Rangers lose a win-able game 3-1 to Kings
The New York Rangers lost a game that they could have won, dropping a 3-1 decision to the Los Angeles Kings. It was a 2-1 game until the Kings scored into an empty net. Despite being badly outplayed at times and outshot 39-23, the Rangers were in the game until the last two minutes.
The Rangers got a jolt just before game time when Barclay Goodrow had to go on the COVID protocol list, joining Igor Shesterkin, Julien Gauthier and Ryan Reaves. Coach Gerard Gallant was also in the protocol so Hartford Wolf Pack coach Kris Knoblauch was behind the bench. It really didn’t matter.
The Kings are another one of those teams with an excellent transition game and that gave the Rangers fits throughout, but it was two bad defensive miscues that led to the two L.A. goals scored early in the second period. The Blueshirts had their chances, especially Ryan Strome who had five shots on goal including at least three prime opportunities. If Strome scores and K’Andre Miller doesn’t have an absolute brain fart, it’s a 1-1 game.
The Rangers should be unhappy with their effort. They didn’t turn it around until there was just nine minutes left in the game. Kevin Rooney led the way with a big hit that kept the puck in the Kings zone and they had one long shift that finally led to a goal by Mika Zibanejad. All you could ask was why they couldn’t do that for the entire game as they did in Anaheim.
The good news is the Rangers didn’t play well, but they could have won. Keep in mind that this lineup included Jonny Brodzinski, Tim Gettinger, Greg McKegg and Morgan Barron, the Hartford Wolf Pack’s four best players.
The defense included the pairing of Jarred Tinordi and Patrik Nemeth and they looked slow against a very speedy transition team. The belief that the Kings are a “heavy” team is no longer true. They’ve gotten younger and fast this year and it showed.
Chris Kreider summed it up perfectly, saying “Getting through that 1-3-1 (neutral zone defense), we decided to work hard not smart…walking out of the zone, trying to get our feet going a little bit too late, getting beat and giving them rushes and letting them advance the puck up the ice.”
Mika Zibanejad echoed the sentiment. “The neutral zone gave us trouble…we don’t get it in and we just play in our d-zone and try to get it out, can’t really get that momentum. It’s frustrating obviously.”
Coach Kris Knoblauch talked about shots and quantity vs quality, something that Zibanejad mentioned, “We need to have more of a shooting mentality.” There’s no doubt that one of the Rangers biggest issues is the tendency to overpass, especially lateral passes and also the fact that they are slow to take shots. Anyone who has watched this team knows it has been an issue for years.
About the game
The first period was scoreless as it got off to a wide open start for the first three minutes. The Rangers missed an excellent chance when Lafrenière fed Strome who was stopped by Petersen when he couldn’t elevate the puck.
so close... pic.twitter.com/7ANYlV6LaZ
— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) January 11, 2022
The Rangers had two power plays to one for the Kings. L.A. spent most of the two minutes in the Rangers zone and Georgiev was forced to make some excellent stops after Ryan Lindgren broke his stick. The Rangers power plays were less successful as Panarin showed some rust after his four game vacation. The Kings ended up outshooting the Rangers 13-6 as they were able to take advantage of transitions a few times, but overall it was a pretty even period.
The second period started with the Rangers on the power play for 22 seconds, but 33 seconds after it ended the Rangers gave up a brutal goal, courtesy of two misplays by K’Andre Miller. Miller gave the puck away to Trevor Moore at the blue line and after Moore’s shot was stopped by Georgiev, Miller couldn’t handle the rebound and Philip Danault swooped in and put it over the Ranger goalie.
🔥🔥🔥 @TrevMoore08 → Phillip Danault = 🚨#GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/W8OpJVMoqi
— LA Kings (@LAKings) January 11, 2022
Just awful and the second bad giveaway that led to a goal in two straight games for Miller.
The Kings scored their second goal on another rush. This time it was Victor Arvidsson and Trevor Moore. Georgiev made the save, but bobbled the puck and lost control. Blake Lizotte scored when no one (Artemi Panarin) picked him up as he crashed the net. He made a nice move, kicking the puck to his stick for the shot.
The Kings controlled the period except for a handful of opportunities. The best was a two-on-one with Panarin and Strome. Panarin fed Strome for the shot, but he was stopped again by Petersen. The Rangers kept the puck in the Kings zone and Petersen made another excellent stop on Ryan Lindgren.
The period ended with the score 2-0 as the Kings outshot the Rangers 18-9. Let’s just say it wasn’t a good period for the Rangers.
The third period was more of the same as the Kings stifled the Rangers who had no forecheck. The Rangers finally woke up when the third line had the first shift with sustained pressure in the Kings zone. Kevin Rooney led the way with a big hit on Olli Matta and finally, Mika Zibanejad scored on a neat deflection of a shot by Filip Chytil.
we got a game! Zibanejad deflection in front! pic.twitter.com/uoEnSfjyt1
— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) January 11, 2022
The hit started 55 seconds of sustained pressure in the offensive zone, leading to the goal.
The goal came at 11:27, but the comeback was halted when Lafreniere took an iffy tripping penalty with just under seven minutes left. The Rangers pulled Georgiev with two minutes to go and Jonny Brodzinski had an excellent chance to tie the game, but Petersen got a piece of the puck, deflecting it wide. Adrian Kempe iced the game with an empty net goal, sending the puck from the defensive zone faceoff circle the length of the rink and into the empty net.
.@AdrianKempe seems to be dominating our highlight reel lately. 🧃 #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/GzaxNQrCTW
— LA Kings (@LAKings) January 11, 2022
Here’s a video recap of the game.
This was the kind of game that the Rangers have found ways to win. It’s unusual to see them fail, considering all of the success that they have had. Now they have to come back on Thursday in San Jose.
Notes on the game
Artemi Panarin made his return after missing four games, but he showed a lot of rust. His passes weren’t crisp and while he did feed Strome for a great opportunity, it really showed on two early power plays when the Rangers couldn’t cash in.
This was the third straight game without a power play goal and they have now not scored on 11 straight power plays.
They did kill all three Kings power plays and have now killed 54 of 57 penalties since November 21.
Kaapo Kakko was called for a high sticking penalty on Mikey Anderson in the first period, but the call was unwarranted. Anderson was on all fours and took the stick in the face, though his face was three feet off the ice. Hard to see that as a “high sticking” penalty.
The last penalty taken by the Rangers was a momentum killer. Alexis Lafrenière was called for a trip on Viktor Arvidsson. It was clearly a dive by the Kings’ forward, but the refs still called the penalty when the Blueshirts were swarming. It was a bad call.
At the end of the game it was Kaapo Kakko on the right side of Strome and Panarin with Chytil moved up to play with Zibanejad and Kreider. The Panarin-Strome-Lafrenière trio was a combined minus nine as they were on the ice for all three Kings goals.
Alexandar Georgiev had a good night in goal, stopping 36 of 38 shots. He lost the rebound on the second Kings goal, but kept the team in the game in the second and third periods when they were badly outplayed.
The empty net goal by Adrian Kempe was the kind that the Rangers rarely score. He got the puck by the faceoff circle in the defensive zone and shot the puck the length of the ice, squarely into the middle of the open goal.
Adam Fox played the most minutes of any Ranger, 26:03 and wasn’t on the ice for any Kings goals and helped set up the lone Blueshirts’ goal. Miller and Trouba were on ice for two goals including the empty netter while Tinordi and Nemeth were victimized on Lizotte’s goal.
Filip Chytil was the victim of a big hit by Drew Doughty.
"There's more where that came from."
— LA Kings (@LAKings) January 11, 2022
- Drew Doughty #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/UtPCuHcwKA
He wasn’t hurt, but it was the best hit of the game.
The Rangers won 31 of 51 faceoffs, led by Mika Zibanejad who won 16 of 23. For those keeping track, Morgan Barron took five draws and won three.
The Rangers ended up outhitting the Kings 25-24, but that was helped by the late third period resurgence. Greg McKegg led the team with six hits.
With the loss, the Rangers remain in second place in the Metropolitan Division.
The Rangers have now played 22 road games, tied with Calgary for the most in the NHL. They now have 19 road games left this season, with 26 games at the Garden.
My 3 Rangers stars
- Alexandar Georgiev gets the top star for an excellent game with 36 saves. He could be faulted for losing the rebound on the game winning goal, but he made some outstanding saves on the three Kings power plays and kept the Rangers in the game.
- Adam Fox played another solid game and you could see him willing the team to win. He was the best Ranger on the ice (when is he not?) and did his most to get the Blueshirts the win.
- Mika Zibanejad scored the only goal and led all forwards in ice time. He was outstanding on faceoffs and was the most dynamic forward for the Rangers.
The official 3 stars
- Cal Petersen – Kings
- Trevor Moore – Kings
- Philip Danault – Kings
What’s next
One more game on the west coast as the Rangers travel to the Bay Area to take on the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night. The finish the road trip in Philadelphia on Saturday night. It’s another late night for Ranger fans as they hope to get back on a winning track.
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