Inside the First Round: The East

Posted on April 20, 2024 by Derek

On Saturday, April 20, the Stanley Cup Playoffs get underway. There are two games featured on TBS and TNT.

Both are in the Eastern Conference. First up is the Islanders taking on the Hurricanes. That’ll be followed by the Maple Leafs challenging the Bruins.

Sunday will include four more matchups. The Lightning and Panthers renew their rivalry at brunch time. The Capitals and Rangers will follow tomorrow afternoon.

The Western Conference kicks off with two intriguing series. In what could be an exciting battle between two good teams, the Avalanche take on the Jets on Sunday night. Then, the Predators will take on the Canucks late tomorrow night.

The Golden Knights challenge the Stars in a juicy first round matchup that begins on Monday, April 22. Once again, the Kings and Oilers will clash later on Monday night.

How will it all shake out? Some of these series are tough to call.

FIRST ROUND

Eastern Conference

(W1) Lightning vs. (A1) Panthers

Analysis: It’s got the makings of a classic. It won’t be easy for the Panthers, who feature a strong cast. The Lightning enters playing well led by Nikita Kucherov. Matthew Tkachuk will renew acquaintances with Victor Hedman. Can Sam Reinhart duplicate his regular season success? Brayden Point is usually pretty clutch in the spring. Steven Stamkos is lethal on the power play. Aleksander Barkov gives the Panthers an edge at center.A great goalie matchup between Andrei Vasilevskiy and Sergei Bobrovsky could determine who wins.

Pick: Panthers in 7

(A3) Maple Leafs vs. (A2) Bruins

Analysis: Anytime Toronto and Boston collide, expect fireworks. The Leafs want to erase past stinging defeats when Patrice Bergeron led the Bruins to a remarkable first round win for the ages. Auston Matthews will be front and center. So will David Pastrnak. You have Brad Marchand and Charlie McAvoy on the Bruins’ side. There’s Mitch Marner, William Nylander (uncertain), and Morgan Rielly on the Leafs’ side. Is Ilya Samsonov up to the challenge, or will Joseph Woll replace him? The Bruins seem to have the edge with the tandem of Jeremy Swayman and Linus Ullmark. Will the Leafs’ depth make a difference?

Pick: Leafs in 6

(M3) Islanders vs. (M2) Hurricanes

Analysis: It feels like these teams meet often. The Hurricanes usually have the answers due to their superior skating and puck possession. The Islanders will ride the hot hand in Semyon Varlamov. The Canes will go with Frederik Andersen. The pressure is on Carolina after adding Jake Guentzel to a core that includes Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, Seth Jarvis, Jordan Staal, Martin Necas, Teuvo Teravainen, Jaccob Slavin, Brett Pesce, and Brady Skjei. The Islanders come in hot thanks to Varlamov, who supplanted Ilya Sorokin as the starter. Mat Barzal and Bo Horvat headline the offense along with Kyle Palmieri, Brock Nelson, and Noah Dobson. Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock will be keys along with Alexander Romanov. Can Anders Lee provide support?

Pick: Canes in 6

(W2) Capitals vs. (M1) Rangers

Analysis: I had plenty to say about this matchup in a series preview. Unless the Caps can slow down the Rangers’ offense led by Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, Alexis Lafreniere, Adam Fox, power play sniper Chris Kreider, and Mika Zibanejad, it probably won’t last long. Alexander Ovechkin looks to play the underdog role with John Carlson, Tom Wilson, Dylan Strome, T.J. Oshie, and Connor McMichael. Can Charlie Lindgren outplay Igor Shesterkin?

Pick: Rangers in 5

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Series Preview: Rangers battle Capitals in First Round

Posted on April 20, 2024 by Derek

This is it. All the wins and points the Rangers racked up during a record-breaking season come down to the playoffs. They won the President’s Trophy to warn home ice for as long as they play this spring.

The 55 victories and league-leading 114 points are outstanding achievements earned over the 82-game schedule. Now, it’s all about the postseason. It’s been nine years since they had the best record. That was in 2014-15.

The names have changed. Gone are Lundqvist, Staal, Girardi, McDonagh, Stepan, Brassard, Nash, St. Louis, Zuccarello, Hagelin, Hayes, Miller, and Moore. They’ve been replaced by Shesterkin, Panarin, Fox, Lindgren, Miller Trouba, Schneider, Kreider, Zibanejad, Trocheck, Lafreniere, Kakko, Wennberg, Cuylle, Goodrow, and Vesey.

It’s a different cast of Blueshirts. Unlike a decade ago, when that team came off a Stanley Cup Final during a great era, this roster is a mix of experience and youth. Most of the core were part of the run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2022. Following last year’s disappointment, they showed plenty of mental fortitude under the direction of coach Peter Laviolette. Are they motivated enough to make 2024 one for the memory books?

It’s been 30 years since the Rangers won the Stanley Cup. That is the goal. The greatest leader in NHL history will be keeping a close eye on his former team while giving his insights in the studio on ESPN/ABC. You better believe Mark Messier has a rooting interest in seeing the Rangers win the franchise’s fifth championship.

How will this chapter end? In recent years, they’ve been close. Four Conference Finals and one Stanley Cup Finals. Is this the year they erase another long drought? The city is hoping so. Maybe it can be a trip down the Canyon of Heroes.

First up is the Capitals. A familiar opponent who still features the game’s greatest goalscorer. Alexander Ovechkin is the best finisher that’s ever existed. Look at the era he’s done it in. Pretty soon, he’ll pass Gretzky and own a once thought unbreakable record. He’s been through the playoff grind, leading the Caps to their only Cup. Similar to the past, they’ll have to go through the Great 8. An all-time great should never be underestimated.

Here’s how they match up.

(W2) Washington Capitals vs. (1) New York Rangers

FORWARDS: The Capitals feature Ovechkin (31 goals), Dylan Strome, Tom Wilson, T.J. Oshie, Sonny Milano, Max Pacioretty, and Nic Dowd. With the exception of leading scorer Strome (27-40-67) and Milano, those are the experienced vets who will look to make it a meat and potato style that coach Spencer Carberry prefers. Wilson can cause chaos with his tenacity. Oshie has scored in the clutch before. Pacioretty is the wildcard. He only played in 47 games and had four goals. Dowd is a solid checking forward who gets his nose dirty.

The younger Caps to watch include 18-goal man Connor McMichael, who became a favorite under Carberry. Hendrix Lapierre, Aliaksei Protas, and Beck Malenstyn are part of the next wave.

After trading Anthony Mantha, Washington had only two players score over 20 goals.

The Rangers are led by Artemi Panarin (49 goals, 71 assists, 120 points). In a perfect world, he’d be in the Hart conversation. You could make the case that nobody was more valuable to their team than the Bread Man. His line with Vincent Trocheck (career best 77 points) and Alexis Lafreniere (career high 28 goals) has been the focal point. They’ll need support from Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider (39 goals, including 18 power-play goals). Jack Roslovic is being counted on to provide some offense on the Zibanejad line.

The bottom six has some more grind to it. Alex Wennberg has been a good addition, providing a capable two-way pivot who’s effective on the forecheck with Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko. They’re gonna be a key to the team’s chances. It looks like Laviolette will start Game 1 on Sunday with a checking line of Barclay Goodrow, Jimmy Vesey, and Matt Rempe. If Rempe’s in, he must stay disciplined. Wilson will try to get under his skin.

Jonny Brodzinski is a better skater who can add more offense to the Goodrow unit. Depending on how things go, Laviolette will adjust accordingly.

Filip Chytil has been practicing with the team. Nobody knows what his status is. The Rangers have been very quiet about when he could return. Do they want to risk bringing him back too soon? The Caps might be the wrong opponent.

Edge: Rangers

DEFENSEMEN: The Capitals are anchored by John Carlson. A staple for over a decade on the blue line, Carlson remains a consistent force. He averaged nearly 26 minutes a game while pacing the Caps with 52 points (10-42-52). He quarterbacks the power play. Carlson has an accurate shot that must be paid attention to.

Rasmus Sandin has become a key player on the back end. Acquired last year for Erik Gustafsson, he’s counted on to play important minutes. Both Sandin and Nick Jensen practiced in no-contact jerseys earlier this morning. That probably indicates that they should be ready for Game 1.

Martin Fehervary is another young defenseman who the Caps count on. A rugged player who likes to finish checks, he isn’t shy about mixing it up.

Trevor van Riemsdyk is a veteran presence. Alexander Alexeyev is a former 2018 first round pick who played a bit more down the stretch. Depending on the statuses of Jensen and Sandin, Vincent Iorio and Dylan McIlrath are options.

The Rangers are led by Adam Fox. One of the game’s best defensemen, he posted a career best 17 goals to go with 56 assists and 73 points in 72 games. An outstanding player who can impact the game at both even strength and the power play, Fox is the focal point of the blue line. He drives play.

Partner Ryan Lindgren is a warrior who will do anything to win games. If they need a big hit or block, Lindgren provides it. He is crucial to the team’s success.

With captain Jacob Trouba struggling after returning from an injury, Laviolette rearranged his second and third defensive pairs. Trouba will start the series with Gustafsson on the third pair while K’Andre Miller partners with Braden Schneider on the second pair. If Miller and Schneider can carry over their strong play into the postseason, that should bode well.

Trouba likes to throw his weight around. He plays an honest game that hinges on physicality. He paced all Rangers’ defensemen in hits (191) and blocks (183). He must pick his spots. He’ll also need to make good reads in his zone. An area he had issues with.

Gustafsson is a good skating defenseman who can contribute offensively. He’ll look to pinch when the opportunity is there. He also plays on the second power play. If there’s a concern, it’s his penchant for turnovers and blown coverages.

Zac Jones proved he could fill in admirably without the glaring mistakes. If Gustafsson struggles, Jones could replace him.

Edge: Rangers

GOALIES: The Capitals will go with Charlie Lindgren. Once an afterthought, he’s become a good starter. He tied for the league lead with six shutouts.

An unorthodox goalie who catches with the opposite hand, Lindgren makes it tough on shooters. He posted a 2-1 record, 1.35 goals-against-average (GAA), and .955 save percentage in three starts versus the Rangers this season. Lindgren will be facing younger brother Ryan in the series.

Darcy Kuemper is the backup. No stranger to the postseason, he won a Cup with the Avalanche.

The Rangers will go as far as Igor Shesterkin takes them. One of the game’s premier goalies, the 28-year-old had a great second half to finish the season with 36 wins, a 2.58 GAA, .911 save percentage, and four shutouts.

Shesterkin went 2-1 with a 2.00 GAA and .926 save percentage versus the Caps during the season. After the All-Star break, he won 17 games while posting a 2.20 GAA and .929 save percentage. All of his shutouts came during that three month stretch.

Jonathan Quick is the proven backup with a championship pedigree. He had a great season finishing with 18 wins, including passing Ryan Miller to become the all-time winningest American-born netminder in NHL history.

Edge: Rangers

COACHES: The Capitals are coached by Spencer Carberry. He’s done a good job in his first year behind the bench. Despite the Caps subtracting Mantha, Evgeny Kuznetsov, and Joel Edmundson, he managed to guide them to the playoffs.

Carberry hasn’t been hesitant to give his younger players key roles. That’s allowed them to grow. It’ll be an interesting matchup against former Capitals coach Peter Laviolette.

Laviolette’s done a tremendous job in his first season behind the Rangers bench. Nobody could’ve predicted that they’d finish first overall with the best record.

A proven coach who won the Cup with the Hurricanes, he’s taken three different teams to the Stanley Cup Finals. Can he do it again in the Big Apple? The pressure will be immense.

Laviolette has pushed all the right buttons so far. He allowed Panarin to be himself and double shifted him when it was necessary. Panarin’s played with more determination. Laviolette likes to use the Goodrow line to match up against opponents’ top scoring lines. It’ll be interesting to see which defensive pair draws the assignment against Ovechkin. Perhaps Miller and Schneider will take turns with Lindgren and Fox.

Edge: Rangers

SPECIAL TEAMS: If there’s a big difference between the Capitals and Rangers, it’s on special teams. The Rangers had the third ranked power play (26.4) while the Caps ranked 18th (20.6).

It’s been the Rangers’ top unit that’s made a difference by scoring huge goals. With the exception of Kreider, who is masterful at tipping in shots, the rest of it is all right-handed. Fox, Panarin, and Zibanejad all move the puck with precision. Trocheck can set up in the slot. Panarin’s been more of a shooter, making it tough on opponents. Zibanejad can load up his one-timer in the left circle.

The Caps still feature Ovechkin in his office. Carlson is at the top. It doesn’t take an expert to figure out who the primary shooters are. Wilson cleans up in front. Oshie had seven of his dozen goals on the power play. Strome can set up and score on it.

The Rangers also placed third on the penalty kill with an 84.5 success rate. They’re aggressive and apply pressure. With dangerous forwards Zibanejad and Kreider, who can quickly transition in the opposite direction, they scored eight shorthanded goals. Zibanejad and Kreider each had a pair to lead the team.

The Capitals were 19th on the penalty kill at 79.0 percent. They scored three shorthanded goals. Wilson led them with two. They’ll need to block a lot of shots and take away the Rangers’ time and space.

Edge: Rangers

INTANGIBLES: The Rangers are a confident team that believes in each other. They had 28 comeback wins, which led the league. Getting off to better starts should be a point of emphasis. They’ll certainly be under the spotlight.

The Capitals defied the odds to make it here. They had a minus-37 goal differential. It didn’t matter. They won when it counted. They’re playing with house money. There’s enough experience in the room for the younger players to lean on.

Edge: Even

Analysis: The Rangers are the faster team with more skill and better depth. They’ll look to exploit that edge by using their speed to attack the Capitals. The Caps want to slow things down. They’ll look to clog the neutral zone and make it tough on the Rangers. It’s a contrast in styles.

The Rangers should get tested at five-on-five. If they want to have success, they’re going to need to be better at scoring goals at full strength. In the playoffs, things tighten up. They’ll have to be patient and make smart decisions with the puck.

Although the Capitals are battle tested, it’s hard to see them being able to keep up.

PREDICTION: Rangers in 5

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Rangers to face Capitals in First Round

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Derek

On Tuesday night, the Rangers learned who their opponent would be in the first round of the playoffs. They’ll face the Capitals. The best of seven series begins on Sunday afternoon at 3 EST at Madison Square Garden.

How the Capitals earned the second wildcard was wild. At the same time they were taking on the Flyers, the Red Wings were battling the Canadiens. Both games hung in the balance late in the third period.

The Flyers needed a win in regulation over the Caps to have any chance. They were tied at one with over three minutes left. While coach John Tortorella pulled Samuel Ersson for a six-on-five, the Red Wings got a tying goal from David Perron with just over three seconds remaining to force overtime in Montreal.

One point was all Detroit needed to eliminate the Flyers from playoff contention. Tortorella didn’t know they scored. He went for it. As the Red Wings were going to overtime with hopes that they could still be alive, T.J. Oshie scored into an empty net to give the Caps a 2-1 lead. His goal stood up as the winner to clinch the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

For the Red Wings, it was bad luck. Tortorella admitted afterward that he didn’t know Perron scored to eliminate the Flyers. He got word following Oshie’s goal. He explained that it was the right time to lift Ersson and go for it. It didn’t work out and helped the Caps qualify for the postseason.

Sometimes, crazy scenarios play out. The NHL got what they wanted. Imagine if the Penguins had played against the Islanders on the same night. Instead, they knew their season was over. On Wednesday night, they lost to the Islanders 5-4 to conclude their year for a second straight playoff miss.

That was despite a heroic performance from Sidney Crosby. He finished with 94 points (42-52-94) at 36, proving again that he’s still one of the game’s best players. Crosby had nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points over the last 13 games. The legend did all he could to try to push the Pens into the postseason. They fell short due to a 6-4 loss to the Bruins.

For the Rangers, it’s probably good that they won’t see Crosby. The Pens played the best down the stretch. They would’ve been a tough out.

Instead, the Blueshirts are preparing for the Caps. They’re an experienced team that features Alexander Ovechkin, John Carlson, Oshie, Tom Wilson, Nic Dowd, and Max Pacioretty. Ovechkin finished the season with 31 goals. He had a strong second half. Of course, the Great 8 always has to be paid attention to. The Rangers will game plan accordingly.

Unlike past Caps’ teams, they have a younger roster. Dylan Strome is the number one center. He had a good season setting a new career high in goals (27) with 40 assists for a total of 67 points.

Connor McMichael is a player to watch. He posted a career best 18 goals and 33 points. McMichael played much more under coach Spencer Carberry than he did when Peter Laviolette coached in DC. That makes for an interesting storyline. Laviolette versus his former team.

The Caps bank on Charlie Lindgren in the net. The older brother of Ryan Lindgren has become a steady goalie for Washington. In his second season as a Capital, Lindgren played in a career high 50 games (48 starts), setting personal bests in wins (25), and shutouts with his six tying for the league lead. He posted a 2.67 goals-against-average (GAA) and a .911 save percentage.

In three starts, he went 2-1 versus the Rangers with a 1.35 GAA and a .955 save percentage. Lindgren is unorthodox because he catches with his right hand. That can make it challenging for opponents. The Rangers must do a good job shooting high blocker and finding other areas to target.

Most of the Caps’ defense is experienced. Carlson anchors it. They rely on vets Nick Jensen and Trevor van Riemsdyk. Martin Fehervary is a key player who plays tough. Rasmus Sandin didn’t play over the last week. Here’s an update on both him and Jensen.

The Caps are more defensive minded under Carberry. They’ll try to squeeze the neutral zone and take away time and space from the much quicker transitioning Rangers. They’ll need to be patient and get behind the Washington defense and on the forecheck. Puck possession is a team strength along with faceoffs.

If the Blueshirts can use their speed and skill to pin the Caps in, that should bode well. They can draw penalties and go on the power play. An area they excel at. But they’ll need to be strong at five-on-five. As important as special teams are, winning the battle at even strength is crucial.

It’s a contrast in styles. The Rangers should have an edge in depth. I’ll have a full preview sometime tomorrow.

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Rangers shut out Senators to clinch the Presidents’ Trophy

Posted on April 15, 2024 by Derek

The Rangers ended the regular season in good fashion. Playing for home ice, they shut out the Senators 4-0 at Madison Square Garden on Monday night.

By defeating the Senators, the Rangers won a franchise record 55th game to finish with a league-leading 114 points. They won the Presidents’ Trophy for the fourth time in franchise history.

Rather than focus on that detail, it’s all about one thing. The playoffs. As nice as it is to have the most points, the ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup. The Rangers deserve all the credit for the season they’ve had.

No one saw it coming. It makes it all the sweeter that they accomplished this under coach Peter Laviolette, who should be a Jack Adams candidate. He’s done a great job. Now comes the hard part. Getting through four grueling rounds. That’s where the heart of a champion is measured.

It’s going to be an exciting time at The Garden. Both the Knicks and Rangers are serious contenders to win a championship. The Knicks will host Game 1 on Saturday, Apr. 20. The Rangers will kick off Game 1 on Sunday at 3 PM. If it’s anything like 1994, we’re in for a great summer.

When’s the last time MSG rocked for both the Knicks and Rangers? It’s been a while. This year has a chance to be special.

The Rangers needed a win to wrap up home ice for the postseason. They came out with a purpose. Facing an opponent that came in playing better down the stretch, they were quicker to the puck early on. It translated to a goal from Jack Roslovic less than six minutes in.

Taking advantage of a Shane Pinto neutral zone turnover, Chris Kreider stole the puck and came in two-on-one with Roslovic. He waited for the Ottawa defenseman to go down before passing across for Roslovic, who went top shelf on Joonas Korpisalo for a 1-0 lead.

Speaking of that line, it was a good night for Mika Zibanejad, Kreider, and Roslovic. For a second consecutive game, they were more noticeable at even strength. If there’s one key to a successful postseason, it’s that that line contributes at five-on-five.

The Senators struggled in the first half of the game with turnovers. Some sloppy play led to the Rangers generating quality chances. However, they were stopped in their tracks by Korpisalo. He made a few big saves to keep his team afloat.

On a play in transition, Alexis Lafreniere tested Korpisalo with a tough wrist shot that the Senators goalie made a good stop on. He would later deny an Artemi Panarin one-timer on an extended shift by the Rangers’ top scoring line.

After a strong start, the Blueshirts allowed the Senators to get back into the game. The Sens used their speed to create some opportunities. Igor Shesterkin made timely saves on Thomas Chabot, Parker Kelly, and Claude Giroux.

Following a stretch when the Senators outshot the Rangers 9-2, Jacob Trouba drew a holding minor penalty on Jiri Smejkal. That put them on the power play with less than two minutes left.

The best chance came with Shesterkin on the bench for a six-on-four with 2.8 seconds remaining. Vincent Trocheck won an offensive faceoff back for a Zibanejad shot that rebounded right to Adam Fox. He was stoned by Korpisalo to end the period.

It was a good gamble by Laviolette. There were less than three seconds left. They were on a power play. Trocheck’s been money on faceoffs. It nearly resulted in a goal. Korpisalo came up with a good save.

For a brief stretch in the second period, the Senators remained in control. Although they didn’t get many shots on Shesterkin, they were the aggressor. Erik Brannstrom was stopped by the Rangers goalie.

The Rangers’ first shot of the period came with over 14 minutes remaining. Lafreniere got a great scoring chance. On a steal by Barclay Goodrow, he came in one on one with Korpisalo, who didn’t bite on his move to shut down his low shot.

Another offensive zone penalty by Kaapo Kakko put the Senators on the power play. He slashed Thomas Chabot to give Ottawa an opportunity to tie the score.

Instead, Shesterkin made three saves during it with a pair coming on Pinto. Following that, the Rangers came in the opposite direction to strike for a beautiful shorthanded goal.

On a good defensive play by Zibanejad, he passed the puck out for Kreider. He then moved the puck to Fox, who passed it back for an attacking Kreider, who made a perfect pass in front for a nifty Fox redirection for a shorthanded goal to make it 2-0.

It was Fox’s career best 17th goal. He has been phenomenal over the last two months. The Rangers couldn’t survive without him patrolling the blue line.

Roslovic was stopped by Korpisalo on another strong shift by the Zibanejad line. It was the best they’ve looked in a while.

On an effective shift, Will Cuylle drove hard to the net after testing Korpisalo. He drew an interference minor on Artem Zub. During the five-on-four, Panarin fired just wide from distance. Knowing he needed two goals for 50, the crowd was amped up. Panarin heard “MVP, MVP!!”, chants. They were well-deserved.

Ottawa killed off the penalty to remain down by two. They also paid attention to Matt Rempe. He didn’t play a ton. But he played his usual honest game. At the end of a shift, he gave Jakob Chychrun a shore, which prompted a cross-check from Chychrun in return.

As far as Bokondji Imama, who challenged Rempe early following a hit on Zack MacEwen, nothing materialized. Interestingly, the two had a friendly chat during warm-ups. Rempe finished with 5:48 of ice time. In the third period, he took a tripping minor on Pinto due to his strength. He’s still learning. If he’s in for the playoffs, it’ll be interesting to see how he handles it.

With something still on the line in the third, the Rangers erased any doubts. Panarin got number 49 less than five minutes in to make it 3-0. Fox moved the puck over for a Ryan Lindgren shot that Panarin tipped in at 4:34.

Under the previous coach, Panarin didn’t score those kinds of goals. He plays much differently under Laviolette, who doesn’t humiliate players by giving them tongue lashings or calling them out to the press. He treats them the way they should be treated.

It’s led to one of the best seasons in Rangers history. Panarin had a goal and assist to finish with 120 points. The second most behind Jaromir Jagr, whose 123 in 2005-06 should’ve been enough to win the Hart Trophy. Nearly two decades later, it’s Panarin being disrespected by media who gush over other stars with better supporting casts.

Panarin picked up point number 120 in classic fashion. Following an Ottawa turnover, he led an odd man rush. After he waited for a Senators player to go down, the crowd wanted him to go for 50. Instead, he made the unselfish play by passing the puck to Erik Gustafsson, who dished across for an easy Lafreniere finish that made it 4-0 with seven minutes left.

It was a nice reward for a player who’s worked hard. Lafreniere was good all game. He got his 28th goal to give him a career high 57 points. Lafreniere began the season by scoring the first goal. He ended it in a similar fashion. Now, it’s onto bigger and better things.

Shortly after, Rempe moved in to finish his check on Pinto with the crowd alive. But he accidentally got his stick into Pinto’s skates to go off for tripping.

The Senators didn’t score. They didn’t have much luck against Shesterkin, who made 26 saves to get his fourth shutout of the season. He looks ready for the playoffs. They’re gonna need him.

Jimmy Vesey actually earned a penalty shot while shorthanded when Ridly Greig hooked him from behind to deny a scoring chance. Vesey moved in on Korpisalo and missed wide on his attempt.

With under three minutes remaining, Cuylle drove hard to the net in search of a rebound. That caused a reaction from both Chychrun and Tkachuk, who gave him a cross-check. Tkachuk went off for two minutes to set up one final shot for Panarin to try for 50.

There was plenty of excitement. Every time he touched the puck, you could feel the energy. Panarin came close on a wrist shot that Korpisalo got a piece of to keep it out. He also had another attempt go wide. Laviolette left him out for the whole power play. He was exhausted at the end and took a clean hit from Tkachuk before finally going to the bench.

When the buzzer sounded, there were plenty of cheers from an appreciative crowd who saluted their heroes. It was a nice ending to a fantastic regular season.

The next chapter doesn’t begin until Sunday on 4/20. Hopefully, the Rangers can make it a memorable one.

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Laviolette endorses Rempe as a possibility for playoffs

Posted on April 15, 2024 by Derek

Later tonight, the Rangers play their final game of the regular season when Senators visit Madison Square Garden. Faceoff is set for 7:30 PM.

It’s rather simple. A win will wrap up both the Metropolitan Division and the President’s Trophy. The Hurricanes are knocking on the door, trailing by a point for home ice. If the Rangers slip up, the Hurricanes can finish first with a win over the Blue Jackets tomorrow night. By virtue of more regulation wins (44-42), they have the first tiebreaker.

A win of any kind would make that irrelevant. The Rangers can reach 114 points. The Canes can only get to 113. All they have to do is take care of business against the Senators. An opponent that has nothing to lose. They are capable of spoiling the party. Brady Tkachuk usually plays well versus the Rangers. We’ll see what happens.

For a second straight game, coach Peter Laviolette will roll out the same lineup. That means K’Andre Miller remains on the second pair with Braden Schneider. Jacob Trouba will play with Erik Gustafsson on the third pair. As usual, Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox comprise the top pair.

Zac Jones skated with Chad Ruhwedel as the extras in practice. Jones certainly proved himself this season. If Gustafsson has a bad game in the playoffs, Jones should replace him. Laviolette shouldn’t hesitate. Everything becomes so magnified in best of seven series.

The same forwards will also make up the four lines, like Saturday’s win over the Islanders. That means Vincent Trocheck between Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere. Mika Zibanejad with Chris Kreider and Jack Roslovic. Alex Wennberg centering Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko. Barclay Goodrow between Jimmy Vesey and Matt Rempe.

After taking eight shifts and logging 5:57 of ice time against the Islanders, Rempe will again play over Jonny Brodzinski. When asked about the 21-year-old rookie, Laviolette endorsed him as a possibility for the playoffs.

“To answer your question, yeah. I do think he’s ready for playoff games.”

Laviolette was pleased with how Rempe played in the win over the Islanders. “His game last game was excellent. I know it’s limited ice, and I know his role and responsibility, but they were a positive line. They put the puck behind, they were physical, they got into the offensive zone, pucks were going at the net.”

Rempe will see a familiar face when he’s on the ice. In a move made for tonight’s game, the Senators called up Zack Ostapchuk. They fought before in the Western Hockey League (WHL).

There’s a history. It’ll be interesting to see how Rempe approaches his shifts. He didn’t engage any Islander in the last game. He stuck to playing hockey by finishing checks and getting in on the forecheck.

The potential for a showdown between Ostapchuk and Rempe is a subplot. That’ll depend on Rempe, who understands his role.

Most importantly, the Rangers want to play well and finish the season with a victory that’ll clinch home ice for the postseason.

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A Sad Ending for Coyotes

Posted on April 14, 2024 by Derek

It wasn’t supposed to end this way for the Coyotes. They were hopeful that Arizona would break ground on a new arena that would keep them in the desert.

Instead, the team was informed that they would be relocating to Salt Lake City. On April 17, they’ll play their final game at home against the Oilers at Mullett Arena. It’ll be an emotional night on Wednesday for the players, staff, and the loyal fans who’ve supported them.

Even if it’s on the campus of Arizona State with only 4,600 seats, it’s never easy to say goodbye. When it comes to the NHL, it’s happened enough times. Hartford said goodbye to the Whalers in 1997. They relocated to Carolina.

In 1996, the original Winnipeg Jets played their last game. They moved to Phoenix. That’s how the Coyotes were formed. Some big names wore the cool jerseys that featured the classic Coyotes logo. Jeremy Roenick. Keith Tkachuk. Teppo Numminen. Mike Gartner. Nikolai Khabibulin. Mister Coyote, Shane Doan.

The irony is that Doan’s son, Josh, has shown promise since debuting with the Coyotes. A 2021 second round pick, the former Sun Devil has four goals and four assists for eight points in nine games. In the club’s 3-2 overtime win over Edmonton, he had a goal and an assist. Doan has only known playing hockey in Arizona. It’s sure to be an emotional roller-coaster when the Coyotes play on  Tuesday.

What makes it harder is that most of the players don’t want to relocate. Who can blame them? There’s a personal connection to playing in a city. Even if the arena situation has been less than ideal, the players get used to it. It becomes about the fans who love the team. It isn’t easy.

Who’s to blame for this mess? You can point the finger at the league. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has bent over backward to try to make it work. While he’s an easy target, Bettman was only doing his job. He tried his best to help the Coyotes survive.

Ultimately, the real blame lies with the state. They never were committed to keeping the Coyotes in Arizona. There were arena proposals. But they never had the backing needed to stay.

It’s similar to what the Islanders endured with the Lighthouse project that never had enough support. Fortunately, they survived thanks to a new arena in Elmont. Otherwise, there would be no more Islanders. Imagine that.

The Penguins almost moved to Kansas City. Legend Mario Lemieux helped prevent that from happening. It’s hard to envision no Sidney Crosby as a Penguin. They’ve played at PPG Paints Arena in downtown Pittsburgh since 2010-11. They’ve won two more Stanley Cups since. Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have been front and center.

Imagine if the Quebec Nordiques had survived. There wouldn’t have been any Colorado Avalanche. Nor Patrick Roy getting traded to the Avalanche to help them win a pair of Cups. It would never have happened if they stayed in Quebec. Especially given the rivalry between the Canadiens and Nordiques.

The Hurricanes have been pretty successful since relocating from Hartford in 1997. The Whalers had some good teams in the 80s. They didn’t have much success in the 90s. Former owner Peter Karmanos wanted a new arena. When he didn’t get it, he moved the franchise to Carolina. It caused Whaler fans to be conflicted when the Hurricanes won the Cup.

Ultimately, the product is about the players who play the game. But owners like Karmanos can make a franchise hated due to empty promises.

For Coyotes fans, it’s their turn to go through heartbreak. Their team remained in Arizona for nearly three decades. Even with the league doing what it could to keep the Coyotes afloat, it wasn’t enough to save them.

How exactly should Yotes fans feel about the statement released by Arizona Coyotes chairman and governor Alex Meruelo? Predictably, it didn’t go over well. There’s a lot of frustration, which is understandable. It isn’t easy when you know the end is coming. 

Imagine how star Clayton Keller feels. He’s only known NHL hockey as an Arizona Coyote. The 25-year-old former 2016 first round pick has become the leader of the rebuilding club. His 33 goals, 40 assists, and 73 points pace the team. He also led them in scoring the past two seasons.

Keller is signed through 2027-28 with a friendly $7.15 million cap hit. With the franchise moving to Salt Lake City, there’s no guarantee that he’ll want to stay. If he leaves, where will that leave the team in Utah?

At the very least, the Coyotes have some good young pieces, including rookie Logan Cooley, Doan, Dylan Guenther, Barrett Hayton, Mattias Maccelli, J.J. Moser, along with prospects Daniil But, Connor Geekie, Michael Hrabal, and Dmitry Simashev.

It’s hard to predict what will happen. One thing is certain. This Wednesday night will be emotional for everyone. Another sad ending.

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Panarin delivers in the clutch for Rangers in comeback win over Islanders

Posted on April 13, 2024 by Derek

They played earlier this afternoon in an ABC exclusive game seen on national TV. The rematch didn’t disappoint. Four days later, it was the Rangers who came out victorious over the Islanders.

It was earned. Artemi Panarin delivered in the clutch to lead the Blueshirts to a come from behind 3-2 win in the shootout over the Islanders at Madison Square Garden.

His game-tying goal came with 4:17 left in regulation. Held in check by a stingy Isles’ defense for most of the day, Panarin took advantage of a Vincent Trocheck faceoff win to fire home his team-leading 48th goal past Ilya Sorokin.

With their crosstown rivals clinging to a one-goal lead, the Rangers were able to draw even late in the third period. The Islanders iced the puck twice. That led to Trocheck winning the key offensive draw back to Panarin, who beat Sorokin from the left circle with a wrist shot to tie the game at two.

The big goal allowed the Rangers to force overtime. During the three-on-three, they had some good puck possession, but never tested Sorokin. A couple of unforced turnovers almost cost them.

Igor Shesterkin denied Mat Barzal after he stole an errant Panarin pass to get the best chance with seven seconds left in overtime. Shesterkin also delivered a huge stop on an Adam Pelech penalty shot with the Rangers trailing the Islanders 2-1 and under seven minutes remaining.

Panarin hooked Pelech from behind to set up the second Islanders’ penalty shot over four days. In a 4-2 loss at UBS Arena on Apr. 9, Barzal was stopped by Shesterkin 1:25 into the game. That’s twice that Shesterkin made key saves on penalty shots, adding another chapter to the historic rivalry.

In the shootout, Shesterkin was better than Sorokin. In the top of the first, Panarin came in and beat Sorokin with a forehand deke to the glove side.

Kyle Palmieri came out for the Islanders. He had Shesterkin beat, but his shot hit the goalpost. In Round 2, Mika Zibanejad tried to go high glove. But Sorokin shrugged it aside. Brock Nelson was foiled by Shesterkin down low.

That left it up to Vincent Trocheck. The new Steven McDonald winner went far side on Sorokin to clinch the victory on home ice. It was a welcome sight following a pair of losses, including a bad one to the Flyers on Thursday.

Unlike that one, the Rangers competed much harder. Coach Peter Laviolette made some lineup changes. Rookie Matt Rempe was in for Jonny Brodzinski. He took his place on the fourth line with Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey.

The biggest move was splitting up the defensive pair of K’Andre Miller and Jacob Trouba. They’d struggled mightily since Trouba returned on Mar. 28. In fact, they were on for only one goal for and a mind-numbing nine goals against. On Saturday, Miller played with Braden Schneider. Trouba worked with Erik Gustafsson.

It had to happen. With one game left on the schedule with the Senators visiting MSG on Monday, we’ll see how things develop. Zac Jones deserves to play that game to make his case. We’ll see what Laviolette decides.

By winning, the Rangers remained a point up on the Stars for the President’s Trophy. Dallas won their game over Seattle later in the day. Depending on what happens between now and Monday, that’ll determine what happens. The Hurricanes are still in play for the Metropolitan Division. If they win at Chicago tomorrow, that’ll force the Rangers to earn it with another win against Ottawa. Carolina wraps up at Columbus on Tuesday.

The Bruins are playing the Penguins. They can still earn the top seed by running the table and getting help from the Senators. They don’t have as many regulation wins as the Rangers or Hurricanes. So. They have to beat out both on points.

At least for one day, the Blueshirts can be happy with a franchise record 28th comeback win of the season. That resiliency is a big reason for why they sit atop the standings. It’s the character they possess that’s made them successful.

Unlike the no-show the other day, they started better against their biggest rival. In fact, they got the game’s first five shots on Sorokin before the Isles settled in.

In particular, Zibanejad had some good jump early. He was much more noticeable during his line’s five-on-five shifts. He was effective throughout the game. There was even a Jack Roslovic sighting with the former Blue Jacket getting a shot right on Sorokin.

Eventually, the Islanders got their legs moving. Following a good shift by the Nelson line, Bo Horvat got a step on Ryan Lindgren to get off a backhand that Shesterkin stopped. They continued to turn it around. Shesterkin made stops on Palmieri and Casey Cizikas, who had a couple of glorious chances.

After the Isles’ onslaught, Mike Reilly went off for holding Alex Wennberg. The vaunted Rangers top unit did everything but score on their first power play. They had the puck for the entirety. Crisp passing led to some great opportunities. Zibanejad was all set up in the left circle but wasn’t able to elevate a hard Trocheck pass.

The Islanders survived thanks to some shot blocks and a few saves from Sorokin. Late in the period, they’d get a couple of power plays.

After easily killing off a Goodrow holding minor, the Rangers were shorthanded once more due to Kaapo Kakko high-sticking and drawing blood on Robert Bortuzzo. The double minor carried over.

In the second period, Lindgren boarded Barzal to give the Islanders an abbreviated 5-on-3. When it expired, a Nelson giveaway led to Schneider scoring a shorthanded goal to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead at 4:33.

Chris Kreider moved the puck to Zibanejad, who found Schneider open for a shot in the slot. After Sorokin made one stop, Schneider followed up his own rebound for his fifth goal of the season.

On the next shift, the Islanders thought they tied the score. Hudson Fasching looked like he had the tying goal. However, Laviolette successfully challenged offside. On the replay, Palmieri was just ahead of the play. It was close. He was pushed by Goodrow. That was enough to overturn the goal.

Despite losing out on the goal, the same Islanders line would get one a bit later. Some hustle from Fasching led to Palmieri getting the puck down low for Nelson, who batted his own rebound off a diving Shesterkin and in for his 31st goal. That tied the score with 8:18 remaining.

With the game tied, Rempe finished a check on Bortuzzo to some cheers from the crowd who chanted his name. When he was out for shifts, Rempe had some good battles with Alexander Romanov. They definitely gave it their all. That mostly came when Rempe was behind the Islanders’ net.

In the final minute of the period, the Islanders went ahead. On another strong shift from the Nelson line, Fasching escaped a Schneider check to spin around and center a backhand pass across that Nelson finished to make it 2-1 with less than 28 seconds left.

On the replay, it looked like Palmieri held Miller’s stick. Whether intentional or not, he got away with it. Similar to Goodrow when he shoved Palmieri offside.

The Rangers trailed by one entering the third period. They’ve been a good comeback team in the third. That proved true.

In the first part of the third, they got some shots on Sorokin, who handled them without a problem. He didn’t face much traffic. An area the Rangers will need to do better when the playoffs start next weekend.

Another Lindgren penalty put them shorthanded. It didn’t matter due to the Isles’ power play being so bad. They had no shots.

When play returned to even strength, though, the Islanders created some chances. Shesterkin was sharp. He stopped Barzal and Palmieri. His biggest save of the game came when Panarin was forced to hook Pelech from behind to deny a breakaway. He was awarded a penalty shot.

So. It was the Islanders’ defensive defenseman versus Shesterkin. Pelech moved in methodically before taking his shot that Shesterkin made the crucial stop on with 6:56 remaining.

After a Sorokin save on Roslovic, the Islanders iced the puck. Trocheck came out to take the offensive draw. The Isles again iced the puck. Then, Trocheck beat Horvat on the second faceoff back for a Panarin wrist shot that was in the back of the net quickly. Just like that, the game was tied.

With one game left, Panarin needs two goals to become just the fifth Rangers player to score 50 in a season. The 50-goal club consists of Vic Hadfield (50), Adam Graves (52), Jaromir Jagr (54), and Kreider (52).

In overtime, Panarin had a bad giveaway in the neutral zone with time winding down. Barzal made a strong move to get off a good wrist shot in the left circle that Shesterkin reached back with his glove and snapped up.

That clutch stop led to Panarin and Trocheck sealing the deal in the shootout. It was a very good game between the rivals. The Rangers took the season series 3-1. Unless they cough up first place, they likely won’t see the Islanders in the first round.

The rivalry games between these teams remain pinnacle. Imagine if they played each other six times. Ask the schedule makers to explain that one.

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Chytil practices after previously being ruled out for season

Posted on April 12, 2024 by Derek

Filip Chytil wasn’t supposed to be a playoff option for the Rangers. Previously ruled out for the season due to suffering another concussion while on the ice back in late January, he skated without a non-contact jersey at this morning’s practice.

There’s still no timetable for his return. Due to the salary cap, Chytil can’t play in either of the Rangers’ final two games. How close he might be to being medically cleared to dress for a game in the playoffs isn’t certain.

When it comes to Chytil, his health comes first. The Rangers have to use extreme caution. One more hit could be the end of his career. That’s how risky bringing back players from head injuries is. There’s an unknown dynamic attached.

If he is able to come back and participate in the postseason at some point, nobody can predict how much Chytil will contribute. The playoffs are a different level of intensity. Things are tighter. There’s more physicality. That makes it all the more dangerous.

Chytil had success in the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs by scoring seven goals to help the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Finals. It was the play of his line with Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko that made an impact during that run. Their ability to skate, forecheck, and contribute offensively was a key factor.

If he were to return, Chytil would likely slot in on the third line. He rotated in during practice. Alex Wennberg currently centers Kakko and Will Cuylle. It’s hard to say who would drop down if Chytil comes back. The third line has developed some chemistry due to their ability to win board battles and generate opportunities.

Here’s an idea. What if Jack Roslovic continues to struggle playing on the first line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider? Would coach Peter Laviolette ever consider inserting Chytil on the right side during the most pressure packed games? The right wing issue hasn’t gone away. There’s still not enough offense produced at five-on-five by the Zibanejad unit.

At this point, it’s only a hypothetical. It’s far too early to conclude if or when Chytil can return. Only the player and Rangers know.

Handle with fragile care.

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Rangers lack intensity in concerning loss to Flyers

Posted on April 12, 2024 by Derek

Make it two consecutive losses. At least they competed against the Islanders on Tuesday night. The Rangers lacked intensity in a concerning 4-1 loss to the Flyers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.

Facing a desperate opponent who was just trying to cling to hope following a 9-3 blowout defeat to the Canadiens, the Rangers played arguably their worst game of the season. They were soft and easy to play against.

The Flyers previously entered on an eight-game losing streak in which they were outscored 42-18. You wouldn’t have known it by how they played. They competed much harder for every puck and won almost every battle. They outworked the Rangers, who looked disjointed.

Peter Laviolette opted to stick with the same lineup as Tuesday. Maybe he should’ve rested some players. Mainly Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Both were non-factors. The same can be echoed for K’Andre Miller. He had a miserable night with partner Jacob Trouba, who continues to fumble pucks away and blow assignments.

If they want to have success in the postseason, those four players will need to play a lot better. There are issues for the still first overall Blueshirts, who remained a point up on the Stars due to Dallas losing 3-0 to Winnipeg. However, first place is no longer a lock.

The Hurricanes can come back to win the Metropolitan Division if they take care of their remaining three games and get help from either the Islanders or Senators. Carolina trails the Rangers by three points. However, they’re tied in regulation wins with 42. A win on Friday at St. Louis would allow them to pull within a single point and go ahead in the first tiebreaker.

With the race still up for grabs at the top, along with a wild chase at the bottom, many things won’t be decided until either Sunday or Monday. That’s how close everything is.

The Penguins moved into the second wildcard with a 6-5 overtime win over the Red Wings. They’re a point up on both the Wings and Capitals, who suffered a bad 4-2 loss at the Sabres. The Islanders secured two points in a 3-2 overtime win over the Canadiens. They look like they’ll finish third in the division.

As for the Rangers, they’ll want to burn the video footage of the loss to the Flyers. Aside from a power-play goal from Artemi Panarin, who is up to 47 goals with two games remaining, there was nothing else positive to take away from Thursday’s game.

On the Flyers’ first goal, a hustling Miller scrambled back to recover against Travis Konecny, only to lose his edge. Konecny then found a pinching Cam York, whose shot deflected off Will Cuylle and went upstairs to beat Jonathan Quick at 4:21.

Trailing by one late in the first period, the Rangers took advantage of a bogus charging call on Erik Johnson to capitalize on a five-on-three. With the first penalty set to expire in three seconds, Panarin took an Adam Fox pass and then faked before firing a wrist shot inside the near goalpost past Samuel Ersson to tie the score.

Earlier, Fox received the Rod Gilbert “Mr. Ranger” Award in a pregame ceremony. The scary part is as he went over to accept it from Mrs. Gilbert, he tripped and fell on the carpet. It’s a good thing that he was okay and able to crack a smile. The last thing this team needs is an injury to their star defenseman.

The second period was an eyesore. Unlike most of the second periods they’ve had, the Blueshirts were abysmal. On what was a bad bounce, Bobby Brink had his soft wrist shot go off of Miller’s stick past Quick with Ryan Poehling in front to restore a one-goal lead for the Flyers.

Before that goal, Vincent Trocheck was all set up in the slot on an early power play. But Ersson made a sprawling save to deny him. Ersson, who’d struggled mightily, made 24 saves to win for the first time since Mar. 23. In his last start versus the Rangers, he allowed six goals on 27 shots in a wild 6-5 overtime loss on Mar. 26. A game Fox got the winner in.

With less than nine minutes left in the period, Garnet Hathaway collided with Quick during a stoppage. His skate came up and hit the Rangers goalie, who responded by slashing Hathaway. Even if it was accidental, you can’t have that happening. Each player earned two minutes for the shenanigans.

Astonishingly, the four-on-four produced nothing. Both teams defended well. There was diligent checking during it and no scoring chances.

On a play indicative of how poorly they played, Zibanejad skated with the puck and had it stripped by Konecny, who led an odd man rush in the opposite direction. On what was a brutal defensive sequence, in which there were too many passengers, Poehling got the puck back over for Konecny, who scored his 32nd to make it 3-1 in the final minute.

In particular, Zibanejad didn’t hustle back. He got caught puck watching. It was a very soft play by a player who’s struggled at five-on-five most of the season. Making matters worse, both Miller and Trouba were caught out for the goal against. Miller finished a minus-3.

At the buzzer, Barclay Goodrow went after Hathaway. Travis Sanheim stepped in. Goodrow received four minutes for cross-checking and roughing while Sanheim got two for roughing. That gave the Flyers a power play to start the third period.

Quick only had to make one save while shorthanded. The penalty kill did a good job to keep the deficit at two.

Unlike the lackluster second, the Blueshirts came out with more purpose. They took the body. Trouba finished some checks, including a heavy one on Owen Tippett. Braden Schneider had a pair of hits on Morgan Frost. The energy got the crowd into it. But it didn’t last long.

On another hiccup, off a faceoff in the Flyers’ zone, Fox got caught pinching inside the blue line. That left Panarin to defend Noah Cates. He blew past Panarin and beat Quick from the right circle to make it 4-1 with 14:04 remaining.

There would be no comeback this time. Instead, the lethargic Rangers only mustered two shots in what amounted to garbage time. For some reason, they weren’t ready to play.

At this point, you don’t want to overreact to a bad loss. But the way they’ve played is a little concerning. They usually get off to slow starts, falling behind. Then, they rally to win games. In the playoffs, things tighten up. They’ll need to be sharper when the puck is dropped in over a week for Game 1.

Laviolette might want to insert Matt Rempe for the rematch with the Islanders on Saturday afternoon. Jack Roslovic continues to struggle. Rempe’s energy can be used with two games left.

Zac Jones should also get back into the lineup. Laviolette has to keep him ready. Jones has proven he can be a regular. I imagine Igor Shesterkin will start tomorrow. Depending on what happens this weekend, that’ll determine what’s decided for next Monday.

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Rangers fume over missed call in frustrating loss to Islanders

Posted on April 10, 2024 by Derek

A day later, there’s still been some discussion over how last night’s game ended between the Rangers and Islanders at UBS Arena.

For the Manhattan side of the historic rivalry, frustration boiled over following a 4-2 loss to the little brother in Long Island. A missed call with just over 10 seconds remaining didn’t go over well with the Rangers.

On a play behind the Islanders’ net, Vincent Trocheck was fouled from behind by Noah Dobson. The Islanders defenseman gave him a shot that sent Trocheck down to the ice. He coughed up the puck, which led to Anders Lee scoring into an open net to seal a big win for the Islanders. They remained third in the Metropolitan Division with 87 points.

After Lee’s goal, Trocheck fumed at ref Kelly Sutherland. He wasn’t alone, either. Linemate Alexis Lafreniere also said something. Both got misconducts to end the night six seconds before the final buzzer sounded.

It’s understandable why Trocheck was upset. Dobson got away with one. It was either a cross-check or boarding minor penalty. If that’s called, the Rangers’ dangerous power play would’ve had a six-on-four for 10 to 11 seconds. There’s no guarantee they would’ve tied it. But you get why they had words with Sutherland, who didn’t have a particularly good game.

There’s too many instances when paid officials aren’t getting the calls right. This has been a common occurrence during the season. Even with video review, they don’t always interpret the rules correctly.

The Islanders could’ve been called for a couple of penalties late in regulation as they held on (held being the operative word) for dear life. They built a three-goal lead with a dominant first period in which the Rangers were missing in action.

Only 1:25 into the game, Mat Barzal was hooked down from behind by Adam Fox to negate a breakaway. He was awarded a penalty shot, making it the earliest one taken in Islanders’ franchise history. However, Barzal’s feeble attempt was eaten up by Igor Shesterkin.

Shesterkin’s big save early didn’t prevent the Islanders from storming the lethargic Blueshirts for three goals due to putrid defense. Mike Reilly had his shot bank in off of Ryan Lindgren’s skate to put them up 1-0 at 4:12.

A Dobson shot was tipped in by Bo Horvat eight and a half minutes later to make it 2-0. Less than two minutes later, the Rangers got caught scrambling around. That allowed Brock Nelson to find a wide open Kyle Palmieri in front for an easy tap in that made it 3-0.

Erik Gustafsson was caught out of position on the goal. He was on for two of the three Isles’ goals. A Laviolette favorite from his time spent in Washington, DC, Gustafsson’s game has slipped. Whether it’s partially due to a recent injury that kept him out for a few games, it’s hard to say. He’s a good skating defenseman who’s contributed well offensively. He’s not as consistent defensively.

As much as Laviolette loves what Gustafsson brings, he must consider super sub Zac Jones for the sixth spot on the Rangers’ defense. Jones has gotten exponentially better since the start of the season. The 23-year-old is a superb skater with good instincts who reads and reacts to plays well. Expect Gustafsson to start the postseason next week. If he struggles, Laviolette shouldn’t hesitate to play Jones.

As bad as they were in the first, you knew the Rangers would come back stronger. As has been their trademark, they responded well to adversity by scoring twice in a much better second period. The Islanders aided the comeback by taking penalties. That allowed the power play to go to work.

With Reilly off for interference, Mika Zibanejad set up Artemi Panarin for a shot pass that Chris Kreider tipped in past Semyon Varlamov for his 39th goal of the season. He’s now up to 110 power-play goals for his career – ranking second behind all-time franchise leader Camille Henry (116). Kreider recently passed Hall of Famer Rod Gilbert in a 5-2 home win over the Canadiens. He shows no signs of slowing down with a man up.

After failing to capitalize on a second straight power play, the Rangers took full advantage of a third in a row to pull within one. With Dobson off for delay of game, Adam Fox moved in and beat Varlamov with a wrist shot that had a double screen from both Kreider and Trocheck to make it 3-2 with 4:59 left in the second.

By that point, it looked like the Blueshirts would rally to tie it up. The Islanders had all kinds of problems clearing their zone. The Rangers applied heavy pressure for most of the remainder of the contest.

That included a 12-4 edge in shots during the third period. The Islanders went long stretches without any puck possession. They were frequently pinned in their zone by the Rangers. On one long shift, it looked like they were on a power play. However, they were unable to find the equalizer.

Varlamov made the key saves en route to being named the game’s first star with 31 stops on 33 shots.

The closest the Rangers came was when their best line had the Islanders on fumes. Panarin sent a shot that just missed wide late in regulation with Shesterkin on the bench. That was the opportunity.

The Islanders blocked a few shots to hang on. But not without some controversy. Why Sutherland didn’t make the obvious call on Dobson for decking Trocheck from behind we’ll never know. It was a horrible miss.

After the game, Laviolette overreacted to a play involving Adam Pelech and Zibanejad. They collided at center ice with Zibanejad getting the worst of it by going right into Pelech’s shoulder to go down with 11:09 remaining.

As Islanders coach Patrick Roy asserted, it was accidental. Not on purpose as Laviolette charged. Fortunately, Zibanejad was back on the bench set to return had the Rangers forced overtime. Jonny Brodzinski took some of his shifts along with Alex Wennberg. Both were effective.

So, too, was Kaapo Kakko, who looked visibly frustrated after having a shot snapped up by Varlamov. He’s shooting the puck more, tying with Fox for a team high five shots. They’re not going in. He’s playing with much more confidence. Hopefully, that will bode well for the playoffs.

The Rangers are one up on the Stars for the President’s Trophy. Each has three games remaining. With 110 points, the Blueshirts own the first tiebreaker due to three more regulation wins (42-39). They’re also three points ahead of both the Bruins and Hurricanes.

They’ll return to action on Thursday night when the fading Flyers visit Madison Square Garden.

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