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Gm 3: SQF: CAR 4 NYR 1, Outplayed, outclassed, outscored, series over |
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The Rangers lost 4-1 to the Hurricanes on Tuesday, becoming the first team to be eliminated from the play-in round. New York was outplayed, outclassed and outscored during the series with Carolina's top line setting the tone supplemented by the bottom-six. If there is a silver lining, the Blueshirts now have a 1 in 8 chance at winning the Alexis Lafrienere sweepstakes, but that is small consolation at this point.
Condensed game:
David Quinn post-game:
I am going to keep this blog relatively brief. We all saw what happened on the ice. Carolina was by far the better team, so they deserve and warrant all the credit they get. Offense, defense, special teams, goaltending and coaching all favor the 'Canes. New York as a whole scored four times, one each coming from Mika Zibanejad, Artemiy Panarin and Chris Kreider, in that order in the series, one of the three scoring in each game. The Andrei Svechnikov-Sebastian Aho-Teuvo Teravainen line combined for 15 points, including three goals each for Svechnikov and Aho.
Defensively, the Hurricanes took advantage of the Rangers' inability to possess the puck or break out of their own zone to counter attack at will and pin New York deep. The Blueshirts failed exits were the gift that kept on giving to the 'Canes, resulting in several goals in each contest. Look at the first goal last night. Carolina had the puck for 1:14 in the offensive zone, 1:05 of which, Marc Staal didn't have a stick. No forward gave him his, which would have been the correct move. Then, the forward could have skated off, having New York defend a 5-on-4 until the long change - because it was the second period and the Blueshirts were the home team - was completed.
When the Rangers did mount somewhat of an attack, Petr Mrazek and James Reimer, yes, the same Reimer who hadn't started a playoff game in seven years, were basically brick walls in net with Gold Glove caliber save work. Heading into the series, we all thought New York had the edge in the net. This proved not to be the case by a wide margin.
This series exposed the Rangers' lack of depth beyond the top-two or really two-plus lines as well as a lack of grit and sandpaper. Brendan Lemieux had a solid game in his return to action, staying on the good side of drawing penalties while not taking silly ones of his own. When Lemiuex plays that well, he is effective. Unfortunately, consistency in that regard has been an issue in the past. I also thought Jacob Trouba had a good game, despite his misplay on Aho's goal. But if he has this type of effort game in and game out moving forward, I will be happy.
New York needs to bolster the bottom six and have an identity. Right now, what is the identity of this team? Under Torts and AV, we knew the identity. We may not have always liked it, but we knew it. Two years in under Quinn, I don't think we know what the team's identity is. Determining what that is and showing it on the is will help the team hopefully get to the next level.
if the series didn't show how important Jesper Fast is, nothing will. I don't know if his presence would have made a difference, but the squad was a shell of themselves without him. This is one reason why I want him back. Ryan Strome, and especially Tony DeAngelo, did not help their RFA cause. Both players had weak series, with ADA struggling on both ends of the ice, with the worst of it coming in his own zone. It's possible the injury that made him a game-time decision throughout the series impacted him. But we do know he has a pair of broken ankles after Aho embarrassed him on the tally that in essence clinched Game 3 and series.
If this is the end for Henrik Lundqvist in New York, his tenure finishes on a down note. Nothing is set in stone, but at best, all signs point to him backing up Igor Shesterkin next season if he remains a Ranger. But, a strong possibility exists he will be elsewhere, either on another NHL team, playing in Sweden or retired. I will get into my views of him, and at worse, he is either the goalie or behind Mike Richter on the team's Mount Rushmore.(updated: one possible rumor with two parts floating about for a while is that Lundqvist would retire to play in Frolunda with his twin Joel and then return the following season to New York to be a team ambassador, similar to and in a broader role than Rod Gilbert)
Player personnel evaluation and the system have to both come under scrutiny. In the last three years, New York gave up or moved Ryan Graves. Neal Pionk and Brady Skjei. All three played better elsewhere and not by a small margin. Was this due to coaching, the system or player evaluation or all of the above? My view is the latter, which shines a spotlight - not in a positive direction - on the failings of all three.
Thanks to all those who have read me this year. I appreciate those who stuck with the blogs during the pandemic. Deciding if I need a bit of a mental break before my next blog or a break in general. I will be back for sure with a blog after the draft lottery due to the impact to the Blueshirts. In addition, I likely will break out my top questions for New York this offseason, like I did in the past.
A teaser to those questions:
1) Should Ryan Strime be brought back and if so, what kind of deal?
2) Has Jesper Fast played his last game as a Blueshirt?
3) Did Tony DeAngelo price himself out of the team;s plans with his regular season or did his price tab dip enough due to his poor series versus Carolina?
4) Is David Quinn the right coach for the team moving forward? How concerning is his ability to adjust in-game and between games?
5) Should we prepare the jersey raising for Henrik Lundqvist now?
6) Can Filip Chytil be the second line center if Strome is not brought back?
7) With Nils Lundkvist and K'Andre Miller in the pipeline, does New York have enough D to get the next level?
8) Will Vitali Kravtsov be in the Opening Night lineup?
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