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NJD 4 NYR 3, Pre-season game 1 in the books, Kakko/Panarin impress |
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The Rangers fell 4-3 to the Devils in their first pre-season game Wednesday. New York allowed goals in the first and last minutes of the first period to trail 2-0 after one. Artemi Panarin, on the power play, and Michael Haley sandwiched goals around Nikita Gusev in the second. Brett Seney restored New Jersey's two-goal lead before Lias Andersson cut the deficit to one, which was the final score. The two teams meet each other again Friday.
Here was the lineup again:
A few takeaways:
1) The first line power play should post some goals: Kreider, Zibanejad, Kakko, Panarin and Trouba. Panarin was moved to Zib's spot on the left dot with Zib now in the center. I wonder how that impacts Zib's production, though he has shown the ability to dish the puck and make one-touch passes from the spot. Brett Cyrgalis summed nicely what we should see this year: "The cross-ice saucer passes from Artemi Panarin to Kaapo Kakko are a thing to behold, as are the one-touch passes from Mika Zibanejad in the middle. Jacob Trouba orchestrates from the top with deft puck movement and a blistering low shot, while Chris Kreider sets up for screens in front, also using his big body to win loose-puck battles"
The second line power play was Fox, Skjei, Kravtsov, Andersson and McKegg.
2) Panarin - snipe - goal. Get used to it. The only downside was that he missed the last six minutes of the second period and all of the third due to what was termed a mildly strained groin. You wonder if the Rangers play it cautious and shut him down the rest of the pre-season (see coach David Quinn on Panarin below).
3) Brady Skjei did not have a particularly good game and that's being kind. He and Trouba are the likely first line pairing. As such, we require/demand/entreat/plead - choose whatever term you want - for the duo to be successful for New York to go anywhere. Granted, it's just one game, but after seeing Skjei regress two years ago and struggle last season, you would love to him get off to a good start and put his prior ills behind him. That wasn't the case Wednesday.
4) Brendan Crawley - if you want to make the team, don't make bonehead plays like this.
5) Kakko - slick hands, patience, strength, vision, ability to create space, the whole package. Love seeing him on the power play and he didn't look out of place on the top line. Kakko's helped create the power play goal by holding on to the puck and carving out room. He appeared to limp off at the end of the game, but said he was fine after the contest.
6) Igor Shesterkin - didn't look out of place or phased by the moment. Needs work on rebound control, but shows great anticipation and moveemnt along with strong positioning.
7) Greg McKegg - stole the puck to set up Michael Haley's tap-in goal. Solid overall game. Could get a long look to break camp as the 12th or 13th forward. His salary is less than that of a rookie, which would save a little cash for the overall budget. Not advocating he make the team over a rookie, but Boo Nieves might be the odd-man out because of him.
8) Lias Andersson - lost 15 pounds this off-season, came into camp in better shape and stronger. That was evident in his ability to protect the puck throughout the contest. Solid first game, capped by a goal in front of the net. Vitali Kravtsov notched the assist on the tally.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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