The Rangers saw their four-game win streak come to a crashing halt, 5-1 versus the Flames on Monday. New York has more turnovers than a bake shop with 20 giveaways, including nine in the first, to Calgary's six contributing to the defeat. In addition, Calgary did an excellent job stifling New York through the neutral zone while also cycling the team to death in their offensive zone, playing a major part in the Blueshirts' loss.
Game recap:
A few thoughts:
1)
Ryan Strome summed up the loss well though i think the constant focus on the straight line is an easy fall back excuse. The puck management was a bigger and broader issue with the goalie unable to make up for those deficiencies.
“I think it’s more just puck management,” said Strome, who returned to the lineup for the first time in four games after a bout with COVID-19. “When we had chances tonight, we were simple, we were straight lines, kind of what you’ve seen the last little while. A template of what makes us successful. Then we’re throwing pucks in the middle a little bit, I think a little bit sloppy and not our best execution.”
2)
Defensively, the team was a nightmare. Adam Fox got caught deep leading to the first goal. Patrik Nemeth's egregious turnover led to a tally. K'Andre Miller misread in center ice resulted in a 2-on-1 and a goal. In addition, the forwards were not blameless, as they failed to get pucks out of the zone, allowing Calgary to continually cycle the puck and break down the defense, creating gaps for scoring chances. The list of errors was pretty long and good fodder for video review the next three days.
3)
Offense - yucch. Little sustained attack, save for one sequence in the third when they scored. A power play that needs work. Artemi Panarin still struggling to regain his prior form while Mika Zibanejad has to provide a lot more than what we have seen. The top-six has to play like a top-six, which to date has not been the case.
4)
Alexis Lafreniere - coach Gerard Gallant somewhat called out Lafreniere post-game saying: “I want Laffy doing more.” This came on the heels of him flipping Laf and Julien Gautheir late in the second game, putting Gauthier on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.
Brooks summarized some of the problems Laf has had to date. When drafted, the view and hope was that he would become Jonathan Huberdeau, not Connor McDavid or Auston Matthews. I have not seen anything yet that makes me question that view. He is adapting to the NHL during two crazy pandemic filled years, but that is only a mild excuse and he has to be better. Laf has areas of weakness that need remediation.
One play yesterday was evidence of why I still have hope. Loose puck in the offensive zone and Laf was exposed and hammered. As he fell to the ice - in some pain as we saw after a stoppage when he was on the bench - he had the presence of mind to turn his body and get a dangerous shot on net. One little snippet of a play but one that stood out to me.
He has come away with fewer pucks out of battles, has won fewer of the 50/50s than he did a season ago as a rookie following his first-overall selection. Lafreniere just seems a step behind, maybe a thought behind, too, not quite anticipating the play. And certainly he’s not leading the rush. Indeed, he just doesn’t seem to have the puck on his stick as much as anyone would like.
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