New York Rangers: Kicking off 2020 in Calgary

About the Rangers

The Edmonton game was this season in a nutshell for the New York Rangers.  The team was totally unprepared for the offensive onslaught from the Oilers and allowed Edmonton to camp in front of the Rangers net unimpeded.  It took half of the first period for the Blueshirts to gain any defensive composure.  To anyone watching, the Rangers performance in the first three minutes of the game was pathetic.

As a team that lives and dies by special teams, the fact that they were victimized by some bizarre officiating didn’t help their cause at all.    They allowed three power play goals in six attempts, shades of the game in Tampa.  David Quinn didn’t help his cause by taking a bench minor for taunting the referee.  He had reason, there were two penalties called that didn’t seem to be legitimate and they cost the team dearly.

Faceoffs killed the Blueshirts although they actually won a majority of the draws.  There were three goals scored within 15 seconds of a lost faceoff.

For all of the negatives, the Rangers’ comeback was very impressive though it again was an example of the top two lines excelling and little to no production from the bottom two lines. It was really the Artemi Panarin show with an assist to Ryan Strome.   The lack of production from anyone not named Panarin, Zibanejad, Strome or Kreider is truly disturbing.

Artemi Panarin is having a career year and has moved into the top eight in goals, assists, points, plus/minus and a slew of other offensive categories.  Ryan Strome is  winning over any skeptics has he continues to benefit from chemistry with Panarin.

Strome was once considered one of the biggest busts of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, drafted fifth overall.  Consider this.  Of the 211 players drafted in 2011, only Jonathan Huberdeau, Mark Scheifele and Nikia Kucherov have outscored Strome this season.

With their five goals on Tuesday night, the Rangers have cracked the top ten in goals per game, averaging 3.31.   They have also allowed 19 goals in their last four games and they are now fifth worst in the NHL allowing 3.33 goals per game.  Since their 5-0 shutout over the Golden Knights on December 8, the Rangers have allowed 41 goals in ten games.  Ouch.

If the Rangers do not resolve their defensive issues this season will slip away very quickly and the game against Calgary will be a good test.  The Flames have some firepower, but have had trouble scoring.  If the Blueshirts give up a lot of goals, it will spell trouble.  After the Flames they face a loaded Vancouver squad.