Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Well that was a short-lived fun experience. With all the hype of the home opener on us, the Rangers laid an egg at home, falling to the Leafs by a score of 6-3. Five second period goals were the death of the Rangers after an even first period. The Blueshirts couldn’t climb out of a 4-1 hole, and trailed 6-2 by the end of the period. Henrik Lundvist wasn’t his usual self, but the defense didn’t do him, like Cam Talbot on Saturday night, any favors.

Rick Nash scored on a beauty of a pass from Martin St. Louis, but left the game early as his wife is expecting. That didn’t help the already fatigued Rangers, who played three in four nights to start the season and are already without two of their top guys (three if you count Mats Zuccarello, who was out last night). But such is hockey, you lay eggs. Remember they stunk in October last year too.

On to the goals:

Leafs 1, Rangers 0

goal 1

The Leafs had some good puck movement on the powerplay, and eventually caused all four Rangers to collapse on three Leafs down low. Cody Franson was wide open at the weak side point, and Tyler Bozak just put it on his blade. Dan Girardi was in No Man’s Land on this one, not covering James van Riemsdyk in the slot –forcing Derick Brassard to desert the weak side passing lane– and not exactly covering the pass (Bozak) or the guy cutting to the net from the boards (Phil Kessel).

On this goal, Carl Hagelin over-pursued Kessel a bit on the far boards, but that’s his job in the wedge+1 PK.

Rangers 1, Leafs 1

goal 2

Right as Marc Staal got out of the box, he went back to the defensive zone to collect the puck and bank a pass off the far boards to MSL in stride. Nash had a step on Roman Polak, and MSL hit him in stride with a sick pass for the easy goal.

Leafs 2, Rangers 1

goal 3

Ryan McDonagh turned the puck over behind the net with an errant pass, leading to the Leafs moving the puck out to the point. Hagelin, in the confusion, went to Franson at the point instead of sticking Kessel coming to the weak side. Franson’s shot deflected right to Kessel for the empty netter. This picture above makes it look like Girardi should be covering Kessel, but Girardi has his man in front of the net.

Leafs 3, Rangers 1

goal 4

Yea, you can’t have two guys (Girardi, Ryan McDonagh) go after the puck carrier behind the net when there’s a man in the slot.

Leafs 4, Rangers 1

goal 5

JVR poked the puck past McDonagh, who may have wanted to drop back on this one, but can’t blame him for trying to keep the zone on the powerplay. JVR squeaked the puck by Hank on the breakaway. This one was the back breaker.

Rangers 2, Leafs 4

goal 6

Lee Stempniak, who is one of the Rangers better forwards so far this season, intercepted Franson’s pass in the neutral zone and broke in on James Reimer. Stempniak got his own rebound by Reimer before the net was off its moorings for the goal.

Leafs 5, Rangers 2

goal 7

This is one you probably expect Hank to stop. The shot from Bozak went through Girardi’s legs, which probably screened him.

Leafs 6, Rangers 2

goal 8

Hank didn’t control the rebound here, but neither Stempniak nor Brassard covered David Clarkson coming to the net. This one chased Hank.

Rangers 3, Leafs 6

goal 9

The Rangers made some good passes to gain the offensive zone before Brassard found some open ice to let loose a rip. The cold Jonathan Bernier –replacing an apparently injured Reimer– couldn’t stop this one.

Shift Chart:

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Alain Vigneault tried to take advantage of the Polak-Stuart Percy pairing, by constantly sending the Nash/MSL/Anthony Duclair trio out there whenever he had the chance. Naturally, that got a bit busted up when Nash left the game, but that was a matchup that AV wanted to exploit. Meanwhile, he felt comfortable sending Klein and Staal out there against the Kessel-Bozak-JVR line. Interesting matchup: AV also sent out Hagelin-Miller-Hayes against that line as well.

Fenwick Chart:

Courtesy of war-on-ice

Courtesy of war-on-ice

The Rangers actually had the overall possession advantage in close situations (66%, so a rather wide margin). But the defensive miscues, the penalty kill, and the powerplay all failed them. Possession is a big part of the game, but so is defense and special teams.

Kevin Hayes looked to have a strong game, and it’s very clear he’s a force out there, using his body to maintain puck possession. He still has a ways to go, as he passed up a few prime shooting opportunities. It wasn’t the kids that cost the Rangers this game, that’s for sure.

The Islanders are next up tomorrow, and it’s probably good that a big rival comes to town to help the Rangers move past two ugly ones in a row.

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