honest, he also took over the Leafs after their rebuild and their first couple of playoff appearances, so it’s hard to say how much he really had to do with winning or losing there…but I can’t really knock just making the playoffs after our post-2012 record of only making it twice and just winning one playoff series total. I don’t know how much you can fault him for losing to teams like Boston, Tampa and more recently Florida in the postseason with the Leafs’ stacked division the last few years but for whatever reason he couldn’t take the Leafs to that next level.

You can’t win or lose anything at a press conference, but I’ll be looking forward to starting to learn about our new head coach whenever we actually announce his hiring officially and schedule the presser. Especially since the offseason’s been a bit of a wet blanket so far. We didn’t move up or down in the NHL Draft this time, which I’m more than fine with to be honest, I’d rather just get the draft over with and not be reminded of this past season ever again, and hopefully this’ll be the last draft where I’m actually paying attention to a first-round pick for the next several years. Fitz jumping the shark to re-sign four-minute a game enforcer Kurtis MacDermid (he of the zero career playoff games played) to a three-year deal was eye-rolling. Not exactly cost prohibitive given he signed at barely above minimum salary, but still eye-rolling. Today’s not the day for the goon debate though.

Ironically the only coach openings who have been filled so far this offseason besides us and the Leafs were the two guys both hired…after being let go by us in the last few months. Unless you’ve been living on Mars, you know that Lindy Ruff’s ‘gone home again’ to Buffalo in a pairing that optically fits both sides. One of my friends was like, why would they hire him – he sucks and I was like well, they had their best success (and consistently) in almost thirty years with him as the coach lol. Besides, it’s not like they’ve been hiring winners since letting him go anyway.

To be fair, we had our best success in the last decade with Lindy as well before the roof fell in this year. We don’t have to get into why or assign portions of blame, which is basically an opinion from the outside anyway. True, second time around doesn’t usually work, Jacques Lemaire 2.0 was one example of this with us in 2010 – or Jacques Martin with Ottawa a lot more recently – but with the Sabres’ lack of post-Lindy success it only made sense to bring in someone with credibility among the fanbase and give him a crack with a younger roster. What made far less sense to me was Ottawa jumping to hire…Travis Green?! Really?! Maybe they’re hoping to catch lightning in a bottle the way the Canucks did with Rick Tocchet this year after he failed twice as a head coach before, but there’s no real tangible rationalization for them to have not only hired Green but done it so early in the offseason as if they were worried other teams would be in on him.

Some organizations just show you why they lose. To be fair we haven’t exactly left loserville permanently yet either, but at least Fitz is trying the right thing now. You can’t exactly trust a win-now team that still needs direction to an inexperienced younger coach and unless you wanted to hope fifth time would be the charm for a guy like Bruce Boudreau, Keefe was the chalk play and one with no apparent prior connection to Fitz so it doesn’t seem like a nepotism hire at least. Now we see what Fitz and the rest of his management team will do with the roster on the ice going forward.

Posted in Devils | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rangers get clawed by relentless Panthers to drop Game 1

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Derek

This was one to forget. Game 1 was all about the Panthers. They controlled it throughout to cruise to a 3-0 shutout win over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

Led by Matthew Tkachuk, the Panthers grabbed a 1-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Final. His goal with 3:34 left in the first period was the game-winner. He also laid a couple of big hits early, including catching Vincent Trocheck with his head down.

It was big boy hockey played by the relentless Panthers, who clawed the Rangers at every turn. They used their physicality early to set a tone. In particular, there were some big hits that caused the Rangers some trouble. It led to a few turnovers in an uneven first period.

Florida got off to a good start. They wreaked havoc with their unique combination of speed, checking, and aggressive style. The Rangers looked a couple of steps behind. They couldn’t make much happen in transition. There was a lot of one and done.

Artemi Panarin found little room to make plays. He was swarmed by Cats throughout the game. He still managed to get three shots on net. None were dangerous against close friend Sergei Bobrovsky, who stopped all 23 shots to earn the shutout.

There wasn’t much from Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Jack Roslovic. They didn’t spend enough time in the Panthers’ zone. Even when coach Peter Laviolette kept the Zibanejad line away from Aleksander Barkov, it didn’t matter. That’ll need to change on Friday.

Shots were hard to come by. The stingy Panthers’ defense made it tough on the Blueshirts. They tried some of those passes through the middle of the ice. They were intercepted by Paul Maurice’s well schooled team.

For most of the first, Igor Shesterkin made some timely saves to keep it scoreless. The Panthers generated chances on the forecheck. What made it tough was how aggressive they were. With key defensemen Brandon Montour, Gustav Forsling, and Aaron Ekblad pinching to keep plays alive, it felt like the Rangers were spinning around in circles.

Even the Panthers’ fourth line spent time in attack mode. It wasn’t a good night for the Rangers’ third line. Filip Chytil wasn’t able to establish much with Alex Wennberg and Kaapo Kakko. By the third period, Laviolette started mixing and matching. In search for offense, he had Chytil take a shift with Alexis Lafreniere and Kakko. Chytil and Kakko also got a shift with Panarin.

Despite turning over pucks, the Rangers limited the Panthers for most of the first period. Jacob Trouba gave away the puck behind his net to Vladimir Tarasenko. Trouba took a hooking minor on Barkov.

The Rangers got the job done on the penalty kill. They limited the Panthers to one shot. Sam Reinhart had his wrist shot stopped by Shesterkin. Kreider made a good defensive play and cleared the zone late in the kill to get out of trouble.

Following a turnover in his own zone, a hustling Lafreniere made a diving block to deny Anton Lundell. On the same shift, he stayed with a bouncing puck to get a good shot right on Bobrovsky.

With the game still scoreless, Carter Verhaeghe started a play in transition up to Forsling. He then made a nice drop pass for Tkachuk, who used Adam Fox as a partial screen to beat Shesterkin at 16:26.

Over a minute later, with the Panthers pressing for more, Kakko sent Braden Schneider on a clean breakaway. Schneider had Bobrovsky beat but hit the goalpost. That’s the kind of night it was.

After getting outshot 9-5, the Rangers came out with more focus at the start of the second period. It led to another great opportunity. This time, Will Cuylle got behind the Panthers for a breakaway. But Bobrovsky came out to deny him with a big save.

He’d also deny Trocheck on a tip-in. After only totaling five shots in the first period, the Rangers had four shots in the first two minutes of the second. It looked like they were going to tie it. Then, their momentum just stopped.

For the remainder of the period, they only had three more shots. They went over 12 minutes without getting a shot. It was frustrating. Especially when they applied some pressure on one shift. Lafreniere had a shot miss over the top. Then, Zibanejad fired wide. The Panthers also blocked 19 shots.

Roslovic took an undisciplined, high-sticking minor on Ekman-Larsson in the offensive zone. That killed their momentum. Even though they easily killed off the penalty, the Rangers couldn’t get anything going afterward. You could’ve taken a nap and not missed anything. That’s how boring that stretch was.

On one end, the Panthers kept coming close to getting the second goal. Shesterkin made a great save to rob Barkov in front. Even though he didn’t record a point, the Panthers captain dominated. He was outstanding in all facets. That included getting back to break up a play defensively.

If there was one Blueshirt who didn’t look overwhelmed, it was Cuylle. He delivered a few big hits. He was noticeable during most shifts. For some reason, he only played 7:45 over 16 shifts. It’s utterly ridiculous. The Rangers need Cuylle’s energy. It’s being wasted if he’s playing sparingly on the fourth line.

Despite getting outplayed by a wide margin, the Rangers went to their first power play when Sam Bennett grabbed Fox’s stick. The problem was that it came with 1:26 left. Kreider had a deflection stopped by Bobrovsky. Zibanejad had a backhand stopped before time expired.

The Panthers killed the remainder at the start of the third period. The game remained 1-0 for seemingly ever.

When Erik Gustafsson had a great chance to shoot, he instead passed the puck over for a Kakko one-timer that Bobrovsky got just enough of on his near goalpost to keep it out. The replay showed that it was much closer than I thought. Many fans groaned when Gustafsson passed. It looked like he had a better opportunity.

On another play in transition, it looked like Ekman-Larsson had put the Panthers ahead 2-0. But Ryan Lomberg made enough contact with Shesterkin for Laviolette to challenge for goalie interference. He was shoved from behind by Ryan Lindgren. However, it was clear that Lomberg didn’t attempt to avoid Shesterkin. Lindgren’s shove came afterward.

They got it right. The goal was overturned. With the crowd finally awake, the Rangers still couldn’t get much going. More exasperating was that the refs missed Trocheck’s stick being held behind the Panthers’ net. Instead, Lafreniere was caught hooking down Dmitry Kulikov.

Shesterkin made a couple of stops to keep it at one goal. Lundell also had a deflection hit the crossbar. When Lafreniere returned, the crowd came to life. Almost immediately, Trouba leveled Kevin Stenlund. Following that big hit, the Rangers came very close to tying it.

After Bobrovsky made a pair of saves on Wennberg, Trouba had a shot blocked by Nick Cousins. The puck came right to Lafreniere in the slot. But his shot hit the goalpost. That’s how it went for Lafreniere.

On the next shift, the Panthers got caught with too many men. Vladimir Tarasenko came on the ice too soon. Maurice went crazy on the bench. However, it was the right call.

The Rangers again came close to evening it. But Trocheck waited too long before shooting into the pads of Bobrovsky. Had he been quicker, there was room on the short side up top. Fox also had a one-timer stopped. That was it.

With under four minutes left in regulation, Shesterkin came out to play a puck. However, he made a big mistake by giving it away to Verhaeghe.

With Shesterkin back in his net and Verhaeghe looking to center a pass across, Lafreniere came back to try to stop the pass. Instead, he accidentally put the puck by Shesterkin into his own net. That was the backbreaker. Verhaeghe got credit for an own goal to make it 2-0 with 3:48 remaining.

The Blueshirts lifted Shesterkin for a six-on-five with three and a half minutes left. They came close again. Bobrovsky made a good save on Zibanejad. He also shut the door on both Lafreniere and Panarin.

Finally, Bennett took a pass from Tkachuk and hit the open net from his own end with 79 seconds left.

With only a few seconds to go, Mikkola hit Chytil into the boards. He was able to get up. Hopefully, he’s okay.

Whatever the case, it wasn’t the Rangers’ night. They were outclassed. The Panthers were faster and better in every facet. Even Bobrovsky outplayed Shesterkin. There wasn’t a whole lot to like. However, it’s one game.

What they have to do is turn the page. Make adjustments. I thought Kreider said it best.

He’s correct. The ice was bad for both teams. It’s hot out. But he also noted how the Panthers put everything behind them and went to work. There wasn’t enough of that from the Rangers. Neither was there much energy.

Mark Messier called for Matt Rempe to play in Game 2. He was very disappointed in the Rangers’ play the first two periods. So was P.K. Subban. Can they use Rempe’s energy? Yes and no. They shouldn’t need him to get up for these games. It’s the Conference Finals. We’ll see what Laviolette decides.

The Rangers really need to win on Friday. In order to do that, they must establish a forecheck and get more shots through on Bobrovsky. They need to score early and play from ahead. This is a better quality opponent who doesn’t sit back. It’s a step up.

It showed.

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

Rangers face toughest test in proven Panthers

Posted on May 22, 2024 by Derek

It all begins tonight. The Conference Finals will determine who plays for Lord Stanley. The Rangers are looking to book their ticket when they battle the Panthers.

The Eastern Conference Final features the two best teams. The Rangers finished with the league’s best record to win the Presidents’ Trophy. The Panthers won the Atlantic Division with 110 points. Four points separated the two teams during the regular season.

After sweeping the Capitals, the Rangers earned a place in the Final 4 by taking out the resilient Hurricanes in a closely fought six-game series. They once led 3-0 before the Canes stormed back. It took a great performance by Chris Kreider in the third period of Game 6 to eliminate Carolina. Now, they’re a giant step away from playing for the Stanley Cup.

The Panthers proved to have too much against the interstate rival Lightning in a five-game series win in a competitive first round. After losing the first game against the Bruins, they took control of the second round by taking the next three games. Boston made it interesting by forcing a Game 6 back in their building. Undeterred, the Panthers used a Gustav Forsling goal late in regulation to defeat the Bruins in six games.

A year ago, the Panthers upset the Bruins to go on a run to the Stanley Cup Finals. But after sweeping the Hurricanes, they lost to the Golden Knights in five. They’re seeking to win the franchise’s first Cup since its inception in 1993-94.

There’s no doubt that the Panthers are very proven. They want to finish what they started. The Rangers will face their toughest test yet.

Rather than go through the matchups, let’s look at some of the key players instead.

The Panthers boast two of the game’s best in Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk. Barkov is one of the league’s best two-way players. The Panthers captain is a great skater with dynamic skills. He can make it look easy.

Tkachuk is the player you love if he’s on your side or you hate if he’s not. A physical power forward who hits hard, he’s an elite player who makes a living in front of the net. Tkachuk has changed the way Florida plays. He’ll do anything it takes to win. Asked about facing the Rangers, he was very complimentary.

If Barkov and Tkachuk are their top stars, Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe rank right behind due to their scoring. Each can light the lamp with regularity.

Reinhart has been lethal since being put with Barkov. Together, they’re a deadly combo. Reinhart had a career high 57 goals this season. His 27 power-play goals led the league. He’s 5-4-9 in the postseason. He can score both in transition and on tip-ins.

Verhaeghe remains a clutch performer. His six goals lead the Panthers in the playoffs. Two have been game-winners. One came in overtime against the Lightning in Game 2 of the first round. When the chips are down, Verhaeghe has a knack for delivering big goals. He likes to go high glove with most of his shots.

Sam Bennett is a gritty forward who plays on the edge. His controversial reverse hit on Brad Marchand last round looked to have been a rabbit punch that kept Marchand out for two games. Bennett then scored a big goal against the Bruins in Game 4. It was also a controversial play due to him shoving Charlie Coyle into Jeremy Swayman to put in a rebound. In just six games this postseason, he has 25 hits. Like Tkachuk, he makes opponents pay.

Flying under the radar is Anton Lundell and Evan Rodrigues. Lundell is still only 22. He’s coming off a strong series in which he had two goals and three assists for five points. Rodrigues is no stranger to facing the Rangers. He was on the Penguins two years ago in a series the Rangers came back to win. A high-energy player who has a good shot, he’s a good secondary scorer. He also likes to hit. Rodrigues is a good player to have.

Vladimir Tarasenko was with the Rangers last year as a rental. He possesses a lethal shot. A bit streaky, Tarasenko is dangerous in transition and on the power play. He can’t be allowed too much room.

Eetu Luostarinen and Nick Cousins are solid depth players. They play hard. Cousins isn’t shy about mixing it up during scrums. Veteran Kyle Okposo has replaced Ryan Lomberg for most of the playoffs. He’s still chasing a Cup. Okposo isn’t the fastest skater. But he makes up for it with smarts.

The Panthers feature a big three on the blue line. They are Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling, and Brandon Montour. Each will see the bulk of the minutes. Ekblad has been cast in more of a defensive role. Montour and Forsling are superb skaters who can do damage offensively. Both must be paid attention to.

Niko Mikkola was on the Rangers’ side last spring. Now, like Tarasenko, he’s on the Panthers’ side. Mostly a no frills defenseman who can log key minutes, Mikkola is counted on by Florida. He can be attacked on the forecheck. So can Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Mainly a power play specialist, Ekman-Larsson has three of his four points on the man advantage.

Sergei Bobrovsky is the best goalie the Rangers will face. A former two-time Vezina winner, he’s rediscovered himself since last year’s run. He can be a bit streaky. But he’s mostly performed well for the Panthers. They defend well in front of him. That’s why he has a .902 save percentage.

Bobrovsky can sometimes be beaten short side. It’ll be interesting to see if the Rangers try to expose it.

Artemi Panarin is front and center for the Rangers. He’s had his best year to date. Panarin’s followed up a career high 49 goals and 120 points with four goals and seven assists for 11 points in the first two rounds. All four goals have been game-winners, including a nifty redirection that won Game 3 against the Hurricanes. He continues to be aggressive, shooting the puck.

Vincent Trocheck has been the perfect running mate. The do everything center sees the most minutes among Rangers forwards. His postseason has been superb. Tied with Mika Zibanejad for the team lead in scoring with 14 points, that’s included some strong work on the power play. His four power-play goals lead the team. Trocheck is a fixture on the penalty kill and the Rangers’ best center on faceoffs.

Zibanejad has raised his level following an inconsistent regular season. Though he only has five of his 14 points at even strength, he’s made more of an effort at five-on-five. When he’s not producing, he’s responsible defensively.

Sidekick Kreider remains a clutch performer in the playoffs. His third period hat trick erased a two-goal deficit in the Rangers’ 5-3 comeback victory to eliminate the Hurricanes in Game 6. With seven goals, he leads the team. Four have come at even strength, two on the power play, and one shorthanded. He makes his living in front on tips and rebounds. Kreider’s always willing to pay the price.

Not to be forgotten is Alexis Lafreniere. He had a good second round with four goals and two helpers. A tenacious worker on the forecheck, Lafreniere wins a lot of board battles and can keep plays moving. His confidence has grown offensively. He’ll be a key if the Rangers are to advance.

Jack Roslovic came to life in the third period comeback last Thursday. Thanks to his hard work, he assisted on the tying and winning goals Kreider scored. His best asset is his speed. When he’s circling the net, Roslovic can make things happen. He isn’t good defensively. The Rangers need that line to do a better job backchecking.

They’re hoping Filip Chytil can unlock the third line. A good skater who had success playing with Kaapo Kakko and Lafreniere in 2022, Chytil is quick in transition and effective at creating scoring chances on the cycle. With him playing the left wing while Alex Wennberg centers the third line that includes Kakko, it’ll be interesting to see what Chytil can bring. He’s expected to play on the second power play unit.

Barclay Goodrow remains a key contributor as a responsible checking forward. He will start with Will Cuylle and Jimmy Vesey on the fourth line. Adding the capable Cuylle, who isn’t shy about finishing checks or driving to the net, should make them an effective line. Goodrow has stepped it up with three goals, including one of the Rangers’ four shorthanded goals. A key penalty killer with Trocheck, Goodrow plays his role well.

The defense is all about the top four. Headlined by Adam Fox, who wasn’t himself last series due to a leg injury sustained in the first round, the Rangers will need a healthier Fox to win this round. He’s too important to what they do. Hopefully, the time off helped. Fox does everything, including run the power play. He must be better at five-on-five.

Fox and Ryan Lindgren are the staple. Lindgren supplies the grit and hustle. He set up Kreider’s series clincher. It was a nice reward for a guy who has tremendous pride. They’ll want to tighten up the gaps at their blue line. They got beat a few times by the Canes.

After playing mostly with Braden Schneider the first two rounds, K’Andre Miller found himself back with Jacob Trouba for Game 6 last week. Up to this point, Miller’s been the Rangers’ most steady defenseman. He’s done a better job in his end by playing with more edge. A strong skater who’s good at moving the puck in transition, Miller will need to be on his game. Especially to help out Trouba, who’s not as mobile.

Trouba makes up for his lack of speed by taking the body and blocking shots. He can be attacked by opponents in the corners. Expect the Panthers to try to expose that. Trouba will have to do a good job at managing pucks. It’ll be a key to the series. He’s a good penalty killer. The Rangers need him to avoid taking penalties.

Schneider and Erik Gustafsson comprise the third pair. Schneider was a bit more consistent in the first round. He had some trouble with the Canes’ forecheck. Considering that Gustafsson is an adventure defensively, Schneider must be the one who makes good reads in his end. Gustafsson is primarily an offensive defenseman who’s used on the second unit.

Shesterkin is the Rangers’ biggest weapon. He turned away the Hurricanes a lot last round. As his .923 save percentage would indicate, he’s been a rock in net. He’ll want to tighten up on rebounds. Something Carolina exploited to get back in the series last round. He’ll have to deal with traffic this round. Tkachuk and Shesterkin will have their battles.

The Rangers need to do a good job taking care of the net front. The Panthers will go there a ton. They will look to get Shesterkin off his game.

Who wins? That depends on which team can dictate the terms. The Panthers have the edge at five-on-five and defensively. The Rangers are better on special teams and in goal. Shesterkin still gets the edge over Bobrovsky.

It could be a back and forth series with momentum shifts. The teams are evenly matched. Not to be obvious. But the stars must play like stars. Maybe it’ll come down to whichever supporting cast is better. The role players will be important. Especially now.

I don’t have any prediction. I think it’ll go seven games.

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

Rangers remain underdogs in Conference Finals

Posted on May 22, 2024 by Derek

The Rangers are making their second appearance in three years in the Conference Finals. Despite winning the Presidents’ Trophy, they remain underdogs in the Final Four.

It’s a role they’re accustomed to. The Vegas odds makers had them behind the Hurricanes and Panthers to come out of the Eastern Conference. Carolina was viewed as the favorite due to the addition of Jake Guentzel. The Panthers are the defending Wales Conference champions.

Even though they earned home ice by finishing with the league’s best record, the Rangers weren’t looked at as the best team. They’ve defied the odds all season long. What’s one more round where they’re being counted out?

The Oilers advanced to the Conference Finals by holding on for a 3-2 win in Game 7 to defeat the Canucks on Monday night. Even they’re getting better odds to win the Stanley Cup. They’ll take on the Stars out West.

The Panthers remain the betting favorite to win the Cup. The Stars and Oilers are right behind. The Rangers are fourth on the list. If you put any stock in it, getting the Rangers at +400 could be worth a few bucks.

Personally, it doesn’t matter. The Rangers know they have their work cut out for them in this round. The Panthers are a more dangerous opponent due to their combination of skill, grit, and physicality. They’re a very effective team at five-on-five. That’ll present a challenge.

Aleksander Barkov, Matthew Tkachuk, Carter Verhaeghe, and Sam Reinhart are a handful. Tkachuk will pay the price to score goals. Ever since they acquired him, it’s made the Panthers more formidable. They’re much tougher to play against.

Florida boasts a strong defense featuring Aaron Ekblad, Gustav Forsling, and Brandon Montour eat up tons of ice time. They’re all good at getting involved offensively.

The Cats possess some strong depth up front. Vladimir Tarasenko is a shooting threat. Anton Lundell is quietly having a good postseason. Sam Bennett is a noted pest. The Bruins can attest to that. Evan Rodrigues has supplied secondary scoring.

Sergei Bobrovsky is also better than Frederik Andersen. He’s more proven. Artemi Panarin knows him well from their days in Columbus. They are best friends who attended each other’s weddings. Of course, there’s no such thing in the playoffs. That’s where the battle lines are drawn.

Panarin has had good success against Bobrovsky. In three meetings between the Rangers and Panthers this season, he scored three goals and added one assist. Florida took the season series by going 2-0-1.

When the puck drops on Wednesday night for Game 1, none of that matters. The Rangers will look to protect home ice. They were successful in the first two rounds- taking the first two games against the Capitals and Hurricanes. They should get a strong challenge from the Panthers.

It’s understandable why Florida is the Cup favorite at this stage. They lost to the Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Finals last year. They have a strong core looking to finish the job.

Paul Maurice is still in search of his first Cup. Despite an impressive resume, he’s 0-for-2 in the Finals. It took him 21 years to get back. His first trip came in 2001-02 with the Hurricanes. They lost to the Red Wings in five. In 2022-23, after the Panthers went through the Bruins, Maple Leafs, and Hurricanes to become Eastern Conference champions, they lost in five to the Golden Knights.

Ironically, it was Peter Laviolette who took over for Maurice in Carolina. He guided the Hurricanes to the Cup in 2005-06. They defeated the Oilers in seven. Laviolette now coaches the Rangers. It’s an intriguing subplot to what should be an exciting series.

Even if they’re not getting much respect from Vegas, the Rangers won’t use that as motivation. They know what’s expected. When things got interesting in the second round, they rose to the challenge. Chris Kreider’s natural hat trick in the third period led to a come from behind 5-3 win over the Hurricanes to take Game 6. They showed tremendous resolve to finally put the Canes away.

There’s enough experience in the Rangers’ locker room to handle the pressure. They didn’t win all of those games for no reason. They’ve proven themselves to reach this point. The goal is to win a championship. Something that hasn’t been done by the franchise in 30 years.

Perhaps they can use what happened in 2022 as some incentive. They won the first two games against the Lightning. However, the former two-time Stanley Cup champs rallied to win the next four games to take the series in six.

It was a valuable lesson learned. A nucleus that includes Kreider, Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, Jacob Trouba, K’Andre Miller, Braden Schneider, Vincent Trocheck, Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko, Barclay Goodrow, and Igor Shesterkin have been through it before. Only Trocheck wasn’t on that team. He’s been the most important forward for Laviolette. He uses him in every situation, including on key faceoffs.

There are no shortcuts to being successful at this time of the year. It’s all hands on deck.

Whether they’re underdogs or not, it doesn’t matter. Nothing should faze them.

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

Chytil optimistic about returning for Conference Finals

Posted on May 20, 2024 by Derek

In the second round, Filip Chytil returned to the Rangers for Game 3 against the Hurricanes. After voicing his excitement about finally being back, he wasn’t available for the remainder of the series.

Apparently, the flu was going around. Chytil was out due to illness and aches and pains. Most likely, he was recovering from flu-like symptoms. Over a week later, the 24-year-old center is optimistic about returning for the Conference Finals.

“I want to play,” Chytil told Vince Mercogliano in a story that appeared in the USA Today Network on Sunday. “I didn’t join to just watch the guys from the stands and have a vacation in New York and Florida. I want to play. I’m going to do my best any time I get put in the lineup.”

With Rangers coach Peter Laviolette acknowledging that there were no restrictions on any players, including Blake Wheeler, who skated with the extras at practice, there’s a good indication that Chytil could be ready to go for Game 1 against the Panthers on Wednesday night.

“I feel great now,” he said. “We have a couple more practices and I can work on my game. Let’s see what’s going to happen on Wednesday.”

More encouraging is that Chytil practiced with Alex Wennberg and Kaapo Kakko on the third line earlier today. Will Cuylle skated with Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey on the fourth line.

As Mercogliano noted in his tweet, Zac Jones filled in for Ryan Lindgren on the top pair with Adam Fox. It looks like Laviolette will begin the Eastern Conference Finals with the same defense pairs that concluded the second round.

For the Rangers, getting Chytil back should provide a boost. Despite the third line of Wennberg, Cuylle, and Kakko playing well due to their puck possession style in the first two rounds, they’ve only two goals. Kakko got one on a giveaway against the Capitals. Cuylle converted on a breakaway against the Hurricanes.

Defensively, they’ve been responsible. That line has only allowed one goal against. Perhaps adding the more creative Chytil can help them contribute more offensively. Facing a very tough opponent in the next round, the Blueshirts will need more out of the third line.

If they line up that way on Wednesday, it should provide more depth.

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

Laviolette’s trust paid off to get Rangers here

Posted on May 18, 2024 by Derek

When they broke camp last September, the Rangers had a different mindset going into the season. A big reason for that is head coach Peter Laviolette. His experience behind the bench has made a big difference.

Unlike his predecessor, who frequently would panic by juggling his lines, Laviolette remained patient throughout the season.

Alexis Lafreniere didn’t have the best camp. He struggled in the preseason. Despite that, he remained with Artemi Panarin and Filip Chytil on the second line.  It might feel like years ago. But Chytil was the center of that line before a concussion against Carolina on Nov. 2 changed the plan.

It was in the Rangers’ first game of the season that Lafreniere scored the first goal. That was a good omen. He would form great chemistry with Panarin and eventually Vincent Trocheck, who replaced Chytil on the big line. The trio became one of the league’s best lines.

All three players set career highs in points. Panarin led the way with 49 goals, 71 assists, and 120 points. The second most points in franchise history, trailing only Jaromir Jagr, who had 123 in 2005-06.

Trocheck totaled 77 points (25-52-77) to surpass his previous best of 75. He became one of the league’s best on faceoffs by winning 58.7 percent. If the Rangers need a big draw won, they turn to Trocheck. He’s become the most important center on the team. Laviolette plays him big minutes, including on the penalty kill where he’s excelled with Barclay Goodrow.

Lafreniere had a breakout season by setting personal bests in goals (28), assists (29), and points (57). He did it without playing on the top power play unit. Most of the damage came at even strength. Of the 28 goals he scored, 26 were at even strength. Fifty-one of his 57 points also were at even strength.

In the recent second round series victory over the Hurricanes, Lafreniere had four goals. They all were at five-on-five. He was a key factor in the six-game win that sent the Rangers to the Conference Finals. Lafreniere finished with six points.

Linemates Panarin and Trocheck each tied for the team lead in the series with eight points. After a couple of quiet games, Panarin set up two goals in the Rangers’ 5-3 victory over the Hurricanes in Game 6. Trocheck made the key pass for a Panarin shot that Game 6 hero Chris Kreider redirected in to tie the score on the power play. Kreider would complete a natural hat trick with 4:19 left in the third period to stun the Canes.

The Rangers had trailed the Hurricanes 3-1 prior to the third. After Trocheck redirected a Panarin shot to pull them within one, Sebastian Aho converted on a breakaway to restore a two-goal lead halfway through the contest.

Jordan Martinook’s diving save prevented a Ryan Lindgren goal with over six minutes left. Jack Drury hit a goalpost.

Despite not getting much done during their shifts, the Rangers’ first line was kept together. That included Jack Roslovic. A key pickup by Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury at the trade deadline from Columbus, he’d cooled off following a good start to his first postseason.

Roslovic was a culprit on the Canes’ tying goal scored by Jordan Staal in the third period of Game 5. He did a blow by in the neutral zone that led to Dmitry Orlov catching Mika Zibanejad in a change to send Staal past Braden Schneider for a backhand finish that set the wheels in motion for a storm surge. The Canes scored four straight goals to take Game 5 by a score of 4-1.

In the first two periods of Game 6, the Zibanejad line wasn’t a factor. Roslovic didn’t do much. To be honest, I felt that maybe he should be taken off the line. Instead, Laviolette remained patient. He didn’t break up any of his lines. With his team staring at possibly blowing a 3-0 series lead, the coach thought better of making any changes.

After the Canes hit another goalpost, Roslovic made a great hustle play to slip the puck to Zibanejad. He did a good job retrieving it and made a strong move. With Frederik Andersen a bit shaky, Zibanejad wisely threw a sharp angle shot at his feet that he gave up a rebound on. Kreider was able to stuff home a backhand that put the Rangers within 3-2.

That goal changed everything. Although the Hurricanes had a couple of more great chances to restore order, they weren’t the same team defensively. Jake Guentzel hit another goalpost. Then, Jordan Staal was robbed by Igor Shesterkin.

Staal would later get called for a dubious cross-checking minor when he shoved Zibanejad from behind. It was more boarding than a cross-check. Whatever the case, Kreider wound up tipping in a good Panarin shot to tie the score on the power play.

Once the game was tied, the Rangers dominated the play. They were more aggressive on the forecheck. It felt like a matter of time before they went ahead.

On a great shift from the Zibanejad line, they had the puck in the Hurricanes’ zone. They pinned in the Aho line with Orlov and Jalen Chatfield. Following a nice setup for a Zibanejad shot that just missed over the top, Roslovic retrieved the puck and then made a nice drop pass for a pinching Lindgren. He then came around the net and made a perfect pass for an easy put away from Kreider that completed his hat trick.

It was a great play by everyone involved. Roslovic made the key pass that led to the series clincher. He picked up two assists in the come from behind win that was sealed by a Barclay Goodrow empty netter.

Roslovic was effective in the first five games of the playoffs, recording a point in each win. After going without a point in four straight games, he came up big in the clutch. He’s up to two goals with five assists for seven points in the postseason.

Laviolette’s patience paid off. He never panicked. That approach has been a key factor in many of the Rangers’ comeback wins. It allows players to feel confident. He played all four lines in the biggest period of the season. It worked.

The Rangers know who their next opponent will be. The Panthers edged the Bruins 2-1 on a late goal from Gustav Forsling to defeat Boston in six games.

Florida is a very good team that features Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov, Sam Reinhart, and a strong defense core led by Aaron Ekblad. Sergei Bobrovsky is a better goalie than what the Blueshirts faced in the first two rounds.

The Eastern Conference Finals begin next Wednesday at Madison Square Garden. That gives the Rangers time to prepare. It should be an exciting series.

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

Rangers Come Back to Stun Hurricanes: Kreider’s natural hat trick in third period sends Blueshirts to Eastern Conference Finals

Posted on May 17, 2024 by Derek

It didn’t look good after two periods. Facing the prospect of a Game 7 after leading the series three games to none, the Rangers stood up to the pressure by rallying for a stirring 5-3 comeback win to stun the Hurricanes and their fans at PNC Arena.

They were led by Chris Kreider, who put together a memorable performance in Game 6 to send the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Finals. Kreider’s natural hat trick in the third period turned the game around. Barclay Goodrow added an empty netter to seal the come from behind victory that eliminated the Hurricanes.

It’s still hard to believe. They trailed throughout the game. In fact, it was hard for the Rangers to get any shots through on a shaky Frederik Andersen early. Despite spending more time in the Hurricanes’ zone, they were only credited with three shots in a back and forth first period.

Even though the second line of Vincent Trocheck, Artemi Panarin, and Alexis Lafreniere had some good zone time against the Hurricanes, they couldn’t get much done against a stingy defense that protected Andersen. To their credit, Carolina blocked a dozen shots in the first period.

Most interesting is that unlike most of the series, the Rangers out-attempted the Hurricanes 25-21 in the opening period. However, they were outshot 8-3. The home team bent, but it didn’t break.

In a continuing trend, the Canes used their speed to get into transition and create chances. Unlike what happened in the third period of Game 5, the Rangers were able to limit them. Carolina had eight shots in the first.

There weren’t many glaring mistakes made. But on one late shift with the third line out and top pair, the Blueshirts gave up a late goal to Martin Necas. After Igor Shesterkin let a wide shot go that he could’ve gloved, the Hurricanes went to work.

Necas finished a check on Ryan Lindgren in the corner. A good Dmitry Orlov pinch moved the puck to Jordan Martinook behind the net. Adam Fox chased him. That allowed Martinook to center for a vacated Necas in front for an easy finish to give the Hurricanes a 1-0 lead with 1:22 left.

On the goal, several things went wrong. Fox vacated the front to go after Martinook, who was no threat behind the net. Lindgren lost a battle on a good check from Necas. He then immediately cut to the front where Martinook found him for his third goal in two games.

Both Kaapo Kakko and Alex Wennberg were out of the picture. Wennberg made the mistake of having his head turned the wrong way. He left the net front open for Necas to beat Shesterkin.

With the Caniacs in a frenzy, Shesterkin made a key save on Teuvo Teravainen before the conclusion of the first.

In the second period, the Rangers started better. Fox tested Andersen early. A couple of shifts later, on a faceoff in the neutral zone, Martinook high-sticked Kakko to put the Rangers on the power play.

Outside of a Kreider tip-in that missed wide, it wasn’t good. Following a Panarin turnover, the Hurricanes came with speed shorthanded, forcing Kreider to take a cross-checking penalty on Seth Jarvis. That ended the power play and eventually put the Canes on one.

Following an abbreviated four-on-four, the Hurricanes made the most of their power play. After Shesterkin denied Aho in tight, he retrieved the puck and got it up top for Andrei Svechnikov. Svechnikov was given plenty of time to take a shot that Aho deflected in front. The loose puck came right to Seth Jarvis, who beat Mika Zibanejad to the spot to slam home the rebound.

The four Rangers’ penalty killers were too passive. They didn’t apply much pressure, making it easy for Svechnikov to shoot the puck and create a rebound for Jarvis to score on. Nobody helped Zibanejad, either. Fox was in the wrong position.

With the fans still buzzing, the Blueshirts responded less than a minute later to get back in it. On some sustained pressure from the Trocheck line, Panarin had a wrist shot stopped by Andersen. But Orlov turned the puck over. That gave Panarin another try. This time, Trocheck was able to tip in the shot past an off balance Andersen,to make it 2-1 with 14:31 left.

Kreider got a shot right on Andersen and then had a deflection stopped. Both Jacob Trouba and Zibanejad had trouble with the Hurricanes’ pressure. Eventually, Shesterkin came up with a good stop on Jack Drury.

The Rangers got a good shift from the fourth line. The trio of Barclay Goodrow, Jimmy Vesey, and Jonny Brodzinski spent some time on the forecheck in the Canes’ end. Towards the end of it, K’Andre Miller went for an aggressive pinch on Svechnikov along the wall. Svechnikov was able to chip the puck by him, leading directly to Aho breaking away from Vesey for a goal that made it 3-1 with 10:37 remaining.

Miller thought he could seal Svechnikov off to keep the puck in. At the time, the Rangers were searching for offense. The problem was that Vesey wasn’t in a good spot to cover for him. Once the puck got to Aho, he pulled away and caught Shesterkin down to fire a laser high glove into the top of the net.

Aho had a great series. He finished with two goals and seven assists for nine points. He really did everything he could to try to lead the Hurricanes past the Rangers.

The Rangers came oh so close to cutting it to one. On a drop pass from Kreider, Lindgren moved in and had his shot trickle through Andersen. With the puck about to cross the goal line, a diving Martinook saved a goal at the last split second. It was a great hustle play.

A bit later, Shesterkin made a key save on Jake Guentzel. Despite not being at his best, he turned it around at a crucial time. His biggest saves would come in the pivotal third period. He also had a bit of luck.

With less than four minutes left in the second, Drury skated in and got a great scoring chance that hit the goalpost. One more goal might’ve done it. It never happened.

Entering the third, the Rangers trailed by two on the scoreboard. At that point, they were being outshot 20-14. They were better in the second. But the Hurricanes continued to do a good job in front to make life easier on Andersen. Anyone could tell that he was fighting the puck. That would play out in the final period.

At the start of the third, it was all Hurricanes. They looked to find the next goal that would likely have forced a deciding seventh game.

It was the more desperate Canes who were hard on the puck and in attack mode. They didn’t sit back. The Rangers were on their heels.

On a bad shift for Alex Wennberg, who struggled throughout, the Hurricanes nearly made it a three-goal game. Instead, Martinook hit the crossbar. His line with Evgeny Kuznetsov and Necas dominated most of the night. He was a bit unlucky.

The Canes continued to apply the pressure. But Shesterkin had the answer on Jalen Chatfield and Stefan Noesen. He’d deliver big saves in the third. He made 16 saves in the third. Without them, the Rangers would be facing a Game 7 after having led 3-0 in the series.

On another great opportunity, Jordan Staal was robbed point blank by Shesterkin. He continued to make the clutch stops. There also would be another goalpost hit. This time by Guentzel, who had his snapshot, go off the near post. Sometimes, it really is a game of inches. They were that close to being a game away from making possible history.

On what seemed like a nothing play from Jack Roslovic, he was able to slip the puck to Zibanejad. Zibanejad then saw Andersen a bit off his near goalpost. Similar to Lafreniere back in Game 4, when he banked in the tying goal in the third, Zibanejad shot the puck off Andersen. That created a rebound that Kreider was able to stuff in on the backhand to suddenly cut it to 3-2 with 13:17 remaining.

There were a couple of close calls afterward that could’ve spoiled the comeback. On a mistake by the Rangers, Aho made another bid to score. But he ran out of real estate, sending his backhand wide.

On a Jaccob Slavin rebound, Staal again had a great chance to score, only to be denied by an aggressive Shesterkin. Once he made that money stop, the Rangers took over.

With 9:02 left in regulation, Staal shoved Zibanejad from behind into the boards. He received two minutes for cross-checking. Was it the right call? No. But anytime a player shoves an opposing player into the boards face first, it’s usually a penalty.

Having gone ice cold on the man-advantage, the Rangers had to pick themselves up. Aho had a faceoff win that forced the Rangers’ top unit to go back and reset. If there was a bad break for the Canes, it came on a Brent Burns clear that went into the bench. That led to a key offensive draw that Trocheck won.

Following the Trocheck win, the Rangers were forced to move the puck quickly due to the aggressiveness of the Canes’ penalty killers. They were applying heavy pressure on the points. Both Fox and Zibanejad had no time. However, they didn’t panic.

Eventually, the puck came to Trocheck on the boards. He found an isolated Panarin in the middle at the top. Without any hesitation, Panarin let go of a shot pass that Kreider tipped in for his second straight goal. His power-play goal tied it with 8:06 left.

The next time his line was out at even strength, Kreider almost got the hat trick. He just missed wide in the slot. He’d later come close on a tip-in.

On the same shift, Zibanejad had a wrist shot miss over the top. With the Hurricanes suddenly pinned in their zone, Roslovic dropped the puck for a pinching Lindgren. He made a great play going around the net to find a wide open Kreider for his third consecutive goal. That gave him a natural hat trick. Most importantly, it gave the Rangers a 4-3 lead with 4:19 left in regulation.

It was incredible. The dramatic turnaround was hard to believe. At one point, the Rangers looked dead in the water. However, like they have most of the year, they picked themselves up.

Kreider became just the third Rangers player to ever record a third period hat trick in the postseason. He joined Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky. I’m not going to add anything else about it. We know what Messier did 30 years ago. That was even more pressure packed.

What Kreider delivered was a great performance. It isn’t comparable. Like he said in his very calm demeanor during the postgame press conference, it means they get to play more hockey. There’s still a tough opponent coming in the Conference Finals. The Rangers still have a lot of work ahead of them. They know that.

As expected, the Hurricanes applied pressure once Andersen was on the bench for a six-on-five. On an Aho faceoff win over Trocheck, the puck came to Svechnikov in front after Will Cuylle vacated the area.

One on one with Shesterkin, Svechnikov was stoned. There would be no game-tying goal this time. He’d follow that up by making a strong stop on Brady Skjei off another Aho faceoff win.

For some reason, the Rangers kept icing the puck. They iced it four straight times. That led to more defensive draws taken exclusively by Trocheck. Once it got to 1:37 left, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour took his timeout to set up a play. It didn’t matter.

The Rangers defended so well that the Hurricanes never got a sniff. They cleared pucks out and made it difficult. The work from Trocheck, Zibanejad, Kreider, Trouba and Lindgren was outstanding. When Goodrow, Vesey, Roslovic, Miller, and Fox replaced them, they sealed the victory.

Miller got the puck over to Goodrow, who turned around and sent it down the ice for an empty netter that clinched the series win with 49 seconds remaining.

It was very satisfying. They had to work very hard to earn that all-important fourth win. Credit goes out to the Hurricanes for never giving up. They believed they could come back from a 3-0 series deficit. They were so close to forcing Game 7. Fortunately, it never got there.

The Rangers defeated a very good team. They know they were in a battle. The Canes pushed them.

Carolina really put up a great fight without one of their best players. Brett Pesce was never able to return. Now, it’s uncertain if he’ll stay in Carolina. With many unrestricted free agents this summer, including Guentzel, the Canes could look very different next season. Brind’Amour is also available. If they don’t keep him, a number of teams will be interested.

When asked by reporters following the game, if he indeed told teammates that he’d get one during the second intermission, a humble Kreider wouldn’t take the bait. Instead, he gave the team credit for how they played.

It wasn’t until a grinning Trocheck replied that he did that both laughed. What did he tell Kreider? He hoped so to chuckles. Kreider will go down as an all-time Ranger for the many goals he’s scored. It’s when he delivers under the spotlight that it means the most.

Kreider gave a Hurricanes fan his stick after the game. He definitely earned respect. During the handshakes, former teammate Tony DeAngelo said something nice to him. It was cool.

It really was a great win. Considering how bleak things looked early in the third period, the Rangers showed a lot of resolve. They proved that they have tremendous heart and character.

It would’ve been easy to say that it’s not their day. They didn’t chance going to a do or die seventh game. Instead, they dug deep and found a way to get it done.

Now, they’ll await the winner between the Bruins and Panthers. Florida leads the series 3-2. Game 6 is Friday night in Boston.

For at least a day, they can enjoy the victory. Then, they’ll start preparing for the next round. There’s more excitement in store.

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

Laviolette remains quiet about tonight’s lineup, double shift Lafreniere

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Derek

At practice yesterday, the Rangers prepared for Game 6. Tonight, they’ll have a third opportunity to close out the Hurricanes. They’ll have to get it done in enemy territory.

Coach Peter Laviolette hinted at some possible lineup changes. One could be to the defense. Following a rough Game 5 in which Jordan Staal beat him for the tying goal early in the third period, Braden Schneider was back on the third pair with Erik Gustafsson.

Jacob Trouba was back with K’Andre Miller on the second pair. The Rangers captain hasn’t played with Miller since Apr. 11. It was the third to last game of the regular season. He and Miller went a combined minus-5 in a 4-1 loss to the Flyers.

After seeing them struggle for a while following Trouba’s return on Mar. 30, Laviolette decided to make a switch to the blue line. Schneider moved up to work with Miller while Trouba moved down to play with Gustafsson.

The Rangers had more success after those changes. They won their final two games on the schedule and went 7-0 against the Capitals and Hurricanes in the playoffs. However, with the Canes rallying to take the last two games, Laviolette looks like he’s seriously considering going back to his original defensive pairings.

If that’s how they line up, it better work out. The last thing they need is a bad game from Miller and Trouba. Miller has been the most consistent Rangers’ defenseman in the postseason. He’s played with more physicality and done a good job in his end. There hasn’t been as much hesitation to his game.

Aside from the possibility of a different look on the back end, Laviolette also might make a change up front. Following Game 5, Jonny Brodzinski took line rushes with Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey. With Matt Rempe being managed carefully by Laviolette, Brodzinski could return to the lineup. He played 8:49 in Game 4 on the fourth line.

To be honest, inserting Brodzinski for Rempe is a minor change. Sure. He’ll get a few more shifts. But what kind of impact will it have?

It feels like the Rangers are hiding something with Filip Chytil. He played in Game 3 and hasn’t been seen since. If he can’t absorb hits without needing time to recover, then what’s the point of bringing him back?

A fully healthy Chytil could help the lineup. He’s a dramatic upgrade on the third line. But, the organization won’t answer any questions regarding his status. He again skated with the extras in Carolina. There’s no indication that he’ll play tonight.

In Game 5, Alexis Lafreniere took 19 shifts. He only played 14:36. While it’s true that it was the one game that he wasn’t as effective, Lafreniere was more noticeable than Artemi Panarin.

Even though he doesn’t play on the top power play unit, Laviolette needs to find a way to get Lafreniere more ice time. He’s got younger legs and is strong. He’s tough to knock off the puck on the forecheck.

What’s wrong with double shifting him on the fourth line? I’d rather see him getting extra shifts than a banged up Chris Kreider. After taking a maintenance day, Kreider declared himself good to go for Game 6.

Lafreniere is one of the best Rangers at five-on-five. He has performed well all season long. If they are to advance to the next round, he’ll be a part of it. If Jack Roslovic struggles early, Laviolette should consider moving up Lafreniere for a few shifts. He can handle the extra ice time.

It’ll be interesting to see how both Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren look. Fox clearly hasn’t been himself in this series. With just two assists, he’s been hindered by whatever is ailing him. Nick Jensen’s leg on leg hit has had an effect. Fox’s skating hasn’t been as good. He’s gotten beaten by numerous Hurricanes defensively.

As for Lindgren, he didn’t play as much last game. Whether it was due to the Hurricanes’ offensive explosion in the third period or him possibly being banged up, he saw the fewest minutes (14:11) at even strength by a Rangers defenseman.

Lindgren had four hits and blocked four shots. Maybe the coaching staff decided to rest him in preparation for Game 6. He’s a gamer. He’ll be ready to go.

Regardless of what the lineup is, they must do a much better job against the Hurricanes. They’ve gained momentum by being more aggressive on the forecheck. The Rangers have been guilty of giving the Canes too much time to set things up. They’ll need to tighten up defensively.

The best way to counter the Hurricanes’ attack is to chip pucks out and catch their defensemen pinching. The Canes love to jump in offensively. That mindset is how they play. Smart reads by the Blueshirts and subtle defensive plays can create odd man rushes.

Obviously, they need to play more in the Carolina end. There hasn’t been enough forecheck pressure from the top two lines. Whether it’s skating the puck in or getting it deep and recovering it in a corner, those will be keys to getting a win.

The more they can play in the offensive zone, the better chance they’ll have. The Canes have done a better job killing penalties. The Rangers haven’t scored a power-play goal since Game 2. Both Chris Kreider and Vincent Trocheck capitalized in a 4-3 double overtime win.

Will there be an adjustment to it? Laviolette prefers quick puck movement to set up shots. We’ll see if they can do a better job.

Igor Shesterkin has allowed 7 goals on 58 shots over the last two games. The third period collapse wasn’t his fault. The Rangers sat back and paid for it. However, he gave up a bad rebound on the Evgeny Kuznetsov winner that saw him beat Panarin for the goal. He also got caught too far back on the Jordan Staal tying goal where the Hurricanes captain went around Schneider.

Shesterkin can’t cover for every Rangers mistake. He was superb in the first period, making some clutch stops on dangerous Canes’ chances. However, he can be better than the last two games. He gives them the biggest edge. The Rangers must take advantage of that if they want to avoid a Game 7.

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

Blueshirts can learn something from the Knicks

Posted on May 15, 2024 by Derek

It’s rare that both MSG tenants are playing at the same time during the spring. In recent memory, there haven’t been many moments when the Rangers and Knicks were in the second round with a real chance to reach the Conference Finals .

A year ago, the Rangers fell apart in a crushing first round loss to the Devils. Meanwhile, the Knicks took out the Cavaliers to advance to the second round. They were eliminated by the Heat.

Before 2023-24, the last time both the Knicks and Rangers played in the second round together was in 2012-13. The Knicks ousted the Celtics and took on the Pacers. Irony of ironies. The Rangers took out the Capitals to face the Bruins. Neither team made it out of the second round. The Rangers were no match for the Bruins. The Knicks lost in disappointing fashion to the Pacers.

Eleven years later, here we are again. This time, thanks to a dominant Knicks 121-91 win over the Pacers in Game 5 at a raucous MSG last night, both Garden teams are a win away from the Conference Finals.

It came on the heels of a 32-point blowout loss at Indiana this past Sunday. The Pacers humiliated the Knicks. It’s already known as the Mother’s Day massacre. They looked sluggish. Jalen Brunson struggled on his bad foot. The only Knick who played well was Alec Burks. They got dominated by the younger Pacers.

Two days later, the Knicks flipped the script. After falling behind 16-9 early, they responded by outscoring the Pacers 29-16 to take a six-point lead at the end of the first quarter.

Everyone contributed. Brunson had 10 points. Josh Hart had 10 points and grabbed five rebounds. Isaiah Hartenstein had five offensive rebounds and two put backs. He was instrumental in tying Charles Oakley for the Knicks’ franchise playoff record with 12 offensive rebounds in a game. Deuce McBride had nine points while locking up Pacers star guard Tyrese Haliburton.

Donte DiVicenzo didn’t score much but played tenacious defense throughout the game. It was during the second half that a relentless DiVicenzo came out of nowhere and slammed home a rebound that got the crowd in a frenzy. He then got into it with Myles Turner after he set a dirty screen. Turner put DiVicenzo in a headlock. After getting in each other’s faces, cooler heads prevailed.

How dominant were the Knicks in the biggest game of their season? After Turner sank three consecutive three’s to cut a 16-point lead to seven early in the third quarter, the Knicks went on a 17-0 run. Burks hit a big corner trey to answer back. He came off the bench and had 18 points, including five three’s. Brunson made a three. So did McBride.

If there was a noticeable difference, it was the Knicks’ effort that shined brightly under the spotlight. They outhustled the Pacers by dominating the game on the glass. They outrebounded Indiana 53-29. That included 20-5 on the offensive glass. Hartenstein paced them with 17 boards.

Hart again grabbed double digits with 11. Listed at only six-foot four, you wouldn’t know it. Hart plays like a junkyard dog. He takes the ball hard to the rim and finishes. When he’s on, he puts together games like the 18 and 11 he had on Tuesday night at the World’s Most Famous Arena.

Brunson only went for 44 points while adding seven assists and four rebounds. No Pacer defender slowed him down. He only had two three’s. He was much more aggressive and finished inside the paint. The people’s MVP posted his fifth 40-point game of the playoffs. He’s reached Bernard King territory. Not even Carmelo Anthony ever dominated like this. Patrick Ewing wasn’t as explosive.

Brunson plays every possession like it’s his last. The Rangers should take notice. Considering how lackluster they were in a dreadful third period that saw the much hungrier Hurricanes score four times to take Game 5 on Monday night, they must play with a lot more intensity tomorrow night at Carolina.

Since Artemi Panarin scored a between the legs overtime winner in Game 3 to put the Rangers up three games to none on the Hurricanes, he’s been invisible. The only time you noticed him was on a couple of lousy defensive sequences in which he failed to backcheck on a pair of Carolina goals. That included Evgeny Kuznetsov’s game-winner in Game 5.

Panarin had been getting it done previously. He had four goals and five assists for nine points in the Rangers’ first seven games. All four goals were game-winners. In the last two games (both losses), he only totaled two shots. Hardly enough for a player who had a dominant regular season with a career high 49 goals and 120 points.

The Bread Man has been on for five goals against over the last two games. Vincent Trocheck hasn’t been any better. Despite continuing to win faceoffs, he wasn’t effective either. With the exception of Alexis Lafreniere scoring a tying goal in Game 4 when he was out with Mika Zibanejad, the Rangers’ best line has been quiet since the Canes got back in the series.

There needs to be more urgency. If the Knicks can go from getting blown out to again rising up to the challenge at MSG, then the Blueshirts sure can. They earned home ice with the league’s best record. Now, it’s all about giving their best effort on the road tomorrow to avoid facing elimination this weekend. It was a scenario that didn’t seem likely a few days ago.

Unlike the Knicks, whose best player is playing hurt and is shorthanded, the Rangers are healthy. Even if Adam Fox is also playing hobbled, there’s no excuses. Brunson didn’t make any following Sunday’s embarrassment. He then backed it up with another great performance.

If it’s true that Panarin and Fox haven’t been factors over the last two games, the same can be echoed for Trocheck, Zibanejad, and Chris Kreider. They’re the five best skaters who coach Peter Laviolette has leaned on. Especially on the power play, which hasn’t scored since Game 2.

The Blueshirts have more talent than the Knicks. But the Knicks play with more grit and determination.

That isn’t a knock on the bottom six. Will Cuylle, Alex Wennberg, Kaapo Kakko, Barclay Goodrow, Jimmy Vesey, and Matt Rempe bring plenty of energy. Jonny Brodzinski likely will replace Rempe tomorrow unless Filip Chytil can return. They chip pucks in and win board battles. There isn’t much offense from the sandpaper guys.

It’s up to the Rangers’ best players to bring it. It can’t be a shooting gallery on Igor Shesterkin for the Hurricanes in Game 6. They outskated and outplayed the Blueshirts badly on Monday. There can’t be a repeat.

There hasn’t been enough of a consistent forecheck from the top two lines. Laviolette isn’t going to toss names into a hat like his predecessor. The bottom line is that they need to be harder on pucks. They never pressured a shaky Frederik Andersen. It was as if he was on a cruise.

The battle level must rise significantly. Look at how much the Knicks hustle. There needs to be that kind of desperation from the Rangers.

Laviolette spoke yesterday about how this team has responded well following bad losses. He’s correct. There was a similar meltdown in a loss at home to the Maple Leafs on Dec. 12. They turned the page by winning the next three, including at Boston and Toronto a week later.

There’s no panic in the locker room. That’s fine. When the puck is dropped tomorrow night in Raleigh, it becomes about the performance. It’s time to back up the talk.

They must show heart. The Knicks showed them how it’s done. Now, it’s their turn.

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

Extra day to prepare for Game 6 should help Blueshirts

Posted on May 14, 2024 by Derek

What happened in the third period last night happened. It’s over and done with. There’s nothing the Rangers can do about how putrid they were in giving up four consecutive goals to the Hurricanes in a 4-1 loss to drop Game 5 at a stunned Madison Square Garden.

All they can do is move forward. What once was a 3-0 series lead is now down to 3-2. The best of seven series returns to Carolina on Thursday. That’s two days away.

Having an extra day to prepare should help the Blueshirts. They looked like they could use it. Aside from the second period, when Jacob Trouba made a great individual effort to score a shorthanded goal, they were badly outplayed.

The Hurricanes literally stormed the Rangers zone with their speed and relentless forecheck. It was evident early on that they were the faster team. Despite the shots being dead even at nine apiece, Carolina generated much better chances in the first period.

It was the Canes’ transition that found holes in the Rangers’ defense. There was too much easy access. Igor Shesterkin bailed his team out by making half a dozen big saves to keep it scoreless.

Following the game, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette referenced how off his team was in the postgame.

“We weren’t sharp tonight. There was a lot of issues tonight. … It was more than the third period. … It wasn’t a reflection of who we were for the majority of the year.”

Laviolette pointed out that the Rangers have had bad periods like that before in losses. They’ve always responded. They’re facing a big test from a confident opponent who believes they can come back from a 0-3 deficit to win the series. There’s pressure.

“We’re just pumped for each other. We just need to enjoy the moment, enjoy the boost that a win gives you, but we’ve got to regroup and give everything we’ve got in Game 6,” Hurricanes goal scorer Jordan Martinook told reporters following last night’s stirring comeback.

They have belief. Captain Jordan Staal provided it when he scored the tying goal to spark his team to a four-goal third period. Staal took a Dmitry Orlov pass and blew by Braden Schneider before catching Igor Shesterkin deep in his net to tuck a backhand in.

The play never happens if Mika Zibanejad doesn’t make a bad line change. He picked the wrong time in the game to go to the Rangers bench. Orlov made a smart read. Staal did the rest.

Once the game was tied, the Canes stormed the Blueshirts’ net. Shesterkin gave up a bad rebound that led to Evgeny Kuznetsov scoring the go-ahead tally. Artemi Panarin was beaten on the goal. He really needs to be much better than his two no-shows, which resembled 2023.

After he felt pressure from Jack Drury, Trouba tried a reverse behind his net that Martin Necas picked off and set up a vacated Martinook for a crushing third goal that took the air out of the building. Mika Zibanejad puck watched. It was another example of a big game player not paying attention to detail.

Necas added an empty netter to seal the victory. The Canes outshot the Rangers 28-21, including 10-6 in the deciding third. They out-attempted them 67-52. More than that, they controlled play. In a mind-boggling statistic, the Rangers were credited with no high danger chances at five-on-five and on the power play.

Frederik Andersen didn’t have to sweat. He made 20 saves. Most were routine. Jack Roslovic got in for a good chance due to his speed. But his shot was easily stopped by Andersen.

The Hurricanes pressured the Rangers on the power play, causing them to force passes and turn over pucks. The same power play that started hot is 0 for the last 8. Carolina has allowed no power-play goals over the last three games.

A key area the Rangers must improve on is five-on-five. They only had 15 shots in Monday’s loss. There was hardly enough pressure on the Hurricanes. Neither the first or second line had a consistent forecheck. They were shut down. It’s no coincidence that in the last two losses, Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, and Alexis Lafreniere have been limited. Zibanejad and Kreider also haven’t done much.

So, what needs to happen for the Rangers to go into Carolina and win Game 6?

Kreider’s trying not to panic. Game 5 was uncharacteristic of this team. As bad as yesterday was, the Rangers still lead the series three games to two. They’re a good enough team to win on the road. In order to avoid a do or die Game 7, they’ll need to have more killer instinct. Play with more desperation. Match the Canes’ intensity.

Laviolette has an extra day to decide if he should adjust his lineup. Matt Rempe again rode the pine in the third period with the game tied. The frustrating part is that he has a high IQ. He knows how to play, which is what makes him effective on the fourth line. But the coach doesn’t fully trust him in close games enough.

If that’s the case, it would be better if Filip Chytil could return. Nobody knows what’s going on with him. Adding a player of his skill and speed would help. It would give Laviolette more options.

If not, Jonny Brodzinski could get back in and replace Rempe on the fourth line.

It still says here that Erik Gustafsson is shaky in his end. He doesn’t help Trouba enough. The Canes know they can pressure Gustafsson into mistakes. Laviolette had Gustafsson in Washington. He trusts him. That’s the only reason he’s playing over the capable Zac Jones.

The Rangers can look at video and see what they did wrong. There should be a change to the power play. Laviolette noted that the Canes pressure at the top. The Rangers have to move the puck quickly to set up shots. They’ve been off lately. If Chytil can return, he should be on the second unit. There’s no reason to have both Gustafsson and Trouba on the points.

Establishing themselves early will be a key to Game 6. That means getting in on the forecheck. They haven’t made life tough on the Hurricanes. There’s been too much one and done. That won’t work.

They also can’t sit back once they get a lead. Play to win. Don’t rely on Shesterkin. He can’t do it alone. The 18 skaters must be on their toes. Make better puck decisions. Tighten the gaps. Make it harder on the Canes.

We’ll see what Laviolette comes up with.

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