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Game 2: STL 3 NYR 2, Disappointing loss but lots of positive signs in it |
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The Rangers outplayed St. Louis but fell 3-2. The Blues capitalized on their chances while New York was unable to do the same, especially in the third period when Carter Hutton stood on his head. The defeat drops the Rangers to 1-1 while the Blues are now 3-0.
After the game my first reaction was that I am disappointed but not angry by the loss. This afternoon, my feelings are the same. New York did a lot of good things. The forecheck was excellent. They generated a copious amount of chances, but just couldn't beat Hutton. Defensively, they weren't bad. Two 'mistakes' ended up in the net while a bad bounce resulted in the first goal against but also for the Rangers.
Carp described it best: J.T. Miller's shot was blocked with both defensemen – Girardi and Ryan McDonagh -- inside the blue line, and Colton Parayko, benefiting from the reach befitting someone who is 6-foot-6, simply poked it ahead. The really bad-luck part was that it happened to be Vladimir Tarasenko behind the defense. So it was 1-0 on the first shot Henrik Lundqvist faced.
On the flip side, the Rangers got some good luck, too, on Girardi’s shot that was blocked and caromed to Mika Zibanejad, and Zibanejad’s pass that was blocked and went directly to Kreider who tied the game. Give Kreider credit for being in the right place at the right time, which is a major positive two games in, as it was an area of weakness a year ago.
In the blog comments yesterday, Marc Staal's hesitancy to go into the corner or just being too slow was the reason for that one, Then he didn't recover and get back to the front of the net. Left Holden on an island for a 2-1 in front and Paul Stastny goal to make it 2-1. Kreider had a thunderous check on Stastny in the neutral zone, but left him to enter the zone unimpeded. Buchnevich failed to get his man resulting in the first zone while Stastny was alone to put in the rebound. It's great the K-Z-B line is generating chances but they must do a better job of limiting them and picking up forwards in the slot and down low. Too many room has been allowed by that trio in the first two games.
As good as Kreider-Zibanejad-Pavel Buchnevich have been, they've also been victimized for three goals so far. Buchnevich's man was wide open for a shot, then Nick Holden didn’t take care of Paul Stastny on the rebound, 2-1 Blues. At that point, three of five goals the Rangers had allowed in two periods came with that line on the ice. Buchnevich also threw one right up the middle of the defensive zone in the second period, picked off in a dangerous spot.
I like the aggressiveness of the penalty kill, but that's what burned them on the third goal. Zibanejad lost the draw, the Rangers overpursued, and Jesper Fast left Pietrangelo alone and he beat Lundqvist to make it 3-1. AV is using several penalty killing duos, including Miller, who was last used in that role in the World Juniors, which is why AV got the idea to use him. Miller has shown good aggressiveness and willingness to pursue, which also should feed over into his regular game. I thought the line of Miller-Hayes-Nash was pretty solid last night, creating chances.
In the pre-game show, Steve Valiquette wondered if Stepan's north-south style would mesj well with Zucc's game. It sure was the case Saturday, as Stepan had a strong game, as did Zucc, who just missed tying the game, hitting the post. Jimmy Vesey was snakebit, as he missed a wide open net in the first, then was stoned by Hutton in the third. If he keeps playing as he has, goals will come.
The Rangers played with five defensemen after Dan Girardi’s hip injury (he’s out more than day to day, according to Alain Vigneault), and for a while there it was four as Adam Clendening fell out of the rotation. When that was in place, Staal played with McDonagh and Brady Skjei with Holden. G was actually off to a good start again when he was hurt, so for all those wishing he missed time, this is a case where his absence will hurt, especially with Kevin Klein questionable Monday against a really good Sharks team.
Expect Dylan McIlrath to play Monday. If that is the case, play Skeji on the right side of McDonagh, Staal on the left side with Holden and Clendening with McI. Not the ideal situation, but depending how long G and Klein are out, that's how I would pair them up.
Antti Raanta will likely play Monday or Wednesday, to get him a game before he sits for too long. As Carp said, Lundqvist has been beaten a few times on the stick side so far this season, not his old weakness on the glove side. The Tarasenko goal went there and Pietrangelo one looked to go that way as well. He did make a great sliding save on Tarasenko to keep it 1-1 and then a brilliant glove save to keep the deficit at one goal. Lundqvist needs to be better but hard to criticize him on a few of the goals allowed so far.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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