The Rangers fell for the second straight game, losing 4-3 to the Hurricanes on Tuesday. With the defeat, New York is now locked into the second spot on the Metro, as Carolina clinched the division with the win. The Blueshirts are right back at it tonight, home against the Canadiens before closing the season Friday versus the Capitals. New York will open the playoffs at home on May 2 or 3 against either Pittsburgh or Washington.
Game recap:
A few thoughts: 1) Injuries- coming into the contest we had two hopes. First, beat Carolina and have a chance to win the division. Second, stay healthy. If you asked a group of people, many would have put two before one in the pecking order. Unfortunately, neither happened and missing on the second is way more important than the first.
Artemi Panarin left with an upper-body injury with 15:08 remaining in the second period. He was seen during the first with a heading pad on his lower back. Andrew Copp, who was initially a game-time decision with a lower-body injury that caused him to miss New York's 3-1 loss to Boston on Saturday, left with a lower-body injury with 12:23 left in the second. No word has been given if this is a reoccurrence of the original ailment or something new that popped up during the game.
If there is a silver lining, post-game coach Gerard Gallant did not appear overly concerned by either injury. Gallant said: "I think if it was next week, one of those (playoff) games, both of them would have been back," While that sounds nice, for the next week we will be concerned that both players will either be sidelined or not 100 per cent when the post season starts. For now, even if either could play, Gallant has to put both in bubble wrap and sit them tonight and Friday. If not having either return yesterday was due to an “abundance of caution,… then heed that advice the next two games.
Gerard Gallant says the Rangers were "being cautious" with Andrew Copp and Artemi Panarin tonight:
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 27, 2022
"I hate to see it, but I'd sooner be cautious than not have them for when the games really matter." pic.twitter.com/PNm4Vrga2s
2) Chris Kreider notched his 52nd goal of the season and added an assist in the loss, extending his point streak to five games (two goals, four assists). That tally tied Adam Graves (1993-94) for second most goals scored in a single season in franchise history. Kreider is two goals shy of tying Jaromir Jagr's record of 54 with a pair of games remaining in what has been a magical season for the left winger.
The debate for Gallant is whether to sit Kreider or give him a shot at the record. From the comments made last week by Gallant and knowing how Kreider feels, the expectation is that CK20 will be in the lineup for both contests. If that proves to be the case, we all will be in pins and needles hoping he makes it through unscathed.
Kreider, in not a major surprise, won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, which is voted on by the fans and has been given to the Rangers player who "goes above and beyond the call of duty" every season since 1987-88 The award is named for former New York City Police Detective Steven McDonald, who was shot and injured in the line of duty on July 12, 1986. He died Jan. 10, 2017. Just listen to his comments about winning the award and what he has said all season and you wonder why he doesn’t have the C already on his jersey.
Here's to you, Kreids. What a season + what a leader. pic.twitter.com/WmLa8L2kq6
— x - New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 26, 2022
Chris Kreider on winning the Steven McDonald Award:
— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 27, 2022
"I think to say that it was as honor is an understatement. I told the McDonalds it was probably the greatest honor of my hockey career." pic.twitter.com/e0bSeLlo6r
3) Kaapo Kakko, who missed the last four games with a lower-body injury, returned to practice Monday. The Rangers, keeping with cautious theme, held him out Tuesday to give him extra time to heal. In the case of Kakko, in order to give him some game action to help him be ready for the playoffs, should dress him tonight - if he is ready - in place of either Panarin or Copp. Have him skate potentially on the top-six or with his possible line mates in Filip Chytil and Alexis Lafreniere, who scored his 18th of the season last night.
4) New York finished the season 1-3 against Carolina, who look like they would be a difficult postseason matchup if they meet again down the road. The Blueshirts have shown they are resilient, as seen by rallying for two goals on the last seven minutes of the game to make the score close, but need to play at the top of their talent level to have a chance against the Canes or the other top teams in the league. One key will be the power play clicking on all cylinders, which was not the case yesterday, as they failed to score on three straight chances in a seven minute span bridging t the first and second stanzas with no score in the game.