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A mixed weekend, embarrassing performance versus Pens, comeback vs CLM |
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The Rangers should have had four points this weekend - they were fortunate to get two. A complete lack of effort from most of the lineup Friday resulted in a 3-2 loss to the Penguins, who were missing Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Facing a Columbus team without Kirill Marchenko and others, Will Cuylle notched a pair of third period goals to give the Blueshirts a 4-3 victory. That win coupled with losses by almost those ahead of them in the standings, left New York three points out of the second Wild Card spot.
Rangers lines vs: Penguins
Panarin-Miller-Zibanejad
Smith-Trocheck-Lafrenière
Kreider-Brodzinski-Cuylle
Vesey-Carrick-Rempe
Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Borgen
Jones-Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Scratches: Edström (lower-body injury), Vaakanainen (illness). Kaliyev
Rangers lineup in Columbus:
Panarin-Miller-Vesey
Cuylle-Trocheck-Lafrenière
Kreider-Zibanejad-Kaliyev
Smith-Carrick-Rempe
Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Borgen
Vaakanainen-Schneider
Quick
Garand
Scratches: Shesterkin (upper-body), Jones, Brodzinski
IR: Edström (lower-body injury)
A few thoughts:
1) All you need to know about Friday’s loss can be seen in what Steve Valiquette said. He notes you can tell who is in and who has checked out and going through the motions and it’s known in the room. The team’s performance against Pittsburgh was so bad that the length of coach Peter Laviolette’s post-game press conference rivaled a John Tortorella one from back in the day.
I can’t understand how a team can come off their best defensive performance in weeks against Boston two days’ prior and not show up. What’s at stake is pretty damn clear, yet most of the team opted not to show up. New York allowed a team with no shots in the third to still win the game. The lack of urgency was staggering. Even late in the game with a 6-on-4 thanks to a power play and empty net, Pittsburgh’s want to far exceeded the Rangers.
The adage used is if the Rangers went into the corner with fresh eggs, none would come out broken due to how soft they were on the forecheck. Against the Bruins, they were all over the place. Friday, the Penguins dictated the pace and physical level. One reaction would be to toss it in the trash. Another would be to go scorched earth. Laviolette kind of did both, not overreacting, but shifting up the lines to send a message.
In addition, to add injury to insult, Igor Shesterkin was hurt in a scrum in the first period. He played the rest of the contest, but we found out Saturday, he will miss 1-2 weeks. The 4 Nations Faceoff came at the right time, as he has close to two weeks to rest. Time will tell if he can play either Feb 22 or 22, if not, Jonathan Quick, who started Saturday will go one game and either Dylan Garand or Louis Dominguez, the other
2) Saturday - Laviolette moved Mika Zibanejad back to third line center, raised Jimmy Vesey to the top line, upped Cuylle to the second line, inserted Arthur Kaliyev, scratched Jonny Brodzinski, and shifted Reilly Smith down to the fourth line. On defense, Urho Vaakanainen was back in, replacing Zac Jones. Quick was between the pipes.
For the most part, New York was very good, save for the second half of the first period. The effort lacking Friday was vastly improved. The Blueshirts got in on the forecheck, especially in the third, when they shut down Columbus.
One person that needs to take the break, look himself in the mirror and get back to what we saw early this year is Alexis Lafreniere. He has been brutal. The lack of offense might be mildly tolerable if the focus on defense made up for it. But he has been invisible in D, failing to BlackRock, letting his man go past him, and costing the team several goals. Honestly, he should have been benched in each of the last two games but wasn’t. That’s on Laviolette.
3) Will and Skill (hat tip, John Giannone). One of the players slumping who needs to raise his game is Cuylle. Unlike Laf, he has been noticeable physically. Yesterday, he was noticeable on the scoresheet.
- had two goals his prior 24 games, scored the game-tying and -winning goal in the third
- second multi-goal game of his career, first was versus St. Louis
4) New York gets to into the break on a mild high. A win Friday would have really given them a boost. When they play as this did Wednesday and Saturday, this team is very difficult to beat. But all too often, the performance is like Friday.
Whoever is not in the 4 Nations tourney, needs to get their rest for the stretch run. Those that are, hopefully no one gets injured and the games are worthwhile. I will cover those playing in my blogs and left me know what else you want to see.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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