Rangers goal breakdown: Powerplay saves Rangers

The game against Arizona was a gimme. After a rough loss in Colorado, the Rangers, albeit on the second of a back to back with travel, were facing a team with a bunch of “oh that guy still plays?” dressing for the game. Loui Eriksson. Jay Beagle. Names like that. And yet, the Rangers managed to put together their eighth straight bad process game. Luckily for them, the powerplay bailed them out in the third period.

Keith Kinkaid, the actual third string goalie, was pretty solid, despite giving up a pretty bad goal in the first. He honestly kept the Rangers in the game until the powerplay took over late in the third period. This game isn’t a win without him. At even strength, the Rangers weren’t that good.

What was baffling was that the Rangers, who can’t score, scratched Filip Chytil in favor of Greg McKegg. Say what you want of Chytil, you can’t look me in the eye and say McKegg is a better offensive player. Players don’t get scratched for no reason, and something like this isn’t an issue unless it becomes routine. But still was just an odd thing to see. Especially when that Laf-Chytil-Gauthier line was doing everything but scoring.

Yotes 1, Rangers 0 – Bad goal

Keith Kinkaid has to stop this one. Even if it is a shorthanded chance, an NHL goalie makes that save.

Rangers 1, Yotes 1 – Oh the top line can actually score?

Two Coyotes players decided to leave Kaapo Kakko alone at the back door. When Mika Zibanejad’s shot trickled through Scott Wedgewood, he was there to poke it into the empty net.

Yotes 2, Rangers 1 – Running around

The Rangers were caught running around here after they couldn’t clear the zone. That led to a lot of missed coverages and open passing lanes. When that happens, the puck winds up in your net.

Rangers 2, Yotes 2 – A powerplay goal

Chris Kreider is the best net front presence in the league, and he’s the reason why Mika Zibanejad’s shot was able to get by Wedgewood.

Rangers 3, Yotes 2 – Powerplay saves the Rangers

This was a textbook powerplay goal for the Rangers. Crisp passing, and good movement. The PK couldn’t do much.

Game Flow – Not good at even strength

The Rangers, despite getting dominated in the first and third, did have flashes where they were controlling play. It wasn’t until late when the powerplay took over that we saw this flow favor the Rangers. This wasn’t a good process game, but a win is a win.

Shot Heatmap – Mostly Yotes

At even strength, this game belonged to Arizona, which is a bit of a disgrace for the Rangers. They did not play well, and quite frankly, probably didn’t deserve to win. But the third period powerplays saved them. This is a team that is struggling with even strength offense.

This was one of those bad wins, but a win nonetheless. The Rangers simply need to be better. This wasn’t the type of game we saw from October, where a goalie standing on his head was needed. So that’s a plus. However this still wasn’t a good game played by the Rangers. They need this upcoming four day break.

Charts from Natural Stat Trick and HockeyViz.