As bad as the first game was, was as good as the second game was. The Rangers rebounded in a big way, dominating the Isles and posting a shutout of their own. This was a big game for the Rangers, as it showed what they can do when they actually buy in.
The big changes in this game were a concerted effort on neutral zone pressure and puck support. The Rangers were all over the Isles in the neutral zone, forcing turnovers that led to goals. They also supported each other with the puck, giving each other options with the puck. This led to more options in the offensive zone, but more importantly more outlets in the defensive zone. Neither aspect was there on Thursday.
Rangers 1, Isles 0 – Buchnevich gets the first goal of the 2021 season
Zibanejad sets up Buchnevich to get the #NYR on the board early pic.twitter.com/tWHyRE31fp
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) January 17, 2021
Mika Zibanejad pressured Noah Dobson in the neutral zone and forced the turnover. This led to a 2-on-1 with Pavel Buchnevich, who buried the pass.
Rangers 2, Isles 0 – Dodging a bullet and turning it the other way
Artemiy Panarin scores after Brendan Smith sends him a stretch pass up the ice #NYR pic.twitter.com/qyVf4hxy0m
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) January 17, 2021
The Rangers dodged a bullet here. At 6:20, there are two Isles in the slot and no Rangers. Brendan Smith got a little lucky blocking the cross ice pass here. He then made a perfect outlet to Artemi Panarin for the break, and he doesn’t miss those.
Rangers 3, Isles 0 – Snipe City
Have yourself a game, Pavel Buchnevich #NYR pic.twitter.com/A1paOsCNEd
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) January 17, 2021
What a snipe by Buchnevich. But it was K’Andre Miller who took the hit to move the puck. Then it was Alexis Lafreniere who pressured at the blue line to force the back pass. Buchnevich pressured to force the turnover. Sorokin was a little off his angle here.
Rangers 4, Isles 0 – Neutral zone turnovers again
The third line gets to work and Kakko makes it 4-0 #NYR pic.twitter.com/hiAZ2cnm9o
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) January 17, 2021
Another neutral zone turnover by Dobson. Then it was just pretty passing from Filip Chytil and Phil Di Giuseppe, with Kaapo Kakko finishing.
Rangers 5, Isles 0 – The power play finally gets one
Two goals for Panarin, three points for Buchnevich #NYR pic.twitter.com/J3pXBlZs3E
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) January 17, 2021
After Matt Martin got a double minor, they answered quickly. The original Buchnevich shot was stopped, and Adam Fox, in the slot, made a nice backhand tip pass to Panarin who ripped it home for his second.
Shot Heatmap
The Rangers controlled this one from start to finish. They limited the high priced real estate and the Isles got virtually no opportunities from the slot. Meanwhile the Rangers moved the puck well in the offensive zone and got great opportunities.
Skater Results
Can’t ask for much else here. What a team effort in this one. This is why the Rangers shutout the Isles last night. More efforts like this will lead to better results. Just need to do it consistently.
Charts from Natural Stat Trick and Evolving-Hockey.
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