Blue Line Station
Fansided

What we learned from a one-sided 4-0 loss

By Steve Paulus

Apr 29, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Ryan Lindgren #55 of the New York Rangers is injured as he checks Cal Clutterbuck #15 of the New York Islanders into the glass during the third period at Madison Square Garden on April 29, 2021 in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Ryan Lindgren #55 of the New York Rangers is injured as he checks Cal Clutterbuck #15 of the New York Islanders into the glass during the third period at Madison Square Garden on April 29, 2021 in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 29, 2021; New York, New York, USA; The New York Islanders celebrate a 4-0 shutout against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 29, 2021 in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2021; New York, New York, USA; The New York Islanders celebrate a 4-0 shutout against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 29, 2021 in New York City. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports /

What we learned

The primary lesson learned was that the Rangers are not ready to compete in the playoffs.  Even if they had sneaked in, we would have witnessed another disappointment like the one we saw in the Stanley Cup Qualifier.

The Islanders were faster to the puck, won most of the boards battles, threw the body and were quicker to shoot.   The Islanders played this game like it was a playoff game and the Rangers played like it was a mid-season game.  Were the Rangers unprepared?  Let’s be kind and say that the Islanders were better prepared.

Case in point.  Last season Artemi Panarin scored three goals and had five assists for eight points in three games against the Islanders.  Seven of the eight points were at even strength.  This season he had two goals and two assists in six games.

The Islanders figured out how to neutralize the Rangers’ best player and shut him down.   How did the Rangers adapt to the Islanders defense against Panarin?  They did the same they do every game with Ryan Strome and Pavel Buchnevich making the same pass attempts to Panarin who couldn’t get loose.

Case in point.  Last season the Rangers had 14 power plays and scored five power play goals in four games against the Islanders.  This season,  except for the 5-0 shutout win by the Rangers when they went 1-8 on the power play, the Rangers had 13 power plays in the other six games and did not score.

The Islanders figured out that they couldn’t afford to take bad penalties and they figured out how to defend the power play when they needed to.  How did the Rangers adapt to the Islanders handling their power play?  They didn’t make plays that drew penalties and when they got the man advantage it was the same futile perimeter passing, non-shooting effort.

Why the Islanders won

Barry Trotz is one of the best coaches in the NHL.    He took an Islanders team that bled goals like a sieve and transformed them into one of the best defensive teams in the NHL.   He has also learned a lot from the 143 playoff games  he has coached.  He has learned how to adapt from game to game and how to alter strategy to win.

There’s also no denying the fact that the Islanders are a veteran team that is battle hardened and equipped to play games like these.  With 10 players over 30 their future is now and they know it.  At the same time Trotz has been able to integrate youngsters like Oliver Wahlstrom and Noah Dobson into the lineup .

The good news for the Rangers is that every one of their  young players will be better in the future from having  played this game.   At the same time, this game exposed some glaring needs for this Rangers team.

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