N.Y. Rangers: Hurricanes Burst Blueshirts Bubble

From the desk of: RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

The #NYR are still a rebuilding team. Oft times winners must first learn how to lose. JD and Gorton still have more work to do. I'm fine with this. #LGR

— B'klynTrolleyBlogger (@BTB_MikeII) August 5, 2020

At no time are the Rangers ever really in this series.  Thanks to former Blueshirt Brady Skjei, Jesper Fast is knocked out of action in the first period of game one and never returns.  Coach Quinn says losing Fast changes the whole complexion of the Rangers' approach.  I, on the other hand, do not completely buy into that notion.  However, I agree that not having Fast, and Brendan Lemieux, and Igor Shesterkin, on the ice does indeed compromise the Rangers.

Otherwise, eleven New York Rangers make their playoff debut against Carolina.  That speaks directly to the ongoing efforts of John Davidson and Jeff Gorton.  Lest we forget they're only a year and a half into this, and as far as I'm concerned, are going about their business well.  With regards to the players, learning how to lose as a team is part of the process.  Getting outscored by an 11-4 margin over three games is a hard, but necessary lesson learned.  If nothing else, this series demonstrates to the younglings the drastic differences between three regular season victories over the Canes versus three straight losses in the playoffs.  Carolina has been through this before, and it shows throughout all nine periods of hockey.

If the Rangers through three games only score four total goals, going 1 for 14 on the power play is largely to blame.  Otherwise, Artemi Panarin gets off ten shots in three games, but only one SOG in game one.  He scores one goal, but does not score enough; Chris Kreider scores a goal, but does not score enough; Mika Zibanejad scores one goal, but does not score enough.  Kaapo Kakko creates some nice chances for himself, but ultimately concludes the series with no goals and no assists. Circling back to Zibanejad, as a center he assists on just one goal.  And since I'm going there, Carolina wins 95 face-offs versus 85 by the Rangers.  Carolina also out-shoots the Rangers from the field by a 102-88 margin.  Quinn's Rangers are ill prepared to contain Andrei Svechnikov, who tallies a hat trick in game two, and less able to shackle Sebastian Aho, who totals three goals with five assists.