The Rangers lost 4-0 to the Islanders in their first pre-season game of the year. Ascertaining Gerard Gallant’s system was pretty much an exercise in futility, as it was a sloppy game. Neither Alexandar Georgiev or Adam Huska was at fault for the four goals against, while the offense was pretty much non-existent. New York is back it Tuesday against Boston.
Rick Carpiniello had several points in his recap column that resonated with me and that I was thinking about while watching the game. The contest in itself was like watching paint dry, but there were a few takeaways. Curious to read what you thought:
1) Standouts. Not many. The best was likely Dryden Hunt. Gallant said Hunt “probably stood out more than anybody else,… Other than that, maybe Matt Rempe and Niks Lundkvist. Rempe skates a lot better than what had been reported when he was drafted and looked he might be a bottom-six piece in the future. At 6-7, he towered pretty much over everyone, especially with Zdeno Chara not dressing.
2) Lundkvist. Didn’t look out of place. You can see the instincts of when to pinch and when to fall back defensively. Not shy about shooting and has a fairly quick release. In addition, he plays bigger than he looks, somewhat similar to Adam Fox.
3) Carp nicely summarized my thoughts on Fox potentially having his minted limited. I understand not wanting to overburden Fox or wear him out, but when you have a horse on the blueline who is one of your best players, why decrease in minutes? I use the word potentially because it’s easy to say this in September, let’s see what happens when the season starts. Gallant can use Patrick Nemety on the penalty kill as a way to cut Fox’s hard minutes, but I could still see Fox on ice late in game in a PK situation
So Adam Fox isn’t going to play every penalty kill, etc. OK. But this notion of limiting his ice time seems to be counterproductive. I mean, you have a decided advantage with a player like that on your roster, and he’s obviously a kid who can handle the minutes, and like a certain other Rangers Norris Trophy winner, recovers quickly and thrives with the additional workload. I understand you don’t want him playing 30 minutes per, but 26-27 is certainly in the ballpark for top defensemen, and who else would you want on the ice in big situations? Correct answer: Nobody.
4) Jarred Tinordi was far from impressive in his first game as a Ranger. Slow in terms of skating and reaction time, he clearly is a 7th defensemen at best. If a need arose for a blueliner for an extended time due to an injury, I would expect one of the kids to be given the first chance with Tinordi playing if a one-game absence.
Plus, as Carp pointed out, Tinordi was wearing No. 5, not worn since Dan Girardi. Also famously worn by Barry Beck, Carol Vadnais, Normand Rochefort and Jari Gronstrand, among others, including Bill Cook, for whom that number should probably be hanging from the rafters. Why is Tinordi wearing that number?
5) Barclay Goodrow was ejected after just 4:29 of ice time for a boarding major in the first period. Goodrow's contract will be the bane of many Rangers' fan existence. The penalty was unnecessary, though Kyle MacLean did turn just before the contact, though still the right call and Goodrow deserved to be ejected. Hopefully we will be able to judge the player and not the contract, though as we all know, that won't be the case.
6) Alexis Lafreniere started the game on right wing opposite Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. He swapped spots with Kreider starting the third period. Laf looked bigger and swiffer skating on the ice and is also seeing time on the penalty kill with Zib.
LUNDQVIST JERSEY RETIRMENT NIGHT: Henrik Lundqvist will have his jersey raised to the rafters Friday, January 28 against Minnesota. one driver for that date is the presence of Mats Zuccarello, Hank's close friend, as a member of the Wild (joined also by Cam Talbot). The ceremony will take place at 6:30pm with that evening's contest starting at 8pm.
ð‰ðšð§. ðŸðŸ–, ðŸðŸŽðŸðŸ
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 27, 2021
No. 30 will ascend to the rafters of The World’s Most Famous Arena. https://t.co/wb5RfmpgKi pic.twitter.com/25fQqefNr5
Jan. 28th.
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 27, 2021
The loudest we'll ever be, guaranteed. pic.twitter.com/XGq44aodn7
Portion of the announcement of Henrik Lundqvist Night #NYR pic.twitter.com/ixUfybllvA
— Rick Carpiniello (@RickCarpiniello) September 27, 2021
There’s no place like it.
— Henrik Lundqvist (@HLundqvist) September 27, 2021
Can’t tell you enough how much I look forward to be back in the place that has meant so much to me in my life. See you @TheGarden January 28th! â¤ï¸ðŸ¤ðŸ’™ pic.twitter.com/nbDPvNHzem
I am out of pocket Monday evening to Wednesday evening. Will grab any news or updates when I am back on line.