A bad homecoming in 5-1 loss to Calgary

Notes on the game

This was the first time the Rangers gave up over ten shots in all three periods of a game as they were outshot 37-29 and 15-7 in the first period.

The Rangers had a very strong night on faceoffs, winning 61% of the draws.  Ryan Strome was outstanding, winning nine of 10.  ZIbanejad also did well, winning six of eight.

As good as Shesterkin was, Jacob Markstrom was even better. The Rangers had 16 high danger scoring chances, compared to only eight for the Flames.   He stopped Artemi Panarin on a first period breakaway and stoned Chris Kreider’s attempt on the doorstep.

Markstrom has been a Ranger killer with a 7-2-1 record in 11 games with a 2.54 GAA and a .917 Save Percentage.

Speaking of Strome, he came back from his COVID quarantine and after the game said that he had tested positive and had symptoms.   He logged 19:07 minutes of ice time including 2:43 on the power play.

The power play was 0-2 and looked ineffective yet again.  Artemi Panarin played better with Strome as his center, but on their second period power play they didn’t register a shot while Calgary had one.  The power play had four shots on their third period man advantage.  They keep trying to set Zibanejad up for the one-timer, but it hasn’t worked and is becoming predictable.

The Rangers have had more power plays than any other team in the league (26) and have scored only three goals for a percentage of 11.5%, fourth worst in the NHL.

The Rangers had killed off 15 straight penalties until Andrew Mangiapane scored a garbage time PP goal with only five seconds left in the game.

Ryan Reaves hurt his leg on his first shift in the first period and after spending some time in the locker room he returned to the bench, but didn’t play.  Coach Gallant said that “He wanted to be there to support them (his teammates).  He was disappointed he couldn’t play.”

Julien Gauthier found himself in the lineup and Gallant said that he played well, his best game so far.  Gallant put him on a line with Zibanejad and Kreider and said that he had been thinking about shaking up the lines.  He led the team with five hits and tried several rushes.  He was also guilty of three giveaways, also most on the team.

Gallant had an interesting observation about Alexis Lafrenière who he moved back to the line with Chytil and Blais in the third period.  Gallant said he did it to shake up the lines, but said “I want Laffy doing more.”   Clearly, Lafrenière is not meshing with Zibanejad and Kreider.

Dryden Hunt scored the only Rangers goal only five seconds after a Flames penalty expired.  It came off the rebound a a Jacob Trouba point shot and it could have been credited to Kevin Rooney as both Rangers were swatting at the puck simultaneously.<

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Blake Coleman won in his battle with former teammate Barclay Goodrow.  Coleman had a goal and an assist, eight shots and three hits and had a plus/minus of +2.  Goodrow did draw one penalty, but was a -2 on the game with four hits and three shots on goal.

The Rangers have now scored only 15 goals in seven games for an average of 2.14 per game. Only six teams in the NHL are doing worse. It’s a far cry from last year’s team that averaged a full additional goal per game with a 3.14 average.

With three of their next six games coming up against scoring machines Edmonton and Florida as well as a rematch in Calgary, the Blueshirts need to get their scoring woes straightened out and soon.

It’s no coincidence that in the Rangers only two regulation losses this season, both Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin have been held off the scoresheet, the only games that they have both been skunked.

Kaapo Kakko did not play as he is still recovering from an upper body injury, but with no game until Friday, he should return to action later this week.  That means one more players has to be sent to Hartford after Morgan Barron was returned there today.  That player will most likely be Greg McKegg.