The Rangers garnered an unearned point in their 4-3 shootout loss to the Devils on Thursday. Only one player truly showed up, and if it wasn't for Henrik Lundqvist, the Blueshirts would have been blown out by their Tunnel rivals. New Jersey was better on- and off-the-puck all night, either forcing or receiving gifted turnovers, especially in the first two periods at the Prudential Center.
Game Recap:
MSG Post-game recap:
Lundqvist was brilliant last night, he should sue for non-support. Left out to dry by his teammates all night, Hank was the sole reason a point was earned. Remember games like this the next time any of us complain about his $8.5 million salary. Unfortunately, that has been the case far too often with this team, and lately, has morphed too frequently into that realm.
As pointed out in the blog comments and in today's papers, over the last 18 games the Rangers have only out shot opponents three times, In those games out shot 645-531, 40 shots against 8 times while averaging 36 a game. In December, the Rangers are 6-2-2 but are allowing shots at an alarming rate, a pace with a simply unsustainable correlation of success. In the last 10 games they’re allowing on average 37.1 shots against per game — regulation only. In five of those games they have allowed at least 40 regulation shots and in nine of the 10 they’ve been outshot. without the fine play of Lundqvist and also Ondrej Pavelec, in the two games he played, 6-2-2 could easily be 2-6-2.
The defense has to be tightened up, but we have been saying this for years. The return of Brendan Smith, who was so good down the stretch last year, coupled with the signing of Kevin Shattenkirk was expected to lengthen and improve the defense. That has not been the case. Smith struggled early and is now on the third pairing with Marc Staal. Kirk got off to a horrific start, then righted the ship. But he was lousy yesterday and deserved to play just 3:21 in the third and not all all the last 10 minutes of the period. A pair of bad penalties and a turnover, which resulted in the shorthanded goal against, landed 'Kirk on the pine. Now if you want to say why did coach Alain Vigneault punish Kirk and not others for similar transgressions, that I can't answer, but Shattenkirk deserved to be stapled to the bench.
A look at the time on ice breakdown:
TOI for the #NYR tonight pic.twitter.com/DuUcnx0xOo
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) December 22, 2017
Ryan McDonagh has started to re-find his game and from what AV said, it looks he will remain will Nick Holden. "“Nick is safe and dependable,… Vigneault said before yesterday's game. “He’s got good positioning. He can support Mac. Mac obviously is a powerful skater that likes to jump up in the attack. So when you have a trusty partner that you know is going to be in there right spot, the right position, makes it that you can be a little bit more effective offensively.… Holden did contribute offensively, scoring the team's first goal by a d-man since November 6. But he also was out of position on Brian Boyle's game-tying goal on the PP, looking clueless at the post and not picking up the slot or the man down slot. If his stick is in the right place, he may deflect the puck or tie up Boyle, who also scored the game-winner in the shootout and how nice would be in the bottom-six?
The Rangers didn't match New Jersey's intensity and allow the Devils to dictate the game. New York surrendered 15 shots in the first, 23 more in the second and finished the contest outshot 48-28 and out-attempted 72-49. Despite those numbers, New York had leads of 2-1 in the second and then 3-2 in the third, before losing the game. It's not just the blue line, but the forwards as well. As Kirk said on the Morning Show with Boomer this AM, the Rangers played a three-quarters of the rink game, not getting the puck in deep enough, allowing NJ to counter-attack with speed back up the ice. That's not a system or coach issue, it's a player issue. New York was better the first 7-8 minutes of the third, then the ice tilted again and it was all Devils.
This is good evidence of just how bad it was:
#NYR are on the wrong side of the chart... again. pic.twitter.com/NaFyIH67IG
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) December 22, 2017
Lundqvist called out his team after the game:
“It’s important for me to stay calm, but it’s hard at times when you just give away the puck — a lot,… Lundqvist said. “I’m happy we got a point. We battled at times. But we have to be better in a game like this when it’s an important game, playing a team that’s ahead of us. We need to take a good look in the mirror because I think we have to be better next game.…
If you want to question AV, ask why Buchnevich didn't see a shift in OT and was passed over again in the shootout. also, why are you using Shattenkirk in the shootout - and I don't think 'Kirk's confidence was hurt from sitting in the third, especially since he played in the overtime - rather than maybe Nash or Hayes, who has really found his game recently and scored again yesterday, or even Miller or here is a shock, try Grabner, since the shootout is just another breakaway attempt for him, something with which he has lots of experience. I don't have an issue going with Vesey, who scored the first goal of the game, but why Vesey and Kirk, use one, not both.
With a game Saturday against the Maple Leafs, followed by three days off, Pavelec should be between the pipes. Let Lundqvist face the Caps, then give him off against Detroit on Friday and have him ready for New Years' Day versus the Sabres. The schedule affords a mild break, use it wisely to let Lundqvist - who has been under siege - a few days to rest and recover.