Poor third period costs Rangers, drop to 1-4 to start the year

Photo: Jamie Sabau/Getty

The Rangers and Blue Jackets played a very even 40 minutes of hockey. It was good pace, with good chances on both sides. Each side scored once, but neither seemed to gain an advantage. Then the third period happened, and it was all Blue Jackets, leading to the eventual game winner by Artemi Panarin.

Henrik Lundqvist was phenomenal in this one, getting beat clean just once on the Panarin goal. The first goal was a deflection that he had no chance. He made 40 saves in the loss. But Sergei Bobrovsky was up to the task, playing a solid game, albeit quiet for most of the third. This entire game came down to the first 10 minutes of the third period. The Rangers were poor, and it cost them the game.

On to the goals.

Rangers 1, Jackets 0

Seth Jones made a terrible drop pass to no one. Kevin Hayes picked it up for the break and buried it.

Blue Jackets 1, Rangers 1

This is why you let bad quality shots go through. Seth Jones’ shot hits Mika Zibanejad and changes direction on Henrik Lundqvist.

Jackets 2, Rangers 1

Artemi Panarin made a great effort on this. He caught Hayes flat footed to gain the zone, then Kevin Shattenkirk flat footed to cut to the middle before beating Hank.

Jackets 3, Rangers 1

Lukas Sedlak empty netter.

Score Adjusted Corsi

This game was pretty even until the third period. Sounds obvious for a 1-1 game, but neither team really tilted the ice. Then the beginning of the third happened, and yikes. It’s almost like the Rangers forgot there was another period of hockey to play, and it led to the game winner from Panarin on a play that symbolizes how they played in the third.

Scoring Chances

Shift Chart

I can’t embed this, but you can view it here. At least Holden/Staal didn’t see ice time in the final five minutes trying to score. David Desharnais was on for the final shift of the powerplay, which really illustrates how badly the Rangers need a center.

Again, the first two periods were pretty even, then the third period happened. I have to commend the Rangers on how they played in the second, though, as it looks like Columbus flat lined for the period. But towards the end of the second and beginning of the third, things got lax for the Rangers, and it cost them.

Another day, another disappointing loss with a sub-optimal lineup dressed. Yes, some of this is on the players. Yes, some of this is on the coach. But yes, one of these is easily fixable. You can’t make the playoffs in October, but you can certainly miss them.