The Rangers got off to what can best be called an inauspicious start to the season, dropping a 4-2 decision to Colorado on Thursday and then 8-5 Saturday night to Toronto. There was a myriad of mistakes in both games, with the end result a defeat in both. Very few positives can be taken from either contest, but that also doesn't mean I am ready to jump off the ledge.
The negatives are much more plentiful then the positives through two games. While it would be foolish to look past any of the them, most of the mistakes should be able to be remediated. Some will take a lot more effort than others. I will start with the positives, since they will be quicker to discuss.
Positives:
Power play - the man-advantage is 4-for-9 the first two games, three of the goals scored by Mika Zibanejad with Shattenkirk scoring the other goal and adding two assists. Strong puck movement has been a staple on the power play, along with solid screens in front by Chris Kreider. You can argue with having David Desharnais on second pairing and not using Brady Skjei, but 4-for-9 is pretty darn good.
Zibanejad - loves going top shelf, to either side of the goal. Production has been on the man-advantage, so would like to see more from him at 5v5. But, he did look solid in that regard on Opening Night, same with Pavel Buchnevich, who has grown in confidence compared to where he was a year ago.
Negatives:
Neutral and own zone play - poor coverage in both has been extremely evident the first two games. Inability to pick the trailer or cover the slot resulted in several of the goals. Longer than expected shifts resulting from the team getting pinned in their own end caused breakdowns as well, seen especially on Tyler Bozak's game-winning goal yesterday when J.T. Miller went to get man going around net and left slot wide open. The poor handoffs from forward to defense and vice versa have also contributed to the 11 goals allowed (not counting the empty netter against the Avalanche). Same with the lack of hustle and on-ice awareness.
Penalty kill - the four goals new York has scored is offset by the four allowed on 11 changes. Officials are calling everything tight, which is partially how New York's opponents already have 11 man-advantage chances. But, the change-over in personnel from last year to this season, including losses of Derek Stepan and Oscar Lindberg and absence of Jesper Fast has been very noticeable killing penalties.
Henrik Lundqvist - late reaction times and poor tracking of the puck are two qualities you never want to see from your goalie. Lundqvist came to camp lighter as a way to improve his reaction time, but that has not shown to be true yet. Granted, he hasn't been helped by his defense, but he also needs to be much better between the pipes. Lundqvist looks to be too deep in the net, as I am a proponent of having him up higher in the blue paint. I am not jumping off the ledge, nor will I say he should have been traded rather than Cam Talbot or Antti Raanta, as that's a knew jerk reaction. Lundqvist knows he must be better, as he said after yesterday's game
"the first period was embarrassing. Not what you are looking for in the second game. I need to be better, it was a period where they were just all over us. There was no structure in our own end and I was unable to come up with enough saves. They are a good team, a really good team and they make you pay if you are not sharp with your decisions, especially in your own end. For me, a couple of the goals, you make a save and try to be in the right place and they come right back at you. It was a tough one, I gave up five goals in one period. Not going to try to look for excuses, I need to be better even though it was a really tough period to play."
Kevin Hayes - miscast as a shut down center though he hasn't shown much offensively either. The Nazem Kadri tally is clear evidence that Hayes still hasn't improved enough defensively. Hayes was moved up a line with Filip Chytil sitting, yet that didn't help. Whatever the cause for his struggles since the two-thirds mark of the season, he needs to figure it out quickly,
Coach Alain Vigneault - if you are keeping Filip Chytil in New York, then play him or send him back to the Czech League. Through two games, playing him 12:39, despite his opening night struggles, isn't enough. Allow him to grow and make mistakes or scratch him completely and go with seven d-men.
I don't have an issue with him moving Marc Staal up to play with Ryan McDonagh. But if the goal is to have McD and 'Kirk play together, then they should have been paired a lot more during the pre-season. Plus, live with the growing pains now for success in the future.
Anthony DeAngelo - we have seen the good and the bad. He can clearly be an asset offensively and a detriment defensively. He is not the main cause of the blue line struggles, but he, along with Brendan Smith, were not good Saturday. The D overall is a work-in-progress, with so many new faces, so expect some further bumps in the road.
For tonight, I would go right back to Lundqvist, let him work his way back into form, especially since Pavelev played 40 minutes last night. Sit DeAngelo, play Holden. I might also insert Kampfer and play with seven d-men, scratching Chytil, if there is even a thought of cutting his ice time, or Paul Carey. If really sending a message, scratch Hayes, but I don't see that happening.
In Game 1, New York outplayed the Avalanche, especially after being down 2-0 but Semyon Varlamov stole the game. Yesterday, a brutal first was replaced by a dominant second and a regression in the third. As I said, lots to work on, but not all is yet lost, far from it.
I know some were looking for me after Game 1 and on Saturday. As a reminder, I was out of the box beginning Wednesday until Saturday night due to Jewish holiday and the Sabbath. The same will be the case that week. I will get a new blog up late Saturday evening or Sunday AM. Please carry the blog in my stead during that period again this week.