The Rangers came into Friday's contests with the Flames riding a five-game win streak, but it was apparent early on that this was not going to be their night. Despite decent territorial control, the Blueshirts made way too many mistakes in their own zone, leading to several of the four goals scored by Calgary in their 4-3 win over New York. Losses this time of year are magnified and scrutinized, but a game like Friday sticks with you for a while after since it was loss that likely could have and should have been prevented.
Game Lowlights:
You can almost go goal-by-goal and point out a bad play or read that resulted in the tally against. The power play goal by Joe Colborne was some lackadaisical play when Calgary gained the zone. Mark Giordano’s goal 16:49 into the first occurred after a massive coverage breakdown from the line of Rick Nash, Derek Stepan and Martin St. Louis following weak play along the boards by Nash and the Rangers just letting Giordano come in the zone and into the slot unimpeded with Dan Girardi the main culprit. The Rangers had 18 shots in the first and while Karri Ramo played well in the frame and overall, you were left wanting more from New York.
Just like that though, the Rangers scored three times in the second and all looked well with the world. Brian Boyle, after hitting it off the post with an open net finally scored. Raphael Diaz, following some pinball action, scored 40 second later, and then after a good forecheck by Benoit Pouliot created a 2-on-1, Carl Hagelin got the puck to Brad Richards and he went top-shelf to make it 3-2. All looked right with the world, but JT Miller got caught at the Flames blue line, leading to a 3-on-2, and Miller took a while to get back allowing Kevin Westgarth to get the initial shot. Diaz then failed to cover the front of the net, allowing Westgarth to get inside position and tie it up. The last goal by Michael Cammelleri was solely on Henrik Lundqvist as it's a shot that must be stopped in all circumstances.
Even the Rangers put pressure on Ramo in the third, he was more than up to the task, making 38 saves on 41 shots. As was noted in the gameday blog, Calgary had been playing fairly well lately and also had wins over the Ducks and Sharks, so this wasn't a team to take lightly. I don't think the Rangers did but way too many turnovers and odd-man rushes were allowed that ultimately came back to haunt them.
Once again, it was the Boyle-Dominic Moore-Derek Dorsett line that was probably the Rangers’ most effective. That unit accounted for nine shots on 14 attempts while the Stepan trio produced only four shots on six attempts. Of course, that total doesn't include the "kicking motion" goal by St. Louis, who saw his goal drought hit 15 games, including 13 as a Ranger. It's become too easy to compare his numbers to Ryan Callahan and bemoan the trade, but I have said before, that ship has sailed. Doing so does no one any good and rehashing it isn't bringing Callahan back.
Miller was benched in the third and will not dress tonight, as AV felt he could have "executed better" in the second. Not sure I agree with this move. While Miller wasn't great Friday to single him out is unfair, as there were several others - noted above - who were a lot worse than him, including the mistake he made on the third goal. Plus, with Chris Kreider out indefinitely after surgery on his hand, now you have Daniel Carcillo, no that is not a misprint, Daniel Carcillo on the top line with Nash and Stepan. I mean maybe it will work, with Carcillo using his speed and energy to create chances, though I am doubtful, and this is why at the deadline we all felt another forward was needed. They got the D-depth they needed in Diaz, which has proven to be huge, yet after getting St. Louis, since it cost a forward, one more was desperately needed, especially since Kristo, Lindberg etc. are not viewed as ready. The end result is with Kreider out and Miller bench, you get Carcillo on the top line.
With that change, here is the lines that are “75 percent sure… per coach Alain Vigneault:
Dan Carcillo-Derek Stepan-Rick Nash Carl Hagelin-Brad Richards-Marty St. Louis Benoit Pouliot-Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello Brian Boyle-Dominic Moore-Derek Dorsett
In essence, they kept the fourth line together, which had to be done, shifted St. Louis back to the right side, where he is more comfortable and reunited him with Richards and Hagelin. In addition, you now have the trio that was so good in January, in Pouliot-Brassard-Zucccarello back together again. Defensively, the same six will play, as John Moore, while making progress from his concussion, is not yet ready to return, though he is inching closer. The Rangers will have a call to make once Moore is ready as to who to bench. To me, it should be Stralman and to a lesser extent Klein, as Diaz has not looked out of place and his puck-handling and moving skills are greatly needed. In addition, New York will give Cam Talbot his first start in goal since March 13, a 2-1 loss in Minnesota, and just his third since the Olympic break against the Oilers.Talbot on the year is 11-6, with a 1.76 GAA and a .937 save percentage, so the Rangers should not experience too big, if any, of a drop-off between the pipes. Lundqvist will be back between the pipes for the last two games of the road trip against Vancouver and Colorado.
The Rangers spent Saturday working on their inept power play, which is just 1-for-its last 22. Much of the focus was on the team's’ recent failure to enter the offensive zone cleanly to set up and take advantage of the extra man. This was something we spoke about the past few weeks, as you all know I hate the drop pass back to create speed in the neutral zone, which never seems to work. Hopefully, they can get back to what worked before, as associate head coach Scott Arniel told the Daily News on Friday that the Blueshirts need to enter the offensive zone with the puck as a unit, not as isolated individuals with their teammates behind the play. That drop pass play creates an individual leading the action with the other four trailing and should be scrapped ASAP.
The current PP units in practice were: Zuke-Brass-Pouliot with Mack Truck and Richards on the points. The second unit is St. Louis-Nash-Stepan with Girardi and Diaz at the points.
The Playoff Race:
Starting with 12 games to go, scoreboard watching became the sport inside of the sport. As of March 27, the Rangers sit second in the division, 41-29-4 with 86 points. When I do a recap or game preview blog, I will include this at the bottom of the blog. However, on non-game/recap days, I will run this daily since this is a huge topic of conversation and a large component of our focus.
Friday, Philadelphia beat a collapsing Toronto squad 4-2 while Pittsburgh defeated the Blue Jackets 2-1. Saturday, the Islanders defeated the Devils 2-1 in a shootout - yes, another shootout loss for NJ, while Boston beat Washington 4-2. Tampa Bay outscored Buffalo 4-2 and Detroit added more misery to Toronto with a 4-2 victory. Montreal toped Florida 4-1 and Columbus eked by Carolina 3-2 in a shootout. While Friday was a mixed bag, Saturday did the Rangers no favors. Sunday didn't start out any better as Philly carried play most of the third and OT and tied it on Vincent Lecavalier's second and 401st goal of his fine career with 20.4 left. The tying goal came as a result of some horrible own zone play by Boston on a bouncing puck that came 28 seconds after a blown call by the officials on a purported hand pass that wasn't likely cost the Bruins an empty-net, clinching marker. At least Boston won it in the shootout, but Philly is now tied in points, and technically ahead of the Rangers with a game in hand. The other key games are Detroit-Tampa and Wash-Nashville, so I am rooting for the Lightning and Predators tonight.
Division:
Philly - beat Toronto 4-2 on 3/28 and lost in 4-3 in a shootout to Boston on 3/30. 6-3-1 last 10, one game in hand on and dead even with the Rangers, but in second place. (played 38 games at home, 36 on road, three left at home, five on road)
Columbus - lost 2-1 to Pittsburgh on 3/28 and won 3-2 in a shootout over Carolina on 3/29, 5-4-1 in last 10, one game in hand, fourth in the division and fourth points behind the Rangers. First Wild Card. (played 36 games at home, 36 on road, five left at home, five on road)
Washington - lost 4-2 to Boston on 3/28, 5-3-2 last 10, one game in hand, fifth in division and six points behind NY. (played 38 games at home, 36 on road, three left at home, five on road)
New Jersey - lost 2-1 in a shootout to the Islanders on 3/29, 4-4-2 last 10, one game in hand, nine points behind NY. (played 36 games at home, 38 on road, five left at home, three on road) (will drop off with next loss or two)
Carolina - lost 3-2 to Columbus in a shootout on 3-29, 5-4-1 last 10, one game in hand, 12 points behind NY. (played 38 games at home, 36 on road, three left at home, five on road) (likely to drop off list with next loss)
Conference (teams within 10 either way, as Boston has a lock of Atlantic division, with second, third and wild cards up for grabs)
Montreal - second in Atlantic, won 4-1 over Florida on 3/29, five straight wins, 8-2-0 last 10, one more game played and seven points up on Rangers. (played 38 games at home, 38 on road, three left at home, three on road)
Tampa Bay - third in Atlantic, won 4-2 over Buffalo on 3/29, 7-0-3 last 10, one game in hand and five points up on Rangers. (played 35 games at home, 39 on road, six left at home, two on road)
Detroit - fourth place in Atlantic, two games in hand on Toronto, who they beat 4-2 on 3/29, 5-4-1 last 10, one game in hand and four points behind the Rangers. Second Wild Card. (played 37 games at home, 37 on road, four left at home, four on road)
Toronto - fifth place in Atlantic and lost their eighth in a row, 4-2 to Detroit on 3/29, 1-9-0 last 10, played one more game than and are six points behind the Rangers. (played 38 games at home, 38 on road, three left at home, three on road)
Ottawa - sixth place in Atlantic, won 4-3 in shootout over TB, 3-4-3 last 10, three games in hand, 12 points behind the Rangers and eight behind last Wild Card spot. (played 35 games at home, 38 on road, seven left at home, three on road). (likely to drop off with another loss or two)
Summary: Two huge wins over Columbus and New Jersey, followed by a gut-check win over Phoenix, solid team effort in victory over Philly and bad loss to Calgary. The Rangers the past several seasons have been excellent down the stretch, to lock in a spot, they may need to do the same thus year. The team is in the midst of what could be a four-game West Coast road trip from 3/28 to 4/3 with the initial foray in Alberta not ending the way they needed it. Remaining games overall are four on the road and three at home in general and coming out of the last four of the season. The Rangers are going to get no help from others, so they will need to keep winning in order to make the post-season.
In order:
3/21- @ CMB - win 3-1 3/22 - @NJ - win 2-0 3/24 - Phx - win 4-3, OT 3/26 - Phi - win 3-1 3/28 - @Cgy - LOST 4-3 3/30 - @Edm 4/1 - @Van 4/3 - @Col 4/5 - Ott 4/8 - Car 4/10 - Buf 4/12 - @Mtl