The Rangers blew a two goal lead before losing to the Penguins in a shootout. That’s the headline, but the Rangers continue to make improvements. Even if this game didn’t have the results we preferred, it’s all about process. The Rangers had another solid puck possession game here, making it three in a row for the young Blueshirts. The third line again was the Rangers best line, and Phil Di Giuseppe may have been the best player on the ice in this one.
The bad process piece is blowing the two goal lead. That said, one was an own goal. The Rangers did control the puck for the majority of the game, but ceded quality a bit. In the grand scheme of things, this is a good learning experience and not something to worry about.
Penguins 1, Rangers 0 – A deflection
https://twitter.com/HeresYourReplay/status/1352774534462656514
The gut reaction was, “Really? Codi Ceci?” But Bryan Rust deflected this. There’s a very small case that Jack Johnson should have put up more of a fight to get to the puck in the corner. I don’t buy that. He lost a puck battle – it happens.
Rangers 1, Penguins 1 – Sexy move
Filip Chytil ties the game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/xroQkzvLSe
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) January 23, 2021
Phil Di Giuseppe is really turning into a great find. He forced the turnover, and Filip Chytil just waited out Tristan Jarry with the moves.
Rangers 2, Penguins 1 – It’s a powerplay goal
???? Adam Fox PP
2-1 #NYR pic.twitter.com/OcShR4RPNt— Here's Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) January 23, 2021
Adam Fox just blasted it by Jarry on this one. Guys in front, but no deflection. He looks good on PP1.
Rangers 3, Penguins 1
Three quick goals for the #NYR… Kakko makes it 3-1. pic.twitter.com/uDoAlG0v38
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) January 23, 2021
Kaapo Kakko drove the net behind Marino, who didn’t tie him up. He just buried the rebound. K’Andre Miller got his first NHL point on this one.
Rangers 3, Penguins 2 – Wrong net, Ryan
???? Jared McCann PP
3-2 #NYR pic.twitter.com/F8lIKbZs6z— Here's Your Replay ⬇️ (@HeresYourReplay) January 23, 2021
Ryan Lindgren punched this into his own net. Good idea, bad execution.
Penguins 3, Rangers 3 – Gap control
You my boy, Blue(ger)! Tie game!
And a big congratulations to P.O Joseph on his first NHL point! pic.twitter.com/xjgR6zyWEh
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 23, 2021
This goal is all about gap control. Notice how far back Jack Johnson is on the initial rush. That allows a ton of room for the drop pass and the initial shot. This is where the Penguins created their own luck. The puck rebounded nicely right to Teddy Blueger for the goal.
Skater Results
This shows what we see in the shot heatmap below. The Rangers had a distinct advantage in overall shot attempts. But they split the expected-goals and quality. Kevin Rooney stands out as exceptionally bad with quality, but “fun” with quantity. Pavel Buchnevich, again, stands out as exceptional. The dude is just good.
Shot Heatmap
The Rangers had a distinct advantage in raw shot attempts, but were even in expected-goals. The Blueshirts owned the first period, but it was the Penguins who pressed in the second and third to tie it. The game felt like a track meet, but the total number of shot attempts suggests otherwise. I found that to be interesting.
The Rangers really should’ve had two points in this one, but losing to the Penguins in a shootout isn’t that big of a deal. Sometimes, that’s the way the cookie crumbles. On to the next.
Charts from Evolving Hockey and Natural Stat Trick.
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