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Deja vu all over again as Rangers lose 3-0 to the Islanders

By Steve Paulus

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - MAY 01: Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders defends the net against Pavel Buchnevich #89 of the New York Rangers during the second period at the Nassau Coliseum on May 01, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders shut-out the Rangers 3-0 and with the victory, the Islanders clinched a playoff berth to the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - MAY 01: Semyon Varlamov #40 of the New York Islanders defends the net against Pavel Buchnevich #89 of the New York Rangers during the second period at the Nassau Coliseum on May 01, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders shut-out the Rangers 3-0 and with the victory, the Islanders clinched a playoff berth to the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Morgan Barron #47 of the New York Rangers skates in his first NHL game . (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Morgan Barron #47 of the New York Rangers skates in his first NHL game . (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

How did the kids do?

So, with seven rookies in the lineup, how did they do?  The good news is no one embarrassed himself.  Morgan Barron played 14 shifts on the fourth line, all at even strength.  He played left wing and won the only faceoff he took.  He played wing and center in Hartford and it might have been a good idea to see what he could do at center instead of Kevin Rooney.

Tarmo Reunanen played 17:35 and was able to handle the Islanders pressure.  He wasn’t on ice for any goals against and had one shot on goal, two blocks and one hit.

Zac Jones had a very active game, playing 17:41 and getting a minute on the power play.  The Rangers face a logjam of puck moving offensive defensemen with the imminent arrival of Nils Lundkvist and the development of Reunanen.  It is very possible that given his impressive showing, that Jones may be the odd man out if a trade this summer. He’s that good and is becoming a known factor in the league.

Julien Gauthier had been sitting and watching the team play since April 3.  Considering he had watch 14 straight games, he didn’t play badly though he was exploited by the Islanders  in the second and third periods.  What was noticeable about his game was his willingness to use his big body as the crashed the net and drew one penalty.  Quinn’s usage of Gauthier has been one of the mysteries of this season.  The Rangers need to figure out if he is a keeper and they won’t learn that by not playing him.  He would have been better off honing his game in Hartford rather than sitting in New York and not playing.

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