Rangers put on a defensive clinic in 1-0 shutout of Hurricanes

Posted on March 12, 2024 by Derek

It was a game that lived up to expectations. Playing for a second straight night, the Rangers dug deep to go into enemy territory and play a perfect road game. The end result was a defensive clinic that produced a 1-0 shutout over the Hurricanes at PNC Arena.

The victory increased their lead for the Metropolitan Division to six points. It was all hands on deck for the Blueshirts.

There wasn’t a single player who didn’t contribute to the big win over the second place Hurricanes. All 18 skaters played well. Igor Shesterkin made 28 saves to post  his third shutout of the season. He also blanked the Blues on Mar. 9.

It was arguably the best game Adam Fox’s played this season. The former Norris winner scored the only goal while dominating in every facet. He was terrific defensively. So, too, was defense partner Ryan Lindgren. He broke up plays and assisted on Fox’s goal, which came with eight seconds remaining in the first period.

K’Andre Miller was stellar throughout by being more forceful and decisive. He made a couple of key blocks, including a diving one, to deny Sebastian Aho’s pass when the Canes were pressing with Pyotr Kochetkov on the bench for an extra attacker. Miller looks more comfortable playing with Braden Schneider, who stepped up defensively in Jacob Trouba’s absence.

The third pair of Zac Jones and Erik Gustafsson were steady when called upon. Jones has proven he can jump into the lineup and be reliable. Gustafsson’s biggest impact was a hit on Andrei Svechnikov, who lost his cool by taking an interference minor penalty for going back at the Rangers defenseman.

All four lines were effective. Mika Zibanejad played with more confidence. Maybe scoring a five-on-five goal against the Devils on Monday was just what the doctor ordered. He looked more like himself. That bodes well moving forward.

It was the top line that generated some good scoring chances thanks to the strong forecheck of Jack Roslovic. He continues to play well with Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. It was his hard work down low that kept a play alive for the game’s only goal.

After that, Lindgren and Kreider combibed to get the puck over to Fox for a shot that took a good bounce off Brady Skjei past Kochetkov at 19:52 of the first period.

The Rangers were the better team in the opening period. But they couldn’t beat Kochetkov, who played well for the Hurricanes. Although he had five fewer saves (23) than Shesterkin, Kochetkov made some key stops to give his team a chance. His biggest came when he dove across to rob Vincent Trocheck on a two on none rush with Artemi Panarin.

Despite playing well in the third period, the Rangers couldn’t find that insurance goal. Kochetkov was a big reason why. After surviving a second period that saw the Canes outshoot them 11-5, the Rangers were better down the stretch.

The first part of the third was like a race track. Both sides traded chances. There were some wild sequences. Both goalies did their part to keep the score 1-0.

However, things changed in the second part of the final period. It was the Rangers who took away time and space from the Hurricanes. They found it difficult to get through the neutral zone and make plays. When they did gain the Rangers’ zone, good defensive plays were made. The guys in the white sweaters were very disciplined. Both the forwards and defense came back.

The new third line had another good game. Alex Wennberg played well. He, Will Cuylle, and Kaapo Kakko spent some extended shifts in the Canes’ zone. They were very effective on the walls and made plays. On one good defensive read by Kakko, he led Cuylle for a chance. But Kochetkov made the glove save to deny him.

As expected, Jonny Brodzinski returned to the lineup with Matt Rempe serving his four-game suspension. Brodzinski fit in nicely with Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey on the checking line. They were good.

If there’s a big difference between last week and now, the Rangers have better balance. The additions of Wennberg and Roslovic are working. They are solid players who make things happen. So far, so good.

It was a rare night when Panarin didn’t register a shot. The Canes killed off two penalties. They were very aggressive, attacking the Rangers power play. There wasn’t any time to make a play.

On the Canes’ lone man-advantage, Shesterkin stopped a long one-timer from Teuvo Teravainen. In his Hurricanes debut, Jake Guentzel wasn’t a factor. It looked like he was still trying to find his timing.

Evgeny Kuznetsov got one of the best chances in the third. On a play in front, he got to a loose puck and tried to stuff it in. However, an aggressive Shesterkin challenged to make a big right pad save.

Even the newest Canes couldn’t make a dent on Shesterkin. He stopped a dozen shots in the third to pick up the win.

It was a well played game that had a playoff intensity. The Rangers were just a little better. They shut down the Hurricanes late. Even following a Miller icing with six seconds left, Trocheck won a faceoff back. One final clear sealed it.

There were lots of smiles after the buzzer. The Rangers got a big win.

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Department of Player Safety suspends Rempe four games for elbowing Siegenthaler

Posted on March 12, 2024 by Derek

This one was expected. Following last night’s game against the Devils, Rangers’ forward Matt Rempe had a phone hearing earlier today with the Department of Player Safety for his illegal hit on Jonas Siegenthaler.

The league came down hard on Rempe by suspending him four games for elbowing Siegenthaler in the head during the second period. Although it’s the first time in his young career that he’s faced discipline, perhaps the recent history played a role in the decision.

On Feb. 22, Rempe delivered an illegal check to the head of Nathan Bastian. Considering it was the same opponent, and Siegenthaler left last night’s game with an upper-body injury, that had to be a factor in why he received four games.

If there’s a complaint with League VP of DOPS George Parros’ decision, it would be that there’s no consistency. When it comes to dangerous hits like the one Rempe had on Siegenthaler, Parros has proven in the past that he isn’t as tough on more established players. There have been predatory hits worse than Rempe’s that didn’t get as much punishment.

If it feels like they’re picking on Rempe due to him being a rookie in the league with 10 games of NHL experience, that’s because it seems that way. Why should he be made an example of while other more experienced players with bad reputations get a slap on the wrist?

It looks like a double standard has been applied to Rempe. This isn’t to say that he doesn’t deserve what he got. Simply put, he can’t make those kinds of dangerous hits and skate free. He’s a big, strong forward who plays on the edge.

The bottom line is that Rempe will need to make an adjustment to how he finishes his checks. He can hit hard without getting ejected and suspended. He’s only 21. It’s all part of the learning process.

Perhaps the time off can benefit him. He can watch video of the hits and learn from his mistakes. A popular player who teammates like, Rempe can get advice on what to do better.

When he stays within the rules, he’s a very effective player. That’s been evident in how he forechecks and goes to the net to create havoc for opposing goalies. It was his faceoff win and screen on Kaapo Kahkonen that led to Erik Gustafsson scoring the winner in the Rangers’ 3-1 victory over the Devils on Monday night.

Rempe will be ineligible to play tonight versus the Hurricanes. He’ll also miss games against the Lightning, Penguins, and Islanders. He won’t be able to return to the lineup until next Tuesday, Mar. 19 when the Rangers take on the Jets.

The Rangers take on the Hurricanes at 7 EST later. Jonny Brodzinski will be inserted on the fourth line, replacing Rempe.

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Rempe elbow major on Siegenthaler earns ejection and MacDermid’s wrath

Posted on March 11, 2024 by Derek

The Rangers and Devils met for the third time this season on Monday night at Madison Square Garden.

It was a rematch from over two weeks ago. In that game, which was played at The Prudential Center on Feb. 22, it was all Blueshirts. They dominated for an easy 5-1 win.

Matt Rempe played his third NHL game in Newark. He didn’t stick around for long. He caught Devils forward Nathan Bastian with a hit to the head that resulted in a match penalty. Jonas Siegenthaler jumped in for Bastian during a scrum. Rempe finished with 17 penalty minutes and an early shower.

Facing the bitter Hudson rival again, Rempe declined Kurtis MacDermid’s early challenge on his first shift. He was focused on playing hockey. That would be the case for nearly two periods.

After a scoreless first where the Rangers had an Artemi Panarin goal overturned due to an offsides challenge, they struck twice in the second half of the middle stanza.

First, Mika Zibanejad finally scored a goal at five-on-five. It came due to a Jack Roslovic forecheck that allowed Chris Kreider to set up Zibanejad in front for a backhand past new Devils goalie Kaapo Kahkonen. It definitely was a huge relief.

With less than a minute left in the period, Rempe won an offensive draw. That allowed Jimmy Vesey and Zac Jones to get the puck over for an Erik Gustafsson point shot that Kahkonen couldn’t pick up due to Rempe standing directly in front. It was Gustafsson’s sixth goal.

However, Rempe got himself in trouble on the remainder of the shift. On a play at center ice, he came across to deliver a hit after Siegenthaler dumped the puck in. Unfortunately, the 21-year-old rookie caught Siegenthaler with a high left elbow that led to him being ejected for an elbowing major.

It was the right call. Rempe came too high on the hit, making it illegal. It’s all about timing. With it being his second game misconduct, he could hear from the league Department Player of Safety tomorrow. It wouldn’t be surprising if he’s suspended for a couple of games.

Rempe is a big man. The six-foot eight forward is still learning. He will have to make an adjustment moving forward. When he’s on the ice, he’s an effective player who can forecheck and screen opposing goalies. Nobody wants to be on the receiving end of one of his hits. The key is to keep it clean.

The Rangers can’t keep killing off major penalties. The Devils only were credited with two shots on goal during the five-minute power play that carried over to the third period. They’re playing out the string. They’ve gotten no bump from the coaching change. That about sums them up.

In the third, a Simon Nemec goal with Kahkonen pulled came with 2:34 remaining. That was the only shot that beat Jonathan Quick, who was sharp when he had to be – finishing with 19 saves on 20 shots. The Devils didn’t muster much.

Vincent Trocheck sealed the victory with an empty netter.

Afterward, MacDermid voiced his displeasure with Rempe. He felt that the rookie should’ve answered the bell for the Bastian hit.

Depending on what side you’re on, you can make a case either way. If you’re the Rangers, you don’t want Rempe fighting that early in a game. He can do it on his terms. It never materialized.

On the flip side, the Devils got MacDermid for this game. They were tired of seeing opponents run roughshod on their star players. Obviously, Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier need protection.

MacDermid’s job is simple. Finish checks. Make players accountable. You can understand where he’s coming from. Rempe took eight shifts for a total of 4:48 of ice time. His faceoff win and screen led to Gustafsson getting the game-winner.

The Rangers visit the Hurricanes for a big division showdown tomorrow night. If they don’t have Rempe available, Jonny Brodzinski will come back into the lineup.

There’s one regular season meeting left between the Rangers and Devils. It’ll be on Apr. 3. That isn’t that far away. Maybe there’ll be some fireworks. If they’re set off, we’ll know why.

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Rempe grows into role for Blueshirts

Posted on March 10, 2024 by Derek

They played hockey on Saturday night at 33rd Street and 7th Avenue in the big city. For the Rangers, it was a good thing.

New additions Jack Roslovic and Alex Wennberg fit in well in a 4-0 home win over the Blues at Madison Square Garden.

Roslovic showed off his speed while playing up on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Wennberg played responsibly, even getting a shorthanded breakaway that drew a penalty. He would later record his first point as a Ranger by assisting on a Kaapo Kakko tally in the third period.

Without captain Jacob Trouba, who’s expected to be sidelined from two to three weeks, Zac Jones stepped into the lineup and did a good job. The extra defenseman proved again that he could come back in and be dependable. In 17:17 of ice time, he paired up with Erik Gustafsson and finished a plus-one.

Jones was called upon by Rangers coach Peter Laviolette to play a key role on the blue line. So. They went with four lefty defensemen and two right defensemen. Chad Ruhwedel sat out. He’s just insurance.

The Blues were no match for the Blueshirts. They got first period goals from Vincent Trocheck (power-play) and Jimmy Vesey (even strength) to roll to a 2-0 lead.

Trocheck’s came in his 700th career game. He continues to pile up the points. He has 13 points (8-5-13) over the last 10 games. It’s been his consistency that’s overshadowed an off year for Zibanejad. He’s gone six consecutive games without a point. With 19 games left on the schedule, he needs to find his game.

Even without Zibanejad doing much, sidekick Chris Kreider added his 32nd goal of the season on the power play in the third period. It was career goal number 297. Kreider continues to produce despite Zibanejad’s struggles. He needs eight goals to reach 40 for the second time in three years.

Looking more comfortable playing on the third line, Kakko had a strong game. Wennberg fit in seamlessly with Will Cuylle and Kakko. They were effective OK the cycle at five-on-five.

Even better, Kakko converted an Erik Gustafsson rebound on the power play for his eighth goal to put the contest out of reach. It came on the second unit, which included Wennberg. He helped set it up. Perhaps adding the center can make the second unit better. He was part of it with Kakko, Alexis Lafreniere, Gustafsson, and Roslovic. Roslovic hit the goalpost off a faceoff win.

Igor Shesterkin continued his turnaround. He stopped 14 shots in a busy first period en route to a 26-save shutout. It was his second of the season. Things are looking up for the Rangers. Now that Shesterkin is back in form, they have to feel good about their chances.

If there was a player who was a factor in last night’s win, it was Matt Rempe. The 21-year-old rookie continued to impress in his ninth NHL game.

Playing on the fourth line with Vesey and Barclay Goodrow, the tower of power was effective again during shifts. He got in on the forecheck and used his size to screen Blues goalie Jordan Binnington.

The lovable gentle giant even almost had a goal in the second period. Replays on MSG Network were inconclusive. If the puck didn’t completely the goal line, it was about as close it gets.

Rempe’s reaction by the Rangers bench was how everyone felt watching the replay. The enthusiasm he brings is one of his best attributes. He is always smiling.

When the crowd chants his name, he loves it. Whether it’s before the game or during it, Rempe is the people’s champ. A fan favorite whose jersey will be selling like hotcakes. Number 73 is number 1 in Garden hearts. Only Shesterkin gets this kind of love. He’s supposed to.

The play of the checking line was so good that Laviolette rewarded them with extra shifts. Rempe played over 11 minutes. That included a 37-second shift on a late power play with time winding down. His teammates tried to feed him in front.

How much do they appreciate him? Ask ace defenseman Adam Fox.

“I think people have been talking about Linsanity and stuff like that, but I think he’s playing good hockey too. He’s not some sideshow. He plays his game hard, gets in on the forecheck and if you’re on the other side – you feel his presence,” Fox told reporters after picking up a pair of assists on power-play goals.

“I’m sure it’s not fun taking hits from him. He’s able to step up when he has to. He fought early. I don’t know if he needs to do that every game, we’re starting to see that.

He’s playing good hockey and I think that’s the biggest thing. The crowd appreciates how much he loves it too – he has a smile mid shift when he’s getting chances at the other end there. He’s a great kid and he’s come in and worked hard.”

It’s impossible not to admire the way Rempe approaches each shift. He puts in an honest effort like most gritty New Yorkers. That is something they identify with. It’s why the chant is “Rem-pe, Rem-pe!!”

If Laviolette likes what he brings, then we’ll continue to see Rempe in the lineup. However, Jonny Brodzinski has been a reliable player. He also deserves to get back in. That’ll depend on what the coach decides game to game.

He also had to be pleased with the play of Braden Schneider. He moved up to the second pair to play with K’Andre Miller. Without Trouba, Schneider should continue to take on a bigger role on the back end. When they have been paired up, Miller and Schneider work well together. It’s a tandem that could be the future of the club.

The Rangers are back in action Monday night when they host the Devils. They’ll play a back-to-back on Tuesday against the second place Hurricanes, who are hot on the trail. It’ll be a busy week with stops at Tampa this Thursday and Pittsburgh next Saturday.

It’s five games in seven days with a visit to Elmont to face the Islanders on Saint Patty’s Day.

With a schedule that includes Winnipeg, Boston, Florida, and Colorado, March doesn’t let up.

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After quiet deadline, Rangers’ stars will determine season

Posted on March 8, 2024 by Derek

It wasn’t an overwhelming trade deadline for Chris Drury. Rather than overpay for a star player, the Rangers team president and general manager decided to make subtle moves to upgrade the roster.

The acquisition of Alex Wennberg on Thursday was a hint of what came earlier today at the conclusion of the deadline. Brought in to center the third line, the former Blue Jacket will play a checking role for the Rangers. Before he excelled in Seattle, Wennberg spent the first part of his career with the Jackets.

Apparently, Drury was dialed in on the division doormat. After adding depth defenseman Chad Ruhwedel from the Penguins in exchange for a 2027 fourth round pick, he added forward Jack Roslovic from the Blue Jackets in exchange for a conditional fourth round pick in 2026.

While not the most exciting player, Roslovic is a good skater who’ll be handed the keys to the first line. The 27-year-old has six goals and 16 assists for 23 points in 40 games for Columbus. A right shot, he will be asked to fit in on a line with Mika Zibanejad and close buddy Chris Kreider.

How well it goes will be determined by the pair of Rangers’ stars. Zibanejad has been underwhelming this season. Of the 19 goals he’s scored, only eight have come at even strength. More concerning is that he’s gone over two months without scoring a goal at five-on-five. You have to go all the way back to Dec. 23 versus the Sabres. That’s far too long a period for Zibanejad to not have at least one goal at five-on-five.

At least Kreider continues to finish around the net. He’s scored 17 goals at even strength and a dozen on the power play. He’s also tied with Zibanejad for the team lead with two shorthanded goals. They do quality work on the penalty kill.

It would be nice to see the combination of Zibanejad to Kreider and vice versa hook up at even strength. I’m not referring to three-on-three, either. When the playoffs arrive this spring, most of the play will be at five-on-five. It’s probably asking too much for Roslovic to unlock Zibanejad. However, he’s getting a golden opportunity to play a significant role on a good team looking to contend.

At last check, the Rangers still lead the Metropolitan Division by four points. Even with the Hurricanes making aggressive moves by adding Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov, it’s the team that plays in Manhattan who boasts better stars in the net, on defense, and up front.

Of course, I’m referring to Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, and Artemi Panarin. All have played significant roles in the Rangers’ success this season.

It’s been the superlative play of Panarin that’s carried them up to this point. Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere have been key contributors to the Rangers’ best line. The chemistry the trio possesses has been on display through the first 62 games. It can’t fall all on them when the postseason begins.

There must be much more from Zibanejad and Kreider. They have been given different forwards on the right side. Aside from Blake Wheeler, who’s likely out for the season, nothing has clicked. Kaapo Kakko had been playing on the line. Despite some signs, the production isn’t there. That’s why Roslovic was added. Kakko can shift back down to the third line, which could include Wennberg and Will Cuylle.

The fourth line will have some options for Rangers coach Peter Laviolette to consider. He can play Barclay Goodrow with Jimmy Vesey and Jonny Brodzinski. If he wants more size and grit, then fan favorite Matt Rempe can add the physicality to the checking line. It could depend on the matchups.

As expected, Adam Edstrom was reassigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack for this weekend. The Rangers had to do it to create some cap space. It doesn’t mean Edstrom won’t be back at some point. It’s all about what’s best for the player.

Keeping Rempe up means that the organization really likes what he brings. He has a presence that’s unmistakable. You can see it in how he handles himself on and off the ice. Even if he’s not in the lineup tomorrow night when the Rangers host the Blues, Rempe is a good guy to have in the locker room. The future’s bright for the 21-year-old forward.

Ruhwedel isn’t going to play much when the Rangers are healthy. At the moment, though, Jacob Trouba is expected to miss at least two weeks with an injury. So. That’s why Drury went out and added the serviceable Ruhwedel.

Zac Jones remains the extra left defenseman. Unfortunately, that’s his role. He wasn’t traded. He’s been a good teammate.

What it really boils down to is how the Rangers’ best players play. If they want to go far this spring, it’s up to Fox, Kreider, Panarin, Shesterkin, Trocheck, and Zibanejad to deliver in the postseason. You can add Lafreniere, Ryan Lindgren, Trouba, and K’Andre Miller to the mix.

If Shesterkin continues his upswing, that bodes well. However, he can’t be asked to do it alone. Similar to Panarin, who’s done the heavy lifting, he needs help. That means more consistency from both the defensemen and forwards coming back on the backcheck. It also means not as many uncontested chances that Shesterkin has to deal with.

The role players will be asked to continue contributing. Cuylle has proven he’s capable of bringing the necessary sandpaper to his shifts. Vesey has been a dependable secondary scorer. He’s trusted on the penalty kill and at protecting leads. So is Goodrow, who plays his role well despite just one empty net goal.

If Kakko can find some offense, that would help. Drury decided the best move was to keep him. He believes that Kakko can be a key part of it moving forward. We’ll have to wait and see.

Braden Schneider has been better lately. He’s played more instinctively and used his body to finish checks. He and partner Erik Gustafsson are being trusted by the coaching staff to provide a steady third pair.

What happens in the playoffs is that space tightens up. There’s less room to work with. Panarin’s season will be judged on how he performs this spring. If he continues to have a more aggressive mindset by thinking shot, he should produce. He’s already set a new career high with 35 goals. The Rangers’ leading scorer has been brilliant. Hopefully, that’ll continue when the weather heats up.

If they’re to get anywhere, it will fall on Zibanejad to find his game. He still gives an honest effort defensively. But he must be able to score some goals. He’s counted on both at even strength and on the power play. No player has more pressure on them. A strong finish would erase what’s happened.

Ultimately, Drury opted to make smaller additions to a good roster. Time will tell if it was the right play.

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What Hurricanes’ trade for Guentzel signals for Rangers with deadline looming

Posted on March 7, 2024 by Derek

For the last day, the rumors were rampant that the Rangers were involved in a deal for Jake Guentzel. Despite the asking price, they were focused on trying to acquire the proven scoring forward for the home stretch.

With several interested parties, there was no guarantee that Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury would get it done. Guentzel would be a rental for whoever landed him unless he agreed to sign an extension.

Perhaps that was enough of a concern to not overpay. Drury also didn’t part with Kaapo Kakko and a 2024 first round pick when the Ducks offered both Adam Henrique and Frank Vatrano. Apparently, the Rangers still value Kakko enough to not want to include him in a rental deal. The 23-year-old right wing has seven goals and four assists in  41 games this season.

Despite the lack of production, the organization has seen enough positives to hang onto Kakko. A strong puck possession player who’s solid defensively, the former 2019 second pick is capable of contributing. If the Rangers can add a first line scoring wing, then he can move back down to the third line where he looked comfortable.

As Thursday moved on, it became apparent that the Hurricanes had moved ahead of the Rangers in the bidding for Guentzel. A playoff contender that’s been knocking on the door, the Canes finally went all-in by trading for Guentzel. The full details of the move still aren’t known. But the former two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins will be headed to Raleigh, where he’ll try to help the Canes go for a Cup.

The Hurricanes scratched forward Michael Bunting before tonight’s game. He’s expected to be part of the package headed to Pittsburgh. When the full trade is announced, it’ll be interesting to see what else the Canes gave up.

With their division rival improving, the Rangers still are on the clock. Friday’s deadline concludes at 3 PM. Vladimir Tarasenko wanted to go to the Panthers. Due to that, Ottawa didn’t get back much in return.

Anthony Duclair was acquired by the Lightning. He will now become a member of both Florida teams. It was with the Panthers that he had his most success. Now, he joins their bitter rival.

The Rangers can still add a right wing who can play on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Jordan Eberle is available. He would be a good addition who probably wouldn’t cost as much.

Pavel Buchnevich has been made available by the Blues with a discount. We know he had great chemistry playing with Zibanejad and Kreider. However, would the Blueshirts really go back to the future and pay up for a Broadway reunion with Buchnevich? The price would be higher due to getting him at a discount.

There’s still a feeling that they’ll Rangers could use another defenseman. If not Jakob Chychrun, maybe a player who checks off some boxes to help solidify their blue line.

A final thought on the Rangers not getting Guentzel. It isn’t always the sexy move that works out. Two years ago, Drury landed Vatrano, Andrew Copp, Tyler Motte, and Justin Braun. That team came within two games of playing for the Cup.

Let’s not jump to conclusions. We’ll wait and see if Drury has any tricks up his sleeve tomorrow.

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Rangers acquire Wennberg from Kraken to bolster center depth

Posted on March 6, 2024 by Derek

Earlier today, the Rangers made a move before the trade deadline to help improve their roster.

They acquired Alex Wennberg from the Kraken in exchange for a 2024 second round pick and a fourth round conditional pick. By adding Wennberg, they bolstered their center depth. An area that had to be addressed due to the loss of Filip Chytil for the season.

A 29-year-old veteran who’s spent a decade in the NHL with the Blue Jackets, Panthers, and Kraken, Wennberg is considered a solid two-way center capable of adding secondary scoring.

In 60 games for the Kraken, he had nine goals and 16 assists for 25 points this season. Wennberg has scored double-digit goals in four different seasons, including the last three. He put up 17 with the Panthers in 2020-21. He had 13 in 2021-22 and 11 in 2022-23 for the Kraken. When he joins the Rangers, Wennberg needs one goal to make it five seasons in double figures.

He can play on the power play and penalty kill. The more likely scenario is that Wennberg will be added to the Rangers’ penalty killing unit. For his career, he has three shorthanded goals, including one this season with the Kraken.

Wennberg is a strong checking player who’ll win puck battles. He’s a plus-22 in takeaways (40) and giveaways (18). He also will sacrifice for the cause. Wennberg has 65 blocked shots this season.

In adding a capable player who should be an ideal fit in the top nine, the Rangers will have more scoring balance. Wennberg can slot in and center the third line. If Will Cuylle is the left wing, we don’t know who will play the right side. That might be Jimmy Vesey. Vesey could move down to the checking line and play with Barclay Goodrow and either Matt Rempe or Adam Edstrom.

Another possibility is that Rangers coach Peter Laviolette might opt to play Goodrow up on the third line. He’s a better faceoff option than Wennberg, who checks in at 46.2 percent over his career. He’s won 46.7 in 2023-24. Goodrow has won 54 percent this season.

As much as some fans gripe about Goodrow’s lack of production due to his $3.64 million cap hit, that isn’t the role he plays on the roster. Goodrow is a valuable checking forward who’s reliable on the penalty kill. He provides a lot of grit and intangibles, such as finishing checks and blocking shots. He’s also an ornery player who can agitate opponents. That’s always needed in a long playoff series.

One question that’ll be on people’s minds is what happens to Adam Edstrom and Matt Rempe. Jonny Brodzinski has been a good player. He filled in admirably on the third line, forming solid chemistry with Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko. The latter has seen some time with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider on the top line. It hasn’t clicked. It remains to be seen what the organization will decide regarding Kakko.

Given how well Edstrom and Rempe have played on the fourth line, neither deserves to be the odd man out. They provide a unique combination of size, strength, and physicality to a roster that needs it.

When the Rangers resume play on Saturday, we’ll know by then if they made any more key additions. They’re in the market for a scoring right wing.

Unless they’re willing to overpay for Jake Guentzel, who’s about to be shipped out of Pittsburgh, other possibilities include a reunion with Frank Vatrano or possibly Kraken forward Jordan Eberle. If Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek really wants a first round pick along with a top prospect for Vatrano, I’d pass. The ask might be Kakko, too. I don’t feel Vatrano is worth it.

Eberle would probably be cheaper. He knows how to play and has postseason experience. He actually could be a nice fit on the top line. They need someone who can score goals and get their nose dirty. Eberle isn’t shy about that.

If there’s an area that’s been overlooked, it’s the Rangers’ defense. They haven’t played well for a while. Despite one of the league’s best records, there’s too many instances when they give up the blue line and let opponents create dangerous scoring chances. Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick have covered up a lot of mistakes.

While K’Andre Miller has certainly had his ups and downs, singling him out is wrong. This is an issue for the whole defense, including golden boy Adam Fox. He hasn’t been the same player defensively.

Erik Gustafsson has certainly been a good player for the Rangers. But there are moments when he makes costly mistakes. They’ve been more noticeable recently. I still think they’d be making a mistake if they don’t add a defenseman to upgrade the top six.

Of course, it isn’t easy to add a player like Jakob Chychrun. Maybe Noah Hanifin could be a possibility. You can cross his name off. Hanifin is being traded to the Golden Knights. The rich get richer again.

Braden Schneider has steadied his play. So. You can rule out Radko Gudas. A left defenseman who can play on the third pair would help solidify the defense.

We’ll see what else Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury decides to do. There are less than 48 hours left until Friday’s March 8 trade deadline. Until then, I’ll see you soon.

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Rangers clawed by relentless Panthers

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Derek

For over two periods, nothing separated the Rangers and Panthers. A pair of power-play goals sandwiched around two goals from leading Florida goal scorer Sam Reinhart had the Rangers even on the scoreboard in the third period at home.

Unfortunately, it was the relentless Panthers who took the game by outscoring the Rangers two-zip to come away with a 4-2 win at Madison Square Garden. It was the Rangers’ third loss over the last four games (1-2-1).

Unlike getting a tying goal from Vincent Trocheck with the goalie pulled in a 4-3 shootout loss at the Maple Leafs, they earned no points this time. It certainly was a different ball of wax.

The Panthers are a better team defensively than Toronto. It showed in how they protected a one-goal lead in the final period to earn points 87 and 88. That leads the league. The race for the President’s Trophy includes the Rangers, Bruins, and Canucks. The Rangers remain fourth with 84 points. The Bruins are up to 86. The Canucks have 85.

While having the league’s best record and earning home ice for the entire playoffs would be nice, the Rangers need to look at why they’ve lost twice to the Panthers. Florida is a very tough team with balanced scoring and a strong defense and is getting great goaltending from Sergei Bobrovsky. He made 26 saves to outduel Igor Shesterkin (25 saves).

The Panthers also boast a true star center in Aleksander Barkov. Barkov had an impact on the game, finishing with two primary assists while dominating by winning 12 of 15 faceoffs. He’s a huge difference maker.

On the flip side, it continues to be a struggle for top center Mika Zibanejad. It was another game where he didn’t score a 5-on-5 goal. More frustrating was his inability to pick up Reinhart on his second goal in less than a three-minute span during the second period. Zibanejad finished minus-two and lost 9 of 14 faceoffs.

Another mind-numbing thing was the go-ahead goal Shesterkin allowed to Panthers forward Ryan Lomberg. Even though he shot the puck between Jacob Trouba’s skates, it was from 40 feet out with no screen. It’s one Shesterkin needed to have.

That goal was enough for the Panthers to clamp down and claw the Rangers. They found it very tough to get through the neutral zone and establish anything in the Florida end.

It was only when Kaapo Kakko had a great shift behind the net that the Rangers almost tied the game with less than three minutes remaining. A loose puck came right to Kakko in front of Bobrovsky. But he fired the shot wide to miss the scoring chance. It was the only opportunity the Rangers got.

When Shesterkin was pulled for an extra attacker, they waited too long in the offensive zone to get shots through. Alexis Lafreniere was set up in front. But the setup never came. Instead, Adam Fox was out-muscled by Anton Lundell, who scored the empty netter with less than a minute left to seal it.

For one period, the Rangers played well. They got pucks into the Panthers’ zone and applied forecheck pressure. Most notably, it was a couple of effective shifts from the fourth line that got the crowd going.

Fan favorite Matt Rempe was in on the cycle working with Jonny Brodzinski and fellow rookie Adam Edstrom. They were good early on. On one shift, Rempe recovered a loose puck behind the net and set up a Braden Schneider shot that missed the mark. On another shift, he parked himself in front of Bobrovsky, who had to fight around to see shots.

It’s been how Rempe plays that makes him noticeable. For a player who’s listed at six-foot seven, 241 pounds, he skates well enough to make things happen. So too can Edstrom, who also is six-foot seven and 234 pounds. There’s a lot to like about the pair of former Rangers’ sixth round picks. They bring energy and get things going.

For this game, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette decided to move Barclay Goodrow up to center the third line. He wanted to have a checking line that could match up against the Panthers’ top scoring line. The trio of Goodrow, Jimmy Vesey, and Will Cuylle had a good game. Goodrow’s at his best when he’s utilized in that role. He won 7 of 13 faceoffs and was noticeable in 13:52 of ice time.

When you’re up against Barkov, Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, and Carter Verhaeghe, it makes sense to do what Laviolette did. Tell that to the fans who don’t understand hockey. Goodrow isn’t going to score much. But he’s a gritty player who adds intangibles. That could come in handy this spring. People have to stop focusing on his $3.6 million cap hit.

The Rangers had a good first period. They played well defensively and checked diligently. They also were physical. On a play along the boards, an aggressive Fox delivered a hit on Tkachuk that sent him down. He was turning with the puck when Fox finished the check.

Naturally, it turned into a scrum that had three Panthers to two Rangers. Tkachuk got up and punched Fox to get the only penalty for roughing.

On the power play, the Rangers hardly established anything. The Panthers were aggressive by attacking at the points. With the man-advantage running out, Laviolette tried something different. He kept Artemi Panarin out with the second unit.

With it set to expire, Jacob Trouba let go of a shot that rebounded off Bobrovsky right to Cuylle, who buried his 11th goal of the season to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead. K’Andre Miller drew the other assist.

A couple of minutes later, Zibanejad drew a holding minor on Kevin Stenlund. But the top unit was unable to get much done. It wasn’t until the second unit came out that they set up a shot. The Panthers killed it off.

With less than a minute left, Edstrom went off for interference on Verhaeghe. On a power play that carried over to the second period, the Panthers were held in check by the Rangers’ penalty kill.

Florida picked up their game in the second. They were more aggressive and started to dictate the terms. After Trouba lost control of a puck, he took down Barkov. But similar to their first power play, the Panthers didn’t muster much.

With it looking like they had some momentum, a dubious call on Rempe sent him to the box for tripping Eetu Luostarinen. The replay indicated otherwise. He didn’t stick his leg out. It was just two players coming together with Luostarinen falling down.

Unfortunately, the Panthers made it count on their third man-advantage. On a rush that was started by Verhaeghe, an acrobatic Barkov made a heads-up play. He was able to bat a puck out of midair right for Reinhart to fire his 43rd goal by Shesterkin. That tied the score with 9:49 remaining.

Over two minutes later, Barkov and Reinhart hooked up again. After receiving a pass from Gustav Forsling, Barkov and Reinhart worked a give and go to perfection. After he got the puck from Reinhart, Barkov immediately passed it back for Reinhart to one-time past Shesterkin. Zibanejad failed to stick with Reinhart. He has 44 goals for a reason. It was a poor job by Zibanejad.

With the Panthers continuing to press the action, Lundell got his stick up on Schneider. It drew blood to hand the Rangers a double minor. On the first half of the power play, Panarin set up a Trocheck shot in the slot that rebounded right for Chris Kreider to bury his 31st goal to tie it again with 4:34 left.

Although they came close, the Rangers were unable to beat Bobrovsky on the second half of the four-minute power play. When he had to be good, Bobrovsky made the key saves. He had some help from his defense.

With the game still tied in the third period, a Forsling pass up for Lomberg led to the game-winner. He simply gained the Rangers’ zone and took a wrist shot from distance that eluded Shesterkin. Even though it was shot through Trouba, there was no reason for him to allow that goal. That gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead with under 14 minutes to go.

Afterward, the Panthers locked up the neutral zone and made life difficult. The Rangers struggled to establish much offense. They were outshot 12-6 in the period.

There were too many instances when one player tried to carry the puck and skate through a maze of Panthers. As Miller and a few other Rangers found out, that strategy didn’t work. Especially against a well schooled opponent that checks well.

Trocheck made one good rush and even got to the net. But an aggressive Bobrovsky poke checked his scoring chance away with Aaron Ekblad checking Trocheck for good measure.

The only other chance was created by Kakko. It was a strong display of puck possession behind the Panthers’ net. Kakko set up one shot. That’s the best that the first line looked all night. But when Kakko had a glorious chance from right in front, he missed wide. That was it.

There were about two and a half minutes left. At that point, I would’ve gone for it. Shesterkin should’ve been off the ice for a 6-on-5. Laviolette waited too long.

Oliver-Ekman-Larsson cleared his zone to center ice. Lundell had body position on Fox. He then was able to end the suspense by scoring the empty netter.

The Rangers are now off until Saturday. By then, we’ll know what they did. The NHL trade deadline is this Friday, Mar. 8. With rumors circulating that they have an interest in Kraken center Alex Wennberg, who sat out for trade considerations, he could be the target to upgrade at third line center. Other teams are interested.

I’ll put something up this week about it. The Rangers honored Pride Night with taped rainbow sticks and in-game features on the MSG telecast. It was the right thing to do.

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The love affair with Rempe continues at Garden

Posted on March 4, 2024 by Derek

On a night, they honored Pride at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers were battling the Panthers for the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

After grabbing a 1-0 lead on a rare power-play goal by rookie Will Cuylle, the Rangers fell behind the Panthers in the second period. Sam Reinhart connected for his 25th power-play goal on a great play by Aleksander Barkov.

The goal came with Matt Rempe in the penalty box for an iffy tripping minor on Eetu Luostarinen. He didn’t stick out his leg. But he got called. The Panthers tied the game.

Reinhart would score his second of the period over two minutes later to put the Panthers ahead.

When it looked like the Panthers were in control, Anton Lundell high-sticked Braden Schneider, drawing blood for a double minor. The Rangers evened the score on a Chris Kreider power-play goal on a follow-up of a Vincent Trocheck shot to beat Sergei Bobrovsky.

Afterward, Rempe was finally back out for a shift with Jonny Brodzinski and Adam Edstrom. Having been effective earlier in the game by forechecking and creating a couple of chances, the fourth line did a good job.

Rempe dumped the puck in deep. He then came in and delivered a big, clean hit on Panthers defenseman Gustav Forsling. The Garden crowd erupted with cheers. They then chanted, “Rem-pe, Rem-pe!!!”

It’s officially a love affair with Rempe at MSG. They love the 21-year-old kid who plays with an edge. He knows where to go when the Rangers are setting up for a shot. He gave Bobrovsky problems by standing directly in front of a couple of attempts.

The Rangers and Panthers remained tied until Ryan Lomberg scored with less than 14 minutes left in the third period. Florida added an empty netter to hand the Rangers a 4-2 defeat.

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A Ruff ending for Devils head coach, Green promoted on an interim basis

Posted on March 4, 2024 by hasan4978

Apologies up top for the cheap pun, but might as well start with some levity. This is a tough piece to write for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is it’s just plain wrong for me to even think of celebrating a man losing his job when I’m also personally looking for work as of last Tuesday. Granted, in my case being laid off was being paroled from what had become a horrible job with a hideous boss and in the long run I should be better off assuming I find a job I at least somewhat like doing and can be good at. If people think Lindy ran a slipshod operation with the Devils, they should have tried working at my old company. Without naming names or really getting into it, let’s just say there’s a reason almost everyone who was there three months ago is gone now.

Not to mention my job problems the last few months since my old store was sold only added to the angst I already had with the Devils team this year, and why I announced I was going on an emotional break in my last blog. I’m not sure I’ve really come out of it yet – I may or may not go to tomorrow’s game, hardly seems to matter at this point with the Devils sitting seven points out of a playoff spot staring down a gauntlet of games in the next ten days that include the Panthers, Blues and Hurricanes at home followed by the Rangers and Stars on the road. Although I’m not going to celebrate Lindy’s dismissal, at least resolving that issue removed some of the potential toxicity of going to games the next month of the season with fans loudly calling for the coach’s head at the end of the last homestand, and a 1-2 West Coast swing doing nothing to improve anyone’s mood since. If they aren’t already out of the playoff picture in a top-heavy Eastern Conference, the next week or so should probably put the final nail in.

Honestly even if I was predisposed to pop champagne corks for Lindy’s dismissal (and believe me, my only real issue with this change – besides the fact it’s Travis Green taking over – is that it came almost certainly too late to matter for this season), he’s always been a class act off the ice and for the most part in the way he handled the criticism on the ice aside from a couple of slipups like picking on a reporter or blaming the media for the team being uptight on the power play, at least he was there and accountable unlike our GM.

It’s too bad it couldn’t have ended better here, especially after the redemption arc that was last season, but results can be stubborn facts sometimes. Having two bad seasons and a massively underachieving campaign this year eventually was going to outweigh what happened last season. I do think it’s patently unfair that many Devils fans attribute our downfall this season mainly due to the fact we no longer have Andrew Brunette on the staff, never mind that we lost three top five defensemen off of last year’s team. Not to mention at least three of our main offensive stars have either been hurt or playing hurt (Dougie Hamilton, Jack Hughes, Timo Meier). When has any assistant coach ever had ‘that’ much influence in the NHL? All that, and the utter breakdown of Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid in goal had a lot more to do with our demise this year than losing a freaking assistant. Arguably a lot of that had more to do with our downturn than who the head coach was too, but I have no interest in relitigating the Lindy tenure at this point, it’s over and done with now and I’ve gone over my issues with him as a coach in previous blogs.

In terms of Travis Green, consider me underwhelmed – especially given the poor job he’s done with the power play this year or at least since early in the season. Not to mention his Vancouver tenure was pretty underwhelming sans one fluke winning season and playoff run in the bubble out of his five years there. My nightmare scenario is they made the change with enough time in the season for Green to get a new coach bounce, go on an illusory stretch drive run and just miss the playoffs but still doing enough to earn an extension. Unless you’re gonna give Sergei Brylin a chance, the Devils really need a ‘full’ change of coaches and not just take out the general and hope the inadequate private can do a job.

Again, I don’t feel right calling for people’s jobs now but this season has irritated me to such a degree I can’t help myself. It’s not as if Lindy or even the rest of the staff are the only people I have issues with (although it’s kind of an unfortunate epitaph that in Lindy’s last game, it was Jack who noticed the Devils needed a sixth skater on the ice for the empty-net situation and not even anyone else on the staff pointing it out). At least the coaching change has forced Tom Fitzgerald out of his bunker for a morning presser tomorrow a few days before the trade deadline, not that I’m expecting many hard-hitting questions from a neutered media regardless.

There isn’t really much to talk about from the last few games for me since I watched very little of the West Coast swing – or the last two games of the previous homestand for that matter. Aside from an ugly win over the Habs and a rare laugher over the Sharks (where was this goal outburst when we played them at home a few months back?!), not as if there’s been much redeeming during that period anyway. Losing to wild-card leading Tampa at the end of the homestand was a massive blow to the playoff fantasy, losing to the Ducks despite outshooting them like 56-23 or whatever it was is peak Devils right there, especially with Jack missing an end-game penalty shot in craptacular fashion, failing to even put a puck on net.

Funny thing is when I saw the text from a friend saying ‘didn’t think they could find a new way to lose, but a last second penalty shot is a new one’ I immediately thought it was us getting scored on late in a tie game. I kind of wish it was that as opposed to the alternative lol. I’ve compared Hughes over the last three months to Ilya Kovalchuk during the John MacLean reign of error, but my god comparing that penalty shot to the Kovalsuck miss against Buffalo early that season is too eerie for me…I immediately had that PTSD flashback when I saw it.

I shouldn’t even joke about PTSD either cause if I ever had it (undiagnosed), it would have been during my last few weeks on the job given how much I had to do, felt I was doing well but it was still never enough to either keep up or avoid getting yelled at. Enough about me though, and quite honestly I’ve done more than enough talking about the team at this point as well. I don’t have it in me to rant about the offense being unable to shoot straight, or the now-previous coach running poor Nico Daws into the ground. Dude was literally the only reason we had a playoff pulse for three weeks and now he has worse numbers than Vitek because they just keep playing him…every…single…game! More than anything, the overplaying of Daws is why a coaching change needed to happen now, as belated as it was.

Not that any other option in goal would be better, but you have to manage people and not just play every game out like it’s Game 7 of the Finals when there’s still six weeks to two months left in the season, no matter how perilous your job security is or the team’s position in the standings. Like I said though, enough about the team at this point. Maybe I’ll have another post after the trade deadline if they do something insane, or if there’s anything actually positive to discuss. Until that point however, I’m just gonna wash my hands of this team for a little while longer.

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