rangers jets

Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images

The Winnipeg Jets served the New York Rangers their first loss of the season, beating the Rangers by a score of 4-1. The Rangers had a very strong game, perhaps their best at even strength, but it was special teams and Michael Hutchinson that did them in. The Rangers failed to score on five powerplays and allowed a shorthanded goal against. They also allowed two powerplay goals.

Hutchinson was straight up fantastic, stopping 40 shots, including 20 in the second period alone. It makes you wonder why he isn’t the starter in Winnipeg, he’s clearly better than Ondrej Pavelec. The Rangers out-chanced the Jets by a fairly wide margin in this one, but it was Hutchinson who out-dueled Henrik Lundqvist to steal the win. While this was the best display overall at even strength, it’s worth noting that the fourth line had a rough night.

As always, you can view the full videos on our video page here. All GIFs are on nyrgifs.comfiltered under yesterday’s date. On to the goals:

Rangers 1, Jets 0

Blake Wheeler made an ill advised drop pass, which sprung Rick Nash with Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello for a 3-on-1. That trio isn’t going to miss. Nash to Brass to Zucc, back of the net.

Jets 1, Rangers 1

ehlers goal

The Jets capitalized pretty quickly on their first powerplay. Nikolaj Ehlers got a lot of room to maneuver once the pass from Tyler Myers got through Viktor Stalberg. Dan Girardi got caught between challenging the shooter and moving Drew Stafford in front. He did neither. There’s also miscommunication between Ryan McDonagh and Dominic Moore, as they both went to the man in front.

schiefele pick

Side note, Moore was definitely interfered with by Mark Schiefele.

Jets 2, Rangers 1

little goal

Bryan Little gets the shorthanded goal on a broken play. The shot from the point by Jacob Trouba was partially blocked, and it went right to Little in the high slot with a lot of room. Andrew Ladd drove to the net, and Little dragged the puck to his left to use Ryan McDonagh as a screen and get a better angle on the shot. McDonagh was in a tough spot here, as the broken play meant a quick transition in a high danger area. McDonagh had no help, as he was the only guy in between Ladd, Little, and the net.

Jets 3, Rangers 1

little goal 2

The Jets scored again on the powerplay, this time with some great passing. The Jets moved the puck quickly and methodically around the zone until the puck wound up on Little’s stick at the top of the circle. Girardi missed the block, screening Hank in the process.

Jets 4, Rangers 1

Mark Stuart empty netter.

Score-Adjusted Corsi Chart

Courtesy of hockeystats.ca

Courtesy of hockeystats.ca

The Rangers really dominated this game at even strength. The chart flatlines at the end because the game is not considered to be close when there’s a two-goal lead in the third period. But this is at even strength, and even though most of the game is at even strength, you need to be solid on special teams. The Rangers were not.

Scoring Chances

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Courtesy of war-on-ice

This is similar to the chart above. The Rangers got more quality chances at even strength, but Hutchinson stood tall.

Individual Corsi

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Boy did that fourth line have a rough game. Everyone else was close to even or a positive possession player in the game, except for that line. The Rangers only had one shot attempt while Tanner Glass was on the ice. One.

Shift Chart

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Courtesy of war-on-ice

I usually don’t have many qualms with Alain Vigneault’s deployment of lines in the late game, but why Tanner Glass and Dominic Moore were sent out on the ice, down one in the third, as Rick Nash came out of the box. But if that’s my only real qualm, aside from personnel in the lineup, then so be it.

Shot Locations

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Courtesy of war-on-ice

The Rangers had more shot attempts from inside the scoring chance figure (dashed line), but Hutchinson stood tall. Note that this figure is at even strength.

Can’t win ’em all. On to the next one. No use really steaming over this one, especially since they played a solid 5v5 game. Special teams will figure themselves out, it’s still early.

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