Category Archives: Game Recaps
Lundqvist fantastic as Rangers win big game over the Bruins
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
In a battle of two teams desperate to strengthen their playoff positions, the Rangers (42-24-8) came away with a 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins (39-27-8), handing them their fourth straight loss.
Apart from a dreadful third period, where the Rangers parked the bus again, it was a pretty good performance from the Rangers. I thought their defensive play was tight and organized, their first period was fantastic, and they scored quickly and early.
But I will forever be concerned about the way that Alain Vigneault handles the team in late game situations. Henrik Lundqvist faced 41 shots while the Rangers had just 24. As a team, the Rangers were a -37 in possession. It’s typically not a winning formula in the playoffs, but when Lundqvist is in net anything is possible. However, that’s a risky strategy. Read the rest of this entry
Home Cooking: Rangers secure a huge two points over the Panthers at MSG
Bobby Bevilacqua
In an important home ice matchup looking for a huge response to the sub-par California road trip, the Rangers (41-24-8) came back to form with a 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers (40-24-9), despite some late scares.
Alain Vigneault and his squad corrected many of the problems they had on the road trip. The shots and possession were drastically improved and very even. The Rangers actually were the ones dominating play for the first 30-40 minutes. And while there were still some defensive miscues, it was nothing close to what we had seen for most of March.
Despite the fact that Oscar Lindberg doesn’t deserve to be sitting in the press box, the fourth line had another really solid game. They were the only line that played well in San Jose and most of the road trip, the scoring has improved lately, and the chipped in two goals again tonight, one being an empty netter. Viktor Stalberg played like a man possessed, scoring the opening goals and generating a lot of pressure. And on top of that, Stalberg, Moore and Glass all finished positive in Corsi For, the only line to do so. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers embarrassed by San Jose in final game of road trip; Time for a reality check
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
After faltering late against the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, the Rangers (40-23-8) played one of their worst games of the season, getting completely and utterly dominated by the hottest team in the NHL, the San Jose Sharks (39-25-6). New York closed out the road trip with a 4-1 loss at the SAP Center.
Almost everything about this game was terrible. The puck movement from the defense was awful, with the tangent of Girardi and Staal playing decidedly bad tonight. They allowed 52 shots on net. FIFTY TWO! They only had 26 shots on net. There were potentially two extended offensive zone shifts for the Rangers in the entire game. Only the fourth line finished positive in possession, and the team was collectively a -21 Corsi For. Nothing positive came from this game, and the Rangers limped through this road trip with a 1-1-1 record. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers drop second straight game against the Penguins
Alexandra Russo
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
The Rangers (39-23-7) and Penguins (36-24-8) played for the third time this season, but it was the Penguins winning for the second time in this season series, beating the Rangers in an intense game 5-3.
This also marked the first time that the Rangers lost back-to-back games since December 18th and 20th. They’ve won just two of their last six games (2-3-1) and they’re just three points ahead of the Islanders, but the Isles have three games in hand. They’ve also lost each of their last two home games.
The home team came out fast, recording four shots on goal in just the first three minutes of play. Brassard, who missed the game against Detroit to the flu, drove hard to the net. His long rebound went to Fast, but Fleury denied him. Read the rest of this entry
Lundqvist stellar as Rangers fall to Detroit in overtime
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
The Rangers (39-22-7) came within an inch of beating the Red Wings (34-23-11), but instead came up on the short end of the stick with a 3-2 overtime loss at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
Ryan McDonagh had a chance to win the game in regulation with the Detroit net empty, but his shorthanded shot from the other end of the ice hit off of the post. Detroit would score on the power play with less than 40 seconds remaining, and wind up winning the game in overtime.
Henrik Lundqvist made his return to the lineup, and the Rangers made him work entirely too hard. Lundqvist faced 43 shots, making 40 saves. He was the sole reason why this game wasn’t 7-2 or even worse. Read the rest of this entry
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