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Game 5: PIT 3 NYR 2, another preventable loss, Chytil injured |
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The Rangers completed their home-and-home weekend with the Pens with a 3-2 loss. New York surrendered the winning goal with 1:31 remaining in a contest where I think we all thought the team deserved better. But all that matters is the final score and the Blueshirts were on the short end once again.
Game recap:
David Quinn Post:Game:
A few thoughts:
1) Team play - while New York overall played a solid game, it was not enough. The veterans are behind the kids right now with that lack of production from way too many adversely impacting the team in almost every game, save for the win versus the Islanders. Go up and down the lineup and find me a vet, besides Pavel Buchnevich, playing well.
Mika Zibanejad has looked like a shell of the player he was before the bubble. Chris Kreider was invisible last night, a pattern repeating too often. Ryan Striome scored last night and has been better lately, but still a far cry from last year. While Artemi Panarin is on a point-per-game pace, he isn't the dominating, play-driving winger we saw in the first 60-plus game last year.
With those veterans struggling, the kids, which includes PDG, have carried the team recently. But that uplift in their play has not been enough for a variety of reasons. Quinn has shuffled the lines, a situation that likely will be repeated. I could see the KZB line getting restored, Alexis Lafreniere sliding back to the second line with Panarin moving from right to left. One possibility could be to put PDG on the second line, having him play the Jesper Fast type role, including one whose forecheck helps create chances, with a true kid line of Laf-Chytil-Kakko, depending on Filip Chytil's health.
In addition, the team has been guilty of overpassing. Rather than taking the good shot, they are looking for the perfect play. Get pucks and traffic on net, or at worst, mix it up, because the perfect play isn't there and the chemistry between the players is lacking so far. Offensively, the team can't finish.
2) Chytil left the game after the below hit from Evan Rodrigues. Speculation is that it's his shoulder or wrist, though due to the point of contact, it could be to the leg. But based on how he reacted after the hit, shoulder looks likely. He received one more shift and then sat the rest of the game, but was on the bench. Chytil is to be evaluated today, and if out for any period of time, the lineup would be tremendously affected, as Chytil had been the team's best forward and his line the best trio on the squad.
3) Defense - better overall and Pittsburgh didn't do much in the third period, yet scored twice. The first goal of the game came on a bad pass in the offensive zone that created a breakout opportunity with Bryan Rust, who was the best player on the ice the two games for the Penguins, beating Brendan Smith off a great feed from Sidney Crosby for the breakaway.
The second goal was a knucklepuck from a bad, bad angle by Jared McCann that had to be stopped, more on that below. Pittsburgh's game-winner started with a familiar pattern, ceding the blueline. Jacob Trouba allowed Sidney Crosby to gain the zone and pass back, unimpeded to Kris Letang at the blue liner. Letang pelled to his left and Buchnevich allowed Guentzel to find a raft of open space high in the slot. But the shot should have been stopped. Overall, I thought the D played fairly well, yet, the end result was a loss.
4) Igor Shesterkin - the difference between the one win and three losses, the key save made. Alexandar Georgiev made it in the win over the Isles, aided by the team's better effort. Shesterkin has failed to make that key, and at times, easy save.
He has looked very much unlike the goalie we saw before his injury in the crash. Igor didn't have a great game 3 in the bubble and has been mediocre so far this year. McCann's goal had to be stopped and the Guenzel tally also should have been saved. Maybe he could have used exhibition games and he is working out the kinks, plus we were spoiled for years by Henrik Lundqvist, but right now, Igor is not getting the job done.
I would play Georgiev on Tuesday against Buffalo. If he wins, roll with him again. At 1-3-1, the Rangers are bringing up the rear in the division. Washington is 3-0-3 despite missing four players, while Pitt after starting 0-2 and looking horrific, has won four in a row. Nj, Boston and Philly all have seven points, with the latter two having their own issues. New York, though, needs to figure it out before too long or it will be late, early.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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