3 Rangers takeaways from 7-3 loss to Blue Jackets that completed weekend of missed opportunity
Well, that didn’t go as planned for the New York Rangers.
With a chance to show the upstart Ottawa Senators and Columbus Blue Jackets who’s the team to beat in the Eastern Conference playoff race, the Rangers lost in a stunning fashion to each this weekend.
After blowing a pair of two-goal leads, including a 3-1 advantage midway through the third period, in a 4-3 overtime loss at the Senators on Saturday, the Rangers collapsed on home ice, losing to the Blue Jackets 7-3 on Sunday.
Instead of sitting in the first wild card in the East on Monday morning, the Rangers remain ninth in the conference, securing one of a possible four points in a crucial weekend back-to-back against the teams now directly ahead of them in the standings.
Remember, the Rangers are supposed to know how to win big games with playoff implications. After all, this core has helped the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final in two of the past three seasons. The Senators? No playoff appearances in the past seven seasons. The Blue Jackets? Been four years on the outside looking in.
Well, the Rangers didn’t look like the more veteran composed team against either opponent this weekend. Blowing those leads in Ottawa and somehow losing the next night even after tying the game with two short-handed goals 42 seconds apart on the same penalty kill early in the second period.
How did the Rangers react to that stunning momentum swing in their favor? They didn’t score the rest of the game and allowed the Blue Jackets to pull away with four even-strength goals.
There are 18 games to play and it’s still there in front of the Rangers, the chance to secure a playoff berth for the fourth straight season. But they simply do not make it easy on themselves, do they?
Related: Winners, losers from stunning loss to Blue Jackets
Three takeaways from Rangers brutal home-ice loss to Blue Jackets
Here are three takeaways from the Rangers 7-3 loss to the Blue Jackets on Sunday.
1. Not-so-even strength
The Rangers were mauled at even strength Sunday, outscored by a whopping 7-1. It’s crazy to say, but the Rangers were more structured and disciplined and effective defending short-handed on the penalty kill than at even strength. It’s like the 3 Stooges spinning around, running into one another in their defensive zone 5v5.
Losing puck battles, losing men in prime scoring position, inability to clear the zone, beaten consistently one on one, slow to defend, reactive not proactive. You name it. The Rangers were a mess, especially in the second period, out-chanced 12-5 (6-2 high danger) 5v5 and with an xGF of 28.9 percent, per Natural Stat Trick.
Thought it was completely out of their system after that putrid 4-15-0 stretch in November and December? Think again.
2. More penalties please
It’s like the Rangers are a different team when on the penalty kill. Certainly that was the case Sunday. They scored one even-strength goal and were 0-for-4 on the power play. But short-handed? The Rangers dominated the Blue Jackets there. The Rangers scored twice short-handed and stole momentum in the game, tying the score 3-3 at the time of their two shorties.
The problem? The Rangers didn’t take any more penalties, so they weren’t short-handed any more. Their third-ranked penalty kill — a unit that leads the League in short-handed goals with 13 — appeared to be the Rangers only chance Sunday. The Blue Jackets looked overwhelmed by the Rangers PK, whereas the visitors played with confidence and swagger at even strength.
3. Your guy, my guy
It’s not a completely fair apples to apples comparison, but would you keep your guy or take their guy? Would you keep Alexis Lafreniere, the 23-year-old Rangers forward who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2020? Or take Adam Fantilli, the 20-year-old Blue Jackets center who was selected third overall in 2023?
It may seem like a set-up considering Fantilli notched a hat trick Sunday, including two goals 26 seconds apart early in the second period. Engaged, skilled and smart, Fantill found different ways to burn the Rangers, and now has 21 goals in his sophomore NHL season.
Lafreniere picked up an assist Sunday, when his first-period shot that was going wide of the net was redirected home by Artemi Panarin. Other than that? Pretty invisible. Again. He has four assists in the past five games as Panarin is on a scoring tear now. However, Lafreniere is generating little offensively, and in fact has five shots on goal in his past seven games. Five. He hasn’t scored a goal since Feb. 2 against Vegas, a span of 12 games. Five seasons into his NHL career, he’s still an enigma, even playing on a line with Panarin, Lafreniere sits with 14 goals and 36 points this season; and has had really one signature season (28 goals, 57 points last season).
Right now, Fantilli or Lafreniere? Without even factoring in the contract difference. You choose.
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