|
Game 22: NYR-CAR, Rangers face ‘Canes w/ Ryan McDonagh sidelined by injury |
|
|
|
|
|
New York, fresh off a 3-0 win over Ottawa, return to action after two days off with a contest in Carolina. The Rangers (10-9-2, 22 points), whose 12 forwards and linedombinations will be the same as Sunday, meaning David Desharnais sits again, face a hot opponent in the Hurricanes, who have won five of their last seven games. Most experts felt Carolina, thanks to their defense and acquisition of Scott Darling, could contend for a playoff spot up if their young, speedy and skilled players like Teuvo Teravainen and Sebastian Aho took that next step in their development. After a slow start, Aho and Teravainen along with Elias Lindholm look to have taken a major step forward.
Ryan McDonagh, who has sat out practice three times this year due to “maintenance days” will miss tonight’s gain with a strained abdomen. He will see team doctors, and more information will be offered today, according to Rangers coach Alain Vigneault. We all suspected that McD has been dealing with an injury, rumors of which filtered out a few weeks ago and has now been confirmed. Of course, this calls into question why he has played through this injury and when was it exacerbated rather than sitting him when the injury first occurred.
I got into several twitter conversations yesterday, one of which surrounded McDonagh. I was asked how the ailment could explain McDonagh’s poor decision making this season. My response was part of it may be the physical issue impacting his ability on the ice which then manifests itself on decision making based on prior reliance of his usual skills. If you are used to having the ability to make a play and that ability is then impacted by a physical ailment that you try and play through, it could result in what looks like a poor decision but resulted because the player didn’t adjust for his limitations.
Steven Kampfer, a healthy scratch the last two games, will replace McDonagh in the lineup. Vigneault will keep the Brady Skjei-Kevin Shattenkirk pairing together. Kampfer will be paired with Marc Staal, and Brendan Smith with Nick Holden. For a game or two, this could work, though not the optimal solution. If the injury turns out to be more extensive than we know - and my hope is that it’s not a sports hernia - then Neal Pionk should be called up. Skjei and ‘Kirk need to be the top pairing and with the last change, Carolina will try and get Aho and TT out against the weakest pairing, likely Staal and Holden. In addition, it’s hard to complain at all about injuries because coming into tonight’s game, the Rangers had the fewest man-game lost to injury (right) in the NHl.
Tuesday, the Rangers worked on their power play, which has hit skids lately. AV said regarding the PP (zone) entries, "in the last couple of games we have been having a real hard time coming in and establishing on the breakout, what is the next play to make. We spent a good 15 minutes on that component of our game. Guys know where the play is and where the pressure is coming from, it's just a matter of better execution and that is what we worked on today and it worked out." That inability to gain the zone and unwillingness to try different method rather than always carrying the puck in the zone has been on full display recently. Hopefully, New York will try other approaches to zone entries or at a minimum, mix it up to give defenses something else to consider.
Following tonight’s game on the road, New York plays three straight at MSG. The Rangers come home for contests against Detroit, Vancouver and Florida. New York won its sixth consecutive home game Sunday after winning two of its first eight (2-4-2). On the flip side, the team is just 2-5 in the road. After the three upcoming games at home, New York will have played 17 games at home and eight on the road. As you can see, that disparity will need to be evened out, with the Rangers playing most of January on the road, so starting to become road warriors now will be a huge determinant on where the team is come the trade deadline.
Larry Brooks wrote an interesting column ranking the 10 GM in Rangers’ history. Good for debate and hard to argue with the top three and some on the bottom. The jury is out on GM Jeff Gorton due to lack of time in the role, but it’s rapidly approaching for a call to be made, especially depending on how this season and the next go. (https://nypost.com/2017/11/21/the-standard-rangers-gm-faces-before-franchise-altering-decision/)
New York Rangers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»