A better game, but the New York Rangers lose to the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2

Notes on the game

• Mats Zuccarello played an engaged, smart game.  Maybe getting his feelings off his chest in his interview with Larry Brooks has helped.
• So, it’s 22 goals allowed in four games.  Five goals scored in four games.
• Vegas outshot the Rangers 31-29. They were up 24-15 after two periods.
• In his post-game interview David Quinn was animated when discussing the lack of Ranger shots.  If the coach wants his team to take shots, why are they not taking shots?
• After Tony DeAngelo took the boarding penalty and the misconduct, he took a seat on the bench for the rest of the period. It makes you wonder what goes on with a player like him. he has to know that behavior like that will cost him playing time, yet he does it over and over.
• Cody McLeod had two marvelous scoring opportunities and missed them both.  Put a player with hands with passers like Buchnevich and maybe they score.  With McQuaid in the lineup I seriously would say that McLeod is taking up valuable space on the roster. When Hayes comes back, there is no doubt that McLeod should sit. Let’s see what happens.
• Brett Howden didn’t score, but he contributes in other ways.  He won 13 of 19 faceoffs (68%).  In his interview during the second intermission you can see the lack of scoring  is wearing on him.
• The Rangers took three penalties and allowed one power play goal.  The penalty kill has improved as they allowed only two shots in the three man advantages.
• The Rangers drew two penalties, both in the third period and had four shots.
• Brady Skjei continues his revival.  He had a solid game and played the most minutes of any Ranger, even more than Pionk.
• This is the worst start to a new year since 2007-08 when they lost their first five games of the year (the third game was a shootout loss).
• Brandon Pirri scored again.  He has scored nine goals in nine games over two seasons.  Makes you wonder how they can consider sending him back to the AHL.
• Once the Knights scored their first goal, it’s like they shifted gears. After taking nine shots in 16 minutes, they had four shots on goal in the last four minutes and swarmed the Ranger net.
• I’ve mentioned this in the past, but Jonathan Marchessault was once a potential Ranger. In 2011 he went to the Rangers development camp and signed a minor league deal with the Rangers AHL affiliate, the Connecticut Whale. He had stops in Tampa and Columbus before he ended up becoming a star in Florida.  His size was one thing against him and the Rangers chose to keep another smaller forward in the organization at that time.  That forward was Mats Zuccarello. Present troubles aside, the Rangers made the right choice.
• Speaking of former Ranger prospects, Ryan Graves scored his second NHL goal tonight for Colorado.