The Rangers dropped their third straight decision, falling 4-3 to the Flyers on Thursday. New York never had the lead the entire evening, trailing 1-0 and then 2-1, 3-2 and 4-2 before cutting the deficit to one, which ended up as the final score. Jesper Fast continues his hot play, tallying twice while also adding an assist, for a career-best three point night, and he has three goals and six assists during his NHL career-high seven-game point streak.
Game recap:
MSG Post Game:
New York’s first line has been excellent since grouped as a trio. Chris Kreider, who added an assist last night, Mika Zibanejad, a goal Thursday, and Fast have posted 20 points (11 goals and nine assists) over their last four games and have scored 11 of the Rangers’ 13 goals over that span. For CK20 and Zib, the key has been health. Kreider missed almost two months following his rib resection while Zib admitted that he played tentatively after returning from a concussion.
Zib posted 11 goals and 11 assists in the first 24 games of the season, looking like a possible true top line center. Then, a concussion on Nov. 28 sidelined him 19 days and nine games. Upon his return, Zib struggled to regain his early form, partially impacted by the Xmas break, bye week and All-Star break. But he also admitted that he was concerned about going into the dirty areas and played tentatively. He finally looks like the player who began the season on a role, notching seven goals and three assists during his current six-game point streak. Six of those markers have come in his last four games to put his at 26 goals - 13 coming on the man-advantage. The jury is still out if he can be a true #1 center. But at 25 and with four years left on the $23.75 million deal he signed last July, New York should give Zibanejad every chance to fill that role. In addition, acquiring him for Derick Brassard looks like a steal for GM Jeff Gorton.
For those who dislike AV, take a look at what Vladislav Namestnikov and Ryan Spooner, especially Nam, posted when they first arrived before learning the system. Then see what they have done lately. Spooner still has been somewhat productive while Nam’s output has fallen off a cliff. The joke when both arrived in New York is that each was playing on instinct but once they are indoctrinated into the system, all bets were off. For Namestnikov, the concerns we had when he came over - that he was a product of who he played with in Tampa - have yet to be alleviated. Couple with that how seemlessly JT Miller has fit on the Lightning and that aspect of the deal, and we pretty much know why that component was part of the trade, sure doesn’t look positive by any stretch of the imagination. Granted, the deal has to be considered in totality, but Miller is playing like the player many of us believe he was, aided by his line mates, just like Nam was, though my views on Miller are well-known.
Philly was able to score a few dirty goals last night against Alexandar Georgiev, two by Travis Konecny. Ryan Sproul struggled a bit with player containment and especially in front of the net, as he was on ice for several goals against. Philly was a bit quicker to loose pucks, seen especially on Jakub Voracek’s goal on a 4-on-4 when he actually went 1-on-3 and his first shot was deflected, breaking a defenseman’s atick, but he stuck with it and beat Georgiev. After a rough 2016-17 campaign, Claude Giroux has rebounded, aided by his move to left wing. Giroux assisted on three goals for the second straight game and has seven in his past three. His 64 assists lead the NHL in that category.
The Flyers (38-25-12), who hold the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, trail the Blue Jackets by one point for third place and the Penguins by one point for second in the Metropolitan. Pittsburgh has played one fewer game than Philadelphia and Columbus. Washington is up by four points on Pitt and Columbus in first place in the division. With less than 10 games remaining, it looks like whoever finishes fourth in the Metro will play the first place team in the first round of the playoffs.
On the flip side, New York is looking for a higher pick, here is the run down for the last 16 games of the season. After losing to Winnipeg 3-0 on Tuesday, Tampa 5-3 on Thursday and Florida 4-3 in a shootout Saturday night, New York defeated Carolina 6-3 last night tonight and Pittsburgh 4-3 in overtime Wednesday. St. Louis defeated New York 4-3 on Saturday and the Rangers fell 5-3 Columbus (Tuesday) and 4-3 to Philly last night. Upcoming next is Buffalo (Saturday), Washington (home-and-road next Monday and Wednesday), Tampa (last home game) and Carolina (road) to close out March. In April, New York faces the Devils, Islanders and Flyers, all on the road. Thursday, the Islanders lost, the Hurricanes beat Arizona while the Blackhawks lost again, so Carolina is in 21st place, the Rangers are tied in points with the Isles but are in 22nd with the Islanders in 23rd, Edmonton is one point behind both New York teams in 24th and the Blackhawks are three points south of Edmonton in 25th.
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