First Period:
- Vincent Trocheck (8) (Power Play) Assists: Artemi Panarin (9), Adam Fox (6)
Second Period:
- Sam Bennett (4) Assists: Gustav Forsling (7), Sergei Bobrovsky (1)
- Carter Verhaeghe (9) (Power Play) Assists: Matthew Tkachuk (14), Aleksander Barkov (10)
Third Period:
- Alexis Lafreniere (7) Assists: Adam Fox (7), Artemi Panarin (10)
Overtime:
- Sam Reinhart (8) (Power Play) Assists: Aleksander Barkov (11)
Stats:
Adam Rotter:
- What a disappointing final two periods. They don’t deserve to win with how they are playing.
- That first period was the best they’ve played in this series and it seemed like maybe, just maybe, they had figured things out in how to get through Florida and create consistent offense. The PP scored, they hit the crossbar on another and it felt like they had figured that out too.
- Then the second period started and the Panthers just dominated. It was another period, like many already in this series, where the Rangers seemed allergic to the puck. Every time they had it was taken away, a clearing attempt was blocked or a pass was broken up. The Panthers got a couple of bounces and it felt like a one goal lead was going to be insurmountable because the Rangers were never going to get another shot.
- Luckily they made one play in the third period to even give themselves a chance, but it’s just not good enough and it’s not a way you can win. They may not even know who is in goal for Florida since they barely spend time in that zone.
- He came close with a shot off the crossbar, but Mika Zibanejad has mostly been a non-factor. He’s also made terrible decisions with the puck, including on the play that led to the rush where the Panthers eventually won from the PP. Chris Kreider has been a complete non-factor and Artemi Panarin has been just slightly better. Those are the three guys and the Rangers are barely getting anything positive from them. You don’t deserve to win if your best players play like those three have in this series.
- On the other hand, Vincent Trocheck has been terrific, and Alexis Lafreniere continues to generate chances and show his nose for the net. Those two are carrying the team offensively, but it just can’t be them.
- Then there is Igor Shesterkin and a phenomenal performance that was wasted. He just looked locked in, like he was okay trying to win the game 1-0. A couple of bad bounces went against him and, much like the goal that Vincent Trocheck scored on the PP in the first period, Sam Reinhart was basically wide open to score on the winner. He’s the only reason why the Rangers beat Carolina and he’s the only reason why this series didn’t end in a sweep for Florida.
- The first two Florida goals weren’t technically on the PP, but they were just seconds after they ended and so the Rangers essentially gave up 3 PP goals tonight. They got their PP goal and nearly a second, but they also don’t have the puck enough to try and work to draw more penalties.
- They just seem to have so much trouble making and accepting passes. The Panthers don’t so it can’t be the ice, but it just seems like every time the Rangers even try the most basic pass it bounces off or over a stick.
- The Panthers are probably the best team that I’ve ever seen at batting pucks and keeping clearing attempts in the zone. Some of them are weak backhand attempts by the Rangers, but others are really good plays. It’s a big reason why they are able to dominate as much as they can since they can get opportunity after opportunity by keeping the puck in the zone.
- The series is 2-2, but it almost feels over with how Florida dominated these past two games. The series can’t end on Thursday, but if the Rangers don’t put up more of a fight, defend better, and actually try to generate offense then the series will end on Saturday. They have the best goalie in the world and so they have a chance to win this series, but not unless their best forwards start going.