Three moves the Rangers should make for Game Two

Their backs are to the wall, but the New York Rangers are still in this series

The late Red Fisher, who covered the NHL and Montreal Canadiens for nearly seven decades, had a knack for putting tough losses into perspective with three words: “So? Nobody died.”   The New York Rangers should heed the words of the Elmer Ferguson Award-winning journalist as they prepare for Game Two of their Qualifying Round series against the Carolina Hurricanes at Noon on Monday.

As poorly as the Rangers started in a 3-2 loss in Game One, their season isn’t dead.

In fact, just as head coach David Quinn said the Hurricanes entered Game One “pissed off” after dropping all four regular-season matches to New York, the Rangers can use the absence of Jesper Fast as anger-fueled motivation.

A “win for Quicky” approach is as good as any in terms of mental preparation, considering Fast won the team’s “good guy” award again this season. Fast is beloved by his teammates. And it’s because he’s so versatile, able to fill in on special teams and on any line.

Fast is out for at least Game Two after being drilled by former Rangers defenseman Brady Skjei in the opening minute of Game One. Fast’s status for Game Three is uncertain. He’ll most certainly be missed, but the Rangers have options. Here are three:

1. Give Kaapo Kakko more minutes

The Rangers rookie seems to have benefited from the NHL pause. His play dipped in February and into March, but the 6-1, 181-pound winger was a physical force in last Wednesday’s exhibition against the New York Islanders and in Game One.

The kid was knocked last winter by many pundits for not shooting often enough. Well, in Wednesday’s 3-1 exhibition loss to the New York Islanders, he used his size and speed to create space — and led the team with four shots on goal. And that was in just 12:44 of ice.

Saturday, he was one of the few Rangers to play with speed and jam, again using his size and quickness to find shooting lanes, and leading the team in shots on goal (five). Yet he got 15:21 of ice time, fewer than all but Greg McKegg, Phillip Di Giuseppe, and Julien Gauthier (and Fast, if you want to count his 1:04).

Kakko needs to move up in minutes and stay up until he shows he can’t handle them. Thus far, he’s proven he can.

2. Panarin to the PK

Is it any wonder the Rangers scored a shorty with under two minutes to go on Saturday to pull within a goal? Normally used on the power play, Quinn put Breadman on the penalty kill with Mike Zibanejad. The two helped keep the puck in Carolina’s end and eventually set up Marc Staal‘s tally to make it 3-2.

Quinn should keep Panarin on the PK unit. Let’s see how confident the Canes’ power-play unit is with No. 10 out there.

3. Start “The King”

I know this is going to cause tremors in “Czar Nation.” But the fact is, Henrik Lundqvist played very well in Game One. None of the goals could be pinned on him — the first was a well-placed shot by Jaccob Slavin, the second was redirected in by superstar Sebastian Aho off a beautiful centering feed, and the last caromed between Lundqvist’s legs and in off of Staal’s skate.

Igor Shesterkin is the Rangers’ future between the pipes. And it wouldn’t be a shock to see him get the nod in Game Two after being declared “unfit to play” in the opener. However, I don’t buy that his ability to handle the puck (better than Lundqvist) will cancel Carolina’s forecheck. If anything, the Canes will adjust where and how they dump the puck in. And, that might not be an issue if the Rangers continue to yield the line as often as they have all season.

Besides, the Rangers lost on Saturday because they didn’t show a pulse until the second period. They failed to create many quality chances. They had virtually no second chances. They made life for an ordinary goalie too easy.

They didn’t fall because of Lundqvist. In fact, they remained in the match because of “The King.” What’s more, Carolina didn’t see Shesterkin in the regular season and lost all four contests against the Blueshirts, three to Lundqvist, the other to Alexandar Georgiev. So why now is Shesterkin’s puck-handling ability reason to start him?

Let “The King” reign in Game Two. He’s earned it.

Don’t forget that Blue Line Station will have a live thread during Monday’s game so you can share your opinions with other Ranger fans.   Join the live conversation here on Blue Line Station.  The thread will be up about a half hour before game time.