New York Rangers: Adversity brings opportunity

What in the world is going on?  The New York Rangers continue to face adversity at just about every turn during this 2021 NHL season.  Everyone knew this hockey season was going to be unique, a season like no other…..but this is getting ridiculous.

Without delving too much into the recent news about Artemi Panarin, let’s just hope that the statement Rangers management put out about the accusations is where the topic dies on the vine.  It’s really hard to believe that there could be a violent bone in Panarin’s body given the way he plays the game, and carries himself off the ice.  For there to be any shred of truth to this matter would be nothing less than devastating heartbreak for everyone that is invested in Ranger hockey.

Turning quickly to some other adversity that the team is facing.

Mika Zibanejad

There just has to be something physically wrong with ZBJ.  A player of his caliber does not simply fall off the way he has during the first portion of this season.  What we all saw on Saturday afternoon in the game against the Washington Capitals is the clearest indication yet that Mika Zibanejad is not completely healthy.

With the Rangers up 3-0 late in the second period and looking to be in total control of the game against the Capitals heading to the third period, ZBJ was on the ice for the goal scored by the Capitals with less than 40-seconds to play.

The trouble started when Zibanejad couldn’t quite get to a loose puck just inside the blue line. He was then was unable to respond when Caps defenseman Dmitry Orlov beat him for the puck along the boards and then skated in for a wrist shot that beat Igor Shesterkin to the glove side.  Zibanejad just could not keep up with the pace of the play.  He looked to be laboring as Orlov left him in the dust and went to the net with ease.

Look at the sequence in the clip below:

After the goal his reaction tells the whole story, he looked to be in physical pain as he skated away from the net. There is clearly some issue that is hampering him.  Would it be shocking to hear the team announce that he needs surgery to repair a nagging issue as soon as the season is over? So why is he playing?

He is playing because the Rangers have very few viable options at center, let alone a first line center.  You have to think that if Filip Chytil was healthy that he would be moved up and ZBJ would be given a few days, a week, maybe even longer to work out what it is that ails him.

Hockey players want to play hockey, and what ZBJ is doing is admirable, but getting him completely healthy has to be a top priority right now if this team hopes to compete in the second half of the season.

The opportunity here goes to Brett Howden.  Although Howden has no goals and is a minus two on the season, he has been playing well in the role he has been assigned.  David Quinn has settled on Howden as the fourth line center.  He plays physical, kills penalties and brings energy to the team. But if Zibanejad is playing hurt and needs to be shut down for a while, Howden may find himself moving up to a top six role and the opportunity to show what he can do playing with higher end talent.

The Defense

OK, so Tony DeAngelo is persona non grata and Jacob Trouba is out for four to six weeks. Throw in  injuries to Brendan Smith, Jack Johnson and rookie sensation K’Andre Miller and you officially have a back end that is beat up.  While all three of those players have returned from their respective injuries, Smith can be a bit erratic and Jack Johnson is Jack Johnson.  Let hope Miller can stay on the ice.

The good news is that all the calamity with the D has provided opportunity for others and it can only benefit the team in the long run.

Libor Hajek has been solid. Aside from one glaring mistake that led to a goal a few games back he has been very good.  He looks like the same player he was before going down to injury last year.  He’s not flashy, he’s not going to score many goals, but he goes about his business in a very steady manner.  He’s a plus one over seven games.  There is no reason for him to come out of the lineup when Trouba returns.

Is it out of line to give team MVP to Jacques Martin.  The difference between the defensive play this year and last year is the ONLY reason why this Rangers team is still in the mix at all.

The Goalies

Rangers fans have been conditioned to expect the goaltending to carry the team. The tandem of Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev got off to a bit of a rocky start but things have certainly settled down.  Goal appears to be the one area where the team has already overcome some adversity with Shesterkin establishing himself as the clear number one at this point.  He looks to be really close to the guy who took over for Henrik Lundqvist last year.

The improved goalie play combined with the new defensive scheme is keeping some of the pressure off of the offensive woes that the team is experiencing.  Hopefully once the top lines finally hit their stride the team will have the opportunity to string together a run of wins and make a move.

There are still the three top tier teams in the East Division, with the Bruins, Capitals and Flyers leading the way.  The Bruins are clearly best and have solid goaltending. The Flyers should get better as they get healthy. But the Capitals appear to be somewhat vulnerable, the goaltending is shaky and the team looks a bit old.  They still look to be there in the end but should adversity strike them the way it has hit the Rangers, it could open the door of opportunity to another team to sneak into the playoffs.