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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 29: Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders makes the third period save on Alexis Lafreniere #13 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 29, 2021 in New York City. The Islanders shut-out the Rangers 4-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 29: Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders makes the third period save on Alexis Lafreniere #13 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on April 29, 2021 in New York City. The Islanders shut-out the Rangers 4-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Faceoffs

The Islanders won 64% of the 50 faceoffs in this game.   J.G. Pageau alone was 15-4.  No Ranger was over 50%.  All season we have seen the Rangers get killed on draws.   Jeff Gorton failed to sign a player who could win faceoffs and with the salary cap leash off this summer, he needs to find a  player who can win draws.   It’s absolutely crucial for the success of this team in the future and they simply cannot go into another season as the worst team on draws in the league.  That’s where they are right now, dead last with a winning percentage of 44.5%.

Besides finding a faceoff whiz, the team needs to improve their current players.  The Penguins use Matt Cullen (Player Development) to help on draws considering his lifetime winning percentage of 53.3%.   Manny Malhotra won 59% of  his draws in his career.  He’s worked as a coach with the Canucks and now with the Maple Leafs.  Guess what?  Their winning percentages are north of 50%.   Jeff Gorton needs to fix this.

Net front presence

Watching the Islanders, one thing was obvious.  As soon as they got possession of the puck in the Rangers’ zone, one or more Islander players would go to the front of the net and plant themselves there.  They were there for deflections, screens and rebounds and generally created havoc in the offensive zone.

When the Rangers get into the offensive zone, you may see Chris Kreider go to the front of the net, but he is the only one.  Somehow, the Rangers need to alter their offensive DNA so that someone goes to the front of the net.  If they can’t do it, they need to find players who will.

More grit

Whenever Barry Trotz needs the Islanders to get going, he throws the fourth line out on the ice.  Matt Martin is 31. Cal Clutterbuck is 33. Casey Cizikas is 29.   They know what their role is and they are probably the best fourth line in the NHL.

While the Kevin Rooney-Brett Howden-Phil Di Giuseppe line was one of the more effective lines for the Rangers in this game, they just cannot compare.  The Rangers’ braintrust has been talking about being “harder to play against.”   That’s the very role the the Islanders trio fulfills and the Rangers have no one who can rival them.

Leadership

This alternate captain rotation has got to go.  The players need someone in the locker room who will hold them accountable when they don’t give 100%.   Is it Jacob Trouba?  It’s obvious that  there was a lack of leadership when it became a huge story that Trouba stepped up, kicked the coaches out and talked to the team.

This was precisely the game that needed someone to step up and lead.  Maybe it’s Trouba.  Maybe it will be Alexis Lafreniêre or Adam Fox. Ironically, the fact that the Rangers are so young makes it even more important for their to be a captain.

Home/Editorials