The Rangers' home opener did not go as planned. New York was sloppy defensively, especially K'Andre Miller and Mika Zibanejad, though they were joined by Jacob Trouba in that regard. Igor Shesterkin was decent, not great in the loss, though the team in front of him, and once behind the net, did him few favors. Artemi Panarin continued to impress, as did his trio and especially the third line. The Blueshirts take on the Red Wings and several familiar faces Monday,
1) Rough game by Mika, capped by leaving the front of net on 3-on-3, leading to the GWG by Clayton Keller. This play just capped a poor night by Zibanejad, who was minus-four in the contest. The Chris Kreider-Zibanejad-Reilly Smith trio were minus-seven in the game. Zibanejad is once again deferring too much and was surprisingly vastly outplayed by the Keller line. Compare and contrast that with how well the second and third lines are playing and his struggles are highlighted. He has to be vastly better even if he is now the second- and first-line center.
2) Bad turnover by Miller, who attempted a drop pass behind the net to Adam Fox, which was read perfectly by Alex Kerfoot. The puck was stolen and dished to Keller for his first of the game. That play was mildly offset by Miller's flukey goal that went off the glass and in the net when Connor Ingram went behind the net too early to play the puck. But Miller also missed an open net deep on a rebound to complete his mixed effort.
3) Solid play by the third line. Will Cuyle-Filip Chytil Kaapo Kakko were New York's most effective trio for the second consecutive game, with all three skaters finishing with plus-three ratings while outshooting Utah, 10-3, and out-attempting them, 15-6, according to Natural Stat Trick. Cuylle notched the game tying goal deflecting home a rebound attempt from Adam Fox after Cuylle was stoned in front following a brilliant feed from Kakko. That capped a dominant shift by that trio.
I know many focus on Kakko's inability to score. But if you haven't noticed just how well he has played, then you are clearly not watching close enough. If this unit can maintain the level of effort we have seen in the first two games, (and Chytil can stay healthy) the unit will be very dangerous during the season.
4) Brutal game by the officials. The goalie interference penalty on Cuylle was questionable, the overturned goal by Victor Mancini with Matt Rempe skates in top of blue seemed even more egregious. Wes Macaulay had his one shining moment at the opening faceoff, acknowledging Sam Rosen. After that, it was all downhill.
Cuylle was checked by Mikhail Sergachev, which put him into the path of Ingram, who was aggressive in coming out of the net. How was Cuylle avoiding him? Plus, I am all for protecting the goalies, but in this case, Ingram created the potential contact with his aggressive move.
Will Cuylle was called for goalie interference on this play.
Rempe was barely in the blue paint of the crease. He was checked by the defender, partially impeding his path forward. Ingram had room to move forward and make a save. He sold the inability to make a save narrative, earning the call.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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