3 Rangers takeaways after being swept in season series by Blues
If the New York Rangers are seeking small victories amid their crush of losses recently, perhaps they can take some solace that a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday wasn’t nearly as bad as being run out of Madison Square Garden by the Los Angeles Kings 24 hours prior.
Yup, that’s what it’s coming down to for the Rangers — rating how bad their losses are. That’s because the losses are piling up quickly. The Rangers (15-14-1) are 3-10-0 in their past 13 games and have lost 14 of their past 24 games since a 5-0-1 start that seems eons ago.
They were better in some aspects Sunday. They weren’t blow out early, with each team playing a low-event first period. They did show life late in the third period on a pair of goals from Brett Berard and Will Cuylle 1:19 apart.
Yeah, that’s about it for positives. The usual array of issues pertained. Horrendous defensive miscues turned into goals by the Blues. One-and-done offense that showed zero signs of life 5v5 and left Adam Fox beyond frustrated postgame. Little pushback after falling behind 1-0 in the first period and 3-0 in the second.
The Blues skated quicker, were harder on the puck, won more one-on-one battles and executed their game plan better. That wasn’t Wayne Gretzky’s Oilers or the Islanders dynasty out there. It was the 15-14-3 Blues who exposed the Rangers again and swept the season series.
Related: Rangers injury woes grow with Artemi Panarin out against Blues
3 takeaways from Rangers 3-2 loss to Blues
Here are three takeaways from the Rangers latest loss Sunday in St. Louis.
1. On the hot seat
There’s no doubt Rangers coach Peter Laviolette is feeling the heat and likely very worried about his job security. After winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season and guiding the Rangers within two victories of the Stanley Cup Final this past spring, Laviolette appears to be running out of answers of how to pull the Blueshirts out of this downward spiral.
“It’s frustrating, another loss,” Laviolette said postgame, his eyes roaming the ceiling at Enterprise Center searching for the right words or more likely an answer or two. “Pressed in the third period and couldn’t get it done.”
Laviolette scratched forward Kaapo Kakko for the first time this season. He stuck Chris Kreider on the fourth line. Mika Zibanejad played only 13:04. Nothing really worked and the same issues remained.
This underachieving roster badly needs a shakeup. But general manager Chris Drury just might find it easier to fire Laviolette, and hope that a Michael Peca, Phil Housley or perhaps Joel Quenneville can spark this group and help save the season.
2. No Bread for you
As if the Rangers don’t have enough problems, their leading scorer was not in the lineup. Artemi Panarin is day to day with an upper-body injury, and his creativity and scoring prowess were missed against the Blues. He’s got 15 goals and 36 points in 29 games and is pretty much the only Rangers skater these days who makes the opponent sweat when he’s out on the ice.
In his absence Sunday, the Rangers managed all of two high-danger scoring chances all night, per Natural Stat Trick. His usual center, Vincent Trocheck, did show some chemistry with Jonny Brodzinski — but then again, that was Jonny Brodzinski, not Panarin, so not exactly apples to apples.
His usual linemate Alexis Lafreniere skated with Filip Chytil and Will Cuylle. Lafreniere did assist on Cuylle’s 11th goal, but that line had a 0.36 xGF. Not exactly great.
Oh yeah, and Zibanejad? The juggling of forwards saw him land on a third line with Berard and Jimmy Vesey. Berard was by far the most effective skater on that line, though his goal came on a mixed line with Trocheck and Reilly Smith. Zibanejad’s line had an xGF 5v5 of 0.31. Not a shock why No. 93 didn’t see the ice nearly as often as he typically does, especially with New York failing to land a single power play.
3. Go glove side
Jonathan Quick made some sensational saves, especially early in the second period when time and again he kept the Rangers deficit to one goal. Eventually, things caved in and Quick allowed a breakaway goal by Jordan Kyrou and a 2-on-1 goal to Robert Thomas in the second.
You can’t really fault Quick for this loss. But there is one key observation to make. Each of the three goals he surrendered was glove side, including Pavel Buchnevich’s one-time blast from right wing that snuck inside the post. Kyrou and Thomas each went up and over Quick’s low glove. Makes you wonder if that was the scouting report on the 38-year-old goalie, or if it all just happened in the moment.
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