The Rangers Jeckll-and Hyde, or as Larry Brooks called it, Sybil-esque, season continued this past weekend with a home shootout loss to the Panthers and road win over the Wild. The MSG loss was New York's sixth straight at home, extending their inability to win in what should be friendly confines. Saturday's road win was the Rangers' 26th away from MSG leading the league.
If you read the post-game comments from Friday and Saturday, everyone seems to singing from the same hymn sheet. Maybe the PR department gave the team talking points, which I doubt, so I find it interesting that to a man they basically say the same thing, which is in line with what has been said for the past month. What's even odder is that the team started out the year red-hot at home, seemingly putting the home playoff performances bad taste from their mouth, but it was just a momentary salve. The latest quote comes from Chris Kreider.
“I think when we’re home and something goes wrong, we kind of look at ourselves as victims, but when we’re on the road we have a different mentality where we just dig in,” Kreider said after the Whiteshirts’ 3-2 victory over the Wild on Saturday. “We’re east-west at home and we’re north-south on the road. There’s more attention to detail on the road.
“Obviously it’s not ideal and we have to straighten it out at the Garden, but at the same time we’re proud of the way we play on the road.”
A few thoughts and some injury updates:
- Friday, New York came out like they were going to blow the Panthers actually onto Seventh Avenue. But after a brilliant start, they took their foot off the gas and let Florida back in the game. The Rangers rallied in the the third to get the point but it wasn't enough as they lost in the shootout. A game like this was further evidence of the dichotomy home-and-road. On the road, in a hostile environment, they wouldn't take their foot if the gas. At home, maybe the team gets lulled into passivity, but that pattern needs to stop before the playoffs.
- I read some people thought Florida picked up their play because they were desperate and New York didn't need to match that intensity because they have a spot locked up. Maybe that's true, but Minnesota came in having lost four in a row and their hold on the Central Division, so that argument doesn't hold much weight to me.
- Say what you will about him defensively at times, but Adam Clendening, in for Steven Kampfer after sitting for six games, is really solid offensively. Watching him and Brady Skjei together is really impressive. Nice play by Clendening to hold the puck and get it to Mats Zuccarello, who made a brilliant play with the puck at his skates after the dish. Skjei with the one-time bomb to the only place he could have scored, low, on the ice, short side. Plus Skjei got to do in front of his family and friends.
- Anyone who brings up dealing Zucc should be banned from saying he is a Rangers' fan. Zucc is the emotional leader of this team and always is in the mix offensively. Two goals Friday, the set up to Skjei on Saturday. All he does is find a way to produce and play bigger than his size.
- Jimmy Vesey-Oscar Lindberg-Pavel Buchnevich, not your typical fourth line, but one that made things happen Saturday. I still think Jesper Fast belongs on this line. But if AV will use the time down the stretch to experiment, why not see if this trio can be a difference maker. Vesey got his first in 14 games, Lindberg scored in an unreal pass from J.T. Miller and Buch, who was in for Tanner Glass, was involved throughout.
- During the game, after Mika Zibanejad came on to the take draw that lead to Skjei's goal, AV kept him on the line with Kreider and Zucc, moving Derek Stepan to between Rick Nash and Miller. If experimenting, kept those trios together Tuesday against New Jersey.
- Nash is so close to blowing up. He is carrying play and making a difference on the ice, but just can't score. I know everyone says deal him after the season. But the fear is he figures it out elsewhere and how do you replace all the little plays he makes that go unnoticed but lead to wins.
- This continues to be troubling. The Blueshirts’ penalty kill unit yielded a power-play goal for the sixth straight game, the Wild going 1-for-3, completely neglecting the weak side while Matt Dumba snuck in on the back door. The Rangers have allowed six goals their 16 times down over the past five games and seven goals on the past 20 disadvantages over the past six matches. Those are ugly numbers. I was hoping the return of Fast would help but it hasn't. The first goal Minnesota scored and right after a power play expired, as the Rangers took a pair of too many men on the ice penalties and should have been called for a third one. The two goals came on poor communication again, where no one picked up the man in front. Ryan McDonagh may have ben at fault on each.
- AV moved Marc Staal to McDonagh's right. That one came out of nowhere. But in line with experimenting, why not see if Staal can get comfortable to play there and be effective. Staal was solid Saturday and should get at least one more game with McDonagh.
- The reason for the at least one more game is that AV ruled out Dan Girardi for a Tuesday return. Girardi, who has missed 10 straight tending to and rehabbing the right ankle wound he sustained blocking a shot on Feb. 7, did not skate Saturday on what was a scheduled day off. With back-to-back games Tuesday and Wednesday, it's possible Girardi gets in against the Islanders if r can practice Monday, but it's also likely he is out until the start of the Cali trip.
- Kevin Klein, who last played on Feb. 21 and has missed 13 games with a lower back issue, did skate at the practice rink and, according to AV, “felt good." No timeframe has given for his return. But, to me, Klein may be your eighth, d-man right now. So while I would get a game down the road so he has some action before the playoffs, he isn't displacing anyone.
- The really good news is that Henrik Lundqvist is progressing faster than expected from the hip injury that has sidelined him since March 7. Lundqvist skated for 40 minutes Saturday at the club's practice facility, taking shots during that time. Originally, Lundqvist was projected to return during the Cali trip. It's now possible he is back before or for the start of it. But as I said before, give him all the time he needs to heal to make sure he is 100% since there is no rush for him to return to action, seeing where New York is situated in the standings and how well Antti Raanta has played.
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