The New York Rangers play the Vancouver Canucks in game two of New York’s four-game road trip. Captain J.T. Miller faces his former squad tonight. Miller renews his connections with Elias Pettersson. Following today’s contest, games remain versus the Oilers and Kraken.
Slow starts still an issue
Sunday, a slow start – where have we seen that before – had the Rangers behind the eight ball less than two minutes into the game. As Vince Mercogliano wrote in his column today, in 10 games, the Rangers allowed a goal in the first or last two minutes of a contest 10 games. Granted, three of those tallies are empty net markers, but that still means seven goals were surrendered early or late in a contest.
I have had enough with coaches and captains saying the team has to be better and can’t come out slow. No kidding, really, tell me something we don’t already know. Fix it, that’s all that matters. Whatever is needed. There is no rationale reasoning, unless you don’t care or you are not prepared, to come out half asleep.
Rangers Lines
Panarin-Zibanejad-Cuylle
Sheary-Miller-Lafrenière
Pärssinen-Laba-Raddysh
Edström-Carrick-Brodzinski
Gavrikov-Fox
Soucy-Borgen
Vaakanainen-Schneider
Brennan Othmann and Matthew Robertson are coming out. Matt Rempe misses his second straight game due to injury.
Will Cuylle, moved down to the third line, clearly must have learned his lesson, as he is back on the first line. (Sarcasm dripping). Conor Sheary works hard but is vastly miscast on the second line, but with Vincent Trocheck sidelined, few options remain. Alexis Lafreniere, as noted by Mercogliano, has excellent advanced metrics. With the team carrying play while he is on the ice. But the production has not met the process and the effort at time looks lacking.
Jonny Brodzinski comes in for Othmann, who was in for Rempe. Urho Vaakanainen enters for Robertson. Jonathan Quick starts in net with Igor Shesterkin the back up.
PP1: unchanged
PP2: Schneider-Raddysh-Cuylle-Sheary-Brodzinski (if this excites you, I have a bridge on Brooklyn I want to sell you)
Coach Mike Sullivan on the decision to sit Othmann
All that Sullivan said is accurate. Of course, each aspect applies to the rest of the team, who certainly don’t meet all of the criteria. There is a benefit to playing through mistakes as a way to learn. In addition, providing a young player, even one whose value in the organization has dropped, a true opportunity is key. Sitting him sends the message that the dye on Othmann has been fully cast, further reducing any trade value he had.
Sullivan on the decision to sit Robertson
I have less of an issue here even though I may not fully agree with what Sullivan said. Robertson play has tailed off a little, though I don’t agree he will learn from sitting in the press box. He is a better option than Urho Vaakanainen, he is worth more of a look than playing Carson Soucy, as we know what he is. Let him play and see what he can be.
Rempe and Trocheck updates
Rempe is going to be out “longer term,” per Sullivan.
Trocheck resumed skating for the first time yesterday, and skated again today.
Good news, bad news. I am actually annoyed at Rempe. As I said during and after the game, no rational reason existed for his fight with Ryan Reaves, especially since it was pre-determined. He finally was in a position to receive more minutes and responsibility and he threw it away. A silly decision and now he has to sit.
New York really misses Trocheck. The hope is he is back when first eligible. Trocheck lengthens the lineup and allows the team to have a viable top six.
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