Recap: Rangers Fall 6-3 to Winnipeg

 The Rangers had their work cut out for them as they took on a 14-1 Winnipeg Jets team and fell short despite an improved all-around effort from their last two outings. Their defensive mistakes continued to cost them as some of their most important pieces were dash 3's and 4's on the scoresheet with the power play running Luke warm at best. While it was far from an ideal outcome, there were some steps in the right direction but in the end, the Jets continue to build on their historic start to the season at the Rangers expense.

1st Period:

The Rangers had a fantastic opening shift with Chris Kreider ripping a shot off the post that led to a flurry of chances, testing Connor Hellebuyck early. Then the play went the other way and everything fell apart. A bad giveaway by Mika Zibanejad became Josh Morrissey’s puck that he dished ahead to Mark Scheifele. Winnipeg’s top centerman was all alone in front of Igor Shesterkin and fired a quick shot right past him to make it a 1-0 game just 54 seconds in.

Through the majority of the game's first ten minutes, it was the same song and dance for the Rangers. Turnovers, lack of proactive puck management and support from all five players on the ice. For as good of a team Winnipeg is, the Rangers were really their own worst enemy in these situations as they weren’t overly pressured yet continued to make blind passes to no one, seeming completely out of sync with each other. 

Just prior to the first TV-timeout of the broadcast about eight minutes in, Josh Morrissey was called for the first penalty of the night as he got the stick up high on Sam Carrick.The two minute man-advantage came and went rather quickly with the Rangers giving the puck away at Winnipeg’s blueline twice while attempting to orchestrate their power play set up. 

When things aren’t going right in the game of hockey, there are two relatively simple things you can do to try and get things going: Throw the puck to the net any chance you get, and drive the net every chance you get. The Rangers did both of those things with seven minutes to go in the first to tie the game up 1-1. Braden Schneider let a long shot go from the point that created a picture perfect rebound for Will Cuylle who was parked right in front of Hellebuyck’s crease. Cuylle barely even had to move his hands to send the puck to the back of the net. 

Not long after the Rangers tied things up, they took their first penalty of the night as Vincent Trocheck was called for holding. Continuing their strong run of killing penalties, Adam Fox nearly had a shorthanded goal as Sam Carrick found him breaking through to the slot that required a poised save from Hellebuyck. The Rangers held Winnipeg shotless through their first power play opportunity of the night. 

The Panarin - Zibanejad - Lafrenière line closed out the period with probably their best shift since becoming a line as Zibanejad made a great play to get Panarin the puck, setting up Lafrenière at the doorstep perfectly. Unfortunately, Lafrenière wouldn’t beat the post as time ticked down and brought the teams to the first intermission. Shots were 11-10 in favor of the Rangers who were also ahead in hits, expected goals for and won 75% of the face-offs. Attempts and high danger chances were tied just as the score was in what was generally speaking, a better period for the Rangers despite the atrocious first goal. 

2nd Period:

A bit of a weird moment early in the second following a scoring chance from Winnipeg’s Kyle Connor. As the team’s were preparing for the face-off, Mika Zibanejad was helped off the ice and eventually to the Rangers locker room as he appeared to be in a great deal of discomfort. This briefly took the wind out of the sails of the game for the Rangers but a 4-on-2 odd-man rush resulted in a good passing play to set up Artemiy Panarin for a shot that generated another strong flurry of chances. 

About six minutes in, Zibanejad rejoined the Rangers bench which was an encouraging sight yet the Rangers were going to be shorthanded for the second time as Will Cuylle was called for holding. Zibanejad took his first shift back to begin the penalty kill, winning the face-off to clear the zone for a good start. Reilly Smith nearly scored on a shorthanded chance but a bit of a defensive collapse mixed with a bouncing puck resulted in a Winnipeg power play goal as Gabe Vilardi and Nikolaj Ehlers went back and forth to put the puck in the back of the net, 2-1 Jets. 

Wouldn’t take long for the tide to turn as Kyle Connor tripped Artemiy Panarin to give the Rangers their second power play chance of the night. Just as Winnipeg did, the Rangers would capitalize this time around and while he wouldn’t get credit for the goal, it was Kreider’s net front presence playing a huge role on the game tying goal. After creating a strong scoring chance on an impressive redirect, Kreider remained planted in front of Hellebuyck. As Alexis Lafrenière jumped on for Zibanejad, it was Fox feeding him for the shot that went through Kreider’s screen to beat Hellebuyck to tie the game up 2-2. It’s almost like good things happen when Lafrenière gets time on the top power play unit.

This created some momentum for the Rangers but it wasn’t long before a fanned shot by Zibanejad became another turnover that sent Kyle Connor in on Shesterkin. A quick shot by the speedy winger beat Igor short side to regain the lead, now 3-2. The Rangers were given a close to immediate chance to tie it up again as the Jets were called for too-many men on the ice but couldn’t convert on the power play this time around. 

That about did it for the second as the Rangers continued to out-shoot Winnipeg 28-21 despite trailing in the game 3-2. The teams were neck and neck in both scoring chances and high danger chances as this one was still up for grabs heading into the final intermission.

3rd Period:

It would be an eventful start to the third period with a pair of goals from either side. First it was Winnipeg with Mark Scheifele picking up his second of the night on yet another turnover from Mika Zibanejad as Scheifele lifted his stick to pickpocket him. Just a brutal night for 93 in blue, I’m not sure what’s going on with Zibanejad, if there’s something going on with him where he isn’t 100% healthy but three blatant turnovers that resulted in just as many goals from the opposing team is quite concerning. 

On the brightside, it only took the Rangers 32 seconds to answer as Kaapo Kakko was right at the doorstep to jam home a rebound following an outstanding zone entry from Chytil and Cuylle. That line continues to be such a bright spot for the Rangers through the start of this season. 

Some back and forth involved a strong effort from Shesterkin and aggressive offensive pushes from the Rangers. Alas, another odd-man rush resulted in former friend Vlad Namestnikov wrapping the puck around into a wide open net following the attempted save from Igor on the 2-on-1. For as much criticism Mika Zibanejad will get from this game, K'Andre Miller had an equally brutal night becoming a -4 as a result of the fifth goal.

The Rangers got another gift of a power play as Dylan Samberg was called for interference with roughly six minutes left. Another power play chance came and went as the Rangers couldn't convert. They pulled Shesterkin with a minute or so left and Kyle Connor put a bow on things with the empty net goal to make it a 6-3 game. It was close until it wasn't and even though Winnipeg has only lost one game all season, it can't sit well with this Rangers team who continues to have such noticeable defensive struggles.

Final tally for shots on goal would be 37-33 in favor of the Rangers. They'll be back at it on home ice Thursday Night as they host the San Jose Sharks before setting off on a four game road trip through Seattle and Western Canada.