The Rangers got off to the start that they wanted but were unable to sustain it throughout the game Wednesday, falling 3-2 in overtime to the Kings. Coming in, we knew that Los Angeles were a step up in class, which proved to be the case Wednesday. New York has some positives and negatives to take from the loss, which I will cover below. Also, thanks to Ed for assisting me with a Game 1 recap, much appreciated.
Game Highlights:
Positives/Negatives:
Speed. The Rangers through most of their first period used their speed to create chances and carry play. Benoit Pouliot's and Carl Hagelin's shorthanded goals were a direct result of speed from the defensive or neutral to the offensive zone. But after those two goals, LA did a great job of limiting space, preventing NY from taking advantage of their speed. Hagelin - stopped in the second by Kyle Clifford and late in the third on a save by Jonathan Quick - was the only one who had jump. For NY to have success, they obviously need to do a better job of creating and taking advantage of space and speed, which gets to my next two points.
Adjustments. Los Angeles adjusted, New York did not. After the Rangers made it 2-0, Los Angeles upped their compete level. They started using their size and speed more to limit the Rangers ability to maximize their speed. More important, if you don't have the puck, you can't use your speed and LA tilted the ice but pinning NY deep and possessing the puck. Coming into the series, faceoffs and puck possession were two keys, while the Rangers were just about dead even in faceoffs, Corsi etc., leaned heavily to the Kings, enabling them to dominate action. In addition the Kings decided to repeatedly go blocker rather than glove side on Henrik Lundqvist, paying off in three goals, so Hank has to adjust to expect shots to both locations. Of course, it's hard to even criticize someone who was the main reason NY even stayed in the game. Last, Los Angeles is known for their ability to adjust even within games, so no shock they rebounded. Plus, their ability to adjust during series has to add to the concern level moving forward, putting more pressure on the Rangers to counter that adjustment.
Errors. There are errors of omission as well as physical and mental ones. In any sport, you expect ones of omission, as mistakes will happen. Same for physical mistakes, but mental ones are killers. Derek Stepan's soft clear that led to the first goal - while technically a physical error - it's a mental one, as you have a) not be soft there and b) know you have to get the puck out to relieve some of the pressure. Derek Dorsett was undressed by Drew Doughty, but no shame in that, as Doughty had done that to several others. In addition, Dan Girardi's game-ending turnover, while technically a physical one, is really a mental one. How so? You need to know the situation and be prepared for any situation. If you stumble and the dangerous play really isn't an option, be safe, put it in the corner, maximize the time to react and then live to fight another day. Both made mental mistakes, the end result was a 3-2 loss. It's easy to focus on those two plays, since each ended in goals, but the overall blame can go to several others, including Rick Nash, who has to step up.
Nash. We highlighted him as missing-in-action the first two rounds and he finally responded with goals the first two games against Montreal. Since then, one goal in five contests and invisible on the ice. Someone needs to take with him and tell Nash to go north-south, not east-west. Too much peripheral play, not enough straight line action. If it's fear of injury or lack of confidence, then the "top" has a big hole on the wing, which will be difficult to close and overcome this series.
Psychology. I love reading how LA "intimidated" New York. Or how Alain Vigneault is making a mistake saying how the Rangers didn't have enough players bring their "A" game. Or how could the Rangers head to the beach yesterday rather than practicing. I will touch on each one.
- Los Angeles upped their speed and physical play as the game wore on. That forced NY into turnovers. I am unsure how losing 3-2 in overtime is an indication they were intimated. The Kings forced them into turnovers and dominated lay, but did NY shrink from the contact? Just throw passes away at will in fear of getting hit? Did they not have a shot to win with 40 seconds left? The Rangers played poorly and Kings played well, end stop, I don’t think intimidation was a factor.
- As of three days ago, everyone was saying how AV pushed all the right buttons this year, now, he doesn't know what he is doing? It's called managing through psychology. He is not about to get into a verbal war in the media, better to praise your opponent than degrade them and give more fuel to the fire. He was right, the Rangers didn't have enough players bring their A game. Other than Hagelin and Lundqvist, who did? In addition, one of my fears going into to Game 1 was them coming out fast and then having the inability to sustain it partially due to them coming out too fast and hard and then not having their legs after the absence. They were rested, but not game ready, which we saw Wednesday. In addition, mentally the loss likely took a toll, so why not get away for a day? The extra day between games affords that. Clear your heads, wipe the bitter taste away and then come back refocused, as they did Friday.
History. Both positive and negative. Of the past 74 Stanley Cups, the team that wins Game 1 has captured 57 of 77% of the series. On the flip side, New York has been on both sides of the equation of Game 1, win and loss, which if it plays out similarly, might bode well. In 1979, New York won Game 1 but lost four straight to Montreal. In 1994, they lost Game 1 3-2 in overtime, and as we know, went on to win the Cup. In addition, Game 2 is not a must win. Of course, a loss would leave them with no wiggle room, but Boston came back from 2-0 down against Vancouver in 2011 and Pittsburgh did same against Detroit in 2009, so while it's not a must win, given overall history in the Cup Finals, it is a recommended win.
Lineup changes. John Moore gets back in the lineup after sitting out the second game of his suspension. His speed will be a welcome addition plus it allows Kevin Klein to move back to his stronger side. For LA, Robyn Regehr, sidelined with a knee injury since Game 1 of the Western Conference semi-finals against Anaheim, is expected to get back in the lineup, possibly at the expense of
Line Combinations and Analysis:
Rangers:
Forwards: 20 Chris Kreider - 21 Derek Stepan - 61 Rick Nash 67 Benoit Pouliot - 16 Derick Brassard - 36 Mats Zuccarello 62 Carl Hagelin - 19 Brad Richards - 26 Martin St. Louis 22 Brian Boyle - 28 Dominic Moore - 15 Derek Dorsett
Extras: Jesper Fast (played first two games against Philly and one against Pitt but has been on pine since then), Daniel Carcillo (played key role in Game 5 win over Philly, saw some time against Pittsburgh but received a reduction of his 10-game suspension for his violation of Rule 40.3 for contact with an official during Game 3 down to six games, so the earliest he could be back is Game 4) and JT Miller (played games 3-4 versus Philly, one game against Pitt and saw brief action against Montreal in Game 3 before he injured his shoulder when he went into the post on a hit by Andrei Markov).
Defense 27 Ryan McDonagh - 5 Dan Girardi 18 Marc Staal - 6 Anton Stralman 17 John Moore - 8 Kevin Klein
Extras: Raphael Diaz (played Game 6 against Montreal and Game 1 against LA with Moore suspended. Struggled against LA, will sit for Moore) and Justin Falk.
Goaltending 30 Henrik Lundqvist 33 Cam Talbot 29 David LeNeveu
Kings
Forwards Marian Gaborik-Anze Kopitar-Dustin Brown Tanner Pearson-Jeff Carter-Tyler Toffoli Dwight King-Mike-Richards-Justin Williams Kyle Clifford-Jarret Stoll-Trevor Lewis
Scratches - Jordan Nolan (f he gets in, it will be on the fourth line)
Defense Jake Muzzin-Drew Doughty Willie Mitchell-Slava Voynov Alec Martinez-Robyn Regehr
Scratches - Jeff Schultz (healthy) and Matt Greene (either he or Willie Mitchell will sit for Regehr)
Goaltenders Jonathan Quick Martin Jones
Rangers vs. Kings - Stanley Cup Finals Game 1: Kings 3 Rangers 2, OT, Wed., June 4 Game 2: Rangers at Kings, Sat., June 7 at 7 p.m. (NBC, CBC) Game 3: Kings at Rangers, Mon., June 9 at 8 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC) Game 4: Kings at Rangers, Wed., June 11 at 8 p.m. (NBCSN, CBC) Game 5*: Rangers at Kings, Fri., June 13 at 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC)* Game 6*: Kings at Rangers, Mon., May 16 at 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC)* Game 7*: Rangers at Kings, Wed., June 18 at 8 p.m. (NBC, CBC)*
The Rangers have shown that they are a resilient team and can bounce back from adversity. They came back from a poor start to have one of the better records in the league from late-December on. They made history by winning for the first after being down 3-1 in a series and for the first time in the playoffs against Pittsburgh. I would expect them to rebound from a disappointing loss Wednesday with a solid top-to-bottom, full-game effort Saturday.
It’s go time. Let’s Go Rangers!!! The Drive to the Stanley Cup continues in Los Angeles on Saturday. (To give you fresh content, Dan Petriw will augment my blog Saturday AM for Game 2 and I will weigh in that evening or Sunday AM with a recap blog)
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