Rangers blow 2-0 lead, Flyers even series

This was a really bad play. (Photo by Paul Bereswill/Getty Images)

The Rangers got out to a quick start yesterday afternoon, quickly nabbing a two goal lead early in the first period. But it was the Flyers who took advantage of three Ranger defensive miscues to eventually win the game by a score of 4-2. Ray Emery kept the Flyers in it, making 31 saves on 33 shots, but it was two blown coverages and a flat-footed defenseman that eventually cost the Rangers a chance at a 2-0 series lead.

Before the Flyers took the 3-2 lead, the game was pretty evenly matched in terms of puck possession. The Rangers held a lead just 1 Fenwick event in the game when Luke Schenn scored the eventual game winner. After that, the Flyers sat back a bit, and the Rangers poured it on, but couldn’t solve Emery. It certainly wasn’t the strongest game the Rangers have played, but that’s why it’s a seven game series.

On to the goals:

Rangers 1, Flyers 0

Andrew MacDonald’s pass to Adam Hall didn’t connect, as Marc Staal was able to chip the puck away to Rick Nash. The pass trapped three Flyer forwards, and allowed the Rangers to break in 3-on-2. Nash got the puck to Derek Stepan in the high slot, who froze Emery before dishing to Martin St. Louis on the weak side for the goal.

Rangers 2, Flyers 0

Bad quality, sorry.

This was some solid passing on the powerplay. Mats Zuccarello hit Benoit Pouliot at the blue line on the far end of the ice to gain the zone. Pouliot let Derick Brassard skate into his pass back across the ice at the blue line, giving Brassard a lot of room to maneuver. Brass carried the puck in as Pouliot cut to the weak side circle. Brass hit Pouliot with the pass for the goal.

Flyers 1, Rangers 2

Jakub Voracek simply burned Ryan McDonagh on this play, taking a saucer pass from Scott Hartnell to break in with both defensemen behind him. Dan Girardi, who people will say coasted on the play, had to cover Hartnell cutting to the net, which gave Voracek room to cut from the post and around Hank to stuff it past him. McDonagh actually caught up and got a stick on Voracek before he cut around Hank, but a stick check isn’t going to stop Voracek.

Flyers 2, Rangers 2

With the Flyers on the powerplay, both Brayden Schenn and Jason Akeson wound up behind Staal and Kevin Klein in front while Vinny Lecavalier wound up from the point. Schenn appeared to get a piece of it, preventing Hank from cleanly handling the shot, and Akeson picked up the rebound and fired it into the empty net. The concern here is how both Flyers wound up behind the defense with opportunities to clean up rebounds.

Flyers 3, Rangers 2

This was was so bad, it got two screenshots. First (above), notice how both Zuccarello and Brassard are in front of Luke Schenn, as Hank lines up to stop the initial shot from Hall. Neither are looking at Schenn.

Now, just a second later, Schenn has beaten both of them to the front of the net, and has easy positioning to grab any kind of rebound. There’s no reason why he could have gained that much position while cutting to the net. Neither Brass nor Zucc picked him up. Hank probably should have done a better job in controlling that initial shot from Hall, especially from that angle, but that’s terrible defense from the forwards.

Flyers 4, Rangers 2

Usually I don’t break down empty netters, but that was a pretty bad too many men call. I understand the confusion, as Hank stopped his skate to the bench because the puck was out of the Flyers zone, and Richards had already jumped onto the ice. But there needs to be better communication there.

Fenwick Chart:

Courtesy of ExtraSkater

As mentioned above, this game was pretty even until the Flyers got their lead. After that, they appeared to turtle until the late boneheaded too many men call/empty netter.

Win Expectancy Chart:

Courtesy of ExtraSkater

Rangers kinda let this one slip away quickly, eh?

The Flyers saw their mistakes in Game One and came back with a pretty solid Game Two, and managed to even the series. As long as the Rangers take a game (preferably both) in Philly, they will be in good shape. This wasn’t their best game, but they aren’t in a hole. The series is tied.