Zibanejad scores twice, but Rangers fall in shootout

The Rangers closed out their road trip in less than stellar fashion, allowing the tying goal late en route to a shootout loss to the Ducks. The Blueshirts jumped out to a two goal lead early, but gave it back before allowing the tying third goal late in the third. The Ducks won it with two straight shootout goals.

Henrik Lundqvist was solid for the most part, but he allowed a pair of weak goals, both of which led to the Ducks tying the game. The Rangers’ forecheck was solid in the first but disappeared quickly after, which is a reason why the Ducks controlled the second period. In the end, the Rangers come home with five points on this trip.

Rangers 1, Ducks 0

Just 10 seconds in and the forecheck forces a turnover and Mika Zibanejad gets it all alone. What a terrible pass by Josh Manson.

Rangers 2, Ducks 0

Another forecheck forces another turnover by John Gibson right to Ryan Strome. Strome does what everyone should do, and gives the puck to Artemi Panarin, who makes them pay, again.

Rangers 2, Ducks 1

https://twitter.com/AnaheimDucks/status/1205969207910813696

This is just a great deflection with perfect timing. Jakob Silfverberg was behind the net and just sneaks to the front just in time for the tip. Perfect. Tap your stick and move on. There’s an argument for Brendan Smith’s positioning here, but he’s more focused on the guy in front and not the guy creeping in from behind the net. Product of a powerplay.

Rangers 2, Ducks 2

https://twitter.com/AnaheimDucks/status/1205971664351088640

Not often you see Henrik Lundqvist this far out of position. He slid almost to the corner expecting the shot.

Rangers 3, Ducks 2

This was a good pass by Tony DeAngelo and a solid play by Zibanejad to get the shot off. You usually don’t see Gibson give up something like that.

Rangers 3, Ducks 3

https://twitter.com/AnaheimDucks/status/1205993636128641025

I feel like Hank should have had this one. Joe said there was a deflection by Ryan Lindgren, but I didn’t see it. Hank was stellar, but that’s the second bad goal this game.

Shot Heatmap

The second period really skews this, as the Ducks owned the Rangers. But Hank still had to make 40 saves.

Skater Results

From a possession standpoint, the game was back and forth with the Rangers controlling the first and third periods, but getting manhandled in the second. They did control the quality though, so that’s good.

The Rangers have a flight tonight and a day off tomorrow before getting Nashville on Monday. This stretch is brutal from a scheduling standpoint, but the Rangers managed a .500 record over the month. Not bad.