The Rangers blew a 3-0 third period lead, falling 4-3 to the Jets on a shootout on Vic Hadfield night Sunday. New York was outplayed the first two stanzas, but took advantage of their minimal shots on net to tally three times. Aided by a stupid and selfish penalty by Brendan Smith early in the final frame, Winnipeg scored on the power play and tilted the ice the rest of the period in adding two more scores, outshooting New York 10-6 in the period. The same existed in the overtime, where the Jets outshot the Rangers 8-2 with seven of them Grade A chances before winning 2-1 in the shootout. The Blueshirts look like a team physically and mentally spent and should benefit from the five days between games, as they don’t resume game action until Saturday.
Game recap:
David Quinn Post-Game:
#NYR Coach Quinn talks about the plan for these upcoming days without a game including getting back to “blocking and tackling.… pic.twitter.com/nBCwDJEVDe
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 3, 2018
A few thoughts:
1) Winnipeg is a fun team to watch. Tremendous offensive talent on the top two lines. Defensively, they miss Dustin Byfuglien, but Josh Morrissey and Jacob Trouba helped make up for his absence. Connor Hellebuyck wasn’t great yesterday but did enough to pull out the win.
2) Shell -The Rangers played the third period as if we were watching a coach Alain Vigneault team. Chipping the puck out of the zone while hoping that Henrik Lundqvist would steal the game. No offensive pressure at all in the final stanza, save for maybe a few forays after the game was tied. I wouldn’t be shocked if the team’s puck possession numbers were in the single digits in the final period and overtime.
3) Henrik Lundqvist - if anyone ever questioned just how good Lundqvist is, listen to what Winnipeg coach Paul Maurice has to say below. The greatest respect is what you receive from a competitor. That was the case last night. Lundqvist was the only reason why the game was even close and New York led the first two periods plus the only reason why Winnipeg didn’t score in the overtime. He made any where from 10-12 brilliant stops in the win. Kyle Connor, stoned at least four times, including the shootout, may have seen Lundqvist making a save on him in his sleep last night.
Respect for Lundqvist from Jets' coach Paul Maurice and Blake Wheeler:
.@NHLJets head coach Paul Maurice talks about the performance from @HLundqvist30 tonight in the @NYRangers shootout loss to the Jets #NYR #LGR pic.twitter.com/in4HgilcyZ
— Zak (@Zak4B) December 3, 2018
“We had a lot of grade-A chances, ones that we normally bury, and they have a pretty good guy in between the pipes, so if it was going to be one of those nights where [Lundqvist] stole a game, it would be frustrating," Wheeler said. "But our mindset going into the third was just try to throw everything at him, see if we could squeak one by him and get a little momentum."
Lundqvist on the game:
Lundqvist on if the first goal of the third period changed the momentum: “Momentum? Not sure what game you were watching. They owned us.… #NYR lose a 3-0 third-period lead and fall 4-3 in the shootout.
— Brett Cyrgalis (@BrettCyrgalis) December 3, 2018
Henrik talks about how #NYR have to get back to doing what they need to in order to be successful. pic.twitter.com/lqy66jytVz
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 3, 2018
4) Marc Staal and quick scoring recap - if there was one positive from the game, it was the continued fairly solid play by Staal. Mika Zibanejad made a nice play to give New York a 1-0 lead, working a give-and-go with Jesper Fast, feeding Quickie for the tap-in tally late in the first. Staal scored to make it 2-0 at 12:11 of the second period, beating Hellebuyck blocker side from the right circle, picking out a spot and hitting it for the tally. For all the criticism we heap on Staal, he likely - along with his pair mate Neal Pionk - has been the most consistent blueliner on the team. Though, seeing the struggles in that zone, that statement is not a ringing endorsement.
Late in the second, Chris Kreider extended the lead to 3-0 at 18:54, deftly redirecting a point shot from Zibanejad right after a power play ended. But Mark Scheifele scored on a one-timer five-hole on the power play set up by Smith’s penalty to make it 3-1 at 2:10 of the third period. Jack Roslovic cut it to 3-2 at 4:36 on a shot from the point following tremendous pressure by the Jets, and Bryan Little tied it 3-3 at 17:30 on a rebound in the right circle after he beat a slow-reacting Filip Chytil to the spot after another brilliant save by Lundqvist.
5) Brady Skjei - was rightfully scratched yesterday after his debacle Saturday. There is no doubt Skjei is struggling and it’s not just one game or event that landed him in the press box. Yesterday, was a chance for him to sit and watch, as stated by Quinn. "It's not a punishment, it's more about just take a deep breath and let's get back at it," Quinn said. Seeing how bad Smith was last night, he likely will replace Skjei in the press box Saturday night. After playing decently for a bit, Smith is scuffling again and that long-term deal provided to Smith after a strong late-season and playoff run sure is looking once again like a major mistake.
6) Vic Hadfield night - the GAG line was reunited in the rafters yesterday. The Rangers did a great job, as they always do. Loved seeing the legends/former Hadfield teammates back at MSG, though stands were only 1/3 to 1/2 full which was a shame. Show up and respect those who played in Nee York previously, especially when that player is having his jersey retired.
Like what Larry Brooks suggests below as to a Rangers Hall of Fame. I do think Brad Park deserves to have his number retired, maybe the same for Ron Greschner and was hoping that would be announced last night but it wasn’t. The only player of the recent era who will be honored that way will be Lundqvist.
Vic Hadfield jersey raising to the rafters:
Vic Hadfield's #NYR jersey takes its rightful place in @TheGarden rafters! pic.twitter.com/Cu29unfDzy
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) December 2, 2018
Hadfield joining GAG line in rafters :
The GAG line has been reunited in #NYR immortality! pic.twitter.com/BnJtHJkxet
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 2, 2018
Rangers' legends attending Hadfield ceremony:
All the #NYR legends introduced @TheGarden before Hadfield Night presented by @budweiserusa. pic.twitter.com/GDAE5PHGWy
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 2, 2018
Brooks:
There is no dispute of Park’s greatness as a Ranger, during which time he was a first-team NHL All-Star three times, a second-team All-Star twice, and runner-up four times (to Bobby Orr) for the Norris Trophy and a third-place finisher once. And that was accomplished within his seven full seasons in New York.Ah, but there’s the rub. Park played only 465 games as a Ranger — curious that when he appeared on the ice he was given his No. 2 with an “A… on it even though he followed Hadfield as captain — until he was sent to Boston on the Nov. 7, 1975, day of darkness. None of the 10 players immortalized by the organization played fewer than Giacomin’s 539. None of the eight skaters played fewer than Mark Messier’s 698
There has to be a way to honor Park — if you saw him you also have no doubt — and there has to be a way to honor Emile. There has to a way to honor Frank Boucher and Bill Cook, Original Rangers who were dominant forces and won Cups in 1928 and 1933, and there has to be a way to honor Ron Greschner, who wore his No. 4 as a participant in Sunday’s festivities.
And if the Rangers are not going to double-retire No. 2, if they’re not going to retire No. 5 for Cook, and double-retire No. 7 for Boucher and not going to celebrate Greschner in that fashion — and hey, what about Lester Patrick, Bryan Hextall, Ching Johnson and Dean Prentice? — then it is time for the Garden to carve out a space for a Rangers Hall of Fame.
Brooks on Hadfield: https://nypost.com/2018/12/02/a-night-to-remember-rangers-honoring-legend-vic-hadfield/