First Period:
- J.T. Miller (5) (Power Play) Assists: Mika Zibanejad (6), Adam Fox (14)
- Nathan MacKinnon (15) Assists: Martin Necas (13), Samuel Girard (2)
Second Period:
- Adam Edstrom (1) Assists: Sam Carrick (5), Braden Schneider (4)
- Cale Makar (7) Assists: Martin Necas (14), Nathan MacKinnon (20)
Third Period:
- Brock Nelson (6) (Power Play) Assists: Sam Malinski (10), Scott Wedgewood (1)
- J.T. Miller (6) (Power Play) Assists: Adam Fox (15), Mika Zibanejad (7)
- Nathan MacKinnon (16) Assists: Cale Makar (20), Martin Necas (15)
- Cale Makar (8) (Empty Net) Assists: Jack Drury (5)
- Ross Colton (4) (Empty Net) Assists: Brock Nelson (5)
Stats:
Adam Rotter:
- The second straight game for the Rangers where they face a top team in the West and show how much of a gap there is between where Vegas and the Avs are and where the Rangers are.
- Offensively the Rangers did score three goals, two on the PP, but Colorado had the puck and possession all night. The Rangers kept it close for a while but it was a killer when the Rangers worked so hard to tie the game at 3 and then Colorado scored to take back the lead just seconds later.
- JT Miller, after a shoddy game in Vegas, had two PP goals, but his new line with Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin were a minus-4. Two of that minus four were empty netters, but still.
- After Miller was criticized for his play on Tuesday, Panarin is the one criticized after mistakes that he made led to Colorado goals. Panarin’s see-saw season continues as does the question of whether the Rangers should a) re-sign him and b) for how long. If the Rangers were to let Panarin leave, or ask him to waive his no-move clause to move at the deadline, then, a team already struggling to create offense, would be in an even bigger hole. Gabe Perreault could fill some of that, as would the likely pursuit of Sabres forward Alex Tuch in free agency, but the Rangers would still be losing a player, even at his age, that would be their best playmaker.
- Igor Shesterkin has not found his consistency yet. He still makes a number of excellent saves but also seems to be over-committing at times or overplaying shots and putting himself out of position. The Rangers have generally been strong enough defensively that they haven’t needed him to be spectacular, but he needs to be more consistent and stop those 1-2 extra goals per night.
- If the Rangers struggle again tomorrow against Utah then I would think we may see some other changes. I like Scott Morrow being around and if he plays in two out of every three games then I think it’s worth it. Gabe Perreault could get called back up, Brennan Othmann could get called back up, maybe Brett Berard gets a look. Something will need to change if the Rangers struggle again tomorrow and at the moment it seems like the only moves they can make are via call up.