Rangers/Ducks Thoughts: Zibanejad shines, but Rangers lose in shootout

The Rangers went into Anaheim looking to finish the road trip with a win and end the trip itself with a winning record. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead, gave up two, then gave up the tying goal with less than two minutes remaining. Zibanejad scored twice, but it was Jakob Silvferberg that was the shootout hero.

• Well so much for the Rangers possibly running close to their best possible top-six defensemen. Marc Staal is in and Brendan Smith is not on the blue line. We had a glimmer of hope. I’m sure Rob L. is crying somewhere.
• Well that was quick. Story of my life…
• That was an awful pass by Josh Manson, wow. And then John Gibson with a terrible turnover. Forechecking wins games, folks.
• And another forecheck forces Gibson into another turnover. Quick pass from Strome to Panarin and another goal.
• It’s only been six minutes, but Staal has had a good six minutes. Very methodical with moving the puck. Not sure it’ll last, but hey I’ll take it.
• Nothing to do about that deflection goal. Just tap the stick and move on.
• And the wife got fed up with the game and ran to the bedroom for the other TV. On the bright side, I didn’t have to change the main TV. Small victories.
• I am amazed at the forecheck by the Rangers. This is what they’ve been missing all year in the offensive zone. Their neutral zone play is still egregious, but I’ll take this.
• Not often you see Hank that far out of position.
• This second period is just boring and sloppy. Yeesh.
• It’s either a dive or a penalty. You can’t have both.
• Oh wait it’s holding on both of them? I’ve never actually seen that.
• What a feed from Kaapo Kakko to Panarin – just so hard he missed it.
• That was an awful period for the Rangers. 18-3 in shots. Yikes. The forecheck was non-existent.
• And that’s not a goal you see Gibson give up that often.
• Henrik Lundqvist, save for that out of position goal, has been stellar.
• The penalty kill really is coming up big, eh?
• And of course they score on the powerplay on a relatively weak goal by Hank.
• I say “of course” because at the three minute mark I started filling in the rest of this post with “Rangers hold on for 3-2 win” and going from there. This is all my fault.
• I’m probably the only person that likes 3-on-3 overtime.
• Fox and Zibanejad had great chances – but that’s why Gibson is Gibson.
• I also dislike the shootout.
• Although I can watch beautiful moves like that Zibanejad one all day.
• Sigh, I hate the shootout.