Recap: Rangers Have No Magic for Sam & JD, Fall 8-5 to Flyers

It was a special night for Rangers fans for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with the on ice product. For the first time in almost 20 years, Sam Rosen was rejoined in the broadcast booth by his right hand man of 20 years, John Davidson. 

As for the game itself, well, what did you expect? The Rangers did exactly what they've done all season long; Failed to rise to the occasion and let the fans down in the process. Down to just about their final chance regarding the playoff chase they let another winnable game slip from their hands. Here's how we got here:

1st Period: 

An exciting start at the World’s Most Famous as Mika Zibanejad was slashed on a breakaway just 75 seconds into the game. This gave the Rangers a rare penalty shot but much like how the season overall has gone, it was a great opportunity that became a big miss. Zibanejad ended up shooting the puck just wide of the net on the glove side of Aleksei Kolosov.  

Just a couple of minutes later, the Flyers had their first best chance of the night as Matvei Michkov set up a beautiful passing play for Sean Couturier to find Travis Konecny at the doorstep. Jonathan Quick read the play perfectly and made a beautiful glove save to keep the Flyers off the board. 

Not long after that the Rangers got the first power play of the game as Zac Jones was tripped behind his team’s net. The Rangers kicked off the advantage by allowing Ryan Poehling a golden opportunity to convert on a breakaway but sent it just off of Quick as well as the crossbar. Another atrocious showing from the Rangers on the power play units as they failed to generate possession in the offensive zone let alone any shots on goal. 

Soon after returning to even strength, it was the Rangers turn to sit as they took yet another too-many men penalty. Thankfully, the Rangers are a bit better on this side of special teams and just as the power play was coming to an end, they found a way to convert. Zibanejad made a great play to send Vincent Trocheck on a breakaway where he pulled off a beautiful forehand-fake-to-backhand that sailed high past Kolosov to make it a 1-0 game. 

Jonathan Quick would pick up the secondary assist on the goal as he sent it up to Zibanejad who caught the pass along the half-wall. His first assist of the season, 22nd of his career which is the most amongst active goaltenders. 

Things would slow down a bit from there but overall, there was at the very least, a much better pace to this game. Something that has sorely been missing in Rangers games as of late. After an even start, the Rangers took the slight advantage towards the end and went into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead. Shots after twenty were 12-5 with high danger chances 5-2 both in New York’s favor. 

2nd Period:

The Flyers came out with some jump to start the second but after a while, the Rangers got back to their game. It was a pretty low event first half of the period but certainly picked back up as it went on. Nearing the midway point of the period, Sam mentioned on the broadcast that Artemi Panarin was headed to the Rangers locker room with an ice pack. A replay later showed that he took a hard shot right to the face along the neutral zone. Immediately after that happened, a clean shot from Tyson Foerster beat Quick on the glove side to tie the game up 1-1. 

With just under eight minutes to go in the period, Jacob Pelletier was called for high-sticking Urho Vaakanainen to send the Rangers back to the power play. The Rangers had better possession the second time around but again, came out of it with nothing to show for. With Panarin still not on the bench, Chris Kreider returned to his usual net front presence on the top unit. 

Shortly after the team’s returned to even strength, Zibanejad had another chance at a breakaway but Nick Seeler slowed him down and took him down with the glove which earned him two minutes for holding. Back to the power play the Rangers went and this time, with Panarin back in the mix. Although less than 30 seconds in, a Trocheck turnover in the neutral zone allowed for Garnet Hathaway to get a shot on goal that took a weird bounce off Quick to give the Flyers a 2-1 lead. 

With about a minute and a half still remaining on the man advantage, the Rangers failed to generate much of anything but would find a way to tie the game soon enough. As the teams returned to even strength, Panarin entered the offensive zone with great speed, picked up a drop pass from Zibanejad and made an outstanding push to the net to beat Kolosov with a slick backhander, 2-2 game. 

That goal not only comes as Panarin’s 35th of the season, but the 300th of his career. Not bad for an undrafted player. That would about do it for the second as the score was locked at a 2-2 tie. Shots after 40 were 24-13 in favor of the Rangers. Special teams were again becoming a difference maker but the Rangers had all six high danger chances across the second period. 

3rd Period:

Another slow start to the period worked out for the Flyers as they were able to regain the lead just a couple of minutes in. Another defensive zone collapse for the Rangers resulted in the play starting and ending with Travis Sanheim. His initial shot was deflected in front by Noah Cates and stopped by Quick but Sanhiem was able to gather the rebound and fire the puck into a wide open net, 3-2 Philly. 

The Flyers were out-shooting the Rangers 7-0 in the third through the first five minutes but it would be a shift from the fourth line to help them regain momentum. A hard shot from Jonny Brodzinski deflected off a Flyers stick on the way to the net where Rempe was providing a screen in front. The shot from Brodzinski sailed right to the back of the net to tie the game again, now 3-3. 

Just a minute and a half later, a great zone entry initiated by Will Cuylle allowed for Mika Zibanejad to dish a pass over to J.T. Miller on the right wing side. A solid one timer found the back of the net to regain the Rangers lead, 4-3. 

It was turning into one of those nights as the Flyers tied it right back up shortly after. Jacob Pelletier was right in front of the net to help guide a rebound to the back of the net, making it a 4-4 game.

Four minutes later, the Flyers continued to swarm the Rangers zone and an unfortunate bounce on a bad rebound from Quick left Sean Couturier all alone at the bottom of the face-off circle to find the back of the net, 5-4 Philly. Quick had some unbelievable saves in this game but also let up a pair of goals he certainly wishes he could've had back.

Just as time was becoming precious, the Flyers entered the zone as the Rangers were defending lackadaisically. Foerster was set up for a one timer and found the back of the net for his second of the night to make it a 6-4 game. With two and a half to go the Rangers pulled Quick and to much surprise, the Rangers actually found the back of the net with lots of time left.

Chris Kreider ended up all alone in the slot and caught a pass from Zibanejad to fire it home and make it a one goal game. That's the Rangers' first 6-on-5 goal of the entire season. One of many problems. It became nothing but false hope as Foerster collected a hat-trick with 54 seconds to go. For whatever reason, the Rangers called a timeout and pulled Quick again, just to give Owen Tippett a free goal to put this one to bed, 7-4.

Well, it's official. The Rangers are going out sad this season. What an unfathomable disaster. Montreal just needs one point to clinch the second wildcard spot. The Rangers, are right back at it tomorrow night on Long Island.