Rangers’ Late Push Falls Short Against Avalanche
On Saturday afternoon, the Rangers managed to score their second tying goal in a span of three games during a 6-on-5 situation against the Avalanche.
“They’ve really taken to the structure we’ve implemented,” head coach Mike Sullivan commented after the team fell 3-2 in overtime to Colorado at home. “They’re executing well. They’re making smart plays and getting the puck on net. Initially, I thought, with 6-on-5 play, we’d be looking to pass into the net. It’s tricky. Most 6-on-5 goals come from just driving the puck because of the number of players on the ice. You want to outnumber them near the net and create some traffic.” He further elaborated, “With all that congestion, you might get a deflection or a rebound chance, or something from the blue line that the goalie can’t see. That’s how you find success in these situations.”
As the clock wound down in the third period, the Rangers kept the pressure on the Avalanche in their zone, showcasing solid puck movement.
Then, with just 40.9 seconds remaining, Artemi Panarin found the back of the net for his 10th goal of the season, leveling the score at 2-2. His team-high 31 points helped force overtime, securing at least a point for the home side. However, Nathan MacKinnon struck again in overtime, notching his second goal of the game and snatching the win for Colorado.
“We’ve been encouraging the guys to focus more on playing the puck, creating those broken plays,” Sullivan noted. “We want to generate more shots, create opportunities off the shot, so to speak. It seems like they’re on board with that.”
After making some line adjustments earlier in the week, Sullivan retained that lineup for Saturday’s game. Conor Sheary, positioned on the right side of the top line with Vincent Trocheck and JT Miller, succeeded in making his mark. Meanwhile, Johnny Brodzinski filled in on the left wing of the fourth line along with Sam Carrick and Taylor Radish.
In what was his 26th game for the Rangers, Sheary scored his first goal for the team, marking a significant moment for the 33-year-old as his last NHL goal came back on April 11, 2024.
On the injury front, goaltender Jonathan Quick was placed on injured reserve but made his return to the lineup, backing up Igor Shesterkin against the Avalanche. Quick had been out since Nov. 22 due to a lower-body injury and is expected to be ready for the game against the Golden Knights on Sunday night. Shesterkin had a busy day, making 39 saves out of 42 shots in his seventh start over the past two weeks.
Defenseman Adam Edstrom was again sidelined, missing his third consecutive game due to a lower-body injury.
Additionally, the Rangers placed Brandon Scanlin on waivers, as he is looking to officially join the Wolfpack after recovering from a lower-body injury since the start of the season.
