AP Photo/Kathy Willens

AP Photo/Kathy Willens

Boy was this a boring game. The Isles and Rangers played like they knew it was preseason, except the Rangers played like that with half the lineup fighting for a spot on the roster. I find that to be frustrating, but it’s the fourth game in six nights, so it is what it is. Not many Rangers impressed last night with cuts looming.

  • Way too many people make something out of who has the ‘A’ in a preseason game. This is the second time Glass has had the ‘A’ and people freaked out. Relax. It’s the preseason.
  • The Rangers didn’t really get much going. They were bland offensively, didn’t gain the zone often, and were just unable to get shots off. Considering there were two lines that could be dressing next week, that’s not that good.
  • There were a lot of defensive miscues and odd man rushes given up. Says a lot about the defensemen that were playing, as three of them are on the bubble. All of Brady Skjei, Adam Clendening, and Dylan McIlrath had rough games. John Gilmour too, but we always knew he was headed to Hartford anyway.

  • Antti Raanta had a good game, so there’s that.
  • I didn’t make any gifs for the first 10 minutes of the second period because I was eating. No one noticed because there was nothing to gif.
  • This game was boring.
  • Nathan Gerbe is a very tiny human. He is also infinitely stronger than every single one of you.
  • The deflection by Chris Kreider was a nifty piece of work.
  • Tough luck on McIlrath and Nicklas Jensen on the Cal Clutterbuck goal. Jensen tried to kick the puck to his stick and kicked it back into the zone, and McIlrath had the puck go off his skate.
  • I still think Skjei is the odd man out, simply because he doesn’t need to clear waivers. That means McIlrath and Clendening make the team.
  • On the second Clutterbuck goal, the broadcast mentioned McIlrath got beat. He didn’t. He kept Josh Bailey to the outside and forced a bad angle shot. Marc Staal went full snow angel instead of tying up his man, and it was his man that buried the goal.
  • Staal then followed it up with a good rush up the ice and zone entry, leading to the Jensen goal. Staal giveth, Staal taketh.
  • Brandon Pirri had a strong game, even if he wasn’t on the scoreboard. He has a nose for the net.
  • Kevin Hayes lost Josh Bailey on the game winner. I have no idea how to judge 3-on-3 though. So, it is what it is.

This game separated out a few players that are on the bubble and others who clearly need some more time. The forwards sure do look good though. One more preseason game before the roster is set.

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