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Game 60: NJD 5 NYR 2, Strong First 15 Minutes Lost in Nightmarish Second |
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The Rangers took a strong first 15 minutes, decided it wasn't important to maintain that level of play, and tossed it in the garbage Tuesday. New York was blown out of the water in the second, allowing New Jersey to dictate the pace, fully control the play and score twice to take a 3-2 lead. The end result was a 5-2 loss to the Devils.
The same mistakes we saw during their 3-9-2 skid in late-November through December were on full display Tuesday. The lack of pressure on the puck, mind-numbing turnovers, poor communication in the defensive zone and opponents left alone by yards not just feet in prime scoring areas. Nearly all of these had been cleaned up since that slump, enabling New York to go 7-1-1 in their last nine and 13-5-2 in their previous 20 to grab second place in the Metro. It is that streak and strides made since the slump, coupled with absences of Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal, Rick Nash and Miller for the third as to why I am not going completely off the deep end this morning.
There is no question that the performance was lacking and in many cases, so was thee effort. There a few players you can single out for playing hard and well: Brady Skjei, who showed the growth he made since his last time here, Viktor Stalberg, maybe Marek Hrivik and Henrik Lundqvist in the second period. Other than that, besides maybe one or two good moments in the game, the rest of the team was pretty horrific. Chris Kreider continues to disappoint, more so with the lack of effort than his subpar performance. The blue line, save for Skjei, who had some difficult moments as well, didn't have a particularly strong game.
As others mentioned, it seems that each time they play the Devils or Islanders, they allow their opponent to dictate the play. We don't see that when they face others, even in the division. But against their long time proximate rivals, you also expect the Blueshirts to struggle and have to fight their way through a so-so effort while their opponents carry play.
Once again, on each goal, a mistake but in many cases, it would be great if the referees called the game the way correctly. Regardless of my rooting interest, call the game fairly and make the right calls. If it's a penalty, call it, if not, don't but as we know, wanting that is a pipe dream. The below is taken from the game recaps by Carp, Brooks and others with my thoughts added.
The issues started early, as New York gives up a terrible goal 4:47 into the game. Boyle with a coughup, McIlrath with a coughup, and Kevin Hayes engaging, then disengaging on Tyler Kennedy, who deflected Damon Severson’s shot past Lundqvist. What was missed on the play was the pick/hook by Josefson that obviously went uncalled, allowing the open space for the puck to get to Severson for the shot. (Blown call #1 by ref)
New York rebounded from the bad goal go take the lead after one. Great rush by Stalberg down the right wing and Hayes was in right place to put rebound past Cory Schneider. Then, strong play in the offensive zone enabled the Rangers to keep possession. Keith Yandle got a second chance after shanking his first shot. He faked the shot and put a pass on Dominic Moore stick/skate and it was 2-1. Then it all feel apart, as NJ picked up their game the last five minutes of the period.
The poor play really was evident the first 4:45 of he second, when NY allowed three odd-man rushes though New Jersey was unable to convert any. It proved to be just a momentary stay, as the Blueshirts were out-shot 17-5 and out-attempted 28-13 during the period in which New Jersey took the 3-2 lead.
The tying goal came on what has been a major weakness for New York, the penalty kill. The Rangers had been better the prior two games, going 9-for-9, but the problems that we have seen way too often was on full display on this shorthanded chance. As Carp wrote: "I wonder if opposing coaches giggle when they show video of Rangers’ PK. I mean, that same weak-side play, almost always in the left circle, or at the left post play is open game after game after game. This time it was Klein and Girardi both on the same side of the net, neither preventing the pass from getting through, and nobody – NOBODY – within yards of Kyle Palmieri in the greatest piece of real estate in the NHL: The left circle against the Rangers’ PK. Derek Stepan was the closest Ranger to him, but he probably was too far to read the license plate. Bang, 2-2. Almost 30 minutes left to play, but just a dagger of a goal."
This is a lack of communication and trust. Girardi was in the right spot to get forward just in from half boards. If he passes it down low, as he did, G has the right angle and probably time to get there. But Klein cheated too early and went down low leaving the front of the net open again. If Klein is going to do that, Stepan HAS to slide down low and leave the point open. Instead, he is lately getting there and it's in the net.
"Late in the second, on just an awful shift for the Kreider, Stepan, Zuccarello line in own end, Kreider had two chances to clear. Lee Stempniak endes up with the wide open one-timer at the left dot, from Blandisi, through Girardi’s screen, 3-2." Of course, unsaid in the above was the pick by Stempniak that allowed the puck to go unimpeded down low and behind the net, which ultimately resulted in the goal. (blown call #3). Also, can everyone stop saying AV misused Stemp last year and it's his fault he is not back. I don't remember anyone clamoring that Stemp deserved more time last season. Also, even after he went to Winnipeg and played pretty well, they didn't ask him. Plus, the other 27 teams had a chance to sign Stemp and no one did. New Jersey didn't give him a guarantee contract but a make good PTO, which he took full advantage of, so please spare me the convenient story that AV cost the Rangers Stemp and woe is them.
At the end of the second, JT Miller and Sergei Kalinin got into a fight. Due to rule 46.15, which in short calls for a match penalty for cutting or injuring opponent in fight while wearing tape below wrist, Miller was tossed. Even though the cut on Kalinin's nose was likely due to his visor coming down and cutting him, because the cut occurred during the fight Miller was tossed. Losing him cost NY their most physical and a top-six forward plus put the team shorthanded for five minutes.
Further on 46.15 in the NHL rule book, which also can be seen in Table 8 in the reference tables in the book: "Any player wearing tape or any other material on his hands (below the wrist) who cuts or injures an opponent during an altercation will receive a match penalty in addition to any other penalties imposed including for fighting under this rule."
Trainer Jim Ramsey was in disagreement with the call, since he believed the tape wasn't necessary below but at the wrist. Regardless of what he believes, the call was made. In his post-game presser, AV touched on this: "it's the call in the book. If you have tape above your wrist and the guy gets cut it's an automatic match penalty and that is what happened. I think there is a difference of opinion on the height of the wrist between our medical staff and what the refs saw. At the end of the day it's part of the game but the way we played in the second is why we didn't win. We just had a real bad period."
New York killed that penalty and a dunb one on Derick Brassard but couldn't generate any offense. New Jersey went into a shell, forcing the Rangers to dump the puck in and they couldn't manufacture any sustained threat. Late, down 3-2 on an offensive zone draw, the puck was on the boards. Boyle pinched, but he delayed a second or so before deciding to go in, which allowed Kalinin to get past him on a breakaway. Kalinin beat Lundqvist, which per Steve Valiquette was the sixth time in 16 breakaways that Hank had been beat, and it was lights out. I don't fully disagree with what Boyle did but if you are going to be aggressive then really be aggressive and not halfway, which is what happened when he waited a beat or two. Plus, with just about three minutes to go, you also have to be smart and make sure you can get there, given the situation, time remaining and where your defensive partner is situated. Lundqvist, after struggling earlier this year on breakaways, had been better lately but not this time.
This morning, as expected Skjei was sent down. This was done partially to save cap space and also because McDonagh and Staal, each of whom did not play Tuesday, should play Thursday against St. Louis. Even with those two back, personally, as I wrote in the blog comments, I would play Skjei, due to his skating ability, sit Boyle and possibly McIlrath. Go with McD-Klein, Yandle-Staal and Skjei-Girardi but we know that isn't happening.
Six days to the trade deadline.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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