Rangers Woes at MSG Continue

The New York Rangers continue to struggle on home ice. For the fourth time in six games, New York failed to score at MSG. Carolina notched a 2-0 win. The Rangers dropped to 0-5-1 with a total of six goals scored. Five came in one game. The good news is the Blueshirts are on the road Thursday against the Red Wings. 

Rangers lines vs. Hurricanes

Panarin-Zibanejad-Miller
Cuylle-Laba-Lafrenière
Sheary-Pärssinen-Raddysh
Edström-Carrick-Brodzinski

Gavrikov-Fox
Soucy-Borgen
Robertson-Schneider

Shesterkin
Quick

Scratches: Vaakanainen (lower-body injury), Chmelar, Mackey  
IR: Rempe (upper-body injury)
LTIR: Trocheck (upper-body injury)

Game recap

Lack of Home Cooking

In this the Rangers’ centennial season, they are setting new records, though not in the way they would want. Six straight home losses for the first time in history. Four shutouts against at home through the first six games. Just six goals scored in those contests, five of which came against San Jose. Marks of futility not seen before, even during the lean years. 

The Blueshirts are 6-1-1 in the road and 0-5-1 at home. Stark contrasts exist not just in the record but in styles of play, or at least that’s how it looks based on the records. Maybe they can petition the league to allow the team to wear white at home. 

Game action

Tuesday, New York dominated the first 13 minutes of the game, making Pyotr Kochetkov – in his first game of the season – make big saves. If there is one criticism, as noted by Steve Valiquette in the broadcast linked above,  the team didn’t go high to the glove side. In addition, more traffic in front of the net is required but that’s also picking apart every shot and possession. 

The problem is after the first 13 minutes, Carolina started to find their game. Through 40 minutes, action was pretty even, though New York trailed 2-0, so they had to chase. Previously, when chasing, you would be left open to counter attacks but at least offense would be generated. Yesterday, nope.

Let this sink in. The Rangers had one shot the last 28 plus minutes of the game, and that shot was a dump in from 99 feet away. Carolina, playing without five regulars, three of which are top-six blueliners, held New York to just one shot after the score was 2-0. That’s staggering in general and staggeringly bad. One shot, 28 minutes, making any sort of comeback impossible and driving the fan base to ring boos down in home ice. Maybe the somewhat imminent return of Vincent Trocheck will help, because they need something. 

Powerless Blueshirts Power Play

If the power play was consistently generating Grade A chances, the lack of conversions would be mildly passable. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. New York created solid opportunities their first two chances, but did little with the third. 

The numbers from a unit that in the past relied on production with the man advantage to mask other deficiencies is off the charts bad. New York, with yesterday’s 0-for-3 performance, are now 0-for-12 in their last five games, and 1-for-17 in their last seven contests. On the season, the Blueshirts are 4-for-36, second worst in the league.

Insanity is defined as repeating the same action and expecting a different result. It’s long past time to change up the power play. When Trocheck returns, Alexis Lafreniere goes to the second unit. But other changes in terms of styles etc. may be needed. Switch sides for Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad in the hope to get the power play going. Try more high-low or player movement. Do something, anything, in an attempt to rejuvenate a moribund attack. I am not suggesting panicking but a modification or two or three is needed until we see signs of life.