N.Y. Rangers: Another Poor Performance at the Penguin Palace

From the desk: RAISE GRESCHNER WITH THE GREATS

Penguins Lead Rangers; 5-1

I - PITT 4; NYR 3

II - PITT 3; NYR 2

III - PITT 5; NYR 4

IV - NYR 3; PITT 1

V - PITT 5; NYR 1

VI - PITT 4; NYR 2

Who's On First, What's On Second, Who the Eff Is In The Middle?

How did the Rangers have more shots on goal than Pittsburgh?  Where did all these opportunities come from, because I just didn't see it?  Maybe someone can please inform me of the Rangers' time of possession for Tuesday's game?  

I kept telling my wife ... watch when they enter the offensive zone how quickly they lose possession of the puck.  Then she asks/yells/tells me ... why isn't anyone in the effing middle?  Look, it's empty out there; why isn't someone near the net?  So then I said ... that's because we don't have anyone big and rough and tough enough to win battles in the corners and make good passes to the so-called skilled players.

😠

However, in a brief moment of joy, I was pleased to see Kaako/Chytil/Lafreniere on the same line and the return of Jacob Trouba.  Otherwise, Jack Johnson's first period goal means little to nothing for me.

Brett Howden is averaging roughly 13:00 minutes through 24 games to date.  The man has just two shots on goal in his last ten games.  He has just 18 total shots on goal, but eight came within the season's first six games.  Which is to say, since Jan. 28, Brett Howden has registered a mere ten shots over his last 18 games.  Just to be a jerk, Casey Cizikas of the Islanders has 33 shots on goal through 26 games, with four goals and ten points.

By the way, Penguins centermen accounted for five points, while all Rangers' centermen accounted for just one point, a power-play goal by Ryan Strome in the third, his sixth of the season.  That's an improvement.  Because on Sunday, Blueshirt centermen accounted for just four shots and one goal from Mika Zibanejad.  In comparison, Penguins centers took nine shots on goal, tallying three goals and four assists for seven points, giving them 12 points in two games versus an inconsequential two points for the Rangers.

Making his 18th appearance of the season, Pittsburgh goalie Tristan Jarry faced 35 shots, stopping all but one at even strength.  

In only his second start of the season and back-to-back against the Pens, Keith Kinkaid faced 21 even-strength shots allowing three and faced 26 shots overall.  The Rangers were outscored by the Penguins over the last two games by a 9-3 margin.  Said another way, Pittsburgh tripled the Rangers output.

• Artemi Panarin Count: 16 days; the Rangers are 4-4-0 in his absence.

Where's Phil Esposito when you need him?

N.J. Devils: Bracing For The Bolts - Round One

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY STYX

2017 ~ 2018

STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

ROUND ONE

Game One

New Jersey Devils

vs.

Tampa Bay Lightning

FROM

Florida Ice Cooler

New Jersey Devils: The Real Season Begins Now; Can These Young Demons Fend Off The Mighty Bolts?

They say once in the tournament throw everything out the window regarding the regular season.  But do the Bolts really want to play the Devils?  Past performance says no.  New Jersey swept all three games from Tampa this season with every game being decided by one goal.

• Oct. 7      NJD 5; TBL 4 shootout
• Feb. 17    NJD 4; TBL 3
• Mar. 24    NJD 2; TBL 1

In their first meeting of the season, Cory Schneider opposed Tampa goalie Peter Budaj.  Since then New Jersey's Keith Kinkaid and Tampa's Andrei Vasilveskiy each started the next two games of the series.  The first round should be no different, as Devils coach John Hynes elects to stick with the Keith Kinkaid despite former starter Cory Schneider returning from injury back on March 1.

With a superb 44-17-3 record, Vasilveskiy tied for the league lead in goalie wins this season.  He posted a 2.62 GAA, and a .920 save percentage through 65 regular season appearances.  Tampa managed to limit scoring attempts against him at a manageable 31.8 shots on goal per game.

As noted, coach Hynes has been riding Keith Kinkaid like a mule, and the goalie responded with a March run rivaling any in the league.  He wound up edging out Cory Schneider by one game to lead the team with 41 starts.  He posted a 26-10-3 record with a 2.77 GAA, and .913 save percentage.  However, he is flashing an elevated .937 save percentage through his last fifteen games dating back to Mar. 2.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

1st Place Metropolitan Division

1st Place Eastern Conference

54-23-5 (113-points)

Nikita Kucherov takes Tampa's triple crown with 39 goals, 61 assists, and 100 points.  Steven Stamkos was right behind him with 27 goals, 59 assists, and 86 points.  The Bolts have six players with at least 20 goals, and five players over 60 points.  Yanni Gourde led the NHL with a 34 plus/minus.

NHL RANK:

• Goals For - #1
• Goals Against - #13
• Power Play - #3
• Penalty Kill  #27

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

5th Place Metropolitan Division

8th Place Eastern Conference

44-29-9 (97 points)

Taylor Hall is New Jersey's triple crown leader with 39 goals, 54 assists, and 93 points.  However, Newark's second leading scorer is rookie center Nico Hischier, who has 20 goals and 32 assists for a distant 52 points.  Kyle Palmieri is second on the team with 24 goals in just 62 games.

NHL RANK:

• Goals For - #15
• Goals Against - #17
• Power Play - #10
• Penalty Kill - #8

N.J. Devils: Taylor Hall Continues Hell of a Season

From the desk of:  THE BRICK CITY STYX

Taylor Hall Picks Perfect Time For First Career Short-Handed Goal

New Jersey Devils: Like a man possessed ... Taylor Hall smells the playoffs and is zeroing in for the kill.

He's never been to the playoffs.  But you can tell he senses it.

Whether on the power play, at even strength, or shorthanded, Taylor Hall will not be denied.  He scored both on the power play and at even strength Saturday against the Islanders, then scored what proved to be the game winning goal while shorthanded against the Canadiens the very next night at Montreal.

In his second season with the Devils, Hall has established career highs with 37 goals and 89 points, and is just one favor away from tying his career high of 53 assists.  In the meantime, Taylor continues solidifying his candidacy for league MVP with plus-eleven play, and by extending his point streak to eight straight games in which he's now recorded thirteen points.

With Sunday's Newark win, and Florida's loss, the Devils have opened up a seven point lead over the ninth place Panthers.  Newark has just three games left to play against the Rangers and Maple Leafs at home, then against the Capitals at Washington in the regular season finale.  Florida has five games remaining against the Hurricanes, Predators, Bruins and Sabres all at home, then close out the season at Boston.

Keith Kinkaid started his sixth straight game, and both games on back-to-back nights.  After turning away 27 of 30 shots against the Islanders, Kinkaid stopped 25 of 26 Canadiens shots on goal for his 23rd victory of the season.