The Rangers, without Filip Chytil, went into Buffalo looking to end a losing streak. Instead they laid an egg. It got so bad that even Joe Micheletti was tearing into the team. In the prior three losses, we could point to specific mental mistakes that, in time, will become few and far between. This was an entire process miss by everyone on the team. Except Alex Georgiev, who had no chance in this one.
In the grand scheme of things, faceoffs don’t have as much impact as we think. But in this one, the Rangers were losing things clean, and they were chasing the play from the start. It’s not why they lost, but it certainly didn’t help at all. The Rangers were just awful in this one. There’s no excuse.
Rangers 1, Sabres 0 – Buchnevich is really good
Buchnevich sets up Kreider and the #NYR take the lead pic.twitter.com/mqEiCUJIjI
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) January 27, 2021
Pavel Buchnevich forced the turnover with a great backcheck. The puck bounced off Chris Kreider’s skate and back to the offensive zone. Buch was there with plenty of time, and looked back to read the play. Using the net to buy more time, he found Kreider the trailer for the goal.
Sabres 1, Rangers 1 – Jack Johnson penalty
WORKHORSE WERKIN' 👊#LetsGoBuffalo | @Dylan_Cozens pic.twitter.com/gSHRAKpO72
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 27, 2021
This is a set play by the Sabres and there’s very little the Rangers can do on this one. Jeff Skinner in front draws attention. The puck out to Eric Staal forces a defenseman up. Dylan Cozens slides up to the high slot in open ice for the bang-bang goal.
Rangers 2, Sabres 1 – K’Andre’s first
K'Andre Miller scores his first NHL goal #NYR pic.twitter.com/j8Bh3HjKwA
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) January 27, 2021
Brendan Lemieux did a good job here circling back at the blue line and finding the empty ice in the corner. Colin Blackwell got to the puck first, read the play, and fed Miller fresh off the bench in the high slot for the goal.
Sabres 2, Rangers 2 – Missed pinch
If Toby Rieder had scored 12-14 goals, we'd have probably made the playoffs… pic.twitter.com/iflUTz84Kl
— Shayna (@hayyyshayyy) January 27, 2021
Jacob Trouba missed on his pinch, and Tobias Rieder was off to the races. He waited out Alex Georgiev on the break. But look at Tony DeAngelo here. This is a powerplay and he’s the weak side defenseman. Get to the middle of the ice and support Trouba. You aren’t going to get a pass across the opposite boards.
Sabres 3, Rangers 2 – Almost the same powerplay goal
"THAT'S THE ONE!"
Jack's first of the season ????#LetsGoBuffalo pic.twitter.com/PkTXtBdXRU
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) January 27, 2021
An almost identical powerplay goal to the first one. Bang-bang to the high slot. Buffalo has found a weakness in the Rangers powerplay.
Shot Heatmap – Poop emoji
The Rangers basically didn’t show up for the first two periods. They let the Sabres walk all over them and get the overwhelming majority of shot attempts. They were quality attempts too. The Rangers got more attempts in the third, but Buffalo locked it down and limited the quality. Just a poor showing for the Rangers.
Skater Results – Offensive black hole
This was bad all around. The key offensive guys on the Rangers were almost all in the dull zone. Just not good.
That makes a four game losing streak for the Rangers. This was by far the worst of the season. They get a day off to think about what they’ve done before trying to end the losing streak and get some revenge on the Sabres on Thursday.
Charts from Evolving-Hockey and Natural Stat Trick.
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