The Rangers playoff hopes came to a crashing end Saturday as they fell 2-1 to the Lightning in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. With the win Tampa moves on to the Stanley Cup Finals against Colorado. A season of growth, resiliency and a run that galvanized the fanbase providing even more hope for the future ended - for now - with the defeat. An off-season of uncertainty and questions to be answered, especially in the lineup construction, looms.
Game recap:
A few thoughts:
1)
Lineup: even before the game started, the first guessing began. Coach Gerard Gallant, more on him later, hinted at possible lineup changes to jumpstart the offense. Vince Mercogliano reported that Kakko Kappo, a restricted free agent after the season, was one of the last to leave the ice from the morning skate, which normally is a time for the expected scratches usually stay late to get extra work in. That was the first clue that Kakko might sit, sending Rangers twitter into an uproar.
When the pre-game skate started, Kakko was on the second line as Ryan Strome had left the ice. Strome returned and it was announced that Kakko was a healthy scratch. Let this sink in, facing elimination, Gallant played Dryden Hunt and a physically compromised Strome over Kakko.
Gallant shuffled the lines, moving Alexis Lafreniere from the third to the first line, swapping spots with Chris Kreider. The second line remained intact. Barclay Goodrow went from the fourth to the third line, replacing Kakko, with Hunt sliding in for Goodrow on the bottom trio.
Lafrenière-Zibanejad-Vatrano
Panarin-Strome-Copp
Kreider-Chytil-Goodrow
Motte-Rooney-Hunt
Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Trouba
Braun-Schneider
Shesterkin
2)
Tampa Bay was the deserving winner. New York scored one goal 5x5 in almost the final 216 minutes of the series. That's one goal in over three-and-a-half games. Weak production like that makes it almost impossible to win. This was likely one of the drivers for the changes made by Gallant, though clearly these were not the right buttons to push. But all the credit should go the Lightning, who showed the heart of a champion, rallying for 2-0 down in games and in Game 3 to win the series.
3)
Igor Shesterkin was the only reason why the game was close. At least half-a-dozen brilliant saves to keep New York in the contest. I am sure he would love another chance at saving Steven Stamkos' first goal. Igor was caught moving to his left and too deep in his net to stop Stamkos' cross-ice shot. On the second goal, Shesterkin made the save but he was unable to keep the puck in his glove, which allowed Stamkos to knock the puck in the net with his thigh.
Igor was in Vezina and Hart form most of the game. The only reason why it was 0-0 midway through the contest was his fine play. Tampa came in waves with several odd-man rushes and breakaways, yet Shesterkin was up to the task repeatedly. If there was one player who answered the bell in every game this round, it was Shesterkin.
4)
Gallant was a major reason why New York made it this far. He brought an adult and accountability to the locker room. The team responded to his coaching style. But his lack of in-game adjustments, questions regarding his X-and-O and lack of a clear system ultimately hurt New York and will make this off-season interesting.
What will really put his feet under the fire will be his decision to scratch Kakko. During the series, Gallant had stressed the need for more speed, better forechecking and increased physicality, which aren't Kakko's strengths and may explain the thinking behind his decision to scratch him in favor of Hunt. All that said, it's possible, and likely probable. that there is a lot more to the story, which may come out over the next few days and weeks.
But on the face of it, you have a coach who for some reason refused to play the team's most effective trio for more than 10-12 minutes a game. Scratching for Kakko for Hunt, as noted above, might have made a modicum of sense, but still would be head scratching. This would be half bad if all else was equal, but in an elimination game, Gallant dressed a forward that was limping leaving the arena that morning and had not been that effective to date rather than a player who could have made a difference. Not that Kakko had been particularly great, but he was healthy and a better option than an injured player.
After the contest when given a chance to explain the move, he opted not to provide any insight. Not just once, but twice, with a tone the second time while creating additional questions by his response. He could have said coach's decision, which at least would be an answer, but we got nothing.
On the lineup changes, “I’m not gonna talk about it.”
On scratching Kakko, “I”m not gonna talk about it, today’s not the time right now, for me.”
5)
21 seconds - hope lasted that long. After Frank Vatrano tied the game on a PPG, Tampa struck back. Why Jacob Trouba and K'Andre Miller were on the ice after just having been on for the PP is a major question. How Trouba was caught so flatfooted and why he was at the Tampa blueline as well as how Ondrej Palat's cross-ice pass had so much room to get to Nikita Kucherov are additional questions. Trouba's slow reaction and inability to pivot quicker gave Kucherov all the room in the world to find Stamkos for what proved to be the game- and series-winner. Another late-game tally for the Lightning, their third of the series.
The run was magical. It galvanized the fanbase and brought hope back after five years away from the postseason. This was an easy team to like, due to the character in the room and on the ice. The #NoQuitInNY was proved true during the regular season with 27 come from behind victories and especially the first two rounds of the postseason.That's what makes this loss so painful, as they were so far and you never know if you will get back again. Down the road, we will look back on this season in an even better light. For now though the pain of losing is palpable.
Thanks to all who have read and commented on the blogs during the year. I am deciding if I need a bit of a mental break before my next blog or a break in general. Been a heck of a year and one of the more enjoyable runs the team has had, despite it finishing just a bit earlier than we all would have liked
New York Rangers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»