There are two themes to the Rangers this year, and both reared their ugly heads this game. The first is the Rangers struggle at even strength, but dominate on the powerplay. The Blueshirts were crushed in expected goals share by Florida at 5v5, but had a net-12% swing in all situations. That will be a problem in the playoffs when refs swallow their whistles.
The second was only playing a percentage of the game. Far too often these Rangers goal breakdown posts have started with “The Rangers played half a hockey game” or something to that effect. This was again the story last night, as the Rangers didn’t show up for the first half of the game, then let up in the third. All told, they played about 30% of a hockey game. You can’t win games doing this.
The Panthers are also a very good team. It’s clear the Rangers are missing pieces to truly compete. One of those pieces is a top six forward, probably a RW. The other is a bottom pair defenseman, or at the very least a defense pair shakeup.
Rangers 1, Panthers 0 – The Artemiy Panarin School for Dangling
First, a great pass by Ryan Strome out to Artemiy Panarin for the one-on-one chance. Then the absolute dangle to get free. Panarin actually fanned on the shot, which fooled Sergei Bobrovsky and went through his legs.
As an aside, fanning on a shot like that really messes with goalies. You can see from the replay that Panarin was looking to roof the shot, and Bobrovsky knew and anticipated it. Watch the blocker, he flinches in expecting the shot to go elsewhere. Always watch the goalie’s initial reaction to see if he was fooled by the shot.
Panthers 1, Rangers 1 – Poor team defense
The Rangers had an issue with team defense through the first period and a half, and it looked like they were standing around all game. This goal was no different, as the 3-on-2 rush led to a chance, control, then two chances in quick succession. The rebound goal by Anton Lundell was the result of Ryan Strome being unable to recognize Lundell was there and put a body on him. However the whole team failed on team defense through about a minute after this goal.
Rangers 2, Panthers 1 – Sneaky Panarin
Radko Gudas with the turnover on a great play by Panarin to lift the stick. Then Mackenzie Weegar was put in a difficult spot to try to defend that 2-on-1, and you can tell from his stick placement that he lost sight of Zibanejad for a second. Weegar’s stick was where Zibanejad was, not where he was going.
Panthers 2, Rangers 2 – Tired legs
It’s clear the Rangers were gassed after they killed the penalty. Weegar found the seam in the Rangers defense and got himself open. He shot across Igor Shesterkin, who was clearly beat by the shot.
Panthers 3, Rangers 2 – Using Fox as a screen
Carter Verhaeghe used Adam Fox as the screen on this low shot that beat Shesterkin. Looks like he got a piece of it too. This is one you want Shesterkin to stop.
Panthers 4, Rangers 2 – Duclair makes them pay
Anthony Duclair, famous for being included in the Keith Yandle trade, made plays at both ends of the ice to seal it for the Panthers. First he blocked the Nils Lundkvist shot and started the rush the other way. He started the give-and-go, finishing with a beautiful shot over Shesterkin’s glove.
Panthers 4, Rangers 3 – Kreider again
Chris Kreider kept this interesting off the faceoff. Panarin’s shot was deflected by Zibanejad on the way in, and Kreider was at the back door. The Rangers had the goalie pulled, thus the man advantage.
Game Flow
The Rangers forgot about hockey through the first half of the game, but got better halfway through the second period, save for a late flurry by Florida. The third started out more even than it looked, especially with Florida scoring. But those lapses and forgetting there was hockey showed up on the scoresheet and in the overall expected goals share.
Shot Heat Map
This is the kind of heat map you expect to see from a game like this. Florida was getting chances from all over, with the Rangers just standing around and not challenging them. This was not a good game by the Rangers, and the Panthers are also a good team.
The Rangers are a good hockey team. But what keeps them from being a great hockey team is both consistency and team makeup. They need a top six forward and a bottom pair defenseman. They also need a lot more from Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko. They are banking on these two being big time producers, and neither are doing it right now. If that doesn’t happen, then there isn’t much hope for a true contention period.
Charts from Natural Stat Trick and Hockeyviz.
Share:
More About:Game Wrap-ups