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Gerard Gallant/Artemi Panarin accurately describe NYR play in loss to NYI |
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The Rangers were horse bleep and pooped their pants in the team's 3-0 loss to the Islanders. Those words are not mine, but of coach Gerard Gallant and Artemi Panarin. My words would have a few more modifiers but the sentiments are 1000% accurate. New York was brutal in the loss. All the good vibes from the recent winning streak went out the window Friday.
Semyon Varlamov is the Islanders' version of Pedro Martinez, as he is the Rangers' daddy. Varly's shutout Friday was his fourth against the Blueshirts, as he pretty much owns the team. The Rangers were unable to generate any sort of consistent offense, allowing the Islanders to dictate style and pace, playing right into their hands.
Friday's contest was one of those where the advanced stats don't really reflect what happened on the ice. (Yes, I know many of you feel that is the case all the time). As Vince Mercogliano noted, the Rangers out-shot the Isles, 27-18, and limited them to six high-danger scoring chances at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick. But that low-event style plays right into the methodical Islanders' hands. The Blueshirts needed to be the aggressor, forcing the Isles to adjust their style of play, which did not happen Friday and has failed to happen in many games the last several seasons between the two teams.
Braden Schneider had a rough night Friday, as he was on ice for all three goals against. Two of those tallies came as a direct result of turnovers or poor own zone play. As a result, and based on what we saw in practice yesterday, look for Justin Braun to get back in the lineup tonight after sitting the last five games in the press box, paired with Patrik Nemeth.
Mercogliano noted this in his column today.. March featured significant improvement with the Rangers' five-on-five results. A large driver of that improvement was the additions of Frank Vatrano, Andrew Copp and Tyler Motte. Those three have lengthened the lineup and made the Blueshirts much tougher to play against 5x5. On the flip side, the Rangers have not done as good of a job at drawing penalties or converting on the man-advantage compared to earlier in the year.
"New York entered the month averaging just 2.22 goals per 60 minutes at 5v5, according to Evolving Hockey, but they registered a 2.72 GF/60 in the next 15 games. They also entered March with a 45.77% shot share, according to Natural Stat Trick, and then posted a much-improved 51.34% for the month. The defensive metrics took a turn for the better, too, including going from a 2.57 xGA/60 to a 2.43."
On the flip side, Igor Sheshterkin entered March like a lion but exited like a lamb. After taking a .940 save percentage into March, the 26-year old has looked human his last eight starts. Igor has gone 4-4 while posting a SV% of .879 or worse four times, including in Friday's loss to the Isles where he allowed three goals in 25 starts. He is well-rested, which might be an issue, but come playoffs time, he pretty much will play every other night, getting back in a rhythm,
Ryan Strome, out again Friday, skated yesterday and is a game-time decision tonight. If he does play, centering the second line, look for him to be joined by Panarin and copp. Dryden Hunt may be the odd man out with Julien Gautheir dressing and skating to the right of Alexis Lafreniere and Filip Chytil on the third line. Tyler Motte, Barclay Goodrow and Ryan Reaves is the probable fourth line with Jonny Brodzinski and Greg McKegg as the ther forward scratches.
Beat Philly today, get back to playing Rangers' hockey. Colorado did New York a favor by beating Pittsburgh yesterday, keeping the Rangers a point ahead of the Penguins with a game still in hand. Pretty soon, we can startv the magic number count for clinching the postseason. Get a solid win tonight and the bad taste from Friday will be partially eradicated.
Bobby Trivigno had a heck of a debut with a pair of assists for Hartford.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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