For the 12th time this season, The New York Rangers fall short by a goal and just like that are back to a .500 record. In what started out as a pretty good game, the Rangers were inches possibly even centimetres away from striking first off a Zibanejad back hander from behind the net that hit Tj Oshie in the face and Orlov kept out with the blade of his stick just in the nick of time. The puck did not completely cross the line and play continued.
The score remained 0-0 going into the second period and would stay that way for the first half of the game. Almost 11 minues in, Tom Wilson would score his first of two backhand goals about four minutes apart from each other. His pair of goals interrupted by an Alex Ovechkin wrist shot, heading into the third period down 3-0, three goals that came very quickly. Evgeny Kuznetsov would add to the pain five minutes into the third with a goal to make it 4-0. It was not looking good for the Blueshirts, not at all.
Colin Blackwell changed the pace of this game, scoring two goals about three minutes apart from each other. Not a bad showing on your 28th birthday in what has been a career year for the St. John's Prep product. Unfortunately, Washington wasn't going anywhere and Tj Oshie would score on a tip in about two minutes later, 5-3 bad guys. One bright side to come from this game was Alexis Lafreniere getting back on the score board picking up a Julien Gauthier rebound. With four minutes to go, Chris Kreider would do what he does best, deflecting a puck into the back of the net on the power play, bringing the Rangers within one.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe the Rangers have executed once when pulling the goalie for the extra attacker this season and quite frankly, can't remember the last time they've forced overtime from an exciting last minute play to tie a game up. Is this a major problem for them? I mean, maybe. Again, if this team wants to compete and make a playoff push it's little things like that they need to figure out. Yesterday's effort was slightly better than it was against Philly but it seems whenever the game is on the line in the final minute, we just forget how to play hockey or resort to dump and chase hockey. Not what you want to be doing when it matters most.
Now lets talk about the obvious, David Quinn returns to the bench and fans aren't happy. Alexis Lafreniere's ice time remains low, was starting Kinkaid the right idea, is David Quinn making the right decisions, what's going on? There's a lot to talk about here and for starters, Lafreniere's lack of ice time is certainly concerning. However. That is bound to happen when you have Panarin and Kreider above him in the depth charts. If Blackwell was still on the second line I could see cause for concern but Kakko is getting that opportunity in the top 6. Unfortunately, there is really no spot in the top six for Lafreniere right now. Long Term? Yes, Kreider will most likely become a third line veteran guy but for the now, you can't say otherwise, Kreider is leading our team in goals.
As for Kinkaid, Quinn made the right decision. It was a big game as far as the standings go and we needed a win. Kinkaid beat Washington very recently, Georgiev did not. Georgiev is just coming off a shakey stretch of games and is just getting his confidence back. This was a circumstantial start for Kinkaid and quite frankly, probably his last as if he plays anymore he will need to go through waivers to go back to the taxi squad. Going forward, expect Sheshterkin to play the majority of the remaining games with Georgiev getting the nod every once in a while. Barring injuries, COVID protocols or a trade, don't expect to see Kinkaid get any more starts.
It is very valid to be doubting David Quinn at this point but for the most part, he is making the right decisions. I think his biggest flaw is when he panic changes the lines and doesn't trust his process. Kris Knoblauch brushed off his role in the teams recent success by saying something along the lines of how he just rolls the lines and plays the systems he's told. Well that's exactly why the team did better, he rolled the lines. David Quinn needs to trust that more, to an extent. Obviously you don't want Brendan Lemieux leading your rush in the last minute and a half when you're trying to pull the goalie down by one but quick changes, running your lines lessens the chances that two periods go by and your first overall draft pick only has four minutes of ice time. Which even when Quinn was out, this problem occurred.
The Rangers take a lot of penalties which is very unfortunate it itself but Lafreniere isn't going to be killing penalties, at least not any time soon. This plays a huge role in why his ice time is often times limited. On paper, it is a problem that after two periods he only had four and a half minutes of ice time and it's something Quinn should be cognizant of but it's not as dramatic as some are making it out to be. Maybe double shift him once a game for a shift with Zibanejad and Buchnevich, give him a look on the power play but in time, this won't be as big an issue.
I do think Quinn needs to be evaluated but it's not going to happen until after the season, as it should. Unless the players themselves see a major issue or flaw with his systems, there shouldn't be any reason to be up in arms. The Rangers are back at it against Washington on Tuesday, look for Sheshterkin to get back in net and look for the Rangers to get back on track. We're approaching the final month of the season, the trade deadline is about two weeks away, it's time to get going.
Chris Feldman
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