The New York Rangers were actually competitive in their game with the Las Vegas Golden Knights, but lost 4-2 and are still looking for their first win of 2019.
The New York Rangers got off to a solid start. They forechecked hard and took the body. They played the Golden Knights dead even and there were reasons for optimism. Maybe, just maybe, they’d be able to steal a point.
Nope. It all fell apart and it was a case of “here we go again.” Cody Eakin got an uncontested break-in and beat Georgiev. Who lost his man? Kevin Shattenkirk. In the second period, Vegas ‘ Brandon Pirri scored a power play goal on the rebound of a Max Pacioretty slapshot. How did they get the man advantage? Tony DeAngelo, fresh from a benching, took an undisciplined boarding penalty against William Karlsson, then made it worse by trying to pick a fight with Max Pacioretty.
At the end of the second period, a Marc Staal shot missed everything, bounced out to the blueline just in time for a Jonathan Marchessault breakaway. He scored. Combine that with missed opportunities by Chytil, Namestnikov, Nieves, McLeod and Howden and it all added up to what Ranger fans are getting too used to, another loss.
Okay, there were some things to be positive about. The Rangers actually scored two goals. The Rangers top line actually scored a goal. For the first time this year, it felt like team was in a game, even when trailing 3-0. The team pushed hard in the third period, outshooting the Golden Knights 14-7. They made Marc Andre Fleury make some excellent saves.
At the beginning of the third period, It looked like the highlight of the game was going to be the heavyweight bout between Adam McQuaid and Ryan Reaves.
A heavyweight slug fest in Vegas tonight. McQuaid vs. Reaves I.#NYR @GoldenKnights pic.twitter.com/mkEmUv0sqF
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) January 9, 2019
Reaves was standing up for Max Pacioretty who had been hit hard by McQuaid. McQuaid got some early shots in, but when he lost his helmet Reaves took over.
Then the real highlight for the Rangers came along when Mika Zibanejad got the Rangers on the scoreboard at the 11:43 mark of the third period.
It came right after a Ranger power play and was a beautiful passing play from Kreider to Zuccarello to Zibanejad. Shades of Rangers past.
The Rangers pushed hard, but after pulling the goalie with about two minutes left the Knights got the empty net goal by Ryan Carpenter. Jesper Fast added a garbage time goal on a scrum in front of the net with 23 seconds left.
If the Rangers had been playing like this every game, there would be a lot less angst over this season.