Rangers snap the losing streak with shootout win over Flyers

The bruised Rangers and the plagued Flyers played a hockey game tonight. That’s really it. This was not a pretty game to watch. The Rangers dressed an AHL caliber blue line, while the Flyers dressed an AHL caliber forward group. You would think something had to give here, but it did not. Both teams played very low event hockey. But the chances were there, and both Carter Hart and Alex Georgiev had to make some solid saves. In the end, the Rangers needed the shootout to get the win over the Flyers.

Neither team was excellent in this one, but it was the Rangers who controlled most of the action. This shouldn’t be a surprise, since it is an Alain Vigneault team. Georgiev looked good, and the bottom of the lineup got the job done again. At some point the top half will need to pull their weight, but a win is a win.

Flyers 1, Rangers 0 – No help

The Flyers had three forwards at the net mouth and not one Rangers forward came to help. That’s not a good look.

Rangers 1, Flyers 1 – Slot Deflection

Connor Bunnaman released Colin Blackwell in front to make a half effort to block Pavel Buchnevich’s shot. This gave Blackwell more than enough room to deflect it through Carter Hart.

Rangers 2, Flyers 1 – Brendan Smith?

Rangers force the turnover at the blue line and get a shot on goal. Hart didn’t control it well, and Artemi Panarin made a great pass on the backhand to Brendan Smith at the back door.

Flyers 2, Rangers 2 – Of course it’s a late game goal

Chaos in front after an off carom off the boards. Joel Farabee took advantage of the chaos and poked the puck over the line, which was not even past Georgiev. But Georgiev was in the net, so it didn’t matter. This sent the game to the shootout, as the Flyers killed off a Rangers powerplay in overtime.

Shot Heatmap – Low event, advantage Rangers

The Rangers had a big advantage on the quality and quantity in this one. Credit to the Rangers makeshift defense here. Also the Flyers were extremely shorthanded in this one, so let’s not celebrate a huge defensive effort. This was good enough, though.

Skater Results

Given the circumstances, this is very good. Every Ranger was either good or dull in quality. Some were a little outshot, but they held the quality in check. This may have been a boring game, but the Rangers needed the two points and they got them.

Hopefully the Rangers start healing up, they should get K’Andre Miller back for Saturday’s game. This was as good a result as you could have wanted. So let’s hope it carries over to Washington. They certainly needed this one, and sometimes all it takes is one.

Charts from Natural Stat Trick and Evolving-Hockey.