2019-20 Rangers

Sloppy Rangers lose 6-4 to Devils

Posted on by Adam Rotter in 2019-20 Rangers

1st Period:

  • Filip Chytil (14) ASST: Julien Gauthier (3), Adam Fox (30)
  • Kyle Palmieri (24) ASST: Dakota Mermis (2), Damon Severson (22)
  • Mika Zibanejad (39) ASST: Adam Fox (31), Pavel Buchnevich (28)

2nd Period:

  • Kyle Palmieri (25) ASST: Miles Wood (12), Dakota Mermis (3)
  • Fredrik Claesson (1) ASST: Nikita Gusev (31)
  • PPG – Travis Zajac (8) ASST: Nico Hischier (21), P.K. Subban (10)
  • PPG – Travis Zajac (8) ASST: Nico Hischier (21), P.K. Subban (10)

3rd Period:

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  • Greg McKegg (5) ASST: Brendan Smith (5), Pavel Buchnevich (29)
  • EN – Travis Zajac (9)
  • Tony DeAngelo (15) ASST: Greg McKegg (4), Brett Howden (9)

Stats:

Adam Rotter:

  • This was a game that felt much more in-line with how the Rangers played most of the first half of the year. They couldn’t complete passes, turned the puck over constantly, never found a groove defensively and were let down on special teams. The Devils played hard and took advantage of the many opportunities the Rangers gave them. It’s disappointing, not because it’s the Devils or that they are in last place in the Metro, but because the Rangers keep getting in their own way as they try to make the playoffs. This was a night where the Rangers looked like the youngest team in the league and a team with many ways to go defensively.
  • The Rangers had a good first few minutes, grabbed two leads but completely fell apart in the second part and never recovered. Adam Fox had a mixed night with two terrific plays on the first two goals but many struggles defensively and with the puck as the game went on. It’s hard to nitpick Artemi Panarin’s game, but it seems like the cross-ice passes he likes to make just aren’t there as much and leading to broken plays and turnovers.
  • Igor Shesterkin didn’t get a ton of help but he looked, understandably, rusty in his first game back. I’m not sure if the Rangers should have held him out tonight, gave him another practice or two and then started him on the road trip. I’m sure he will return to form as he gets more starts.
  • So the Rangers beat the Caps on Thursday but blew the lead four different times, blew two leads tonight and when you couple that with the 10 goals they allowed in two games against the Flyers last week, the Rangers just aren’t playing well enough defensively.
  • This was another big opportunity for the Rangers to gain ground but couldn’t. They aren’t out of it, they are still only three points out, but they need to play a lot better than they have been. They go out West and play two playoff teams and a team in Arizona that is in the same kind of position they are in. It doesn’t get easier and if the Rangers want to continue to overachieve and make the playoffs, they need to be much stingier defensively and convert on their PP chances.