The depleted Rangers gave the Blues all they could handle before falling 4-3 in a shootout for the second straight contest. While injuries clearly have impacted the team, every team has them at some point and to use that as an excuse will eventually ring hollow. Yes, the injuries resulted in replacements playing that may have led to a goal or two, but New York had chances to win; so while the point is nice, we all believe that two of them were left on the table the past two nights.
A few thoughts:
- This might have been Martin St. Louis' best game of the year. Of course that sounds stupid to say in a game he scored twice, but beyond the goals, he looked much more engaged and involved than he has much of the season. The move back to wing from center clearly agreed with him and that should be his position moving forward.
- Rick Nash was almost the hero, hitting the post in overtime on a shot that I think everyone by Brian Elliott thought was a goal. Beyond the near miss, he went hard to the net in overtime and was stopped on a play that could have been a trip on Elliott. Nash set up St. Louis on a gorgeous backhand feed that gave New York a 3-2 lead they couldn't hold.
- Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes each had solid games. Kreider had a power play goal - I had almost forgotten what one of those were - in the first while Hayes had to have nightmares about missing a wide-open net and bodies in front of it, failing to tally twice. If each expend that kind off effort again, New York's offense - which has been MIA too often - should be much better moving forward.
- Ryan Malone did solid work along the boards helping to lead to Kreider's PPG, but other than that, he wasn't very visible. With Derek Stepan likely out again Wednesday, Malone should be in the lineup again, but will need to produce to stay there. Malone realizes this may be his last chance to stick, having passed through waivers, but will need to show a lot more to remain one of the active 12 when Stepan returns. Of course, its very possible that if Mats Zuccarello's ailment that sidelined him Monday enables him to suit up, which he did for optional practice Tuesday, Malone could be the odd-man out.
- The fourth line. I have written a few times about the gulf between what the fourth line gave New York last year and what it has produced this one. Tanner Glass seems to be the poster boy - at least on twitter - for the lack of production on the final trio, though much have that may still be due to the view everyone had when he was signed this offseason. Glass is what he is. He will check and use the body, play the penalty kill and have a lousy Corsi, but the Corsi defenders didn't get much help with Dylan McIlrath posting a 65 Corsi yesterday, since that's a matter aberration compared to what we saw on the ice.
- McIlrath is still looking to find Tarasenko after the move that was put on him yesterday. We all bemoan the selection of McIlrath over Fowler, Schwartz and Tarasenko. In addition, McIlrath needs to find a way to spend more time on the ice than he does in the penalty box in a contest. Last, there are strong doubts as to whether McIlrath will ever be a regular. Those ideas are likely all true, but it's way too early to write him off. Defenseman growth is not linear, look at Tyler Myers and Michael Del Zotto, each of him got off to good if not excellent starts and have plummeted back to earth. So McIlrath could grow into his body and his skills can catch up with his size. Granted, it seems unlikely, but to write off now is a bit premature.
- Conor Allen was solid and steady. He showed good recognition as to when to jump up into the play and did not seem overwhelmed by the moment. Based on that coupled with the possible return in next few days to week of Kevin Klein (foot, maybe Saturday) and John Moore (suspension, next Tuesday) coupled with eventual return of Dan Boyle (broken hand, taking soft wrist shots), can someone explain why a retread like Tomas Kaberle, who couldn't earn a spot with NJ this year, was invited for a tryout? (Thanks for those pointing out the last "retread" that failed to make the Devils who the Rangers signed was Anton Stralman, but more than a slight age difference there). Is Kaberle so much better than Allen that New York has to eat up their 50th contract by signing him?
- Cam Talbot played a good and almost great game. He was positionally very good and stoned St. Louis on several 2-on-1 rushes. I have seen several take Talbot to task for failing to stop Jay Bouwmeester's game-tying-goal, but thought it was a perfect shot just under the crossbar. The second goal was a double deflection and Tarasenko's was a world-class move. Given how poorly Talbot played this preseason and consternation over if he was going to turn back into a pumpkin, I thought he acquitted himself quite well.
It was nice to see breakouts from D to O and hopefully it's a sign iof things to come. But, for all the chances generated and pressure put on, New York got just one goal in the first. The three overall was a nice total, but like the end result, we all were left wanting and expecting more. However, it gives New York something to build on after getting shut out Saturday.