Winners, losers from Rangers atrocious 2-1 loss to Flames
You probably could list all 18 New York Rangers skaters in the loser’s category after an ugly 2-1 loss at home to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday. Or you could include most of the Flames in the winner’s list. That’s how one-sided Calgary’s victory was.
We won’t do either of course. But do know, that this very well was the worst loss of a tremendously disappointing season for the Rangers. And that’s saying a lot.
The numbers tell part of the story. The Rangers were out-shot 33-13. They didn’t have more than five shots on goal in any one period. They allowed 35 scoring chances and had just 17. They were drubbed 16-6 in high-danger opportunities.
The score was 2-1 only because Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin was that brilliant.
Beyond the numbers, the eye test showed that this was a complete no-show effort by the Rangers. An unacceptable and likely avoidable defeat.
Let’s get to the winners and losers.
Related: 3 Rangers takeaways from inexcusable loss at home to Flames
Winner – Igor Shesterkin – Rangers
The Rangers had a chance to tie or win this game because of one reason. Igor Shesterkin’s brilliant one-man show in goal. Make no mistake, one person wearing the blue jersey Tuesday was ready to play and willing to compete. That was Shesterkin, who finished with 33 saves in a heroic effort staring down one Grade-A scoring chance after another.
Loser – Mika Zibanejad – Rangers
Like the rest of New York’s 18 skaters Tuesday, Mika Zibanejad wasn’t good. A ghost offensively. Floating through three zones like he’s in a fog. Uncompetitive defensively. But it’s what he said postgame that lands him in the loser category most of all. Perhaps this isn’t exactly what he meant, but you’ve got to be kidding: “I don’t care if we play like that and we win. If we lose and we play like that, it’s not acceptable.” There can be no justification — earning two points or not — for the way the Rangers played Tuesday, Mika. Not acceptable. Period.
Winner – Ryan Huska – Flames
One night after starting a four-game road trip with a dismal 6-2 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Flames coach Ryan Huska had his team ready to play and compete for a full 60 minutes Tuesday at MSG. The Flames expertly executed an excellent game plan from the coaching staff, and as importantly responded to their coach who demanded a better, more complete effort after that loss in Toronto.
Loser – Peter Laviolette – Rangers
These are the games that get coaches fired. The Rangers appeared unprepared and disinterested, unresponsive to the pleas of coach Peter Laviolette and his staff. Thing is, the Rangers have had a string of these no-show performances this season. But this one felt like the worst of all, especially playing at home against an opponent that played the night before and arrived in New York at 2 a.m. in the midst of a tight playoff race and now with only 13 games left on the schedule. Not a good look for Laviolette.
Loser – Vincent Trocheck’s line – Rangers
It’s really difficult to choose which forward line combination was worst for the Rangers on a night when each was out-worked badly, and Laviolette juggled them often. But let’s go with the Vincent Trocheck line. Sure, this group produced New York’s only goal, by Artemi Panarin 1:13 into the game, a snipe off a rare Flames mistake. But that was the only shot on goal in a team-high 6:24 TOI 5v5 together for Trocheck, Panarin and Will Cuylle. That threesome was also on ice for Nazem Kadri’s tying goal in the first period, was out-chanced 5-2 and allowed three high-dangers chances, producing zero of their own, per Natural Stat Trick. Panarin missed the net on 11 of his 13 shot attempts, Trocheck looked lost and Cuylle disappeared after he was credited with four hits in the first period.
Winner – Brennan Othmann – Rangers
This is called being a winner because you’re in the right place at the right time. Brennan Othmann was a healthy scratch Tuesday for the first time in 12 games. Though that might’ve been frustrating for the 2021 first-round pick, at least he couldn’t be blamed at all for the terrible loss. Ditto for the other Rangers in the press box — Carson Soucy and Calvin de Haan. None of their fingerprints were on this pitiful showing.
Winner – Matt Coronato – Flames
How about a shout out to the kid from Long Island? Matt Coronato scored the eventual game-winning goal on a power-play snap shot from the slot after winning an offensive-zone face-off late in the first period. The 22-year-old, who had plenty of friends and family in the building, tied for the game high with five shots on goal to go along with his 17th goal and was noticeable all night. Pretty sweet homecoming for Coronato.
