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Shesterkin-Georgiev didn't disappoint, Colorado wins 3-2 in shootout |
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New York fell 3-2 in a shootout to Colorado on Tuesday, It was Igor Shesterkin, 42 saves, against Alexandar Georgiev, 44 saves, 180 feet apart in net, Each netminder was on their game. The advanced metrics showed that both had goals saved above expected in all situations of 1.9, though from a live watch, it sure looked like Shesterkin had the more difficult chances to stop. It will be New York-New York tonight on the Island.
Game recap:
Lines:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere
Vesey-Goodrow-Kravtsov
Blais-Carpenter-Reaves
Miller-Trouba
Lindgren-Fox
Hajek-Schneider
Shesterkin
Halak
A few thoughts:
1) Shesterkin's giveaway led to a shorthanded goal early in the third. His turnover later on an attempted stretch pass resulted in a high danger chance. One turnover in two years; I will live with those results given how chances he creates and the amount of pressure he takes off the defense. But he was brilliant beyond that, including his robbery of Mikko Rantanen on a breakaway, see below, and bailing out Artemi Panarin in the third. A slight concern for me is how his leg bent and almost got caught underneath him on Evan Rodrigues' game-winner in the shootout, Based on his workload, I expect Jaroslav Halak to be between the pipes against his former team with Igor as the backup.
2) Jacob Trouba had an eventful game. The puck hopped over his stick leading to Rantanen's chance above. Pass to Barclay Goodrow on 3-on-2 led to a goal after Sam Girard's shot on the other end went just wide. Trouba was physical throughout, though I don't think he and K'Andre Miller had their best performances.
3) Support performers - while the advance metrics may not reflect it, I thought Hajek had a fairly solid game. He pinched several times, reading the play well, and was solid enough in his own. Vesey, in the lineup for Filip Chytil, made a beautiful pass to Adam Fox to tie the game. Goodrow, moved up to center the third line in place of Chytil, had a goal and an assist.
While the third line was productive, I didn't think the top-line had a great night on either end of the ice. Chris Kreider was stoned several times in the slot and Mika Zibanejad was just okay at best, making 2-3 games in a row where he was average. In addition, he lost all of his draws in the extra session preventing the team from possessing the puck forcing them to chase.
The Rangers' second line of Panarin, Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafrenière was the only constant threat, as that trio out-shot Colorado, 15-8, and compiled eight high-danger scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick, as reported by Vince Mercogliano. Panarin had the most jump of the top-six, making several nice plays to create chances, including the partial breakaway in overtime. The other three lines were outshot by a combined margin of 10-20 and out-chanced, 3-12, though the third line contributed to both goals scored by New York.
New York made too many turnovers in the neutral zone or in their own zone. Those mistakes allowed Colorado to counter attack. If it wasn't for igor, no way the Blueshirts earn a point.
4) Special teams were the difference. Colorado went 1-for-3 on the man-advantage while New York went 0-for-4. In addition, the Avs tallied shorthanded. New York was too predictable, trying to overload one side to set up Zib for a one-timer. That was the case in the overtime, as the Rangers failed to really generate much 4-on-3.
Overall, much better than against San Jose and Columbus. With the shootout loss, New York is 1-2-2 in their last five. After the islander game tonight, the team has two days off before facing Dallas and Arizona on the road on back-to-back nights.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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