The Rangers rang in the New Year displaying the same issues we have seen too often, a lack of defensive bite and softness on the boards. A resounding comeback went for nought, as New York, after trailing 6-0, rallied to narrow the gap to one with 3:45 remaining. But the tying goal proved elusive, partially aided by yet another missed call by the referees, resulting in an empty net goal. The Blueshirts take on Calgary on Thursday.
Game recap:
David Quinn Post-Game:
Coach: “To have the wherewithal to turn it on the way we did - we showed some things we’re going to need moving forward. We’ve got to build on that ending and carry that over into Calgary.… pic.twitter.com/gFTgX2JFfE
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 1, 2020
A few thoughts: 1) Officiating - Chris Schlemker, who was at the center of the clock issue in the Blue Jackets’ shootout loss to the Blackhawks, resulting in John Tortorella’s tirade, and Ian Walsh were once again two blind mice on the ice. Missed calls, penalties against New York that made no sense, changed calls, you name it, we saw it. The NHL has a major problem on their hands, yet don’t expect changes to happen any time soon or maybe even at all.
Ryan Lindgren with an extra call against. A double minor called on Ryan Strome. David Quinn earning a bench minor for use of rabbit eyes, granted with a few expletives thrown in. But let’s ignore the trip on Edmonton at the end of the game with New York down one along with several other missed calls. The lack of calls and poor ones didn’t result in the loss. Maybe contributed to it but not the direct cause.
Quinn wasn’t happy with two calls on Lindgren. He did this after Goal No. 4, and he was assessed a penalty. pic.twitter.com/XrpqOAs6Za
— Tom Urtz Jr. (@TomUrtzJr) January 1, 2020
2) b>Defense - a word in name only for the Rangers. Quinn stopped practice last week harping on the point that the team was soft. His quotes thereafter called into question the team’s DNA and willingness to play defense.
“If we want to achieve our ultimate goal we’re going to have to elevate our commitment to playing defense, managing the puck, and every single guy has to do that,… Quinn said. “It has to be across the board and it’s a mindset. It’s unfortunate and we’re all aware of that. There was a stretch where we were giving up fewer chances. Well, that didn’t happen the last two games — and we found a way to win. It’s part of growth as a team. In the league in general, it’s turned into a — it’s all about statistics. It’s all about data and Corsi and all these other stats. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to play defense. That is a ‘want’ more than anything. It’s a mindset. A lot of it is the DNA issue of players in this league. You’ve got to want to do it. A lot of guys in this league can do things that people can’t do. The guys that are really good in this league? They can do things people can’t do, but they’re very good at doing what everybody can do, and that’s where we’ve got to get to. We’ve got to continue to work on improving in areas that matter what everybody’s capable of doing. That’s what we have to do as a group if we want to achieve our goals.…
Defense is a mind set. Talent is required but digging down deep to stick to playing defense even when not easy requires the player to want it. But a big piece of it also is the system and coaching. To me, right now, those latter two points - system and coaching - are lacking. If those aspects aren’t remediated, even if the players displayed all the heart and desire and willingness to work, the likelihood of success is remote. That said, you can make up for a poor system and coaching to make extent if willing to work.
Henrik Lundqvist and Alexandar Georgiev have bailed out the Rangers with better than average goaltending, which has been stellar at times. Yesterday, Georgiev wasn’t up to the task, allowing six goals before he was replaced in net by Lundqvist. Not all the goals were his fault but he wasn’t at the top of his game either.
3) Faceoffs - the Rangers problems between the dots was highlighted in the New York Post on Monday. Coming into the game against the Oilers, the Rangers were second worst in the league at 46 per cent This issue reared its ugly head again yesterday at the worst times with Zib at the center - pun intended - of the problems. New York, who won 53.9% of their draws, lost the opening draw and 11 seconds later, James Neal scored. Down 2-0 and shorthanded, Zib lost the draw in his own end and eight second later, Neal scored his second of the game. Time to have Brad Richards work with the pivot man again because that component of the game has been ugly for New York.
4) Artemi Panarin - straight beast. His chemistry with Ryan Strome is off the charts and he makes everyone he skates with better. Panarin has raised Mika Zibanejad’s game as well and those two along with Strome and Chris Kreider almost led the Rangers app the way back.
The crazy comeback fell short, but Panarin & the @NYRangers showed why you should NEVER turn off an #NYR game. pic.twitter.com/U1Iaaq8G6G
— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) January 1, 2020