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New York Rangers Lead Series Despite Lack of Offense From Top Players

By Garrett Gartino

March 26, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; New York Rangers center Derek Stepan (21) celebrates with right wing Mats Zuccarello (36), left wing Chris Kreider (20) and defenseman Brendan Smith (42) his goal scored against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
March 26, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; New York Rangers center Derek Stepan (21) celebrates with right wing Mats Zuccarello (36), left wing Chris Kreider (20) and defenseman Brendan Smith (42) his goal scored against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Rangers will head back to Madison Square Garden with a 3-2 series lead. They have done so without much contribution from some of the team’s best players. Could this be a sign of good things to come?

Five games into the 2017 NHL playoffs and the New York Rangers have yet to find their stride. Despite winning game five on the road in Montreal, the Rangers have plenty left to prove if they intend to continue their quest towards a Stanley Cup appearance.

So far this series, the Rangers have managed to generate goals and wins all without the help of several key contributors.

While it is important for teams to boast depth, such as the Rangers have thus far, the Stanley Cup playoffs are where the NHL’s biggest stars shine brightest. With that being said, the best may be yet to come for this New York Rangers team.

Players such as Kevin Hayes and J.T. Miller, two of the teams most consistent regular season forwards, are without a single point yet this series.  Meanwhile, the team’s regular season goal-scoring leader Chris Kreider recorded his first point on Mika Zibanejad’s game five overtime goal.

Following game three in New York, head coach Alain Vigneault shuffled his forward lines. It seems as that the rearrangements seem to be finally paying off.

Led by power forward Rick Nash, the Rangers’ veteran group has begun to step up their play over the last two games. In order for the Rangers to seal the Canadien’s fate and head to the second round, this group must continue their upward swing.

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Nash’s linemates, Jimmy Vesey and Derek Stepan are among the players that will see their fortunes change in short order. Most noticeably, Jimmy Vesey has followed in Nash’s footsteps and has adopted a hard-nosed playing style.

Meanwhile, Chris Kreider, perhaps the Rangers’ most lethal playoff weapon, showed signs of breakout during game five’s overtime period. His north-south style of play became a spectacle as tired legs filled the third and overtime periods.

His line, alongside Zibanejad and rookie Pavel Buchnevich, has an opportunity to provide a spark with their blend of youth and veteran calmness. The trio’s combination of speed, skill, and tenacity is scary enough to keep opposing defenses up at night.

Finally, one aspect of the Rangers offensive attack that no one is talking about is captain Ryan McDonagh. Up to this point in the series, McDonagh has one point and nine shots on goal.

A big reason for McDonagh’s lack of scoring has been the Rangers’ ineptitude with the man advantage. Should New York pass through to the next round, look for this group to rebound against a non-Claude Julien led penalty kill.

Next: NYR vs. MTL Game 5 Thoughts: Mika America Great Again

Every game of the series against the Canadiens has been tightly contested. The Rangers have benefited, as they have all season, from timely scoring and superb goaltending. Sooner or later expect their star players to start scoring. And when they do, watch out, this team will be dangerous.

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