The Rangers struggles against the Senators continued tonight in Ottawa. The Senators brought speed on special teams, shut down the middle of the ice, and the few chances the Rangers did have they simply couldn’t find the net.

Other notes, the Rangers defense really struggled with the Senators high zone pressure. Stralman in particular probably played his worst game of the season, with his inability to hold the blueline or stay with the rush. The Rangers did have a decent amount of chances at even strength, especially in the 3rd, but every chance seemed to sail wide of the net. Not a surprise really, as we’re one of the least efficient shooting teams in the league this year.

On special teams, the Senators speed and overload style of play was able to shutdown the Rangers by preventing them from having time and space to set up. The only trio that seemed to have any answer to the Sens tight checking coverage was the line of Hagelin-Stepan-Nash.

On to the goals…

Sens 1, Rangers 0

(PPG Benoit)

This is a pretty easy goal to breakdown. The Senators were cycling on the points on their powerplay in the second period. Benoit ripped one from the point, with Neil in front of the net screening Lundqvist. McDonagh couldn’t move Neil from the slot and that was all Ottawa needed for the win.

Sens 2, Rangers 0

(Latendresse)

This play for Ottawa starts in their own end zone. Miller loses a puck battle on the half boards, which leaves his linemates trapped down low. This point is exacerbated, since Marian Gaborik was actually behind the net for some reason, so we didn’t have much of a backcheck.

The Sens then go on a 3-on-2 rush, with Zibanejad carrying. Both Girardi and MDZ step up on Zibanejad, who dishes to Latendresse. Girardi then attempted a swipe at the puck and missed. From there, Latendresse just skated into the faceoff circle and snapped one past Lundqvist.

I was hoping Lundqvist would be able to stop that shot. Oh well. Guess we can’t really blame him, as he was superb otherwise and we didn’t score.

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