The New York Rangers got “goalied”. Usually, New York is on the other side of the equation, using that verb to describe a win over an opponent where they were outplayed. Sunday, Charlie Lindgren did to the Blueshirts what Igor Shesterkin (and in the past, Henrik Lundqvist) has done to so many others. Washington eked out a 1-0 win over New York.
Shorthanded roster
New York is a bit shorthanded. Vincent Trocheck is week-to-week. Carson Soucy was injured Saturday and missed yesterday’s game. The Rangers called up Connor Mackey to give the team another blueliner with his call up salary related, since his cap hit – and not Scott Morrow’s – could fit in the room remaining. The argument that New York should not have been carrying two extra forwards in Jusso Parssinen, who played Saturday and sat Sunday, and Jonny Brodzinski, who was inserted into the lineup Sunday, eating up valuable cap space, is valid. Mackey is the seventh d-man with Matthew Robertson stepping into the lineup.
White the advanced metrics do not reflect this, I thought Matthew Robertson was solid. He was physical throughout the contest while also playing a little bit conservatively – and nervously – especially initially. He settled in as the game wore on, making more plays while looking less jittery on the ice. In fact, he played nearly four minutes more and saw five additional shifts than Urho Vaakanainen, which is somewhat telling and an area to watch moving forward.
Rangers had a good process, but no finish
One of the comments post-game on the lovely Twitter sphere was that this game showed that the Rangers have no scoring touch. Ironic that this response came the day after the team posted six goals. New York will at times struggle to score. Would it be any different if either or both Chris Kreider and/or Kaapo Kakko were still here? Almost impossible to say/ Lindgren saved just under four goals above expected goal output, He stoned Mika Zibanejad twice, the glove save he made on the 2-on-1 a spectacular stop, and JT MIller once. If the narrative is going to be that they can’t score, this will be an interesting season.
A possible factor in the shutout is that Lindgren is a right-handed catcher. Most goalies in the league, including Saturday night, have their blocker on the right hand and glove on the left. Lindgren is the reverse, which is a hard change to remember after playing the night before. That takes nothing away from Lindgren who was brilliant.
Other Rangers takeaways:
- This may have been Miller’s best game. The injury he had in training camp looks to have fully healed and he was all over the place. The Cuylle-Miller-Sheary line was dominant.
- Artemi Panaron has yet to find his form. I am not sure if it’s because he is trying to be more defensively responsible or if he still has the lingering effects of his injury from training camp or if it’s just a slow start. Whatever the reason, he is off to a slow start and doesn’t look the same
- Coach Mike Sullivan appears to have gained trust in the fourth line. Adam Edstrom-Sam Carrick-Matt Rempe were on late in the game and saw constant shifts in the third period; an event we are not used to seeing. They deserved the time and good that they were rewarded.
- If New York plays like this, they will win lots of games. Defensively, they were solid. Offensively, they generated lots of chances, including several high-danger and quality ones. Other than the end result, it is hard to find fault in anything yesterday.
I am out of pocket for the next two days. Carry on without me against Edmonton, which is another step up in class, and I will be back for the Toronto game. The Blueshirts have a tough four-game stretch upcoming, facing the Oilers at home, Maple Leafs and Wild on the road, and then Wild at home. This will give us a good look at what this is and needs.
Anyone else have problems with this site loading? Last few days/week I haven’t been on bc the pages wouldn’t load for me.
We have periodically still had problems with it. It’s being discussed internally.
Thanks for the response
The pop ups are annoying. I’m getting the hang of this site at least.
I think I’m comfortable saying this team is different than last year, and by miles. Goals may be hard to come by, but they will prevent way more goals allowed this year.
I really would like to see Perrault play in the top 6 (nothing against Shesty) just for a shot in the arm offensively. Idk when that will happen but I suppose since it’s early in the season it won’t happen just yet.
Laba is a god send. This kid is mature already playing important minutes where Trocheck would be. Hopefully he will make up for the draft picks like Kravtsov and Kakko down the road. Kind of a bonus draft pick is what I mean
When we get a few more content sponsors (or when our ad auction servicer produces revenue), the Google ad popups will go away. I hate them.
Panarin looks toast and our lack of top end talent is really hurting us. Move Mika away from Panarin and back to millers wing, laba to 2c, 3rd line JBrod, Raddysh, Sheary.
Call up morrow and Perrault
Ah yes.. once again getting goalied…
At this point, its not getting goalied… you dont get goalied by Skinner, our offense is trash.
Yeah there was sarcasm in my original post
how do you get shutout 3 of 5 games to start the year. good lord.
3 home shutouts to begin the year is a new NHL record.
Morrow recalled. My prophecy is half complete