Thoughts on Rangers (1-3-1) thus far:
The first game against the Islanders (4-0) loss was a bad a start to the season as you can have. The 5-0 win two nights later, was an amazing bounce-back game, with Artemi Panarin, and Pavel Buchnevich notching two goals each, Kappo Kakko finding paydirt, and Alexander Georgiev notching the shutout, in his first start in 10 months, for the Rangers. The offense got to Islanders goalie Iloy Sororkin early, and often.
Then, the Devils game at MSG was where we made a couple of defensive mistakes, and sophomore Jack Hughes (2 goals, 1 assist) burned us, while goaltender McKenzie Blackwood Blackwood stymied our 50 shot effort, with 47 saves, in a 4-3 New Jersey win. Despite the loss, the Rangers netted two power play goals from Chris Kreider, and Mika Zibanejad, while Filip Chytil got one for New York in the third, but the comeback from a 4-1 deficit fell short.
Props to Igor though for replacing George, and keeping the Devils offense at bay.
On Friday, we blew 3-1 lead in a 4-3 shootout loss, with our power play bad, and us just getting worn out. Kakko, Chytil, and Fox scored, but a Pittsburgh comeback, helped by a Ryan Lindgren own goal sent the contest to overtime, and eventually a shootout.
The Rangers went 1 for3, with Artemi scoring, while Mika and Tony Deangelo were stopped. The Penguins went 2 for 3, getting the win, and spoiling the shutout of Igor Sheshterkin.
Sunday,, was once again us blowing a third period lead, and missing chances on the man advantage. Puck goes through Igor’s legs with 91 seconds left, and that’s it, in a devastating 3-2 loss to the Penguins. Collin Blackwell, and Ryan Strome scored for the Rangers who took a 2-1 lead into the third period before losing it.
Overall, offense needs to score more on the power play (4/23), and the goaltending tandem of Igor- Georgiev needs to get back to its superb ways last season, even though it’s a lot to ask for out of a young duo. Lafrenire also hasn’t registered a point yet; and we need some more consistently out of Ryan Strome, and Mika Zibanejad.
The Rangers moved down four spots in the power rankings this week (19-23), and deservingly so. However, I don’t think it’s time to panic just yet, for their are 51 games remaining, and New York does have a history of starting slow.
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