The Rangers found a new way to lose today. After going up three, despite a few goal reviews going against them, they simply stopped playing. Edmonton scored four goals in the third to take two points that the Rangers decided they didn’t want. This team was an embarrassment on the ice, and they deserve every single ounce of criticism they get right now.
First, the Rangers had no speed at all in this game. Despite going up three, they always felt like they were a step slow. The effort is certainly being called into question, as dumb penalties, bad coverages, lazy line changes, and lack of consistent offensive zone time and shots led to the Rangers losing.
Third, coaching. Gerard Gallant allowed himself to be outcoached by a bad team. Gallant didn’t use a timeout when he should have after the Oilers came back. He put together horrible lines, which we questioned in the pregame. He didn’t adjust throughout. This is the problem we saw in the playoff last year. He’s a player’s coach, but he has issues with in-game management.
The Rangers didn’t deserve two points. They didn’t deserve three goals. What they do deserve is criticism and embarrassment. And a lot of it. This was pathetic.
Rangers 1, Oilers 0
Adam Fox is a wizard with the puck and getting passes through, that we know. A lot of credit to Alexis Lafreniere for getting body position in front and getting his stick on the ice to give Fox a target.
Rangers 2, Oilers 0
After three disallowed goals, the Rangers finally got one that couldn’t be overturned. Chris Kreider forced the turnover in the defensive zone, then Panarin forced a turnover on the forecheck that led to the Libor Hajek chance that trickled wide. Kreider was able to bank it in from behind the net.
Rangers 3, Oilers 0
The fourth line had a goal taken away for questionable goalie interference, but they got one they couldn’t take away. This was all out net-front pressure, with Julien Gauthier eventually getting a loose puck with all the chaos in front. But this play starts with the Oilers unable to keep the zone after a shot wide and a misplay at the point, leading to an odd man rush and the sustained pressure.
Rangers 3, Oilers 1
Evan Bouchard broke the shutout with a great point shot. The Rangers did a good job not allowing shots from high danger areas on this shift, but Barclay Goodrow committed too much to the high slot man that was already covered, opening the passing lane to a creeping in Bouchard at the top of the circle.
Rangers 3, Oilers 2
Libor Hajek lost a two-on-one puck battle behind the net, which led to a clear passing lane to the high slot to Bouchard. It looked like Shesterkin was slightly screened on this one.
Rangers 3, Oilers 3
The Rangers were very sloppy in the third. They had a bad line change, lazy to the puck, and lazy on the defending. Dylan Holloway was able to walk in on the loose puck and beat Shesterkin.
Oilers 4, Rangers 3
The Rangers blew it once Ryan Lindgren got hurt. Alexis Lafreniere in the box for roughing, and two cross ice passes later, the Rangers lost.
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