Rangers Aim for First Home Win This Season

If someone told you before the season the New York Rangers would be 7-1-0 and 0-6-1, the initial view would be they were dominating at home and struggling on the road. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. Anyone who has watched the team this year is somewhat amazed that they look like two completely different teams, home and away.

Suggestions have been made to have the team wear the road whites at home. Maybe have them stay at a hotel the night before a game to simulate a road trip. Both are band aids to fixing the real issue. The problem is what the real problem is, because it’s not been the case on the road. 

Game recap:

Chasing goals, losing defensive structure:

Saturday night’s 5-0 loss to the Islanders was a prime example of what has ailed New York at home. Following a stirring pre-game ceremony where Sam Rosen made his return to MSG as master of ceremonies, the Rangers came out flying. Artemi Panarin had a prime chance a minute in but was stoned by Ilya Sorokin. Mika Zibanejad was also robbed by Sorokin and hit the crossbar. Instead of being up 2- or 3-0, the score was tied. 

The right plan of attack would have been to stay the course. Instead, the Rangers showed their frustration and started to chase goals, leaving them as risk of counter attack, where the Islanders led the league. By the end of the period, the score was 2-0 with the Islanders catching the Blueshirts pinching deep and breaking out for odd man rushes.

Compare and contrast this to Friday’s win. The Rangers were dominant in all three zones, maintaining their structure. New York never chased goals or got frustrated, evident in their style of play. This has largely been the case away from home, but at MSG, maybe it’s because the fanbase also gets frustrated, raising the level on the ice. Coach Mike Sullivan and the players can give all the right sound bites about not chasing goals and maintaining a defensive posture. But until that happens, it’s just lip service.

Gabe Perreault Promoted

As a way to try and kickstart the offense, the Rangers promoted Gabe Perreault and demoted Jaroslav Chmelař on Sunday. Perreault, a first-round pick in 2023, failed to score in five games after signing with the team last season following his BC campaign. He was sent down to Hartford after training camp and has been dominant there. Perreault posted five goals and 10 points in nine games for the Wolf Pack, earning the promotion.

Perreault is known for his offensive skills. With New York in need of consistent scoring, he gets his chance. Hopefully, aiding the offense, Vincent Trocheck, out since the second game of the season, makes his return this evening as well. The addition of Perreault and the return of Trocheck result in a reshuffling of the lines

Rangers lines, D pairs at morning skate:

Perreault-Zibanejad-Miller
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafrenière
Cuylle-Laba-Raddysh
Edström-Carrick-Sheary

Gavrikov-Fox
Soucy-Borgen
Vaakanainen-Schneider

PP1: Miller-Cuylle-Zibanejad-Panarin-Fox
PP2: Perreault-Lafrenière-Raddysh-Trocheck-Schneider

The top six make sense. Mika Zibanejad and JT Miller can move back and forth between center and wing, and Perreault gets a shot to play with talented forwards. New York’s second line is the standard line we saw in the past few seasons. Taylor Raddysh moves from the top-six to where he is best suited, in a trio that can score and check. The fourth line is a checking line that can occasionally chip in offensively. 

Jonny Brodzinski and Jusso Parsinnen are the extra forwards. Matt Rempe was moved to LTIR, directly replacing Trocheck in that injury classification. Matthew Robertson is the extra defenseman. The downside of carrying three extra players is the impact to available cap room at the trading deadline. All three would require waivers to be sent down, so unless New York wants to expose one to waivers or moves on from Conor Sheary, as Taylor Raddysh has a two-year deal, this could be the roster for a while.