Category Archives: Game Recaps
Rangers collapse late in loss to Nashville; Defensive game still lackluster
Bobby Bevilacqua
What on earth was that?
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
The Rangers (20-13-4) had a long, six day break to recuperate and get ready for their game against the Nashville Predators (18-12-6). So what do they do? Come out with almost no offense at first, rebound for a good second period, and then completely fall apart in the third, ultimately losing 5-3.
There’s no other way to say it. This team is fragile. They’re broken. This isn’t a slump, and it isn’t a passing fad. This is their reality. As they are currently constructed, they are not a great hockey team. They aren’t playing like a good team either. Something needs to change. There needs to be a move made to inject life into the lineup.
Dan Girardi and Kevin Klein made their return to the lineup. Klein was okay, but it’s no coincidence that when Girardi returns, the defense goes to shambles. The McDonagh-Girardi pairing is woefully ineffective, Staal was terrible, and McIlrath was sitting in the press box. The defense is just bad, making too many errors, blowing coverages and missing assignments. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers head into the holidays with an OT win against the Ducks
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
The Rangers and their fans got a Christmas present a couple of days early.
With both teams desperately searching for a win, it was the Rangers (20-12-4) who came out on top, taking down the 30th place Anaheim Ducks (12-15-6) by a score of 3-2 in the final game before the holiday break. It was a win the Rangers really needed, giving them a bit of a confidence booster as they get ready to unwind over the next five days.
I’m not going to be overly critical, but it wasn’t the most prolific offensive performance from Vigneault’s squad. They clearly focused on defense first, and that worked for the most part. The Ducks had very few good scoring chances and they only managed 19 shots on goal. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers succumb to epic meltdown in 7-3 loss to the Capitals
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
This better be rock bottom, because I can’t imagine things getting much worse.
The Rangers (19-12-4) embarrassed themselves in one of the most disheartening losses of the year, surrendering six consecutive goals and blowing a lead to the Metropolitan Division leading Washington Capitals (24-6-2) in a 7-3 loss.
It’s become a tired narrative. The defense is bad from the forwards and defensemen, the team is blowing leads, the goaltending isn’t as good, and they keep finding ways to lose. It’s been happening for the last 14 games.
I don’t know how to explain it. They’ll have leads and score goals, play well for stretches, and then fall apart. The team is fragile, mentally and on the ice, and it seems like nobody has the answer as to why it’s happening. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers road struggles continue in 5-2 loss to Winnipeg
Alexandra Russo
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
The Rangers (19-11-4) have had some problems lately, to say the least, but they can’t blame losing on Stepan’s absence any longer. He returned with a strong game in a 5-2 loss against the Winnipeg Jets on Friday night.
Brian Little got things going for the Jets, scoring just about five minutes into the opening period of play. Ryan McDonagh turned the puck over behind the net, and Derick Brassard was nowhere to be found covering his man. Lundqvist, making his second start in as many nights, came far out of the net to challenge Little, but was beat around the left pad.
Little struck again in the first, two minutes after his first goal, to put the Blueshirts in a two-goal hole. The Rangers couldn’t blame the man in net for this one, though. It was poor coverage at the Rangers’ blueline that left Little with a big space to snap the puck just over Lundqvist’s glove hand. Read the rest of this entry
Raanta hurt early, Rangers fall to Wild in first game of road trip
Bobby Bevilacqua
Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
The same struggles that have been plaguing the Rangers (19-10-4) all season long were present again tonight in their 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild (17-7-6), the team’s ninth loss in the last 12 games.
Defensive breakdowns, minimal offense and sub-par goaltending were on full display tonight. Vigneault continues to fail to correct the mistakes that have been in just about every Rangers game since Thanksgiving.
The Wild had numerous breakaways, odd man rushes and wide open skaters because of missed coverages or poor decision making. Raanta and Lundqvist covered up a few of the mistakes, but they couldn’t stop everything. Read the rest of this entry
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