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Rangers on brink of elimination after 3-1 loss in Game 5 on Thursday

June 10, 2022, 12:14 AM ET [670 Comments]
Jan Levine
New York Rangers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Rangers sit on the brink of elimination after falling 3-1 to the Lightning in Game 5 on Thursday. For the second time this series, Ondrej Palat scored the game-winner with less than two minutes remaining. Thursday, Palat's knee deflected Mikhail Sergachev's shot past Igor Shesterkin. New York attempts to force a Game 7 on Saturday in Tampa.

Game Recap:


A few thoughts:
1) Lineup: entering the game the big question was whether Ryan Strome and/or Filip Chyti would be able to suit up. Strome had missed Game 4 with an injury while Chytil left Game 3 injured. With both active, the top-nine was restored to what we had seen Games 1-3. The only change was sitting Ryan Reaves, which was the right call. The debate was should Kevin Rooney, Dryden Hunt or Jonny Brodzinski dress. My first guess was that Hunt should have been, which based on the end result and impact Rooney had, the right call. I would go with Hunt or Sammy Blais, if he is ready, Saturday.

Kreider-Zibanejad-Vatrano
Panarin-Strome-Copp
Lafrenière Chytil-Kakko
Motte-Rooney-Goodrow

2) Two goals against - harping on the two goals seems odd, but it's the right discussion to have. On the first, Rooney made two mistakes. First, his pass around the boards needs to be made in a manner that Barclay Goodrow can play the puck or Rooney needs to blast it hard enough so it clears the zone. He did neither. Then, he screened Shesterkin by not fully getting in front of the Sergachev shot. In addition, as is their custom, Tampa did a nice job screening, as Corey Perry got away with an uncalled interference on Barclay Goodrow just before the shot.

On the second, Jacob Trouba mishandled the puck, though it was at his skates and came at a bad angle, resulting in the fumble. Chris Kreider was somewhat deked by Sergachev, but he either has to get his stick or body on the shot. He did neither and Palat got inside position on K'Andre Miller, allowing his knee to make contact with the puck.

3) Officiating - brutal for both sides. Miller was called for a fairly weak hooking call, though as Ray Ferraro said, I guess in the new NHL, that's a call. Kaako Kaapo was basically hogtied in the offensive zone and no call was made. I mentioned the pick on Perry that went uncalled. But on the flip side, Trouba got his elbow out - which puts the Sidney Crosby hit in a slightly different light - and just missed Palat on an offside after Palat fortunately ducked and missed the chicken wing. Wes Maccauley missed a good game.



4) Blown chances: If you are going the slay beast, you can't miss chances. New York didn't have a ton of good ones, but failed to capitalize when they did. Ryan Lindgren who scored, just missed a stuff attempt, though he didn't have a great angle.

The Rangers overpassed way too much, resulting in several shots they turned down that should have been taken. But the one time the passing worked, Ryan Strome missed a golden chance. If he just stops and doesn't slide forward. Strome has half an open net. Instead, we are left to lament what might have been.



5) Play the damn Kid Line more. The minutes below are just not sufficient. When you are struggling to score and have a line that can generate chances while being defensively responsible, why the heck are you not giving them more ice time? 

Chytil 12:03
Lafreniere 11:12
Kakko 10:33

As I said after Game 4 in the Pittsburgh series, I would run this every day for however long that series lasted. I first wrote this in 2014 when the team was down 3-1 to Pittsburgh. What I said certainly applies now, with some very small tweaks, as at the time, New York had never rallied from a 3-1 series deficit. Now, on the brink of a series loss again, it's appropriate to run it again.

I am as optimistic as anyone, but would not be shocked if the series ends in Game 6. If it does, what I want to see is heart, passion and effort. Lose but lose with all of it left on the ice. Show some pride for the name on the front of the jersey. Don't just let Tampa walk over you, stand up for yourselves as an athlete and member of the New York Rangers. It doesn't matter who plays and who sits, whoever is in the lineup needs to bring it. To quote Boomer Esiason and it's something I have said a lot, win one shift, then another, then another. Then win one period and another. Then win the game and send the Rangers back MSG for Game 7 of the ECF.

Heart. It's the willingness to take a hit to move the puck or score a goal. Heart. It's what makes the name on the front of the jersey more than the one of the back. Heart. It's what New Yorkers love to see in their athletes. It's rising over trying circumstances. It's carrying a team or a teammate on your backs when needed. Heart. It can overcome talent when talent doesn't have or use it. Heart. It's what needs to be on display Saturday.

Win or lose, We Are All Rangers!!!


#NoQuitinNY

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