A 2-1 loss to the Flyers proves that you can’t win them all

The Philadelphia Flyers came to play and the New York Rangers paid the price. The Blueshirts lost a game that they could have won and it’s a game that will have playoff ramifications.  Going into the game, the Rangers had a chance to pull two games ahead of the Flyers and for a while, within one point of the fourth place Boston Bruins.  It wasn’t to happen as the Flyers scored a late goal and won, 2-1.

If the Rangers fall short in their playoff they will look back at this game as one that really hurt them.  They did what they needed to do, jumping out to a 1-0 lead on a Mika Zibanejad power play goal, but they couldn’t get that crucial second goal and then let it slip away.

If the Rangers had won, it would have been a game that Igor Shesterkin stole for them, but he couldn’t stop them all as the Flyers had 37 shots on goal, close to the 44 shots they had on Thursday.

It was clear from the beginning that the Flyers had a purpose and were determined not to cave under a Rangers onslaught.  They poured shots on Shesterkin.  After  a Ryan Strome shot 34  seconds into the game, the Flyer had the next 11 shot attempts with eight on goal.  That the Rangers were able to escape with 1-0 lead was directly attributable to Shesterkin who was dialed in and very solid in net.

The difference with this game was that the Rangers had numerous opportunities to get on the scoreboard after they took the lead, but they were never able to get that next goal that would have crushed the Flyers’ spirit.  They had their chances, but Brian Elliott was a lot better in this game and whenever the Rangers threatened, he was able to stop them.

The crusher for the Rangers was when they took two consecutive penalties halfway through the second period.  Facing a 5v3 for 1:17 the Rangers were able to kill off the two man disadvantage, but  with three seconds left on the second penalty, Nolan Patrick was able to score.

The tie gave the Flyers new life and they had the better of the play through the second and into the third period.  With less that four minutes left in the game and overtime looming, Samuel Morin took a slapshot from the blueline and it eluded Shesterkin and Philadelphia had the lead.

This has to be classified as a bad loss.  It was clear from the start that the Rangers were not sharp.  They were awful on faceoffs and were guilty of imprecise passing and bad decision-making,  The Flyers were ripe to be taken, but the Rangers could not take advantage.

Here is a video recap of the game:

Notes on the game

The 81 shots by the Flyers over the last two games was the most the Rangers have surrendered in consecutive games this season.  Their previous high was 72 shots allowed in two games.

The Rangers have allowed 37 shots or more in five games this season and three of them were against the Flyers.

It had to rankle the Rangers that the winning goal was scored by Samuel Morin, who had been fined for pulling Brendan Lemieux’s hair in a scrum on Thursday.  It was Morin’s first NHL point.He was the 11th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and has played a handful of games in the NHL since making his debut in 2017.

The 5v3 was the third the Rangers have faced this season.  They have not allowed a goal so far in all three opportunities.

This was the Rangers’ third straight game with a power play goal.  It was the first time that they have allowed power play goals in consecutive games since January.

Ryan Strome’s assist on ZIbanejad’s goal gives him an eight game point scoring streak.  Adam Fox has a seven game assist streak.

Even though Igor Shesterkin took the loss, his .946 Save Percentage (Sv%) for the game dropped his season number to .924, fifth best among goalies who have appeared in 15 games or more.  His Goals Against Average of 2.34 is ninth best in the NHL.

The Rangers were totally dominated in the faceoff circle, winning only 18 of 53 draws. Zibanejad won only 3 of 14 faceoffs.

The game ended with the Rangers net empty and Adam Fox making at least three saves.  It was a remarkable display and if the Rangers had been able to tie the game, his work would have been one of the highlights of the season.

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