Right back where we started as the series now turns into a best of three while we get ready for tonight’s puck drop for a massive Game 5. Both teams had the benefit of an extra day off between Games 4 and 5 and there’s no doubt that the Rangers needed it after that last showing. The Rangers are coming off their worst performance of the postseason but the fact of the matter is, that game is ancient history. After most bad games, you often hear the saying “burn the tape” but in this case, a lot of guys in that room needed to spend some time with Head Video Coordinator Kyle Smith. Nevertheless, as the team rises this morning, not a single thought should be wasted on the previous games as all the focus needs to be on playing the game the right way to win the next couple games.
One of the biggest questions going into Game 5 is regarding whether or not Gerard Gallant and his coaching staff will make any changes to the Rangers lineup. While he spent the majority of the season reverting to the blender any chance he got, there are now some bigger things to consider as the lines that have been pretty set in stone as of late, are that way for a reason. If Gallant was to make any changes it would stem around breaking up the Kid Line, likely moving Kaapo Kakko to the right side of Zibanejad and Kreider and putting Patrick Kane with Lafreniere and Chytil. The concern with that is how the Kid Line has been a driving force for this Rangers team and frankly, one of their most effective lines while some of these top players struggle. However, the more thought that goes into it, the more this change could make sense in an attempt to get a jolt from some of those top players.
Kaapo Kakko has kind of flown under the radar as one of the Rangers most impressive players throughout the first four games of the series. Putting him on that line with Zibanejad and Kreider could very well spark that line which for the team’s number one center, could quite possibly benefit from. There’s no doubt Zibanejad has been among one of the main culprits taking the heat that came along with the Rangers dropping the last two games. Aside from an assist earlier in the series, he and Panarin have been playing at a level nowhere near where they need to be playing. There’s no question they have to be difference makers tonight and with the extra day off, you have to hope they’ve had some time to get it figured out.
Gallant did note that he isn’t planning on making any personnel changes to the power play units and the language he uses there is important. By not making any personnel changes, he’s indicating that the same five guys will compose those units. However, that doesn’t mean that they would make adjustments and use guys in different spots which can be a difference maker in getting the Rangers power play going again. After yesterday’s practice, there were reports that the Rangers were putting Mika back in his usual spot that he’s otherwise vacated throughout the series, leaving Kreider in front, Fox at the point, Panarin on the right and Kane down low. It’s kind of a no-brainer to look to get Zibanejad back in his sweet spot as he hasn’t really been there all series and through a two game slump, something needs to change.
Aside from that, they practiced with the same lines they’ve been rolling as of late so I wouldn’t really expect any changes to start:
Kreider - Zibanejad - Kane
Panarin - Trocheck - Tarasenko
Lafreniere - Chytil - Kakko
Vesey - Goodrow - Motte
Lindgren - Fox
Miller - Trouba
Mikkola - Schneider
At the same time, you can never be sure with Gallant and if things don’t get off to a good start I would hope and expect that he would start to mix things up. Although as down as we’ve been as fans following these two losses, things really aren’t as bad as they seem which brings me to the point I wanted to close with today:
The Rangers go into Newark for Game 5 with the series tied at two. That may not sound ideal but it’s worth realizing that the Rangers have been playing far from their best kind of play and the Devils still had to take them to overtime and excluding empty netters, only beat the Rangers by one. Like I said at the top, with it now being a best of three, it’s essentially a whole new series and could be anyone's for the taking. The key takeaway here is that the Rangers need more from their top players and if they are able to get that, it’s hard not to have confidence in this group. Getting off to a strong start and doing the little things right are going to be difference makers tonight. You can’t risk the turnovers, or the icings, or any of the little things that result in chances for the Devils. For as high of an expectation we have for the Rangers, the Devils are a good team therefore the Rangers need to come out with some jump tonight. Play hard, play the body and buckle down on face-offs as best you can. This game is going to be an integral story to this entire series so if the Rangers want it, they need to bring it tonight. We know what this team is capable of and for that, we have to believe in this group. LETS GO RANGERS!
Chris Feldman
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