The Rangers need Rick Nash to find his feet.
Rangers special teams costing the Rangers games – already.
Some things remain the same? The Rangers powerplay is already costing the team games. It’s possible to win the Stanley Cup without a functioning powerplay. Boston did it a few years back but it’s certainly a lot easier to win the holy grail – and more realistic – to have at least a competent unit. The Rangers don’t have one, yet they have the personnel where it should rank at least in the top half of the league. A unit that features Nash, Yandle, Stepan and Kreider should be better. There is no movement, there is a lack of willingness to shoot. It’s only five games in but the inept powerplay could undermine the Rangers if Alain Vigneault can’t inject some life into the unit.
Nash and Brassard’s awful start
Speaking of things that need to get better, Rick Nash hasn’t been anywhere near good enough so far. His effort hasn’t been an issue, he’s generating chances but effort isn’t enough from someone being paid 7.8m to lead a team with Stanley Cup expectations. Nash leads the team in shots as per but he’s not taking over shifts and games the way he can. Part of the reason for Nash’s slow start can be attributed to Derick Brassard’s even worse start to the year.
While Brassard has a goal to his name (on the powerplay no less!) his effort has been at best inconsistent and he’s simply not making plays in the offensive zone. In addition, Brassard has been awful in his own zone and has almost shied away from physical contact with the highlight being his pathetic attempts to help out defensively before Dale Weise’s game clincher Thursday night in Montreal. While Nash can already be called out for his lack of production, Brassard has to give much more on and off the puck.
The fourth line merry-go-round
At some point, the Rangers will need to make a commitment to the fourth line for an extended period of time. No one benefits from the play-one sit-one musical chairs. The fourth line is in a state of flux and Vigneault doesn’t yet know the best combination. Playing Emerson Etem on the fourth, almost for the sake of giving him a game, is counterproductive and Jesper Fast belongs in the team – especially with the Rangers best penalty killer currently residing in Disneyland (how you doing Carl Hagelin?). The experiments need to stop but as we warned Rangers fans before the season Alain Vigneault always tinkers in October. Patience?
Ol’ reliable.
Henrik Lundqvist hasn’t been the reason the Rangers have dropped two straight that’s for sure. He was once again exceptional in Montreal (can we now finally drop the House of Horrors attachment?) even if Weise’s goal was stoppable. Lundqvist must have looked on enviously at the relative protection Carey Price was receiving while he faced countless odd man rushes all night long.
Lundqvist has simply been brilliant thus far and almost the sole reason the Rangers have a winning record entering a very winnable weekend closing back to back. The Rangers entertain the limited in talent Devils on Sunday and take on a solid Sharks team on Monday who’ll be on the last leg of a three in four stretch. The Rangers indifferent start could look a lot different if they can enter Tuesday morning at 5-2. If they do, you can assume a big reason will be Henrik Lundqvist.
More Dylan McIlrath
If the Rangers want to know what they have in McIlrath for the mid to long term they need to stick with him and give him (at the very least) a four or five game run with appropriate ice time to boot. We know Vigneault tinkers at the start of every season so now is the time to try McIlrath while the games aren’t season damaging. Giving McIlrath a one game audition doesn’t help anyone.
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