The Rangers (53-22-4) will have to wait a little longer to clinch their first Metro Division title since 2014-15, New York came out flat against a desperate Isles team, falling behind 3-0 in the first. The Blueshirts carried play in the second, scoring twice, and third, but were unable to get the equalizer as Semyon Varlamov stood tall in net. The Rangers face a Philly team that appears to have tossed in the towel and quit on John Tortorella on Thursday.
With Carolina's win over Boston, the Rangers need two more wins or a win and a Hurricanes' loss to lock up the division with three games left to win the division. Beyond the Philly game, the schedule includes another showdown with the Islanders on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at MSG and a home contest against the Senators on Monday.The Canes actually did the Blueshirts a solid by beating the Bruins, as that enabled New York to maintain their three-point lead for the No. 1 seed and home-ice advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Game recap:
Rangers lineup vs. Islanders:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Roslovic
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafrenière
Cuylle-Wennberg-Kakko
Goodrow-Brodzinski-Vesey
Zib collison with Pelech Coach Peter Laviolette, as seen from the above video, was steaming mad, viewing the hit as intentional. I didn't see it that way. It looked like both players were not looking and colliding. Laviolette viewed the elbow/shoulder as intentional . The result of the collision was Zib's head snapping back as he fell to the ice and laid there after a brief attempt to get back up. The good news was that he returned to the bench before the end of the game.
The video below is the missed boarding call as Trocheck gets slammed from behind while Kerry Sutherland watches. The end result was the empty net goal by Anders Lee to clinch the Isles win. Refereeing was brutal overall last night against both sides. But in a situation like that, staring at the play in a one-goal game and boarding is clear, you have to make that call. There is no guarantee the Rangers would score as there were only seven seconds left, but they would have had a 6-on-4 and faceoff in Isles zone.
Trocheck gets crushed from behind with no call. Trocheck is pissed!! and has ever right to be. #NYRpic.twitter.com/bP2QXpk0My
First goal against. Kaapo Kakko and Ryan Lindgren get tangled up by faceoff dot. Lindgren late in recovering to cover Mat Barzal in front, Sticks out his stick to defend and Mike's Reilly pass goes off his stick past Igor Shesterkin. Second goal - turnover in the neutral zone by Erik Gustafsson, who also was unable to clear the puck as it went behind the net. Then a double deflection in front by Casey Cizikas and Bo Horvat oast Igor. Third goal, also at even strength, Jimmy Vesey was unable to get the puck over the blue line. Noah Dobson came down the wall and his shot was deflected. Gus lost track of Kyle Palmieri, who put the puck into the open net. Gustafsson was on for two of the three even-strength goals against and his poor game lends further credence that Zac Jones should have played and should play Thursday.
If there were any silver linings, I found two. First, the power play remained hot. The two PPG meant that the Rangers were now 12-for-29 (41.4%) on the man-advantage across the last 13 games. Chris Kreider, who recovered after taking the friendly fire shot from Zib in the first, scored, as did Adam Fox. Second, the resiliency and how they carried the play the last 40 minutes. Granted, the first was brutal and they were unable to get the equalizer, including an Artemi Panarin shot off the post in the second, but they were by far the better and more dangerous team. Yes, small consolation, but noted nonetheless.
If the Rangers have clinched the division by Saturday's game, we may see Matt Rempe dress. I didn't think his absence was materall to the game, but he could be a tone shifter. Again, though, that might only be the case if they have clinched the division.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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