The Rangers lost their fourth game in a row, dropping a 3-2 decision to the Capitals. Up 2-1 heading into the third, a pair of defensive breakdowns led to goals for Washington, giving them the win. New York faces Washington at home Sunday.
Game recap
Lindgren-Fox Miller-Trouba Gustafsson-Schneider
Quick Shesterkin
Scratches: Pitlick (week-to-week), Jones, Leschyshyn LTIR: Chytil, Kakko
A few thoughts: 1) Overall view - I thought the Rangers were a lot better defensively and overall today than the last three games, yet the end result was the same. That said, the issues that have existed recently were again on display today. Five on five, the offense leaves a lot to be desired and several players basically belong on milk cartons. Defensively, own zone deficiencies resulted in the two prime scoring chances and goals against in the final stanza.
Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider have been invisible lately. If neither score on the PP, then their offense has dried up. To me, Zib's effort today was lacking. Part of that might have been due to the illness that forced to miss Thursday's game, but I was less than impressed by how he played. But Kreider doesn't get the same excuse. I thought his effort level today was piss-poor at best. He looked to be going through the motions. When most of your first - or second - line, depending on your view, is non-existent, the rest of the forwards have to step up. That was not the case yesterday, though the bottom-six at least showed some energy,
On defense, I thought K'Andre Miller had a very subpar game. The same with Jacob Trouba. Erik Gustafsson and Braden Schneider were better than they have been recently. That duo was not the reason why they lost the game.
2) Adam Fox - for the first two-plus periods of the game, Fox looked like the Norris Trophy winner we know and love. A pair of goals and then a crossbar hit on the power play had Foz rolling. If that puck goes, New York would have had what likely would be an insurmountable 3-1 lead. Instead, all we got was a ping and shortly thereafter, Washington tied the game.
After killing off the Caps power play, New York led down their guard and paid the price. Miller was caught flat footed and allowed Evgeny Kuznetsov to gain the zone. On the play Fox tried to recover, but was beaten behind the net. Kuznetsov tried a wrap-around and the puck deflected in the air in the crease. Nic Dowd got inside on Barclay Goodrow and Miller, each of whom were late getting to the front of the net, and put the puck past Quick.
On the second goal, Fox and Trouba were at fault. Granted, a little bit of bad puck luck, but that doesn't absolve either. Fox reached at the blue line rather than stepping up and the puck deflected off his stick and glove back to Dylan Strome. He got past Fox and T.J. Oshie got inside position on Trouba to beat Quick. Two defensive miscues or lack of full effort, two goals against, two more points lost by the Rangers..
3) Jonny Brodziński was bloodied on a check by Tom Wilson when his helmet slammed into the boards. If you only read that sentence and didn't see the play, watch below, you would think Wilson had another cheap shot. But watching the play, Brodzinski turned his back to Wilson as he was throwing the check, putting him in a vulnerable position, leading to the injury..
Rangers forward Jonny Brodzinski has gone to the dressing room following this hit from Tom Wilson. pic.twitter.com/ApmeJokfs7
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 13, 2024
Mark Messier rightly went off on Brodzinski. There is no question players no longer how to protect themselves. Brodzinski was likely trying to put his body between Wilson and the puck, but by doing so, he put himself in a dangerous position. Messier gave his view rather clearly and vociferously. Injuries like this will continue to happen until players stop turning their back at the last second.
I’m just so tired of players putting themselves in vulnerable positions,… Messier said on ESPN’s broadcast. “This is crazy. I would’ve played five years in the league if I would have turned my back [like] that. I played 26 [years] because I never put myself in vulnerable positions for a player to make a mistake. …
“You can see [Tom] Wilson actually let up on him on the hit. [Brodzinski] is in a vulnerable position. … He put himself in a vulnerable position for no reason. He saw him coming, at least turn sideways to be able to absorb the hit and protect the puck if that’s what you want to do.…
Preach, Mark Messier!! #allcaps #NYRvsWSH pic.twitter.com/qlpCjz5Wxy
— crass pro shopsâ„¢ï¸ (@RailBourbon) January 13, 2024
4) Standings - objects in the rear view mirror may be closer than they appear. Carolina defeated Pittsburgh 3-2 in overtime and now sit just a point behind New York with Philly just two back. The Rangers play their game in hand tomorrow but that big lead in the division has all but dissipated.
Vincent Trocheck has spoken about how it's better that adversity hits now than later this season. That certainly is true. But that doesn't make their struggles any easier to take or what. Flaws that were masked by the PP and fine goaltending during the hot streak are on full display now.
Depth has become a major problem, the 5x5 scoring has mainly dried up, the bottom-six needs to produce more and the blueline has not been good. Neutral and own zone play have been brutal and each mistake gets magnified because they seem to either end up in the net or result in a PP against. Panicking would not be wise, but GM Chris Drury should be on the phone working on reinforcements even after Kaapo Kakko returns, hopefully this week.