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Notes and analysis
- An optimist will say that the Rangers have lost only one home game in regulation out of the last 14. A pessimist will say that the team has won only one home game in the last five, losing four in extra time.
- The Rangers enter the holiday break six points out of the third place in the Metropolitan Division and seven points out of the final wild card spot.
- With his assist, Hayes’ point scoring streak is a career high seven games.
- The Flyers came into the game with one of the worst power plays and penalty kills and sure enough, they scored a power play goal and killed all of the Ranger man advantages.
- The Rangers again tried the five forward power play and it was a failure. When David Quinn was asked after the game if he was going to stay with it, he laughed and said “You’ve watched it the way I have. What do you think I’m going to do? Boom.” So much for that experiment.
- It was another strong game for the fourth line and they actually scored. Andersson, Nieves and Strome seem to be developing some chemistry and it is helping Andersson’s game.
- Boo Nieves’ goal was the second of his career in 33 games. This was his fourth game since being called up from Hartford. If he keeps playing this way, don’t expect to see Matt Beleskey anytime soon.
- Quinn seems to be getting more and more confident with Filip Chytil. He played over 20 minutes and was out on in the overtime a lot. Chytil is getting more decisive when he has the puck and is driving to the net more.
- Brett Howden had another solid game, but needs to be getting his shots on net. He seems to rush his shots when he has good opportunities. He had an awful night on faceoffs, winning only three of 14.
- Mats Zuccarello was moved off the top line, switching places with Pavel Buchnevich. He seemed to mesh better with Hayes and Kreider. Buchnevich had an excellent chance to score the game winner, but Neuvirth made a brilliant blocker stop.
- The Ranger offense is shriveling up again. They’ve scored 26 goals in the last ten games.
- Philadelphia’s mediocre play is inexplicable when you see the talent on their top two lines. The Giroux, van Riemsdyk, Konecny line can be dominant and the second line is pretty tough as well.
- Speaking of that second line, if the Flyers continue to fade from the playoff picture, Wayne Simmonds will be quite a trade chip at the deadline. He is an unrestricted free agent after this season so he will definitely be dealt. He’s thirty years old and is good for over 20 goals per season. Any playoff contender would love to have his grit and net front presence. As a short term rental, he compares favorably to Kevin Hayes.
- The Rangers and the NHL will take the next three days off for the Christmas holiday, a very civilized tradition. The next game will be on Thursday at Madison Square Garden versus the John Tortorella and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Merry Christmas to all.