The Rangers came out relatively strong against an Arizona Coyotes team that seems to be on the cusp of actually being decent. Then the third period happened. A pair of goals with less than seven minutes remaining sent the game to overtime, where the Rangers eventually lost 4-3. That capped a blown three goal lead and four straight goals for the Yotes.
It was ex-Ranger Derek Stepan that ended the game in overtime, a fitting end, as Stepan’s trade was the first in what would become the rebuild we are seeing now (although the organization didn’t have plans to rebuild at that time). The fact that the Rangers couldn’t hold the lead in this one was concerning. But as David Quinn said in the post game presser, it’s a tough loss that they need to move on from.
Rangers 1, Yotes 0
Buuuuuuuuuuch 🚨
Stay tuned in for more #NYR 🏒 on @MSGNetworks https://t.co/XY3a3i5HSD
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 15, 2018
That’s four penalty killers on one side of the ice for Arizona. That will always be bad news.
Rangers 2, Yotes 0
The Yotes are a mess on the PK. This was another example of all four PKers on one side of the ice, leaving Zuccarello wide open for the feed. The initial pass didn’t connect but Kevin Hayes cut to the net, wide open, and Zucc hit him for the easy tap in.
Rangers 3, Yotes 0
.@MikaZibanejad puts the @NYRangers up 3-0 with his 10th of the year.
Cast your @adidashockey #NHLAllStar game vote: https://t.co/UMLrV7FrgG. pic.twitter.com/o2atgQqEbf
— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) December 15, 2018
This shot by Mika Zibanejad is great, but credit to Chris Kreider for providing the screen and then getting out of the way so the shot can get through. Kreider’s net-front presence is extremely underrated.
Rangers 3, Yotes 1
"You shoot the puck and you score the goal."
Well said. pic.twitter.com/YY5RrV2BUH
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) December 15, 2018
The Rangers did a halfway decent job on this PK, keeping the puck to the outside. But the man in front was left unchecked for a screen, and the blast from the point got through.
Rangers 3, Yotes 2
"Remember me?" – Derek Stepan pic.twitter.com/U2xCLEoGzH
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) December 15, 2018
A great pass by Stepan, and an I don’t know what that was from Brady Skjei on defense.
Rangers 3, Yotes 3
SWEDE ON SWEDE CRIME. pic.twitter.com/KlrNqjHKGA
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) December 15, 2018
Rolling puck knuckler from OEL and it evades Hank. Hank probably wants this one back.
Yotes 4, Rangers 3
What was better: the goal or the team celly?
Tonight's OT winner courtesy of @EASPORTSNHL. ???? pic.twitter.com/D7PGE9qLUK
— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) December 15, 2018
First a great stop on Brett Howden, then the Yotes turned it and Stepan absolutely rifled it over Hank.
Shot Heatmap
Another game, another mess in front of the net. DQ’s system was supposed to stop this train wreck, but it looks like the Blueshirts are regressing to old habits. Worth noting that a good amount is coming from the right side of the ice, which means when the Yotes were in the zone, they were getting their shots against the RD of the Rangers. That doesn’t necessarily mean that the RD was performing poorly (it could be lack of F help), but just a statement that the shots came from there.
It was nice to see “vintage” Stepan. He’s still one of my favorite Rangers from the recent run of success. For the tankers, it was good to see only one point. But this was not a good look for the Rangers, allowing four straight goals and blowing a three goal lead. It’s not an easy schedule for the rest of this month either. This slide could turn from bad to ugly real fast.
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