First Period:
- Barclay Goodrow (10) Assists: Ryan Strome (24), Jacob Trouba (14)
- Chris Kreider (31) Assists: Mika Zibanejad (28), Jacob Trouba (15)
Second Period:
- Kevin Fiala (12) Assists: Jordie Benn (3), Ryan Hartman (15)
- Mats Zuccarello (13) (Power Play) Assists: Kirill Kaprizov (33), Matt Boldy (4)
Third Period:
- Frederick Gaudreau (3) Assists: Mats Zuccarello (27), Kevin Fiala (19)
Stats:
Adam Rotter:
- On the almost tying goal…I don’t know. I heard the whistle blow and thought that would be the call, but then the initial mention of Talbot being pushed in didn’t jive with the replay, but it did look like Strome’s sticks pushed Talbot’s pad into the net and the puck followed into that open space. It took a bunch of replays for that to be deciphered and that technically is goalie interference.
- As for the game overall:
- Except for a few things (jersey color, venue, and opponent) it wouldn’t be a shock to think that you were watching a replay of last night.
- For the second straight night, the Rangers had a pretty good first period and scored twice and for the second straight night they were badly outplayed in the second period and while they had a bit of a push last night in the third, that push wasn’t really there tonight.
- It’s a very disappointing back-to-back set, not just because they lost both games but how they lost. They certainly came close to tying it, but they for the second straight night they got what they deserved and came away with no points.
- Minnesota took it to the Rangers in the final 40 minutes, they were faster, won every loose puck, every puck battle and ultimately struggled, again, against a very good team. Unlike the possible feeling against Columbus that scoring early could lead to a rout and they could take it easy, Minnesota is really good and they were going to have to keep playing to beat them and win, but they didn’t.
- It sure seems like the Rangers are only capable of playing about 25-30 minutes a night. Last week it was terrible first half of the game and then a rebound and these last two games have been strong starts and terrible middles and ends. The idea of playing great for 60 minutes is probably a myth, but you should be able to be pretty good for 50-60 minutes and the Rangers haven’t had many games like that. They often swing from the end of playing poorly to playing great and vice versa with no middle of just being good for a long stretch. When they win the special teams battle and their goalies are strong they can usually win a game where they swing from one to the other, but when that doesn’t happen they usually get what they deserve.
- The ceremony for Henrik Lundqvist was great and very enjoyable to watch. There was a time 8-9-10 years ago where you could see Lundqvist’s number being retired along with some combination of McDonagh/Staal/Girardi and Stepan/Nash/Richards, but ultimately he is the only one of that core to get the honor. The Rangers certainly have a core of Zibanejad/Panarin/Kreider/Fox/Shesterkin that could all have the same chance if they continue on their paths and someday, hopefully, raise a Stanley Cup banner first.
- It’s Seattle on Sunday and then the Panthers on Tuesday before a break that the Rangers certainly need for injury purposes (Fox, Kaakko, Chytil) and maybe a reset if they can’t string together good games heading into their time off.