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Rangers fall 4-1 to Red Wings and look bad in process, Kane saga rolls on |
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The Rangers lost their third straight, falling 4-1 Thursday to the Red Wings. With the win, Detroit, who has been red-hot, moved into a playoff spot. Taking nothing away from the opponent, who did play well, the Blueshirts were pretty horrific, with lazy plays evident throughout the contest. The Blueshirts face the punting Caps in DC on ABC at 1PM on Saturday, before taking on LA at home at 5PM on Sunday.
Game recap:
A few thoughts:
1) Lazy play - on almost every goal against, you can find a lazy play. First goal, Mika Zibanejad allowed Andrew Copp to beat him down the slot to the far post and tap in the goal. Poor neutral and own zone play didn't help, but that's a pure hustle play. Pretty passing play from David Perron to Michael Rasmussen to Copp to set up the chance, but if Zib gets to spot first, he breaks up the dish to Copp.
Second goal is on Tyler Motte. There is no excuse as to why the puck did not get out of the defensive zone. But turnover at the line, Jaroslav Halak off his angle and Filip Zadina beats him wide side. The tally came after some pressure by the Rangers, which was toned by Vile Husso, who was good in the game. That said, Motte gets the puck out and the score might remain tied at one.
After Adam Fox was stoned by Husso, Detroit made it 3-1.The robbery came on a shot where Husso made a brilliant save, but if Fox lifts the puck, it's a goal, but thats 20-20 hindsight, Filip Chytil made a good play to retrieve the puck, circle the offensive zone and find Ryan Lindgren wide side. Lindgren made a perfect dish to Fox in the slot for the deflection that was stoned by Husso kicking the leg out and getting a piece of the shot.
The goal came after an offensive turnover by Vladimir Tarasenko, who was lazy getting back defensively. Detroit came in 3-on-2 due to Tarasenko's laziness creating the chance. Halak stopped the first shot by Perron, but he ended up out of position, allowing Michael Rasmussen a wide open net. If you aren't scoring, then you sure as heck better play defense or at least get back. Tarasenko did neither.
Detroit's last goal came on a penalty caused by too many men on the ice. New York had a shorthanded chance that went awry and the Red Wings came down and scored. Game over.
2) The issues we have seen the past few games were highly evident last night. Turnovers, poor defensive structure, so-so goaltending at best and lazy backchecking or own zone coverage. For all the talk about getting Patrick Kane, New York has lost three in a row. The Calgary game is excusable to a certain extent and maybe Winnipeg after Connor Hellebuyck stoned then due to fatigue, but those arguments can't be used last night. While the team looks to be set in third in the division, nothing is finalized yet and hard to fully rationale last night - since third meh game in a row - as just one of those nights.
3) The Kane saga will likely play on for one more week, unless he either says he won't agree to a deal or no cap saving moves, as has been laid out before, occur this weekend. With Vitali Kravtsov and Jake Leschyshyn scratched yesterday, the Rangers rolled 11 forwards and seven d-man, though Ben Harpur saw less than three minutes of action. Did anyone help have a panic attack when Motte left the game in the first period?
Until a final call is made, New York will likely continue with that alignment. With back-to-back games this weekend and during the week, the schedule is far from ideal for that alignment, especially if Harpur sees no or minimal ice time. Plus the team structure does get out of whack slightly when going with this roster.
As Vince Mercogliano noted and we surmised, all signs point to Kane pushing for a trade with the terms possibly favorable for New York. If he is acquired, the season kind of looks like Cup or bust, which will be no easy task. First, the East is loaded and Boston just got deeper. Even if you get through this gauntlet, the West will be no walk in the park. The cost to acquire may not be that great, but the bar has been raised if Kane is acquired.
Depth will be a question due to the minimal cap space available. The regular season - but especially playoffs - is a battle of attrition and no true depth will remain. For all this being said, unless Igor Shesterkin finds his game and/or the defense - which has not been good again lately - find their way, the Rangers will go nowhere, even with Kane. Winning 6-5 nightly in the playoffs is nearly impossible.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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