Devils’ troubles on full display in second straight loss to Capitals

Posted on November 11, 2023 by hasan4978

While I did not stay up late on a weeknight for the sour end of the Devils’ road trip (a 6-3 defeat in Colorado), there was no getting away from Friday’s home game against the Caps – even though I did have a bad feeling about the game all day. Mostly because it seemed obvious the Devils haven’t quite learned the lesson that they can’t play the same way without their two star centers that they play with them, and to be honest they weren’t even playing all that well at even strength when Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier were in the lineup anyway. When my co-worker asked whether I was going to the game he could sense my angst when I grunted yeah…unfortunately the game pretty well confirmed my negativity before faceoff as the Devils once again came a cropper against a Caps team partying like it’s 2018.

To be fair, even I didn’t think the game would get out of hand in the first period AGAIN after our previous home game against the Caps was 3-0 before you could blink with Akira Schmid getting pulled after the first intermission. This time it was Vitek Vanecek starting, and he didn’t even last for the whole first period after two brutal goals allowed in a fifteen second span. Which of course is problem number one for the Devils right now – goaltending.

When both your goalies have a GAA above 3 and a save percentage below .900 then you have issues, unless you time transported back to the 1980’s when there was no defense and shots routinely went in from off the boards. While Schmid started the season poorly in his first two games, he was at least trending up after a good performance in St. Louis while Vitek has been trending down – even given the fact you couldn’t actually blame him for much in Colorado when we got pumped for three unanswered goals in the third period. It should have been a sign that game was going to crap when Miles Wood of all people scored a shorthanded breakaway though.

Still, with the schedule the way it was Schmid would have sat for almost two weeks after the Blues game if he hadn’t played last night – what happened to the so-called 50-50 split it was proported to be early? And why are we so quick to lose confidence in Schmid but then just run Vitek into the ground when he isn’t even playing well? That leads to problem number two right now – coaching. Lindy Ruff, like all old-school coaches is automatically going to default to playing vets when the crap hits the fan. Which manifests itself in overplaying Vitek, or even more maddeningly underplaying recent top ten pick Alex Holtz. You would have hoped this wouldn’t be as much of an issue this year now that the coach has a little more job security (not to mention the team’s good start thanks to their all-world PP), but clearly it will always be an issue with an old-school coach.

What’s going on with Holtz is mind-numbing though….you’re down your top two centers needing offense down two goals middle of the first and three goals by the middle of the second, and you play him seven minutes?! And it’s not like he was playing poorly, he created a couple of good scoring chances but oh no we can’t have that, he needs to hold onto the puck more (yes this was the actual explanation when the coach was pressed on why Holtz was benched for the likes of Curtis Lazar in the third period)! Like Jesper Bratt in the third period when a great scoring chance died on his stick? That’s just indicative of the organization’s larger issue with Holtz going on two years now, if you don’t believe in him then he should have already been traded. If you do then he should be playing, especially now when you need other sources of offense! This isn’t 1985 where you can just play guys five minutes a night till they’re 23, you have cap and free agency concerns now.

It’s not like the goalie and coach are the only concerns right now either…although I guess you can sort of blame concern number three on the coaching too, which is this team’s continued penchant for only giving effort some of the time in games. Sure, Vitek gave up two crappy goals in the first period last night but there’s no excuse to basically quit for the next thirty-five minutes after that! And only down 2-0 at the time, with Schmid stopping every puck except the one where we gave up a two-on zero with Timo Meier and Brendan Smith (who continues to think he’s Bobby Orr) both pinching forward, and Kevin Bahl not seeing that and trying a desperate shot which was blocked, leading to the almost automatic goal breakaway.

Sadly, that goal wound up hanging last night’s loss on Schmid which is about as dubious as it gets considering Schmid stopped the other twenty shots on net last night which weren’t two-on-zero breakaways. Nor could he do anything about Kuznetsov’s seeing-eye empty-netter late, which was a fitting end to the game. Or so I thought before Tom Wilson went after Timo, who’d legally checked Rasmus Sandin earlier in the period, and he pretended he was badly hurt (after looking around to see if there was a whistle) for long enough to stop the play and get carried off, only to return heroically for the next shift. I was walking out after the empty-net goal and saw the brouhaha immediately figured we were engaging in sore loser crap until I realized to my disbelief we were the ones on a power play.

Of course, nothing came of that which in itself was a fitting end to the night. In the end, we got too little, too late from our underachieving forwards. For all the talk about Jack and Nico missing, you should still be able to find offense from the likes of Bratt, Timo, Dawson Mercer and Tyler Toffoli up front and Dougie Hamilton plus Luke Hughes in the back. Not all these players are underachieving but too many have been MIA without our big guns. Timo reminds me of the Ilya Kovalsuck days in 2009 where yeah you’re seemingly getting enough points for his defenders to point to (a lot of assists on Jack goals accounting for a good chunk of Timo’s ten points) but you’re not exactly getting the dominant player we paid through the nose for. With four goals and a -11 in thirteen games, his numbers are actually comparable to Fabian Zetterlund who has four goals and a -10 in fourteen games for the Sharks. As much as I like Zetterlund and wish we could have kept him, that’s not exactly the company you want your star winger to be keeping.

It’s difficult to get on Bratt because of his start to the season, but you’d like to see better than one assist in his last four games, or one shot on goal in his last two. Bratt is really the guy who should be carrying the offense right now, or at least facilitating everyone else to make it go. Mercer in some ways has been the most disappointing of all throughout the season with one goal and zero assists in his first twelve plus games before finally getting a second goal in the third period last night…yippidee doo dah. And when talking about disappointments up front, let’s not let Ondrej Palat slide. He has a mere four assists with a -7 to go along with a big fat goose egg in the goal column so far this year. I know some of us joked that his Game 7 shift paid for his whole contract last year, but I don’t want that to literally be his only highlight as a Devil barely a year into a five-year deal and he’s also one of the guys you should be counting on to not let the effort continually sag time and again.

I haven’t even touched on the defense yet, which at times has its own issues. They’ve actually been fortunate in that their top six have remained healthy to this point but that doesn’t mean everyone who’s currently in the top six needs to stay there. I don’t think GM Tom Fitzgerald is willing to stand pat on the D either, judging by the rumors of them being in on disgruntled Flames d-man Nikita Zadorov.

Clearly the D was going to have growing pains with younger players in Luke and Bahl taking regular shifts this year but you’re also not counting on having to play Brendan Orr every game, or stupid decisions by the forwards leaving the D even more exposed than they need to be – exhibit A the aforementioned Kuznetsov goal. You’d also like to see better five-on-five play in general from this group and it’s been a problem since the start of the season – Jack and Nico or no Jack and Nico.

Yes we’re still ‘fine’ at 7-5-1 and Jack will probably be back in a couple of weeks, and no we’re not at any kind of DEFCON 1 level yet – but sooner or later the team needs to pick it up before their five-on-five and goaltending issues come back to bite them and they spiral downhill, putting a playoff spot in sudden peril. Which would not be acceptable by any metric. At least hopefully the message has finally sunk in that you can’t play like the freaking ’80’s Oilers without two of your main cogs.

My only question is, what took you so long coach? I could have told you this weeks ago and I don’t have 1500 games or whatever it is of NHL experience!

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Rangers’ Lafreniere has Big Night in Win over Wild

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Derek

Entering the season, there was a lot riding on the line for Alexis Lafreniere. After signing a bridge deal worth $2.325 million per year, the pressure was on the former Rangers’ 2020 top pick to perform up to expectations.

After a quiet preseason, the 22-year-old forward has come in and started the season well. He scored the Rangers’ first goal of the season in a win over the Sabres on Oct. 12. It proved to be a harbinger of things to come.

Lafreniere scored in three straight games during a perfect five-game road trip out West. Since going without a point in three games, he’s playing the best hockey of his career. After putting in the grunt work to set up linemate Artemi Panarin in a win over the Red Wings on Nov. 7, Lafreniere had a big night that highlighted a 4-1 win over the Wild on Thursday night.

Lafreniere Records First Career Three-Point Game

For the first time in his career, he recorded a three-point game. Lafreniere was front and center during last night’s rematch with the Wild at Madison Square Garden. Before four minutes had elapsed, he took an Erik Gustafsson feed and found Vincent Trocheck alone in the slot for the game’s first goal.

Since Filip Chytil went down with an upper-body injury, Lafreniere has found good chemistry with Panarin and Trocheck, who’s been a key factor to the Rangers’ early success. They play well off each other during offensive shifts. With Trocheck picking up three more points following a two-goal game against the Wings, there’s a strong case to be made for keeping the second line intact when Chytil returns. With only one game coming up on Sunday against the Blue Jackets before a five-day break, that decision can wait.

Following a dismal second period that saw the Rangers get out-shot 15-3 by the relentless Wild, the game was tied headed to the third period. Brandon Duhaime tipped in a Brock Faber shot with less than eight minutes left in the second to tie the game. If not for some superb goaltending from emergency starter Louis Domingue, it could’ve been worse. More on him later.

Panarin and Lafreniere Team Up

With a chance to play a better third period to win the game, the Rangers got exactly what they needed from Panarin, Trocheck, and Lafreniere. They were largely responsible for a three-goal period that led to the victory on home ice.

Early in the third, Trocheck started a play in transition by passing up for Panarin. Flying into the Wild zone, he created a two-on-one that allowed him to pass across for a Lafreniere finish that gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead. On the play, Lafreniere cut to the net and was the recipient of a perfect feed from Panarin. They teamed up for the go-ahead goal.

It was Lafreniere’s fifth goal of the season. His first in six games since Oct. 26 versus Edmonton. The assist allowed Panarin to extend his point streak to start the season to 13. He would later add an empty netter to put the exclamation mark on the win. He’s one shy of Rangers’ legend Rod Gilbert’s franchise record 14-game point streak to start a season.

Wheeler Scores His First

It’s been a tough start to the season for Blake Wheeler. He entered the game with only one assist in the Rangers’ first 12 games. However, he was playing better hockey. More noticeable on the forecheck and responsible defensively, the former Jet finally scored his first goal as a Ranger.

With the Wild pressing for the equalizer, a diving Wheeler made a key block of a Faber shot. That led to Joel Eriksson Ek taking down Jacob Trouba to put the Rangers on a power play with 7:20 left in regulation.

After the top unit struggled with an aggressive Wild penalty kill that forced Domingue to make a shorthanded save, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette sent out the second unit. They made him look smart by getting a crucial insurance marker.

Lafreniere started the play with a shot off a K’Andre Miller pass that was blocked in front. Will Cuylle got to the rebound and fired a shot off Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury that came right to Wheeler for an easy put away in front for his first goal as a Ranger. That put them ahead by two with 5:21 left in the third period.

It was a nice reward for Wheeler. He blocked two Wild shots by being in the right position. He deserved the goal. Hopefully, that’ll provide a confidence boost for the veteran.

The assist for Lafreniere gave him his first career three-point game. He was named the game’s first star.

Domingue Hears It From The Crowd

Making his first regular season appearance since Apr. 24, 2022, Domingue fared well in a big start versus the Wild. Called up by the Rangers due to injuries to Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick, the 31-year-old veteran goalie made 25 saves to get his 60th career NHL win.

After hardly having to do anything in a first period controlled by the Rangers, Domingue was called upon in a busy second period. He bailed out his teammates with 14 saves on 15 shots. The only one that beat him was a Duhaime redirection for the Wild’s only goal.

Domingue heard it from the crowd. After every crucial stop, the fans serenaded him with “Lou, Lou!”, chants. He made nine more saves in the third to earn his first win of the season.

“It’s amazing. It was fun to have them on my side for once. It was hard enough when I played in the playoffs here. They were booing me, not Louing me,” an appreciative Domingue told reporters after the game

For his efforts, Domingue was selected as the game’s second star. A well-deserved reward for a likable player who was excited to play on the Rangers’ side at The Garden. Hopefully, he was given a spicy pork dinner by the team.

Gustafsson Continues to Contribute

In the Rangers’ victory, Gustafsson continued to contribute. Brought in as a late addition for the defense. He’s done a good job since Adam Fox went down with a lower-body injury.

A player who knows Laviolette well from having success in Washington last season, Gustafsson has fit in nicely on the Rangers’ blue line. He’s proven that he’s more than just an offensive defenseman. Able to move up and play with Ryan Lindgren, he’s been a defensively responsible player for the Rangers.

In Thursday night’s game, Gustafsson picked up a secondary assist on Trocheck’s goal that opened the scoring. He made a nice pass for Lafreniere that led to the tally. For the game, Gustafsson finished with a plus/minus rating of +1 in 20:25. He has three goals and six assists for nine points on the season.

Bonino Steps Up

Without Chytil, Nick Bonino has filled in nicely on the Rangers’ third line. A gritty player who wins faceoffs and blocks shots, he’s been a good addition to the team.

Bonino won 8-of-14 faceoffs and had two shots-on-goal in 16:33 of ice time. That included a point-blank chance in front of a Kaapo Kakko pass. He came close to scoring his first goal as a Ranger. Only a quick reacting Fleury prevented it, leaving Bonino to shake his head in disbelief.

For the season, Bonino has an impressive 57.9 percent success rate on faceoffs (81 and 59). His 37 blocks rank second on the Rangers behind Jacob Trouba (48).

What’s Ahead

With the Rangers sitting in first place with a 10-2-1 record in the Metropolitan Division, they have only one game coming up. On Sunday night, they’ll host the Blue Jackets at 7 EST.

Although they won’t indicate anything, they’ll be looking to avenge an ugly 5-3 loss at Columbus on Oct. 14. That was the second game of the season. Since then, they’ve only lost once in regulation. The Rangers are 8-0-1 over their last nine games. They’ll look to continue that trend in two days.

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Rangers Continue to Face Adversity with Latest Goalie Conundrum

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Derek

By show of hands, how many of you had both Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick on the shelf for the Rangers after the first dozen games this season? If you did, you’d be able to predict the future. Gray’s Sports Almanac not withstanding.

When the Rangers take the ice to face the Wild on Thursday night, they’ll skate without both Shesterkin and Quick. Each is banged up with injuries. Shesterkin has been out since making 26 saves in a win over the Hurricanes on Nov. 2. Quick will miss his first game with an upper-body injury. He’s listed as day-to-day.

It’s been the steady play of both goalies that has the Rangers off to a 9-2-1 start in first place. They lead the Metropolitan Division with 19 points. Not the most explosive offense in the league, they’ve gotten superb goaltending from Shesterkin and Quick, who has turned back the clock to his Kings’ days when he helped them win two Stanley Cups.

After Shesterkin went down with an undisclosed injury that the Rangers are being cautious with, Quick made the last two starts against the Wild and Red Wings. He was particularly strong at Minnesota on Nov. 4 making 36 saves to get the Rangers a point in a shootout loss that they weren’t particularly good in.

When the Red Wings pressed their dangerous attack in the third period on Nov. 7, Quick held firm to preserve a 5-3 win on home ice. That was a game where the Rangers were clicking on all cylinders. For two periods, they dominated the Wings by outscoring them 5-0 – taking advantage of an undisciplined opponent who didn’t look ready to play. But Detroit scored three consecutive goals in a much better third to make things interesting.

So far, the Rangers couldn’t have asked for a better start from Quick. When they signed him in the off-season, there were questions about whether it was the right move. After a shaky preseason, Quick has been outstanding – posting a 3-0-1 record with a 1.77 goals-against-average (GAA), .936 save percentage, and a shutout. He’s supplied the Rangers with consistency to provide them with a backup goalie they can count on.

Without both Shesterkin and Quick, that goaltending will be tested later tonight against the Wild. Instead, it’ll fall on the shoulders of Louis Domingue to get the job done. A journeyman who last played in the NHL with the Penguins during the Rangers’ first round series win in 2022, he’s played with the Hartford Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League (AHL) since then.

After winning 22 games in 2022-23, he’s 3-1-0 with a 1.75 GAA and a .934 save percentage in four games for Hartford this season. The 31-year-old will make his first start for the Rangers tonight. He’s appeared in 142 career NHL games for six different teams, including the Coyotes, Lightning, Devils, Canucks, Flames, and Penguins. The Rangers make it lucky number seven.

With both Shesterkin and Quick unavailable for the game, the Rangers also recalled Dylan Garand. The 21-year-old former 2020 fourth round pick is 3-1-1 with a 2.63 GAA, and .914 save percentage for the Wolf Pack in his second pro season. Given the situation, it’s wiser to go with the more experienced Domingue for now. He’s won 59 NHL games.

It isn’t known how much longer Shesterkin will be out. Hopefully, the Rangers can get their starter back sooner rather than later. They haven’t had to rush him due to the good start. That could bode well over the long haul. Keeping Shesterkin healthy is the key to a successful season. Especially if they’re playing meaningful games next spring.

With the Blue Jackets not visiting Madison Square Garden until Sunday, Nov. 12, that allows Shesterkin and Quick more time to recover from their injuries. The Rangers will have six days off before visiting the Devils on Nov. 18 over a week from now. With that window coming up, the logical decision could be to rest Shesterkin in preparation for a return against the Devils. That would give him over two weeks off.

As for the Rangers, they’ll want to play a more structured game against the Wild. In the first matchup, they jumped out to a 3-0 lead by getting to Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson early. However, a loss of discipline was their undoing. The Wild regained the momentum by using their game-breaking speed and heavy forecheck to dominate play on Nov. 4.

It led to four straight goals. Only a faceoff play that resulted in a Chris Kreider tip-in of an Artemi Panarin shot allowed the Rangers to force overtime. They lost in a shootout.

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette has emphasized stronger play at five-on-five. He was pleased with how his team responded against the Red Wings. Even though they didn’t finish that game well, he liked what he saw.

Laviolette moved Blake Wheeler up to the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Kreider. Kaapo Kakko played on the third line with Nick Bonino and Will Cuylle.

The Rangers are still without Filip Chytil. Vincent Trocheck has moved up to center the second line with Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere. They had some success at even strength on Tuesday, with Trocheck scoring his first goal and Lafreniere setting up Panarin. Trocheck also tallied on the power play, earning the game’s first star.

Barclay Goodrow returned after the birth of his son. He played on the fourth line with Jimmy Vesey and Tyler Pitlick. A key to the Rangers’ eighth ranked penalty kill (86.1 percent), Goodrow helped them keep the Red Wings 0-for-6 on the power play. He also won four of five faceoffs. His versatility comes in handy.

If there’s been a staple to their early success so far, it’s been the steady play of Jacob Trouba. The Rangers’ captain has played well defensively. He leads the team in blocked shots (44) and ranks second in hits (26). Trouba’s gritty play has been praised by Laviolette, who’s also gotten a good start from K’Andre Miller.

Trouba’s defense partner has a goal, and six assists with a plus/minus rating of +7 in 12 games. It’s been his improvement defensively that’s really helped the blue line. Miller has made some nice recoveries and has not been caught out of position as frequently. A welcome change that’s aided his play.

Under Laviolette, there’s more of a commitment to defense. Entering tonight, the Rangers rank third in the league in the fewest goals allowed per game (2.17) and are third in the least shots allowed per game (27.5). Along with a marked improvement in faceoffs (54.9 pct) that has them tied for second in the league, they’re a more detail oriented team that makes life harder on opponents.

For those reasons, that explains why they have 19 points. That’s tied for the third most in the league. With strong special teams that rank in the top 10 and big improvements overall, the Rangers are in a good place. That will allow them to get both their goalies healthy.

It’ll be a good test to see where they are. It’s better to have adversity now than later. Without Adam Fox, they’ll continue to learn more about themselves. It will measure the true character of the team.

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Rangers Hold On For Good Win Over Red Wings

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Derek

For two periods, it wasn’t a contest. However, after getting the game’s first five goals, the Rangers were forced to hold on for a 5-3 win over the Red Wings last night. The victory was their seventh over the last eight (7-0-1). They improved to a division-leading best 9-2-1 for the season.

Entering Tuesday’s game, there was some curiosity about how they’d respond to a lackluster performance in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Wild on Nov. 4. Rangers coach Peter Laviolette was critical of the team for how they played. He liked what he saw last night. The players responded well by dominating the improved Red Wings for two periods by outscoring them 5-0.

Related: Rangers’ Shakeup Needed for Slumping Kakko

“I liked the game, we just got to put a little asterisk next to it and talk about a few things in the third period, we’ll take care of that tomorrow,” Laviolette emphasized after things got interesting in the third period. “I do think that the mindset was right. The approach was right. We hit the post four or five times. We had point-blank chances and a couple of breakaways, could’ve pushed even more.”

If Laviolette wanted to see better five-on-five play than what took place in Minnesota, he got it. The Rangers came out of the gate on fire. They jumped all over a flat Red Wings who were out of sorts. That included Vincent Trocheck scoring the first of two goals less than two minutes in when he took an Erik Gustafsson feed and surprised Red Wings goalie Ville Husso with a wrist shot that beat him to the short side for the game’s first goal.

The Rangers continued to press the attack. They got the game’s first eight shots. At one point, they led in shots 12-1. The Red Wings survived the first period onslaught thanks to Husso, who stopped 12 of 13 shots.

On the opposite end, Jonathan Quick didn’t have much to do. He was a spectator for most of the first period. When called upon, he made five saves as the Rangers took a one-goal lead to the locker room.

Power Play sparks Big Second

After killing off the first of two Blake Wheeler minors, the Rangers went to work on the power play. Even without Adam Fox, it was dangerous and opportunistic – going 2-for-3 in the game.

The Red Wings got themselves in trouble when they took consecutive penalties to give the league’s second ranked power play a pair of opportunities to extend the lead. That power play sparked a big second period.

Gustafsson drew a holding minor on former Ranger Andrew Copp. It only took a dozen seconds for the top unit to connect. On a nice play started by Artemi Panarin, he moved the puck up for Gustafsson, who then shot for a Chris Kreider tip-in for his league-leading sixth power-play goal.

Kreider leads the Rangers with nine goals. He recently passed Andy Bathgate for fourth all-time on the Rangers’ franchise goal scoring list. He has 274 goals. It won’t be long before he catches Adam Graves for third. He’s six behind.

Following Kreider’s goal, Red Wings defenseman Christian Fischer took down Braden Schneider to put the Rangers back on the man-advantage. This time, it took 28 seconds for the top unit to capitalize on the undisciplined penalty.

Mika Zibanejad kept a puck alive by forcing Moritz Seider into a turnover. Kreider retrieved the puck and moved it back for Zibanejad, who zipped a cross-ice feed for Trocheck to bury a one-timer by Husso for the Rangers’ second power-play goal over a 44-second span. That gave Trocheck his second goal of the game. A well-deserved reward for a strong five-on-five who’s been superb on faceoffs.

Panarin Extends Streak to 12

Panarin continued his hot start by posting a goal and an assist in the Rangers’ win versus the Red Wings. After helping set up Kreider on the power play, he scored his seventh goal of the season to make it 4-0 in the second period.

Alexis Lafreniere supplied most of the work by out-hustling the Red Wings behind the boards before centering a pass in front that Panarin finished. The two have worked well together since the start of the season. They’re becoming a reliable combo the Rangers can depend on.

For Panarin, he’s now registered a point in all 12 games this season. That leaves him two shy of Rangers’ legend Rod Gilbert’s franchise record of 14 straight to start a season. Panarin leads the team in scoring with seven goals and 13 assists for 20 points. The Rangers’ next two games are against the Wild on Thursday and the Blue Jackets on Sunday.

Laviolette praises Jones and Schneider

It was just the third game of the season for Zac Jones. After a less than stellar return to the lineup in Minnesota, he had a better game on Tuesday night while paired up with Braden Schneider. Both played well enough for Laviolette to praise them.

“I thought that pair was excellent. It’s unfortunate the second goal. I thought we could’ve gotten more help from forwards coming back into the zone. And Zac was kinda caught in front on the second goal,” Laviolette told reporters.

“But I thought that pair. Jones and Schneider. That pair was excellent. Through two periods and even into the third. It was just a couple of tough bounces for them. I thought they played a good game. At the end of two periods, I thought they had a major impact in the game.”

Laviolette was referencing a couple of strong shifts where both Jones and Schneider kept pucks alive in the Detroit zone to create offense. Twice, Jones came close to scoring his first goal of the season. After a near miss, he and Schneider kept going to finally set up Will Cuylle for his third goal with less than six minutes remaining in the second. Schneider passed it over for a Jones shot that Cuylle redirected in front for a 5-0 lead.

That kind of play will keep Jones in the lineup. He and Schneider were better last night than the previous two times they played together this season. Hopefully, that can be a confidence booster for the two defensemen to build off of.

Loss of Discipline Gets Rangers in Trouble

In the third period, the Rangers lost their discipline by taking two penalties to give the Red Wings a two-man advantage.

Following a Barclay Goodrow cross-checking minor on Seider, K’Andre Miller took a delay of game minor to put the Wings on a five-on-three. Although the Rangers did a good job killing off the penalties, that gave Detroit the momentum. They ramped it up to get back in the game by scoring twice within a 20-second span.

On a play started by Jeff Petry over to Ben Chiarot, they combined to set up Michael Rasmussen for a rocket that beat a screened Quick far side for the Red Wings’  first goal of the game. Moments later, they caught the Rangers in transition to set up Klim Kostin for a goal in front that made it  a three-goal game with under 12 minutes left.

With the Rangers unable to take care of the neutral zone, they played Detroit’s more wide open style, trading chances with them. It wasn’t a wise decision. With still over six minutes left in regulation,  Husso made a good outlet for J.T. Compher,  who then sent Copp in for a shot from the right circle that beat Quick that suddenly made it 5-3 with 6:11 remaining.

Quick Makes Critical Stops

After only facing 12 shots in the first two periods, Quick faced plenty of rubber in a much busier third period. When the game got dicey, he came up with some critical stops to help the Rangers hold on for the win.

With the Red Wings lifting Husso for an extra attacker with over three minutes left, they pressed for more offense. After a couple of close calls, Dylan Larkin was denied twice at point-blank range by Quick in the last 30 seconds. He also made a nice glove save on David Perron.

For the period, Quick stopped 13 of 16 shots. Overall, he made 25 saves to improve to 3-0-1 with a 1.77 goals-against-average (GAA) and .935 save percentage. It was his 378th career win. He ranks second all-time among American goalies in wins behind former Sabre Ryan Miller (391).

Bookkeeping Continues

Following the game, the Rangers assigned Jonny Brodzinski, Louis Domingue, and Connor Mackey to Hartford. They’ll likely be recalled for Thursday’s game against the Wild.

The bookkeeping continues so that the Rangers accrue more salary cap space. It’ll continue until Filip Chytil and Igor Shesterkin return. The status for Adam Fox remains sketchy. Hopefully, he won’t be out for an extended period.

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Rangers’ Shakeup Needed for Slumping Kakko

Posted on November 7, 2023 by Derek

Entering tonight’s match against the Red Wings, the New York Rangers are 8-2-1 sitting atop the Metropolitan Division. Even following a 5-4 shootout loss to the Wild on Nov. 4, in which they didn’t play well, the Rangers were able to get a point thanks to Jonathan Quick (36 saves). He made enough clutch stops in place of injured starter Igor Shesterkin.

Shesterkin remains out for Tuesday night. Recently recalled goalie Louis Domingue will back up. It doesn’t sound like Shesterkin will miss too much more time. There’s no reason to panic.

When it comes to the uncertainty surrounding star defenseman Adam Fox, nobody knows how long he’ll be out for. There’s no indication that he’ll be ready by Nov. 29 when he becomes eligible to be activated off long-term injured reserve (LTIR).

The lack of transparency is frustrating for both the press and fans. Especially in a league that’s partnered with gambling sites. Look no further than what’s going on with Devils’ stars Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes across the Hudson.

Related: Devils Injury Concerns mar Solid Road Trip thus Far

With no idea when Fox will return, the Rangers will continue to play a defense that includes Jacob Trouba, K’Andre Miller, Ryan Lindgren, Erik Gustafsson, Braden Schneider, and Zac Jones. In the game at Minnesota, the third pair of Jones and Schneider struggled. However, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette is correct when he says that it’s not only about one or two players. The team was lousy defensively. They were outskated by the Wild.

If not for getting the game’s first three goals on their first four shots to chase Wild starter Filip Gustavsson, they would’ve been blown out. Some undisciplined play caught up to the Rangers. Three straight penalties allowed the Wild to gain the momentum. They scored four straight goals to take a 4-3 lead in the third period. But Laviolette’s wise decision to replace the slumping Kaapo Kakko with leading scorer Artemi Panarin for an offensive zone faceoff led directly to Chris Kreider’s team-leading eighth goal that netted the Rangers a point.

When they returned to practice yesterday in Tarrytown, Laviolette decided to make a line switch. Kakko was moved down to the third line. Blake Wheeler was promoted to the first line. It’s a move that had to happen. Kakko’s lack of production, along with an unwillingness to compete inside, hasn’t helped Mika Zibanejad or Kreider. Both have struggled at five-on-five. Zibanejad has three even strength points (1-2-3) so far. With his big tying goal, Kreider is up to two goals and two assists at even strength. Both need to pick it up.

Kakko got the first 11 games on the top line. Laviolette gave him plenty of time to see if the 22-year-old right wing could gel with Zibanejad and Kreider. It didn’t materialize. Kakko has only a goal and an assist thus far. Hardly enough to keep him in a first line role.

He remains an effective puck possession player. However, most of his play is on the perimeter. That must change. Maybe putting him on the third line can help change his mindset. He’ll have the chance to work with promising rookie Will Cuylle. A player who gets his nose dirty. Maybe his tenacity can rub off. For the time being, Nick Bonino will center the line due to Filip Chytil remaining out. He didn’t skate this morning. Hopefully, Chytil can return soon.

Without Chytil, Vincent Trocheck has moved up to center the second line. He played enough with Panarin last season to understand what should work. Panarin has played a more straightforward game. He’s not turning over pucks. That’s allowed him to be more successful. He brings an 11-game point streak into tonight’s game. With six goals and 12 assists, he leads the Rangers with 18 points. It was his shot off a Zibanejad faceoff win that Kreider tipped in against the Wild three days ago.

Although he doesn’t have great production so far, Alexis Lafreniere has been better than the statistics. In 11 games playing with Panarin and mostly Chytil, he has four goals and an assist for five points. Playing more aggressively, Lafreniere has created quality chances for both himself and his linemates. In particular, he works well with Panarin. They seem to know where each other are. It’s been a good partnership so far.

If the Rangers are to be successful on the upcoming three-game homestand against the Red Wings, Wild and Blue Jackets, they’ll need more balanced scoring from everyone. Jimmy Vesey scored his first goal of the season this past Saturday. A positive sign for the fourth line. Tyler Pitlick picked up a helper on the goal. It was his first game since Oct. 16.

If Barclay Goodrow is ready to return from the paternity list after his wife gave birth to a new son, he’ll be in the lineup. That would leave a decision for Laviolette, who could either keep Pitlick in on the fourth line or dress Jonny Brodzinski. Brodzinski played 9:13 in 15 shifts versus the Wild. Goodrow can shift to center if needed.

Having the proper balance is what Laviolette wants. He wasn’t pleased with the Rangers’ overall play over the weekend. He emphasizes better structure at five-on-five. There wasn’t much of that against the Wild, who had way too many easy looks that made life difficult on Quick. Facing a high-scoring Red Wings team that’s led by Dylan Larkin and Alex DeBrincat, they’ll have to be sharp.

It’ll be interesting to see if the line adjustment pays off. While Kakko hasn’t established himself yet, Wheeler has gotten better since a slow start. He picked up a primary assist on Erik Gustafsson’s goal that made it 3-0 versus the Wild. It was his first point as a Ranger.

He’s been much more noticeable on the forecheck. Stronger plays along the boards have made him more effective. Laviolette recognized the improvement, which is why the more proven Wheeler draws the first line assignment. If he can mesh well with Zibanejad and Kreider, maybe the first line can produce better at even strength.

Most eyes will be on Kakko to see if he can respond well to the demotion. It’s not like he’s a bad player. He’s defensively responsible and a solid checking forward. Maybe the change can benefit him. It’s imperative that he improves his play. The Rangers need him to get going. We’ll see how he does later.

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Devils injury concerns mar solid road trip thus far

Posted on November 6, 2023 by hasan4978

With Nico Hischier already on the shelf since leaving a game against Buffalo on the 27th last month the Devils could ill afford to lose their Hart candidate as well, but lose Jack Hughes they have, after he took a spill into the boards early in Friday’s game at St. Louis – which proved to be the only loss of three on the trip so far. Hughes’s loss was far bigger than the 4-1 defeat (with two empty-netters adding to the score in a 2-1 game), although somehow it seems we dodged a bullet given the fact a so-called worst case scenario was avoided. Yet, Jack was still described as week to week with analyst Kevin Weekes indicating Jack wouldn’t be back anytime soon.

I mean geez, what kind of injury were they fearing here if being out only a few weeks wasn’t the worst-case scenario?! While I understand the secrecy around NHL injuries on the one hand, it still never fails to drive me crazy, especially if we’re talking about an injury that has to be fully healed before coming back into the lineup anyway. Nico hasn’t even made the road trip but we still don’t know the nature of his injury, whether it’s concussion-related or otherwise. The lack of a timetable given would lead you to assume it’s concussion but again, NHL teams always make fans engage in a parlor guessing game because they want other teams to do so as well. Maybe if there was as much money around gambling NHL games as there is in the NFL or even MLB, there’d be more injury transparency.

Once Hughes went out, my attitude was that it’s time for our role players, defense and goaltending to (in so many words) stop fooling around and shape up. So far it’s mostly been Hughes, Jesper Bratt and an otherworldly power play carrying the Devils during their start as the other aspects of the game have all been very shaky at times. Time to forget wild pond hockey for a while and play with more structure, it’s not sustainable to try to win games 4-3 and 5-4 a la the latter two games of our most recent homestand when you’re missing your top two centers and your fill-in #1 pivot didn’t even have a point in his first ten games of the season.

Fortunately in Chicago, all of that did happen – at least for the most part. The aforementioned new #1 center Mercer did step up with his first goal of the season, while fellow pivot Mike McLeod also added an empty-netter. Our other two goals were scored by Curtis Lazar and Flyers castoff Max Willman in his first game since being called up (who, what?!). Certainly our goaltending also stepped up with Vitek Vanecek putting up one of his better games of the season, making 32 stops and – if you’re an xG believer – stopping more than two goals above expected on the night. Lazar, Willman and Vitek are quite the unlikely trio to make up the three stars but that’s what you got in Chicago last night.

Hopefully Vitek (and Akira Schmid for that matter) can get back to being as consistent as they were last year. Against Buffalo in the Nico injury game, Vitek was actually inconsistent period-to-period as opposed to game to game…allowing clunker goals in the first and third period, making a handful of great saves in the second. Schmid in the meantime was just bad until he also picked it up in St. Louis, only allowing a pair of goals when the Devils’ offense disappeared down the tunnel with Jack on Friday night.

Admittedly I’ve been in and out of watching the Devils (at best) the last week or so, thus I don’t really have much to offer on the last few games apart from the injury concerns and players needing to step up. To this point, you can’t argue with the overall record and getting back-to-back wins against the Wild in an odd home-and-home is certainly commendable. Now more than ever they need to at least find a way to hang around NHL .500 the next few weeks, assuming Jack will be out until at best the end of the month, and Nico is still an unknown timetable himself. It’s nice that we have fewer games this month just as our stars have gone missing, but this upcoming schedule is still a joke. Playing in Colorado tomorrow in the last game of a four-game trip, then going home and playing the Caps Friday…seems normal enough. But then to have the Devils go BACK out West to Winnipeg next Tuesday on a one-game trip before heading back East again?! I mean…is someone just looking to get more frequent flier miles here?!

Hopefully at least one of the walking wounded by the time we’re back East for the foreseeable future next weekend.

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Rangers place Fox on Long-term Injured Reserve, Chytil to IR

Posted on November 4, 2023 by Derek

In one giant swoop, the injury bug has hit the Rangers. Winners of six straight entering Saturday night’s match at the Wild, they’ll be without two key players for a while.

A day after leaving Thursday night’s 2-1 win over the Hurricanes, Adam Fox was placed on the long-term injured reserve by the Rangers. By moving him to LTIR, that means Fox will miss at least the next 10 games. He won’t be eligible to return until Nov. 29.

The severity of Fox’s injury still isn’t known. The 25-year-old defenseman is second in team scoring with 11 points (3-8-11). That includes nine power play points. Losing the former Norris winner for any length of time could dramatically affect the Rangers’ man-advantage. They’re ranked third in the NHL with a 32.4 percent connect rate.

Gustafsson Likely to Get First Chance

Without Fox to run the point on the top unit, it’ll likely be Erik Gustafsson, who gets the first chance. A capable offensive defenseman who’s had success under Rangers’ coach Peter Laviolette in Washington, the 31-year-old Swede replaced Fox on the power play on Nov. 2. The left-shooting Gustafsson can fire it from the top. He’s also capable of moving the puck to set up both Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad.

The Rangers still boast strong power play weapons, including Chris Kreider, Panarin, Zibanejad, and Vincent Trocheck. Maybe adding a left shot won’t be such a bad thing. However, they’ll lose some of Fox’s creativity and patience. He’s superb at reading the play and making the right decision with the puck. Kreider’s made a living in front thanks to Fox’s wrist shot that he’s excellent at deflecting for power-play goals.

More Pressure on Defense

Losing Fox for any length of time will put more pressure on a blue line that still features Jacob Trouba, Ryan Lindgren, K’Andre Miller, Gustafsson, and Braden Schneider. All stepped up in the victory over Carolina.

While Laviolette can keep Miller and Trouba paired together, he’ll have to get creative with Lindgren, who’ll be without his defense partner. It could be a mix of Gustafsson and Schneider, who’s the only right-shooting defenseman left after Trouba.

An Opportunity for Jones

The Fox injury opens up an opportunity for Zac Jones to get in the lineup. A forgotten player who was re-signed to a one-way deal, he’s only played in one game. That was back on Oct. 14 in a loss at Columbus. Now 23, the clock is ticking on Jones to prove he belongs in the league. If not, as a Ranger, perhaps he can play well enough to become a trade target for another team to consider.

Jones’ strengths are his skating and offensive capabilities. His weaknesses are his size and strength, which can be exposed defensively. Here’s a chance to show that he can be relied on. If he struggles, Laviolette won’t hesitate to insert Connor Mackey, who was recalled on Friday from Hartford. A 27-year-old veteran with 39 NHL games underneath his belt.

Chytil Placed on Injured Reserve

The Rangers will also be minus Filip Chytil. The center was placed on the injured reserve yesterday. He left Thursday’s game during the second period with an undisclosed injury. It isn’t certain when he’ll be back. In 10 games, he has six assists. Chytil found some chemistry centering Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere on the second line. They’ve been an effective trio at even strength, creating offense on both the rush and forecheck.

Without Chytil, Trocheck could be moved up to play with Panarin and Lafreniere. He’s played well in a checking role, centering Will Cuylle and Blake Wheeler. They’ve been effective on the cycle due to their tenacity. Trocheck has been counted on defensively. He’s won 62.7 percent of faceoffs this season. Laviolette hasn’t been shy about using him on key draws in both the offensive and defensive zone. That’s how well he’s played.

If Trocheck gets bumped up, it’s possible that Jonny Brodzinski could fill the role on the third line. He was brought up on Friday to replace Chytil on the roster. A serviceable player who’s been reliable when called upon the past two years, Brodzinski likely will be in the lineup tonight at the Wild. If he plays over Tyler Pitlick, it’s due to him being a center. A necessity for the Rangers.

Laviolette could also move Nick Bonino up to the third line. However, the chemistry he has with Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey on the fourth line should be considered. Although they haven’t provided much offense, that trio has been noticeable during shifts. They are defensively responsible, which is an area Laviolette emphasizes.

In the win over the Canes, he wasn’t shy about giving both Goodrow and Bonino more shifts in the third period. They both did a good job when called upon.

Rangers Face Adversity

How much will the losses of Fox and Chytil affect the Rangers? That depends on how they respond to adversity. Under previous coaches, it wasn’t good enough. However, they seem to respond well to Laviolette’s hands-on approach.

It’ll be an interesting challenge. We’ll learn more about the team with what’s ahead.

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Shorthanded Rangers Show Grit and Determination in Win Over Hurricanes

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Derek

Following a great road trip to conclude October, the Rangers had an early litmus test with the Hurricanes on the calendar for their first game of November. It lived up to the hype. Showing plenty of grit and determination, the Rangers came away with a hard fought 2-1 win over the Hurricanes on Thursday night.

They won their sixth in a row to stay atop the Metropolitan Division. With seven wins in their first nine games, these Rangers are proving themselves in the early part of the schedule. Unlike last season, they grind away. That was on display in edging a good opponent who prides itself on its work ethic.

The difference was a goal scored by rookie Will Cuylle with less than 10 minutes left in the third period. It was the only five-on-five goal scored in the game. He drove to the net and finished off a Jacob Trouba pass for his first career game-winner.

Aho Hit Forces Fox to Leave Game

During the first period, Rangers defenseman Adam Fox was hit by Hurricanes forward Sebastian Aho knee on knee. After going down, he mildly protested to the refs about it being a missed call.

Fox took another shift before leaving the game with a lower-body injury. With the Rangers traveling to Minnesota to face the Wild on Saturday, the team had no official update on Fox. Both he and Filip Chytil will be re-evaluated. Chytil also exited the contest late in the second period following an incidental collision with former Ranger Jesper Fast.

Regarding the Aho play on Fox, it’s hard to tell if he stuck his leg out. It looked accidental. Unfortunately, there are plays where two players are going at full speed in the opposite direction. At the last split second, Fox ducked to brace himself for Aho, who couldn’t avoid him. No penalty was called on the play.

In the third period, Alexis Lafreniere challenged Aho. He declined the fight. Instead, Andrei Svechnikov jumped in and played peacemaker. Lafreniere exchanged words with Hurricanes forward Stefan Noesen between the benches.

Although they won the game later on Cuylle’s go-ahead tally, seeing the Rangers stick together was another positive sign. Lafreniere took up for Fox in a tightly contested game. There was lots of character shown by the guys in the blue jerseys at MSG on Thursday night.

Kreider Gets Another Power Play Goal

Early in the game, the Hurricanes got caught with too many men on the ice for a bench minor. That gave the Rangers’ second ranked power play a chance to cash in. Chris Kreider continued his hot start by getting another power-play goal.

After Vincent Trocheck had a pass bank off a Hurricane right to Artemi Panarin, he moved down and sent a nifty backhand feed across that Kreider buried for his team-leading fifth on the power play. Kreider’s five power-play goals lead the NHL this season.

Last season, he couldn’t duplicate the success he had in 2021-22 when he scored a Rangers’ single season franchise record 26 power-play goals. Instead, Kreider only had eight in 2022-23. He scored 24 even strength goals while adding a team best four shorthanded goals. If he continues to finish on the man-advantage, Kreider could be in line for a big season. He’ll need to find more success with linemate Mika Zibanejad at even strength.

Trouba Steps Up

When Fox exited the game due to an injury, that meant more ice time for Trouba. The Rangers’ captain was up to the challenge. He and defense partner K’Andre Miller were outstanding defensively.

Both asserted themselves well to make life difficult on the Hurricanes. They logged the big minutes at five-on-five. Trouba played a team-high 24:56 in 30 shifts with over 23 coming at even strength. He blocked three shots and had two hits along with the primary assist on Cuylle’s game-winner.

Miller logged 23:53 over 28 shifts with two hits and a blocked shot. He and Trouba had sound positioning throughout the game. They each made strong defensive plays to stifle the Hurricanes’ attack. They’ve been in sync since the perfect road trip. The shutdown pair has been more consistent so far this season. They’re a big reason for the 7-2-0 start.

Shesterkin Makes Key Saves

Igor Shesterkin finished the game with 26 saves. That included turning aside a dozen Carolina shots in the deciding period. His best save came during a Hurricanes’ surge late in the third. With over four minutes remaining in regulation, he got over to thwart Martin Necas.

The clutch stop came following a wide shot from Brady Skjei that came right to Necas in the slot. Shesterkin reached out with his glove to keep the puck out with 4:10 left. He heard it from the crowd who serenaded him with “Ig-or, Ig-or,” chants.

Shesterkin made the key saves when he had to. He made good stops on Teuvo Teravainen, Jaccob Slavin, and Tony DeAngelo. It’s that high level of goaltending that the 27-year-old can supply for the Rangers. The win was his fourth straight. He’s made the last three starts, posting a 1.94 goals-against-average (GAA) and a .933 save percentage.

Cuylle Hand Luke Delivers

With the game hanging in the balance, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette stuck out Barclay Goodrow with Cuylle and Blake Wheeler for a shift. At the time, he was mixing and matching due to the Chytil injury. Goodrow moved up to center for that shift. It proved large.

On some good sustained pressure down low that included a nice stick lift by Wheeler, Goodrow got the puck over for a pinching Trouba in the corner. He found a wide open Cuylle in front for the crucial game-winning goal with 9:39 remaining in the third period.

It was Cuylle’s second goal of the season. His first goal since Oct. 14. The 21-year-old forward had a good game. Prior to that shift, he made a strong power move in the slot and tested Andersen with a good shot that the Canes’ goalie Frederik Andersen stopped. In 11:50 of ice time, Cuylle had a goal, three shots-on-goal, and six attempts.

Fourth Line Contributes

In a hard fought game where there wasn’t much space, Laviolette sent out his fourth line for a key shift late in the contest. Protecting a one-goal lead, the trio of Nick Bonino, Goodrow, and Jimmy Vesey put together a strong forecheck in the Carolina zone that ate up precious time. The hard work was appreciated by fans, who cheered.

Goodrow nearly had his first goal of the season. However, with the Canes’ net empty, he just missed scoring with the clock winding down. It didn’t matter. He was out there to finish the game. The Rangers earned the victory.

Brodzinski Recalled From Hartford

With the status of Chytil uncertain due to what the Rangers termed an “upper-body” injury, they recalled center Jonny Brodzinski from Hartford. A solid depth player who’s been reliable when he’s been called up, Brodzinski leads the Wolf Pack in scoring with 11 points (6-5-11) seven games. The 30-year-old could make his season debut for the Rangers on Saturday night at Minnesota.

Trocheck Continues Faceoff Dominance

If there’s been a consistent forward who’s flown under the radar, it’s been Trocheck. He continues to dominate in the faceoff circle. In an early game versus his former team, Trocheck went 14-for-20 on faceoffs.

The breakdown was 8-for-11 in the offensive zone and 6-for-9 in the defensive zone. His success at the dots allowed the Rangers to win the faceoff battle, 32-30 for the game. Bonino was also good, going 6 and 4.

The Defense Rests

After Fox went down in the first period, that forced Laviolette to roll five defensemen. While Trouba and Miller did most of the heavy lifting, the trio of Ryan Lindgren, Erik Gustafsson, and Braden Schneider all had solid games. Each did a good job.

Lindgren led the Rangers with four blocks. Schneider had three hits. Gustafsson played well defensively, making a couple of nice recoveries.

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Rangers’ Perfect Road Trip A Reason for Excitement

Posted on November 1, 2023 by Derek

Flashback to a disjointed 4-1 loss at home to the Predators on Oct. 19. The Rangers were booed off the ice by impatient fans. They were back to 2-2-0 with a big road trip on the horizon.

Two weeks later, they returned with a perfect road trip to move into the top spot in the Metropolitan Division. Indeed, the Rangers went 5-0 on a challenging Northwestern swing that included stops at Seattle, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver before running the table in Monday night’s exciting 3-2 overtime win over Winnipeg.

Related: Rangers Outlast The Canucks Thanks to Shesterkin’s Clutch Saves in Overtime

Two days following an emotional 5-4 overtime win over the Canucks, the Rangers fought back in the third period to tie the Jets on a Chris Kreider tip-in for a power-play goal. Igor Shesterkin then supplied the clutch goaltending by robbing Cole Perfetti of the go-ahead goal late in regulation to push the game to overtime.

Panarin Sets Up Zibanejad For Winner

If there’s been one constant in the early going, it’s been the play of Artemi Panarin. The Rangers’ leading scorer continued his torrid start by scoring his fifth goal and setting up Mika Zibanejad for the overtime winner.

On a play started by K’Andre Miller, who’s picked it up following a slow start, he dropped the puck for Panarin. He then drew the Jets’ attention before sending a pass across for a quick Zibanejad one-timer from the left circle that beat Winnipeg goalie Connor Hellebuyck with only 26 seconds left in overtime.

That gave Zibanejad goals in back-to-back games. Previously, he didn’t have one in his first seven games. Sometimes, getting one goal is all it takes for a player to get back on track. That’s a positive sign. He’ll look to keep it going when the Hurricanes visit MSG on Thursday.

Related: Panarin Rewards Laviolette’s Faith With A Dominant Performance In Rangers’ Win Over Kraken

As for Panarin, he extended his point streak to nine straight. He celebrated his 32nd birthday in style by adding a goal and two helpers – hiking his point total to 15 (5-10-15). It’s all working for the Bread Man. His more aggressive shoot first mindset has been front and center during the Rangers’ 7-2-0 start. He leads them with four even strength goals, 10 assists and 33 shots-on-goal.

It’s Miller Time

Entering his fourth season, Miller signed a two-year contract worth $7.74 million. With an average cap hit of $3.872 million comes increased expectations. So far, the 23-year-old defenseman has been good in the Rangers’ first nine games.

After a tough start that included a bad game against Nashville, Miller has picked it up considerably. On the five-game road trip, he played more consistently by defending better and getting more involved offensively.

It was indeed Miller time. In the five games (all wins), he had a goal and five assists for six points with a plus-six rating. In last night’s win, he tallied two assists. He helped set up Panarin in the first period. With the game up for grabs in an overtime mostly controlled by the Jets, Miller helped create the winner by getting the puck to Panarin, who then set up Zibanejad.

Even better, Miller and partner Jacob Trouba are rounding into form. They’re counted on by the coaching staff to draw the tough assignments at even strength. Both are getting it done. Another good sign for the Rangers.

Trocheck Continues Faceoff Dominance

One player who’s flown under the radar so far is Vincent Trocheck. Playing a different role under Rangers’ coach Peter Laviolette, he’s centering the third line that comprises Will Cuylle and Blake Wheeler. While he’s still asked to contribute offensively, the 30-year-old Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native is being relied on to win faceoffs. An area he’s excelled at.

In Monday’s win, Trocheck won 15 of 23 faceoffs for a 65.2 percent success rate. Laviolette uses him for key draws in both the offensive and defensive zone. On the power play, Trocheck went 3 for 5 on the five-on-four. He also took eight defensive draws, finishing 5 and 3. He went a perfect 6 for 6 in the neutral zone at five-on-five.

So far, Trocheck has won 61.8 percent of faceoffs in nine games. He’s gone 102 and 63. He’s taken the most draws on the Rangers. His success helps them win hockey games.

Kreider Clutch

With the Rangers trailing by a goal with less than seven minutes remaining in the third period, Kreider delivered in the clutch on the power play.

After Will Cuylle drew a boarding minor on Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon, Adam Fox took a Panarin feed and passed down low for a Kreider tip-in that tied the contest with 6:48 left. It was Kreider’s team-leading sixth goal. He also leads them with four power-play goals.

If there’s one area he can be counted on, it’s on the man-advantage. Kreider continues to make a living in front of the net. Possessing some of the best hands in the game, he remains a consistent force at scoring on deflections. It’s a skill that should be appreciated. He works hard at it, which is why he’s successful.

Foxy Returns

A player the Rangers count on for offense is Fox. The anchor of the blue line had an impact on the perfect five-game road trip. The returns were good.

In five games, Fox had two goals with four assists for six points. That included a pair of power-play goals in wins over the Oilers and Canucks. Both were scored in close with Fox in a good position to bury each. It was a different wrinkle.

Credit assistant coach Michael Peca. He’s done a good job so far with the Rangers’ power-play. They rank second in the NHL on the power-play, converting at a 34.4 percent rate (11-for-32).

Fox is tied with the Canucks’ Quinn Hughes for first in scoring among defensemen with 11 points (3-8-11) this season. He’ll look to continue that trend when the Rangers host the Hurricanes on Thursday night.

What’s Ahead

After finishing October with a 7-2-0 record, the Rangers begin November tomorrow night at home with Carolina visiting. It should be a good litmus test to see where they are. The Hurricanes have won three in a row to turn around a slow start. They bring a 6-4-0 record into play.

Following the home game, the Rangers will visit the Wild on Saturday night. They then return home for a three-game homestand, which begins next Tuesday, November 7, against the Red Wings. The Wild pay a visit on 11/9. The Rangers conclude the homestand with a game against the Blue Jackets on 11/12.

A four-game road trip doesn’t start until 11/18 at the Devils. The Rangers will also visit the Stars, Penguins, and Flyers. They conclude November with three home games versus the Bruins, Sabres, and Red Wings.

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Rangers outlast the Canucks thanks to Shesterkin’s clutch saves in overtime

Posted on October 29, 2023 by Derek

The Rangers came away with a 4-3 overtime win over the Canucks on Saturday night in Vancouver. It wouldn’t have been possible without the brilliant play of Igor Shesterkin. He made 30 saves to help the Rangers make it four straight wins on the road.

In an exciting game that featured plenty of offense on special teams, along with hitting and momentum swings, it was Shesterkin that made the ultimate difference. Fresh after getting Thursday (Oct. 26) off, the former Vezina winner made some clutch saves against the dangerous Canucks.

Shesterkin Robs Kuzmenko

None were bigger than the pair of stops he made to deny Andrei Kuzmenko in overtime. With the trio of Vincent Trocheck, K’Andre Miller, and Kaapo Kakko out of gas, Kuzmenko made a great move around Trocheck to get in on Shesterkin. After making the first save, Shesterkin made a big glove stop to rob Kuzmenko of the game-winner.

That allowed the Rangers to find a way to grab the extra point. Shesterkin made several key saves during regulation to give his team a chance. They weren’t as good last night. That had a lot to do with the Canucks, who created plenty of offense with their skill and speed.

Special Teams A Factor

It was a tightly contested game. There were a lot of battles between both teams. It was also called tight by the refs. Special teams were a factor. There were a dozen power plays with each side receiving six. Almost every goal was scored when it wasn’t five-on-five.

The Rangers took advantage of their opportunities. They connected on 3 of 6 power plays. That included scoring on both halves of a crucial man-advantage in the third period when the Canucks ran into penalty trouble.

Photo via Getty Images

With the game tied, Phil Di Giuseppe high-sticked Mika Zibanejad, drawing blood. That gave the Rangers a four-minute power play. After having given up a shorthanded goal to Tyler Myers at the start of it on an Adam Fox turnover, they caught a break when the Canucks were whistled for a bench minor.

Suddenly, on a five-on-three, the Rangers cashed in thanks to an Artemi Panarin pasx down low for a Fox deflection that allowed him to redeem himself. It was the second game in a row he scored a power play goal. All three of his goals have come on the power play. Last season, he only scored once on the power play.

Zibanejad Finally Gets One

Entering the game, Mika Zibanejad had been unable to score in the Rangers’ first seven games. He’d come close. But nothing was going in. That finally changed. He got one on the second part of the power play to break through.

With the game tied at three, the Rangers still had a five-on-four due to the double minor on Di Giuseppe. Coach Peter Laviolette sent out the top unit for the key sequence that led to Zibanejad getting his first goal of the season.

Following a couple of missed shots from Zibanejad and Panarin, the Rangers worked the puck in front for a point blank chance from Chris Kreider that Canucks’ goalie Casey DeSmith stopped. However, the puck rebounded right to Zibanejad, who buried a quick one-timer into an open net to give the Rangers a one-goal lead with 6:36 left in regulation.

It’s important for Zibanejad to get going. He’s counted on for offense. A streaky scorer, maybe the big goal will allow him to relax. Once one goes in, it could start him on a hot streak. He’s too good a player not to heat up.

Chytil Penalty Hurts

After taking the lead with less than seven minutes remaining, the Rangers couldn’t put the Canucks away. Instead, Filip Chytil took an ill-advised penalty for closing his hand on the puck. The minor hurt.

Although the Rangers’ penalty kill limited the dangerous Canucks’ power play to two shots that Shesterkin handled, they were unable to get settled in at even strength. After the penalty expired, Vancouver kept the play alive. Anthony Beauvillier and Filip Hronek combined to set up Carson Soucy for a high-rising shot that beat Shesterkin through traffic. That tied things up with 4:18 left.

Panarin’s Hot Start Continues

Entering play, Panarin recorded a point in all seven games. He continued his hot start by scoring his fourth on the power play and later adding his eighth helper on a Fox tip-in.

He scored the first goal of the contest on the power play. After Zibanejad had a pass for Vincent Trocheck bank off his skate, the loose puck came to Panarin at the right point. He settled the puck down and moved to the middle to fire a wrist shot past DeSmith for the lead before 10 minutes had expired.

With Panarin continuing to look for his shot more, he’s getting positive results. By shooting the puck, it makes him less predictable. Opponents can’t just wait for the pass. They also must pay attention to his shot. He’d later add an assist on the Fox power play tally, giving him a team-leading 12 points.

Kreider’s Great Play Leads to Winner

With nothing settled in regulation, the Rangers and Canucks needed overtime at Rogers Arena. The three-on-three didn’t disappoint. It was wide open. Both sides went for it. That’s where Shesterkin was at his best, making six saves, including the flat-out denials on Kuzmenko.

The Rangers were able to get the win thanks to a great play from Kreider that led to the winner. With the Canucks up in arms over what they felt was a missed call that saw Elias Pettersson spill to the ice, the play went in the opposite direction.

In transition, Kreider drew two Canucks to him. He then sent a perfect pass across for a K’Andre Miller blast that won the game with 72 seconds left in overtime.

Miller was the beneficiary of a heads-up play from Kreider. Not known for his playmaking, the Rangers’ fifth all-time leading goalscorer was patient enough to wait before distributing the puck for an open Miller to give the Rangers their fourth consecutive win. It was a terrific play from one of the best Rangers’ first round picks. When his career is over, Kreider could one day take his place up in the Garden rafters.

Rangers Aim for Perfect Road Trip

On Monday night, the Rangers will visit the Jets in Winnipeg. They will aim for a perfect road trip. They’re 4-for-4 so far with wins over the Kraken, Flames, Oilers, and Canucks. If they can win tomorrow, it will highlight a great trip.

With the victory on Saturday night, they improved to 5-1-0 on the road. The Rangers remain first in the Metropolitan Division with a 6-2-0 record.

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