Hot Takes: Devils down Rangers in fun preseason opener

I’m going to try something a little new tonight. We’ve been doing goal breakdowns since Alain Vigneault became the coach of the Rangers, and while a lot of fun to write and pretty informative regarding system breakdowns, I’m getting the impression they are getting a little stale. I don’t plan on stopping those, but I’m thinking about supplementing them with other content.

When we write the goal breakdowns, it’s usually with a bit of a level head. But we also go through a range of emotions during a game. Maybe not so much lately because we knew last year (and this year) would be rough, but I’m sure those of you who follow us on Twitter have seen us with some hot takes. So let me take you through my range of emotions through this one, a relatively meaningless game.

• Walked in the door with about 10 minutes left in the first, see the Rangers are down 1-0…immediately disappointed.
• I see the clock isn’t working. This bodes well.
• Artemi Panarin doesn’t speak English? That’s….surprising.
• Who is #74….oh yea. Wow. I should probably focus on more than three players.
• Sami Vatanen did not do a good job trying to hide that delay of game penalty.
• I’m not sure how I feel about Mika Zibanejad being removed from the Ovi spot after so much success this season. I get that Panarin plays that spot too…but maybe split them?
• Five seconds later: Holy hell what a shift by that powerplay unit. Never mind. Kaapo Kakko is going to be special too.
• Cory Schneider looks good, doesn’t he?
• And Brandon Crawley is the next cut…but what a move by Maltsev.
• Relatively uneventful start to the second period…let’s check on that first goal the Devils scored…..How did Nico Hischier skate through three Rangers for that deflection?
• Lias Andersson may not be a fancy name to watch but he looks solid.
• Good lord this PP1 is fantastic. I’m sold. What a rocket by Panarin.
• I love watching this team…they are dominating and this is going to be a fun season to watch. “They may win and I may die” hockey is back in New York and I am unsure if my body is physically or emotionally ready for it.
• Igor Shesterkin looks like he’s still in high school. Also it’s pronounced Shes-ter-kin, not Shest-er-kin. I learned something new today.
• Stop. With. The. Snow. Angels.
• Greg McKegg is a fun name…and he’s apparently invisible. How do you let him and Micheal Haley team up for a goal?
• Shes-ter-kin is very quick yet his positioning makes it unnecessary most of the time. I, for one, welcome our Russian Overlord. Apparently the crowd does too…if you were wondering the next two syllable chant is ‘IGOR’.
• Also this crowd is loud for a preseason game.
• THIS IS NOT A DRILL SOMEONE GIVE YOUR HEALTHY GROIN TO PANARIN.
• I have no idea how that fourth goal went in because I was watching on mute. Too lazy to rewind. Oh well.
• My fiance just walked in and I have engaged her in discussions about work. The game is not over. I immediately regret this decision.
• And Andersson gets his hard earned goal. This kid wants it.
• THIS IS NOT A DRILL SOMEONE GIVE KAKKO YOUR LEG!
• I hope my fiance doesn’t read this.
• Game over – that was fun.

I’m going to try to run these for as many games as possible immediately following the game. Of course if you guys don’t like it, maybe not. Let me know!