5 headlines from the 4-3 loss to the Devils in the preseason opener

The new look New York Rangers made their preseason debut in a 4-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils.  The game had all of the significance of a preseason match-up, but showed a lot of promise for the future.

The New York Rangers dropped an entertaining match in a 4-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden.  The Rangers lineup featured a full slate of the young stars who are the future of the team, but also a number of players getting a chance to show what they can do.

Headline #1:   Artemi Panarin was injured. 

He sustained a mild groin strain in the second period and sat out the last 6:16 of the period and didn’t play at all in the third.  There was no reason for  him to continue to play and risk making it worse.  After the game Coach David Quinn said it was “mild” and that they held him out as a precaution.

Headline #2:  Artemi Panarin scored a power play goal. 

He whipped a wicked one timer past Cory Schneider and was part of a dominant power play that could have score at least three more goals.  The top power play unit was Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Kaapo Kakko, Chris Kreider and Jacob Trouba.   The were totally dominant and on the first power play, they kept the puck in the Devils’ zone the entire two minutes.  Cory Schneider stood on his head and kept the Blueshirts off the scoreboard.

Headline #3:  The newcomers were very good.

Panarin, Kakko, Trouba and Kravtsov all made the scoresheet.  Adam Fox was very impressive.  Greg McKegg made a strong case for sticking around. Kakko had a number of great opportunities and hit a post in the first period.

Kravtsov played a very active game, missing on a breakaway and making some special passes.  He played on the second line with Lias Andersson and Chris Kreider.

Greg McKegg was singlehandedly responsible for the second period Micheal Haley goal, stealing the puck behind the goal and sending a pass to Haley who had an open net. McKegg was also a  beast on faceoffs, winning nine of 13, a 69% winning percentage.

On defense, Trouba was solid and had some great opportunities.  He had two shots blocked in the last minute with the goalie pulled.  The Trouba/Skjei pairing was on ice for the most scoring chances for the team, 14 at even strength and Trouba led the team with 27  scoring chances in all situations.

Adam Fox is smart and it shows.  He made some really special passes and he is calm with the puck. No panic from this young man and he looks to be a keeper on the major league roster.

Headline #4:  Igor Shesterkin made his debut and was very, very good.

There was actually an “Igor, Igor” chant minutes after he got into the game and made a fantastic shot on a point blank shot by Jesper Boqvist.  He had 12 saves on 13 shots.   He had some interesting moments holding onto the puck, but his athleticism and quick reactions were very apparent.

The only goal off Shesterkin came on a scrum in front of the net when Brett Seney shovelled a loose puck under Shesterkin.  Other that, he was pretty good in his North American debut.

Headline #5:  Lias Andersson is meeting the challenge.

Andersson centered the second line and was on the top penalty killing unit.  He was very physical and hard on the forecheck.  He scored a third period goal on a rebound of a Boo Nieves shot.  Andersson played like a man who knows he has a lot to prove.  Let’s see if he can keep it up.  One negative was a 33% faceoff winning percentage winning only three of nine.