Trouba nets three points, Rangers win wild opener

They may win, but we may die. That is the mantra of this year’s Rangers club, and boy did that hold true last night. The Rangers eventually downed the Jets by a score of 6-4, but not before blowing a pair of one goal leads within 30 seconds of taking those leads in the second period.

Jacob Trouba finished his Rangers debut –against his old team– with a goal and two assists, something that greatly benefited my fantasy hockey team (thank you to the BSB and Banter crew that let me keep him in our league after taking him in the 17th round last year). The Breadman notched a goal, which was big considering if he didn’t, there would have been endless “is he really good?” questions. Henrik Lundqvist looked solid in net, although he did let in one soft goal. The soft goal aside, he made several big and difficult saves and helped ensure a Rangers win.

Rangers 1, Jets 0

This was a great sequence by Marc Staal. He first read that he had no options, so he dropped the puck to Mika Zibanejad while cutting down the boards. Zibanejad read the play and completed the give-and-go with Staal, who cut around the net with speed. Connor Hellebuyck did his best Martin Brodeur impression and Staal scored the first Rangers goal of the year.

Rangers 1, Jets 1

For every pretty goal the Rangers have, expect one like this. Brady Skjei coughed up the puck behind the net, and then no one picked up Mark Schiefele in front. Expect this to happen a lot this season.

Rangers 2, Jets 1

Of course it’s Artemi Panarin that gets the first powerplay goal of the year for the Rangers. Hellebuyck left a big rebound after Zibanejad’s shot, and Panarin just collected it and roofed it. He’s quite good.

Rangers 2, Jets 2

Not much to say here other than Blake Wheeler burned Staal to get himself in position for that feed from Nikolaj Ehlers. Wheeler has wheels, apparently.

Rangers 3, Jets 2

What a howitzer from Jacob Trouba, going bar down with the knuckle puck. Good reads by him at the point to find the seam and let ‘ir rip.

Rangers 3, Jets 3

Ideally Hank makes this save. Considering the number of tough chances he stopped throughout, you overlook the soft one. But make no mistake, this is a bit soft.

Jets 4, Rangers 3

Kyle Connor got the deflection all alone in front. Make no mistake, this defensive system –where the guy in front is left alone– is by design. It’s called fronting, and it is a request of Hank. It’s been in place since Alain Vigneault, and it isn’t going anywhere. It’s also why the defense looks better with backups in net. Connor is alone in front because of this.

Rangers 4, Jets 4

Trouba with a perfect pass to Zibanejad, who found the seam in the defense.

Rangers 5, Jets 4

Brett Howden lost Adam Lowry in front while Ville Heinola drifted from the slot. With Neal Pionk preoccupied in front, Howden was free to bang home the rebound.

Rangers 6, Jets 4

Brendan Smith empty netter.

Shot Heatmap

As expected, the Rangers were absolutely caved in by the Jets from a shot attempt perspective. The Blueshirts are built on quality offensively while giving up quantity on defense.

Expected Goals

Something new! Natural Stat Trick added their Expected goals chart, which tracks quality and quantity into a game flow. As was expected before the game and shouldn’t be a surprise after the game, the Rangers were caved in defensively. Even based on raw SOG, Hank faced 47 to Hellebuyck’s 31. This is what we should expect going forward.

The Rangers took two points in typical “we may win but our fans may die” fashion. A win is a win is a win. And I’ll take it, as will you. On to the next one, where we hopefully see a defensive improvement. If the Rangers clamp down defensively, this offense can do some serious damage.