Rangers Vs. Lightning: Last Minute Letdown
- I know the Rangers lost, but I really don’t think they played a terrible game. Most of the first half of this year (and basically all of last year) the Rangers won a ton of games by getting out-shot, out-chanced and hunkering down while making the most of their rare opportunities. Shots on net were 13-3 in the first and it was 1-1. The Rangers allowed the Lightning to even things out from there but in terms of pure possession and expected goals they dominated. Just not their night.
- This offense does have their chances, but they aren’t executing well at the moment. It’s been that way for a while, actually. At this point it’s not even injuries, since Jesper Fast wasn’t exactly a main source of offense.
- The Rangers do need to do a better job hitting the net. Pavel Buchnevich (who otherwise I though was fantastic) missed two of them, the second of which caused him to go to the bench and look like his feet were on fire. Poor Buch (who I really do think is playing for his lineup life with Tanner Glass).
- The power play is still a problem and will most likely be a problem until the Rangers get some defensive help there (this summer). They didn’t look awful, don’t get me wrong, but there’s no real execution to the man advantage right now.
- Antti Raanta played a solid game, I thought. His .813 SV% looks bad because the Lightning took just 16 shots, but I’m not sure there was much he could have done about any of them. However I’m sure Henrik Lundqvist would have been blamed for all three.
- Wasn’t in love with the Ryan McDonagh - Marc Staal thing. Staal got burned hard on the first goal against and McDonagh featuring the fourth line got killed on the eventual game-winner.
- To my point: You win and lose on a razor’s edge. You can rationalize decisions all you want but it doesn’t change that you win and lose by the finest or margins. So when you make decisions long-term it should be with that in mind. Or at least that’s how I’d do things.
- Steven Kampfer is having a wonderful week and a half, but let’s not get carried away. I’m glad he’s doing well, but I’d still prefer to see Adam Clendening out there and if Kampfer is playing in the playoffs something is wrong. Of course he scored, so uh, he’s the greatest defenseman of all time. At least for a night.
- Michael Grabner seems to be working his way out of his own little funk. That steal/goal was spectacular to watch. Glad he’s back.
- Brady Skjei coming in hot with the 80% corsi! And he’s getting top line PP time, too! Woo!
- Loved the game from Chris Kreider, Mats Zuccarello and Satan/Derek Stepan.
- Thoughts on this? /
