N.Y. Rangers: Because Trading Brendan Lemieux is the Off-Broadway Thing To Do

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Nick Fotiu, Nick Fotiu,

Wherefore Art Thow, Nick Fotiu?

You can sum up the last fifty years of Rangers hockey this way: weak up the middle and lacking overall physicality and toughness.

If you're too young to remember the days of The Smurfs on Ice at Madison Square Garden, consider yourself lucky because it's this very condition that has frustrated Rangers fans for many, many decades.  Back in the day, Emile Francis ignored all the clamoring to beef up the roster, and it cost him and the organization at least one Stanley Cup and maybe even two.

History says the Rangers never draft big and refuse to toughen up.  When Mike Keenan arrived in town, he recognized this post-haste and effectively ordered general manager Neil Smith to change it, and he was right!  Of all people, I thought Jeff Gorton (who comes to the Rangers via the Boston Bruins) and John Davidson would understand this.  I thought the exit of Alain Vigneault finally signaled the end of it.  But shame on me.  Finesse still rules the day.

Once again, there goes the little bit of toughness and hard-nosed play the Rangers possessed. 

Extenuating circumstances around Saturday's trade of Brendan Lemieux to Los Angeles make this no less infuriating. 

Was Brendan Lemieux destined to remain with the Rangers beyond this season?  That very likely is a definitive no, thus rendering my words to a mere rant.  I get it; the Rangers wanted to make room for Vitaly Kravtsov who's KHL season just ended.  They come away from this with L.A.'s 2021 fourth-round draft pick.  

Lemieux certainly wasn't going to be protected for the Seattle expansion draft.  But will the Rangers use that pick to draft someone who isn't afraid to mix it up in the corners, win possession, and actually make a decent pass to the more skilled players who should be positioned in front (but can't fight their way through a wet paper bag)? 

And here I wanted to see Lemieux on the third line ...

Regardless, my point still holds true, now and moving forward.

Damn Smurfs!

N.Y. Rangers: Look What the Blueshirts Did to the Flyers, Again

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

THURSDAY

Rangers 8

Flyers  3

FINAL

That Piano Falling Out Of The Sky Has a Flyers Logo On It

Philadelphia is flying in a bad way.  Since returning to the ice on Feb. 18 from a four-game quarantine, the Flyers are 7-10-2 and fading fast.  

They were borderline eligible to play this game.  

Thursday's defeat against the Rangers was their fourth straight loss and fifth in their last six games.  Moreover, they've surrendered five goals or more in seven of 19 contests.  On March 17, the Rangers shut out the Flyers by a whopping 9-0 final; on Thursday, another lopsided 8-3 final score.  All told, the Rangers have taken two of three and outscored the Flyers through five games by a 27-14 margin.  For Philly, there's no hiding from the Rangers' 17-3 goal advantage in their last two games together.

Mika Zibanejad strikes again, with three power-play goals along with three assists for six points.  That makes twelve points in his last two games against the Flyers.

Otherwise, the Rangers scored three times in the first, three times in the second, and twice more in the third period.  Pissed off Pavel Buchnevich scored once at even strength on a second time while shorthanded just 0:33 seconds into the third period.  Ryan Strome actually opening the scoring at 8:01 of the first period en route to a four-point night, and my guy Brendan Lemieux assisted on K'Andre Miller's second-period goal.  Filip Chytil capped off the scoring with his fifth goal of the season.

Oh, and Adam Fox had five assists ... just saying.

The Rangers welcomed back goalie Igor Shesterkin who sustained a groin injury exactly three weeks ago.  He faced 44 shots on goal, making nine special team saves and 41 saves overall.

N.Y. Rangers: Best Hot Wing is Right Here in the City

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Upstate vs. Downstate

EMPIRE STATE PUCKS

Sabres  3

Rangers 5

FINAL

Artemi Panarin Governs Over Downstate Victory Over Western Neighbor

When you're in the midst of a season with no expectations, playing the Buffalo Sabres still comes with expectations.  It's called the food chain, and for the present time, the Rangers are two species up on the pecking order from Buffalo; 

... not to mention the Sabres are playing minus their injured center Jack Eichel.

When there are expectations, sometimes you're bound to be disappointed.  Yes, this implies the Rangers did something wrong.  A scoreless first period in any game is reasonable to expect.  But yielding the opening goal at 3:52 of the second period was somewhat deflating.  As per the cardinal sins of hockey, allowing a goal just over one minute into the third period was annoying.  Then ... then, allowing that game-tying goal just 3:13 minutes later was quite a disappointment.

What really has me incensed is Filip Chytil, Alexis Lafreniere, and Kaapoo Kakko, all playing under 15 minutes.  The trio of Julien Gauthier, Kevin Rooney, and Brendan Lemieux also wasn't up to snuff.

Keith Kincaid faced only 16 shots, made three saves on special teams, but only 13 saves at even strength.  He nonetheless earns his second straight victory and still sports a representative 2.22 GAA through seven appearances.

Meanwhile, Artemi Panaris continues proving beyond a shadow of a doubt just how indispensable he is to the Blueshirts.  He elevates the team and those playing alongside him.  The Bread Man fueled Monday's second-period counterattack, then helped punctuate an unnecessarily hard-fought victory in the game's closing moments.  Panarin assisted on Kaapo Kakko's game-tying goal in the first.  Shortly thereafter, he assisted on Chris Kreider's power-play goal putting the Rangers ahead by one.

At 18:18 of the second period, Adam Fox gave the Rangers a 3-1 lead on feeds from Pavel Buchnevich and the surging Mika Zibanejad.

Chris Kreider also said to hell with all the complaining about his streakiness.  After Buffalo tied the game at three, Kreider restored the Rangers lead on feeds from Ryan Strome and Adam Fox.  

With under a minute left in the game, Artemi Panarin again factors in assisting Kaapo Kakko's second goal of the game and a 5-3 final margin of victory.

Panarin and Adam Fox finish the game with three points each.  Kreider now has seven goals and eleven points through twelve games in March.  Pavel Buchnevich has scored in nine of eleven games played this month for 16 points.

N. Y. Rangers: Blueshirts in a Landslide

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Rangers vs. Flyers series tied; 2-2

I - NYR 3; PHI 2*

II - PHI 4; NYR 3

III - PHI 5; NYR 4#

IV - NYR 9; PHI 0

*shootout

#overtime

Back to the Future: Blueshirts Post Largest Goal Total Since 1986 Smurfs Scored Ten Against the New Jersey Devils

No head coach, no staff, no problem.  

Or, was David Quinn the problem all along?  

That can be debated.  

In any event, minus their entire coaching staff crowding the bench area and busting their pucks, the Rangers veterans took it upon themselves to lead the troops after Monday's overtime backbreaker in an uproarious bounce-back effort against the Flyers on Wednesday.

Insofar as Quinn, Brendan Lemieux might have something to say.  After all, he's the one who lit the fuse igniting a Blueshirt explosion.  Lemieux converted feeds from Adam Fox and Bret Howden to open the scoring at 7:05 of the first period.  At 14:47, Artemi Panarin netted his seventh of the season for a 2-0 Rangers lead.

The Flyers, throughout the second period, appeared to be skating in the west side railyards.  The Rangers, in turn, unleashed a seven-goal attack against Philadelphia goalies Carter Hart and Brian Elliot.  Mika Zibanejad posted a hat-trick and assisted on two other goals by Pavel Buchnevich and another by Jacob Trouba.  Then with just 0:27 seconds left in the second period, Filip Chytil scored his fourth goal of the season for a 9-0 Rangers lead.

Alexandar Georgiev was back between the posts demonstrating a marked improvement in performance after getting the hook in each of his last two starts against Pittsburgh and Boston.  If anyone needed a confidence booster, it was him.  Georgiev faced 26 shots on goal and stopped them all for the shutout.

Circling back to Lemieux, it was his second goal and sixth point in limited minutes.  The Rangers need his physicality on the ice.  The Rangers got four points from their blueliners, a goal and assist from Jacob Trouba, and assists by Adam Fox and Libor Hajek.  Pavel Buchnevich finished with four points.  Even Bret Howdenn attempted a shot on goal.  So, you know things went well.

With the victory, the Rangers tie the season series against Philadelphia at two wins apiece.

N.Y. Rangers: Blueshirts Blank Bruins at Boston

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

SATURDAY

Rangers  4

Bruins   0

FINAL

When In Boston, Do As The Bruins Do; Courtesy Brendan Lemieux.

Wanna know what I'm most proud of about Saturday's game?  Brendan Lemieux's two penalties.  He committed his first infraction at the 0:53 second mark of the second period, a boarding call against Trent Frederic.  The second occurred with under two minutes remaining in the game; misconduct when he reengaged with Trent Frederic.  Otherwise, five other Rangers penalties involved innocuous hooking and holding.  That makes Lemieux the only one handing Boston a taste of their own chowder.  Coach Quinn's problem child was technically issued twelve penalty minutes, but it was punishment well earned!

All hail Keith Kincaid.  Saturday marked his fourth appearance and his first victory of the season.  Keith stopped every one of Boston's 18 shots on goal for the shutout.  He made five saves on the PK, twelve saves at even strength, and was forced to make a shorthanded stop as well.

K'Andre Miller opened the scoring at 3:06 of the first period.  Midway through the third period, Brad Marchant got whistles for slashing K'Andre Miller.  Back in the second period, Marchant was called for slashing Alexis Lafreniere.  Here we have two instances where Marchant - whose tactics are familiar to all -  takes cheat shots at two of the Rangers youngest players.  Did anyone in a Blueshirt answer address these offenses?  Of course not, and thus I applause Brendan Lemieux.

Nice to see Chris Kreider scoring points against top competition.  That's why he's still here.  His goal at 5:42 of the second gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

THE BREAD MAN IS BACK!

Back from Russia with love, Artemi Panarin played in his first game since Feb. 20 against Washington.  He beat the Bruins to the puck in the right corner, spun, and unleashed a pass to Ryan Strome waiting in front (exactly where he should have been!), who in turn converted on a one-timer for a 3-0 Rangers lead.  Strome led the team with six shots on goal.  Pavel Buchnevich closed out the scoring on a feed from Chris Kreider at the 16:12 mark of the third.  Buchnevich leads the team with 22 points in 26 games.

Know who was not on the ice?  Jack Johnson, that's who.  That means the blueliners are back together again.

N.Y. Rangers: Boston Provides Not So Subtle Reminder of Blueshirt History

From the desk: RAISE GRESHNER WITH THE GREATS

Bruins lead Rangers; 3-1

I - BOS 3; NYR 2*

II - BOS 1; NYR 0

III - NYR 6; BOS 2

IV - BOS 4; NYR 1

* overtime

That's Just Boston Being Boston; So What's Our Excuse?

Feeling good about themselves after Friday's convincing victory over Boston, the Rangers received their latest attitude adjustment on Sunday through an assortment of roughing, high-sticking, cross-checking, fights, unsportsmanlike stuff, misconduct, and even goalie squashing.

Brendan Lemieux was the recipient of the misconduct - after the final buzzer!  Someone needed to get after Nick Ritchie, and no later than the clock striking zero, Lemieux was on it.  I'll repeat it: Quinn must give Brendan Lemieux more minutes.

Because this game is a stark reminder, this team is soft.  It's actually rather ponderous that after all these years and decades, physicality is still an issue.  Fans know the deal.  If the Rangers of the early 1970s were just a wee bit tougher, they win a Cup .. Period.  The Cat was hounded over and over about it!  They were called Smurfs by a later generation for a good reason.  More recently, the L.A. Kings ground us into a fine powder.  The thing is, John Davidson was the bridge to the aforementioned eras.  He should know better.  General manager Jeff Gorton came to the Rangers via the Boston Bruins that he personally helped build.  He should know better.  Yet, here we are all these decades later, still waiting for the next Nick Fotiu to walk through the door.  Once again, finesse is losing out over brute force and ignorance.  Just take a look at the division.  These Rangers are indeed young.  But it's the veterans who are no more rugged for the wear than the teenagers.  Who is punishing David Pastrnak for cross-checking Alexis Lafreniere? 

• Alexis Lafreniere posts points in consecutive games for the first time this season; two assists versus Boston.

Thank goodness for Colin Blackwell.  His goal at 10:47 of the third period ruined the shutout for Boston's Tuukka Rask, who faced only 21 shots and made three saves in three power-play opportunities for the Rangers.  Colin Blackwell now has five goals and eight points in just 11 games.  Otherwise, Rangers' centermen joined for eleven shots on goal and just one point.  Ryan Strome, Kevin Rooney, and Brendan Smith joined together for a grand total of one shot on goal.  Mika Zibanejad had three.

Patrice Bergeron did not get off a shot all night, and Brad Marchant was limited to just one shot and an assist.  Five other Bruins centermen joined together for 16 shots on net, three goals, and two assists for five points. 

N.Y. Rangers: Blueshirts Pick Up Against Boston Where Long Islanders Leave Off

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

FEW AND DISTANCED FANS RETURN TO 

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

FRIDAY

Bruins  2

Rangers 6

FINAL

Third Time Is A Charm; Blueshirts Defeat Division Leading Bruins

Brad Marchant, very early in the first period, tried setting the tone for the rest of the evening, pinning Adam Fox in the corner, even dropping his gloves.  But Fox refused to oblige, and Marchant ponderously escaped without a penalty.  Marchant was nonetheless successful, as the shorthanded Rangers on this night decided they weren't having any of it, and so the tone indeed was set.  Big hits, obligatory crosschecks, scrums, and bad words abounded.  

In their first meeting against the Bruins, the Rangers were plus-eight in hits but a woeful minus-16 in face-offs and minus-three in shots on goal en route to a 3-2 loss.  Then despite a tighter 1-0 defeat in the second meeting, Boston was in clear command, outhitting the Rangers 31-22, going plus-five on faceoffs, and a plus-nine on shots on goal.  Through the first two games, each team went scoreless on the power play.  Boston was scoreless in eight opportunities, and the Ranger came empty in six chances. 

On Friday, the correlation between winning face-offs, possession, drawing penalties, and shots on goal works in the Rangers' favor for a change.  The Blueshirts were plus-four in hits, plus-one in face-offs, and plus-one in shots on goal.  In the second period, Colin Blackwell scored the first power-play goal of the series by either team, while Boston was once again held to 0/3 on the man-advantage.

At 13:16, Julien Gauthier opened the scoring assisted by Ryan Lindgren, who clashed with David Pastrnak during the game.  Ryan Strome opened the second period scoring on a beautiful feed from Alexis Lafreniere at 2:32, but Patrice Bergeron scored just 1:30 later.  Afterwhich the roof caved in on Boston.  The Rangers scored twice in the closing two minutes of the second period on a power-play goal from Colin Blackwell, then just twelve seconds later on Chris Kreider's ninth of the season assisted by Strome.  Picking up where they left off, the Rangers strike quickly in the third on Pavel Bushnevich's fifth of the season at 1:45, and Jonny Brodzinski's first goal of the season and only the sixth of his career at the 3:43 mark.  Brad Marchant added an inconsequential goal at 7:51 to cap off the night's scoring.

I'm pleased to see Brendan Lemieux's minutes were increased.  He mustered three shots on goal and, late in the third, got stuffed on a good drive to the net.  Alexis Lafreniere registers just his second point of the season.  Chris Kreider now has five goals in his last three games and a team-leading nine for the season.  Rangers' centermen generated 13 (38%) shots on goal with four goals and two assists for six points.  However, Bret Howden has just one point in his last 13 games and only two for the season.  With three more points against the Bruins, Ryan Strome unexpectedly leads Rangers centers this season with 13 points.

This is the second straight night the Bruins have gotten their doors blown off.  Thursday, on the front end of back-to-back nights, the Long Islanders drubbed the Bruins by a 7-2 final at Uniondale.  The Islanders centermen joined for 14 shots on goal with two goals and three assists for five points.  

The Rangers and Bruins resume hostilities again on Sunday.

N.Y. Rangers: Blueshirts Cannot Overcome Pandemic, Putin, and Penalties

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

WEDNESDAY

Rangers 3

Flyer   4

FINAL

The Rangers are a rebuilding team, right?  

Therefore I don't mind the adversity.

Playing without Filip Chytil and Jacob Trouba due to injury, without Kaapo Kakko and K'Andre Miller due to COVID, and Artemi Panarin playing spy games back in the USSR, you just knew the Blueshirts would be in trouble.  But that's not to say the Flyers weren't missing bodies as well because they were.  

That doesn't excuse eight penalties.  Igor Shesterkin needed to be an octopus out there.  It also doesn't explain their continuing futility on the face-off, outdone by a 35-20 margin.  Face-offs mean possession; possession means potential shots; Philadelphia out-shot the Rangers by a wide 39-27 margin.

See what happens when you loiter around the net?  Sometimes it takes brute force and ignorance, and sometimes it takes a sense of what's happening around you.  Chris Kreider records a hat-trick with two power-play goals and one at even strength, all of the tip-in variety.  Phil Esposito made a career of cleaning up garbage in front to the tune of over 700 goals.  No one ever accused Espo of being the best skater on the ice.

Chris Kreider was assisted by his centermen, finally.  Mike Zibanejad, although still unable to cash in opportunities like last season, assisted on two of Kreider's goals.  Ryan Strome and Colin Blackwell also picked up assists.  All told, Rangers' centermen joined for ten shots on goal and four points.

The Rangers turned over the puck in their own end early in the first period and essentially stayed there until Erik Gustaffson opened the scoring at the 7:38 mark.  Afterwhich, they were resigned to playing catch-up the rest of the way while having to kill 12 minutes in penalties, not to mention two delays of games.  Said another way, it was a very sloppy game.

I'm also a little puzzled why Ryan Lindgren skated a blueline low 14:45 minutes, and Jack Johnson is out there for 19:01 minutes.

Lastly, on this night, with two forwards missing from the lineup, I'm disappointed Brendan Lemieux only got 10:19 of ice time.

N.Y. Rangers: Artemi Panarin Lifts Lagging Mates

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

SHOWDOWN AT HIGH NOON

SATURDAY

Rangers

vs.

Capitals

The Rangers were lucky to come away with two points in their first meeting against the Flyers.  Philadelphia's line-up is still being compromised by COVID.  So, there are questions as to what outfit the Rangers really defeated.  But with regards to what transpired on the ice, the Rangers committed one of the cardinal rules of hockey, not once, but twice, and got away with it.

Never yield a goal in the first two minutes or last two minutes of a period.  

They did just that, allowing a goal in the first 0:59 seconds of the game to Nicolas Aube-Kubel.  Colin Blackwell tied the game on a power-play goal at 3:24 of the second period.  Ryan Strome then put the Rangers ahead with an even-strength goal at the 8:21 mark of the third period.  But with just 1:14 left in regulation, Joel Farabee scored his seventh goal of the season, tying the game at two.  After a scoreless overtime, Artemi Panarin, returning from injury, saved the Rangers' ass with a decisive goal in the shootout.

Playing minus Jacob Trouba and K'Andre Miller, the blueliners still limit Philadelphia to 22 shots on goal and 0/5 on the power play.  The Rangers blocked 27 shots in front of Alexandar Georgiev, who stopped all but two shots.  For reasons I won't get into, Ryan Lindgren and Adam Fox walked away with a respective minus-two for the game.

There came the point when Coach Quinn was reprimanding Brendan Lemieux on the bench, if I remember correctly, after a neutral zone blunder.  How about Quinn coaches better and gives Lemiex more ice time!  

Yeah, I went there ...

And thank goodness for Colin Blackwell, who miraculously has seven points in only five games.  Artemi Panarin had eight shots on goal, which equals all five Rangers' centermen shots on goal combined.

N.Y. Rangers: Devils Cleared to Resume Play

From the desks: THE BRICK CITY STYX & RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

BATTLE of the HUDSON

TUESDAY

DEVILS

vs.

RANGERS

FROM

Eighth Ave Ice Hut

Brick City hadn't played since Jan. 31, when they defeated the Sabres at Buffalo.  After which, their next five games were postponed.  Upwards of nineteen players were placed into COVID protocol.  Eight more players have recently been cleared to play.  If any of the remaining five players tests negative on Monday, they will be made available to play Tuesday night.  Jack Hughes is cleared to play as it presently stands, but Nico Hischier and Travis Zajac are not.  Through nine games, the Devils established a 4-3-2 record.  The rest of the league to date has generally played anywhere from 13 to 17 games.  New Jersey defeated the Rangers on Jan. 19 at Madison Square Garden.

After practice, Coach Quinn listed Artemi Panarin as out for Tuesday's game.  Sure, that puts Coach in a bind, but his decision to start Colin Blackwell on the first line with Mike Zibanejad and Chris Kreider is somewhat questionable.  We'll see in the next few games to come whether or not this decision is in reaction to recent slippage from Pavel Buchnevich.  Meanwhile, the teenagers Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere will be joined together and centered by Ryan Strome - that's intriguing.  But I still need more Brendan Lemieux on the ice.  Let him play this game with Buchnevich and perhaps Brett Howden or Kevin Rooney.  

Of course, I won't get my way.

N.Y. Rangers: Off-Broadway Deficiencies Center Stage Against Bruins

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

FRIDAY

Bruins      1

Rangers   0

FINAL

For Now, Boston is the Rangers' Measure of All Things

Two games against the division's top team, so how did the Rangers stack up?  They lost in overtime on Wednesday, then lost 1-0 at home again on Friday.

Outside of the obligatory costly mistake, both games were otherwise tightly contested.  The Rangers showed a lot of fight during the second go-around on Friday.  On Wednesday, fresh face Anthony Bitetto roughed up and tangled with Chris Wagner.  Brendan Lemieux in Friday's game exchanged potatoes with Trent Frederic, and even Pavel Buchnevich uncharacteristically fought with Jeremy Lauzon.  The Rangers also generated viable scoring chances, but goalies Jaroslav Halak and Tuuka Rask played exceedingly well in each game.  

It is what it is; I'll take this kind of effort every night.  This was merely another instance of playing well enough to lose.  Dare I say that's a good thing.  When you're a rebuilding team, the lessons learned via the hard-luck loss are invaluable.  Playing top competition is the best teacher.  The Bruins were able to shoehorn one goal by Igor Shesterkin.  Everything is fine.

With Artemi Panarin out, Coach Quinn had no choice but to dial-up Kaapo Kakko and Alexi Lafreniere's minutes.  With each entering the series averaging under fifteen minutes a game, Kakko played over 19 minutes on Wednesday and over 18 minutes on Friday.  Lafreniere skated for just 12:40 in the front end but 16:56 in the second game.  Neither player registered a point against the Bruins.

Through two games, the Bruins outshot the Rangers by a 62-56 margin.  The more significant disparity lay in face-offs, with Boston owning a lopsided 60-39 advantage.  Both teams were scoreless on the power play; eight opportunities for the Rangers and six for the Bruins.

At the end of the day, the Rangers scored just three goals in two games.  Perhaps because Boston is tied for third in the NHL with a +14 point differential.  They are the third stingiest team in the NHL and easily the stingiest within the division.

Fine, but what of the anomaly named Mike Zibanejad?  He skated 21:49 minutes on Wednesday with four shots on goal and no points, then skated for 24:21 minutes on Friday, managing zero shots on goal.  

In two games against the Bruins, the position of center generated 18 shots on goal but just one point on a goal by Kevin Rooney.  Six of those shots were from Ryan Strome in Wednesday's game.  But on Friday, Strome and Zibanejad joined for just one shot on goal.  The Rangers centermen accounted for just four shots on goal on Friday, whereas the Bruins centermen accounted for 14 shots.  Overall, Boston centers generated two points (on an assist by Patrice Bergeron and a goal by Brad Marchand) on 23 shots on goal. 

Lastly, I need more Brendan Lemieux on the ice.  He has a goal and three assists in limited action.  Meanwhile, he's been disciplined insofar as not taking dumb (keyword) penalties while very effectively adding much-needed physicality.  Confined within this division with six games left against the Bruins, Coach Quinn is gonna need him.

N.Y. Rangers: A Blueline Special

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

STILL THE CENTER OF ATTENTION

Not their drubbing of the Islanders roughly two weeks ago; not their recent defeat of the Sabres; Monday night's game against the Penguins was the Rangers' best game of the season.

It took some overtime along the blue line.  Adam Fox and Jacob Trouba played over twenty-six minutes each.  Jack Johnson was thankfully off the ice, Tony DeAngelo cleared waivers, and Brendan Smith sustained an injury after six shifts.  Ryan Lindgren and K'Andre Miller both skated over 21 minutes.  Meanwhile, making his Rangers debut, New York State native Anthony Bitetto saw almost 15 minutes.  K'Andre Miller was the brightest star of the night, laying a big hit and making the biggest save of the game when it mattered most.  Adam Fox's shot from the point deflected in by Chris Kreider midway through the second period gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead they would not relinquish, 

... unlike losing face-offs in your own end and giving up yet another third period lead.

A look at the other side sees sophomore defenseman John Marino skate for over 30:30 minutes.  Next in was Pierre-Olivier Joseph with 26:14 minutes.  No other Pittsburgh defenseman skated beyond 16 minutes.  Now consider the Rangers only mustered 23 shots on goal.

There's just no getting around it.  The Rangers are weak up the middle, not just now, but for a long-ass time.  I don't need to tell fans; we all know it.  The Devils beat us to Jack Hughes, but it appears the Rangers would have drafted Kaapo Kakko nonetheless.  Hughes so far has eight points through nine games with a plus-two.  But I digress.  Filip Chytil's injury compounds the Rangers dilemma.  The Rangers are dependent on Ryan Strome more now than ever.  That's not somewhere I want to be.

Rangers Centers:

• Mika Zibanejad - nine games, two points, minus-four.
• Ryan Strome - nine games, four points, plus-three.
• Brett Howden - nine games, one point, minus-one. 

Coach Quinn rejoined Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Pavel Buchnevich, who created multiple chances in the third period.

By the way, did you see my guy Brendan Lemieux the other night ... a big hit in the neutral zone, recovers the turnover, then scores!  

Igor Shesterkin gets the start.  He faces 26 shots and stops all but one.  After Jason Zucker's goal at 9:05 if the first period, Igor shut them out.  He stood up to intense pressure throughout the third period and particularly in the final minutes.  K'Andre Miller may have made the biggest save of the night, but Shesterkin made many excellent ones too.

This is what I mean by learning how to lose before you can win.  These youngsters are good learners.  Although their teacher has been pissing me off somewhat lately, it's cool.

Tony D'Angelo cleared waivers.  The Rangers are free to buy him out, or whatever it is they chose to do, but he will never again don a Blue Shirt.  That is certain.  He was problematic before arriving off-Broadway, he proved problematic here, and I'm not so sure other teams may want him as well.  The last straw was DeAngelo allegedly going after goalie Alexandar Georgiev for allowing the losing goal against Pittsburgh.  Rumor has it DeAngelo instigated a confrontation with his goalie in the tunnel on the way back to the locker room.  Sure, DeAngelo scored over 50 points last season, but truth be told, his defense has left a lot to be desired throughout.  He was a minus-six when the hammer fell.

File Monday's win against Pittsburgh under addition by subtraction.

N.Y. Rangers: Education of the Young Blueshirts Continues

From the desk: RAISE GRESCH WITH THE GREATS

DEFENSE

Fifteen Goals Against 

3rd Least East Division

PENGUINS SHMENGUINS ... ON TO BUFFALO and #SABRESMAFIA

Two blown third-period leads, two straight losses against the Penguins, and three losses in a row.  The Rangers are now 1-3-1 in a 56 game regular season.  

I don't mind, because I have no expectations.  Into the fire, let them play.  For now, I'm content with letting these young Blue Shirts learn how to lose.  By that, I mean coming to understand the fine line between playing sixty minutes and everything else.  It's part of the process.  If I may, the devil is in the details.  This is still a rebuilding team.  Therefore, I'm more interested in development, improvement, and progress. 

In the meantime, my eyes are peeled on Filip Chytil.  The biggest reasons are because on occasion he centers Alexis Lafreniere just as Coach Quinn has a tendency of shifting Kaapo Kakko up and down in lines.  Chytil, 21-years old, through five games, has two goals and one assist while averaging just under thirteen minutes of tice time.  Meanwhile, through five games Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko have posted a total of just two points.  Chytil assisted on Kaapo's second period goal in their second tilt against the Islanders.  Sunday's game against the Penguins was another instance wherein Kakko was lined up with Chytil and Philip Di Giuseppe who by the way has four assists in four games.

On that note, I prefer Coach roll out four lines more consistently.  What coach on occasion wouldn't want to add Artemi Panarin next to Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.  But I ask discipline of my coach.  I also want to see Brendan Lemieux more, and if that means next to Brett Howden and Julien Gauthier or Di Giuseppe on an acceptable rotational basis, so be it. 

CENTERS of ATTENTION

• Mika Zibanejad - 5 games; one goal; one assist; (-2); leads team w/ 16 SOG; 19:57 minutes.
• Ryan Strome - 5 games; one goal; no assists; (-1); second on team w/ 14 SOG; 20:11 minutes.
• Filip Chytil - 5 games; two goals; one assist; (+3); 12 SOG; 12:56 minutes.

As we know, the defense was a big problem last season.  So far, they've allowed the third least goals within the eight team East Division.  Only the Devils and Islanders have yielded less.  Adam Fox is fast becoming a star, and for the moment, Ryan Lindgren is winning the day.  Along with Jacob Trouba and K'Andre Miller, the four are settling the blue line.  Lest we forget the Rangers potentially still have more talent on the way.  Therefore, this is still a work in progress.  In the meantime, I can do without Jack Johnson's experience.  He is wasting roster space and stealing minutes away from, say, Tony DeAngelo and Brendan Smith.  I imagine Tony DeAngelo is still trying to regain a comfortable space within the locker room, but his play, coming off a 53-point season in 68 games, speaks for itself.  Brendan Smith is still capable on a third pair for as long he's not opposing top line forwards.  But I'd still rather see Smith with DeAngelo in a somewhat regular rotation than having Jack Johnson on the ice.

UPDATE: Jan. 26, 2021, 1:26 p.m.

NYP - FILIP CHYTIL OUT FOUR TO SIX WEEKS

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.