Okay, today's piece is going to be a slight overreaction, part irrational and part rationale, let's start with the irrational. This had to be one of the most embarrassing New York Rangers hockey games I've seen in a long time. We all knew the stakes going into it, the odds were not in our favor so the only way we were going to win this game was with heart, tenacity and old school back-check fore-check hockey. Get pucks on net, get bodies in front, garbage goals are pretty goals in games like this. The Rangers did NONE of this.
They had the right idea, starting the fourth line in hopes of getting the energy going early but with several early whistles, the momentum failed to build and the Rangers weren't doing anything about it. On top of that, Artemi Panarin took an early penalty giving the Islanders a power play, not what you want to happen. The Rangers killed it and had their first of many chances for a momentum change but failed to do anything about it. The Islanders continued to pile on the scoring chances and about six and a half minutes in, Leo Komarov, who hasn't scored all season found the back of the net, 1-0.
About four minutes later, Pavel Buchnevich took a trip to the penalty box that would result in an Islanders power play goal by Oliver Wahlstrom, 2-0. This was not the game to take penalties and the Islanders showed it there. The Rangers continued to struggle to get anything going and we would head to the second period down 2-0. I don't know what was said if anything in the locker room but it clearly didn't do anything for this team as just over a minute into the second Anthony Beauvillier scored to make it 3-0. If it wasn't already (which it was) NOW is the time for desperation hockey.
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. The Rangers failed to get ANYTHING going showing no sense of urgency and barely getting any scoring chances. For whatever reason Semyon Varlamov plays very well against the Rangers so you're not going to beat him up close or with point blank shots. You had to get sticks and bodies in front, deflections, rebounds, screens are your best chance and this team just simply did not play that game. David Quinn made the right decision to pull Igor for the extra attacker on a Rangers power play with a little under eight minutes to go. However the Rangers of course had nothing to show for and Mathew Barzal came out of the box and put the dagger in our backs and I along with Rangers fans around the world, turned the game off.
Okay, now for some reason and rationale. Realistically, the Rangers had no business winning this game. Chris Kreider was listed as a game time decision and ended up unavailable for tonight's game to be replaced with Phil Di Giuseppe. Jacob Trouba remained out as well with his upper body injury from the last game against the Islanders. These are two guys you need in a game like this, especially when you're team is filled with young guys. However, that can't be an excuse, the team needs to hold themselves accountable and their performance in a must win game was unacceptable and certainly shows what this team needs to improve going into next season.
Don't get me wrong, the amount of young talent we have is outstanding and I am all for the kids playing, especially now that our playoff hopes are essentially crushed. However, when it comes to the off season and going into new year, there are A LOT of things that need to be addressed. This team needs to add some size, grit and experience to this team. I'm sorry, I know we all have to be sick of beating the dead horse that is Brett Howden but Howden, Rooney, PDG and Kravtsov are not fourth line guys and Kravtsov excluded, are not guys that are going to help this team compete.
The reason the Islanders are so successful is balance within their line up and their fourth line is a big part of it. Guys like Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck, the Rangers need guys like this. Tough, gritty, grinder type forwards who are just as comfortable dropping the gloves as they are with the puck. Fighting doesn't win us that game last night but dropping the gloves after that third goal definitely would've been better than whatever it was that we attempted to get ourselves back in the game. Obviously the big thing is going to be improving our center depth, potentially making a move for Eichel and that's all well and good but look at every team that has won the cup in the last two decades. The guys on the fourth line become a big part of those teams success and the Rangers need to improve their if they want to compete.
*sigh* Like I said, the sad hard cold reality of the situation is our chances of winning this game let alone winning out and making a run were so slim. In a normal season, things would be way different. We would just be heating up and there's not a doubt in my mind we would make playoffs, especially since with the new divisions only four teams make it and the best teams in the league are apparently all on the east coast. Looking at the big picture, there is nothing to be ashamed about with this team but it's real tough to remind ourselves after a game like that. The Rangers are back at it tomorrow against the Islanders and the focus should switch from competing to giving all the kids a look but more on that tomorrow.
Chris Feldman
Comments