In a game that looked eerily similar to Game 3 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals, New York fell 6-3 to Tampa Bay. Up 2-0 with a chance to blow the LIghtning out of the water, the Rangers failed to put down the hammer. A bad turnover by Jonny Brodzinski led to the first goal for the home team. Tied at three in the third, a weak penalty call resulted in a PPG for Tampa Bay and it was basically lights out for the Rangers. New York continues their brutal schedule in Pittsburgh at 3pm on Saturday and home vs. the Islanders on Sunday at 1pm.
Game recap:
Rangers lineup vs. Lightning:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Roslovic
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafrenière
Cuylle-Wennberg-Kakko
Vesey-Goodrow-Brodzinski
A few thoughts:
1) Composure/structure - this ended up being a game where the Rangers lost a little composure and got out of their defensive structure. For the first half or so of the game, New York did a good job on both aspects. The last half of the contest, it was wide open hockey, which benefited the Lightning.
Part of the reason for that breakdown was injuries and loss of manpower. As Vince Mercogliano enumerated, Mika Zibanejad took a puck to the jaw that took him out of the game for a stretch of about nine minutes and forced him to a wear a full face shield for the final period, Artemi Panarin hurt his hand on a slash by Victor Hedman, and Alexis Lafrenière, Ryan Lindgren, who also missed time due to a cut (shocker there) and Alex Wennberg each blocked shots that left them hunched over in pain.
When Zib went out, all went to hell in a handbasket. If you give Tampa top-six, but especially. Stamkos, Point and Kucherov, an inch or an opening, you are done. But when coach Peter Laviolette started mixing and matching personnel, that emboldened the Lightning and helped turn the tide. A component of that flipping of the game was Jonny Brodzinski's turnover that resulted in a 2 on 1 and lead cut in half. That's a mistake you can't make, not the giveaway per se, because they happen, but where that occurred.
2) Physical play - I could have included this in composure but will put it here. Everyone knows Igor dislikes people in his crease as well as contact. The Lightning lived just on the edge of goalie interference and got under Shesterkin's skin, getting him out of his game. This is an area where Benoit Allaire has to work with Igor and help him remain calm because this will be the norm in the postseason.
In addition, Tampa upped their intensity in the second and third periods, which meant they raised their physical play. New York matched it but only slightly. For all the talk of how the team is better without Jacob Trouba, this type of game is where he was missed. The Rangers need to respond and not retaliate. What I mean is that they can't take penalties as a way to counter the physical play, but match that level and type of play with their own. If this happens in the playoffs, the pair of Trouba and Matt Rempe may not deter Tampa but they sure as heck won't let them get away with trying to run roughshod.
3) Top line - we saw what the Chris Kreider-Zib-Jack Roslovic line can bring to the table. Granted, their third period, save for the goal by Roslovic, wasn't great, but now you have three players that can create and get up quickly, especially Roslovic. The top-nine is certainly a lot deeper than it was a week ago. Now it's a matter of further creating and building on the burgeoning chemistry.
4) Lineup - the forwards will likely remain the same with Matt Rempe still out as don't think Adam Edstrom is recalled, unless someone who was banged up yesterday can't go. (Update: Edstrom was recalled Friday, so either some is banged up, Brodzinski will be benched or both and the Rangers are being smartly cautious just in case). On defense, I might consider dressing Chad Ruhwedel against his former team Saturday. Maybe sit Erik Gustafsson for a contest and having Ruhwedel pair with Zac Jones.
4) Deep breath - this was the third game in four days against a rested opponent. Not an excuse but just a fact. I am not going to go overboard due to one loss, though takeaways certainly are apparent. Carolina refuses to go away, Florida continues to win, but New York needs to just worry about the opponent lining up against them daily. Defeat Pittsburgh and the Islanders and you 5-1 with three games remaining, Winnipeg, Boston and Florida, in this brutal nine games stretch in 15 days before New York has two days off to recover.
5) Congrats to Hugo Olias, who signed his ELC with the Rangers. For all the criticism lobbed at Jeff Gorton and Gordie Clark, that 2020 draft class looks pretty darn good.
#NYR prospect Hugo Ollas (R7, 2020) signs his ELC with the Rangers!
He is the 6th player from his draft class to sign with the team, joining Alexis Lafrenière (R1), Braden Schneider (R1), Will Cuylle (R2), Dylan Garand (R4), Brett Berard (R5) and Matt Rempe (R6) https://t.co/RiSgkNIjOz
— Stat Boy Steven 🇳🇱 🇿🇦 (@StatBoy_Steven) March 15, 2024
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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