First Period:
- Andrei Svechnikov (21) Assists: Mark Jankowski (8)
Second Period:
Third Period:
- Jordan Staal (15) (Empty Net) Assists: Nikolaj Ehlers (29), Jackson Blake (17)
Stats:
Adam Rotter:
- It just felt like they were never in the game and never really had a chance. Carolina played like Carolina and the Rangers have/had no answers or way to combat it.
- Jonathan Quick was great tonight after being iffy at times, albeit with a more than iffy defense in front of him, since he became the starter. The losing certainly isn’t on him and tonight he was the only reason the score was even close.
- Vincent Iorio made his debut and a couple of nice plays but his presence takes Scott Morrow out of the lineup. Morrow certainly deserved to come out of the lineup based on his play and decision making. He should be sent to Hartford to keep playing and the same goes for Brennan Othmann who was also scratched. Othmann hasn’t done anything to distinguish himself or build off finally scoring a goal but there is just no reason that Jonny Brodzinski or Anton Blidh should play ahead of him. The same goes for if/when Conor Sheary returns. A game here and there is fine for them to watch and hopefully learn, but there is no reason those guys shouldn’t be in the lineup most nights. They aren’t likely to win with the veteran players so go with the youth and hope that this experience is something they can build on for the future.
- So the Rangers head into this Olympic break about as down as they can be.They look listless and play from the drop of the puck like they are already down 2-0. The coaches, leadership group and players all share in that. A returning Adam Fox after the break and possible return of Igor Shesterkin, will help but more trades are coming that will further decimate the roster. It’s going to stay ugly when they come back from the break and the focus, at least from the fans, will be staying toward the bottom of the standings.
- JT Miller and Vincent Trocheck will have bottom-six/spare forward roles for Mike Sullivan and Team USA and Mika Zibanejad should have a big role for Sweden. I remember hoping at the start of the year that Miller and Trocheck wouldn’t make Team USA so they could use the break to recharge for the playoffs. Didn’t exactly work out that way and it seems more than likely that Trocheck won’t be a Ranger for much longer after the break.
- They return on 2/26 against Philly.