Looks like they’ve caught up with the Rangers. Here’s the team’s inability to come up with a signature effort in Thursday’s 4-1 loss at the Garden to a Flyers team weighed down by eight straight losses (0-6-2). , is the only semi-acceptable explanation. 23 goals.
There was a lack of precision, a lack of energy and a lack of will in this game as the Rangers lost their second consecutive year in regulation for the first time since Jan. 18-20 and third time in the last six games.
They are pushing towards the finish line and are working hard to secure first place in both the East and Metropolitan Divisions. This would A) give the Rangers home ice advantage for at least the first three rounds of the tournament; And, just as importantly, the B’s will avoid a first-round matchup with Tampa Bay.
This is all at stake now. The Rangers hold a three-point lead over both the Hurricanes (Metro Division) and Bruins in the East Division, with both clubs having three games remaining while the Blueshirts have two games remaining.
The Rangers can still control their own destiny with the magic number of four points. They need to defeat the Islanders at home on Saturday and then defeat the Senators in the final game at the Garden on Monday to qualify. If not, you will need help. This comes after losses to the Islanders on Tuesday and to the Flyers this week.
“We’ve been put in a tougher situation and we have two big games coming up,” Jacob Trouba said. Jacob Trouba played physically, but continued to struggle with his puck judgment. “We treat them accordingly.”
These two losses were not a blessing in disguise for the Blueshirts as they were not 24-5-1 for a long time. If fatigue is a factor, it could easily be resolved between the end of the regular season and Game 1 of the playoffs, which is expected to be played next Saturday or Sunday.
Head coach Peter Laviolette has repeatedly said he has no intention of experimenting in the final week of the regular season, so no opportunity is lost in that regard. There was never a plan to take players off for rest. That hasn’t changed.
However, the Rangers lacked sharpness at 5-on-5 for a while. The power play has been good, with seven goals in the last four games, but the club has only scored four goals at 5-on-5 over that span.
The unit of Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Jack Roslovic was “Silent Night” quiet in this game, Roslovic’s second since watching last Sunday’s game against Montreal in street clothes. The Blueshirts need more from No. 96 at that spot — more fighting level — or they are obligated to try Jimmy Vesey at BFF again. If such a thing really exists, it would mess up the balance of the 4 lines.
Speaking of loan signings, Alexander Wennberg has filled the role of third-line center admirably with his responsible 200-by-85-foot play, but the Rangers need more from the Swede in the offensive zone. Vincent Trocheck, Artemi Panarin (who scored his 47th on the power play against Philadelphia) and Alexis Lafrenière are under strain as the unit of Wennberg, Will Quill and Kaapo Kakko struggles to produce. is too big.
You know what one-line teams do in the playoffs?
They lose quickly, that’s what they do.
Trouba has had issues since the captain returned from a lower-body injury on March 30 that kept him out for 11 games. Compounding the problem is that his partner Quandre Miller has regressed and lost the traction he seemed to be gaining during the second half of this disappointing season.
Since Trouba’s return, the pair have scored one goal and nine points. This equates to minus-8 in seven games at 5-on-5. If Laviolette is prone to experimenting, Saturday’s home game against the Islanders could be a good time to look in the mirror again with Braden Schneider. However, that would go against the veteran coach’s form.
Remember when Matt Lempe brought energy, fighting spirit, and swagger to the mix? For that matter, Lempe played in at least one out of every 3-5 games, and for generations… Remember when you gave your team an identity to counter typecasting?
Neither do I.
