Rangers manage a point, lose in shootout

Photo by Scott Levy/NHLI via Getty Images

There won’t be a goal breakdown this morning, a product of my travels to the middle of the state of Illinois. But the hotel bar was kind enough to put the game on for me, so I am at least able to provide some in-game thoughts. I miss bullet points, so I’m bringing them back for today.

• They may not have won, but the Rangers again showed some great determination to come back from two down to at least get a point in this game.
• The first Pens goal was a product of banging away at a loose puck in front. You can make an argument that the Rangers could have been more physical in front, but it’s tough to put blame on any mistake or defensive breakdown there.
• Carl Hagelin sure does have some speed. He made everything happen when he tied it at one goal a piece in the second. He batted the puck out of the air, used his speed to gain room, and beat Marc Andre Fleury five hole.
• I  don’t think there was a slash on the Pens second goal. It looked like Pascal Dupuis came down on Ryan McDonagh’s stick, but it didn’t break. McDonagh’s stick broke later, at the top half, when he played the body. I thought it was unrelated and unfortunate.
• On the Brandon Sutter goal – Michael Del Zotto’s job is to force him to the outside there. I understand that the inside is Sutter’s backhand, but the defenseman’s job is to force to the outside. He did not do that. It was a bad play in an otherwise decent game for MDZ (64.4% CF$ with 40% O/D St%).

• I feel like I have to follow up a negative for MDZ with a positive, so his play in overtime –where he took the body on the back door after Hank made his point-blank stop on Sidney Crosby– was the smart play, and a play only McDonagh makes on a consistent basis.
• Do not discount how difficult that tying goal for Derick Brassard was. At that angle, a left-handed shot has a lot of trouble putting that top corner. A right-handed shot is easier there, just based off the angle. It was a great shot by Brass.
• Interestingly enough, the Rangers had the Fenwick advantage in this game. You can view the chart here at Extra Skater. The Pens dominated the first, but the Rangers just kept chipping away, and it was their chipping and exploitation of the young Penguins defense that led to them tying the game. They didn’t win the 5v5 close battle (51.6%-48.4%) though.
• I’ve never been a fan of the shootout. If they want this to continue, adjust point value for regulation wins.

A point is a point, but the fact that the Rangers trailed by two in the third against the best team in the East and they managed a point is a solid feat. We said this about their win against Calgary, but baby steps are required for this team to hit their stride again. This isn’t a baby step. This is a giant step. They erased a two-goal lead with less than ten minutes to play. That’s something to be happy about.