Stubborn Rangers bit in the ass by own play against the Penguins
What a contrast from the 8-4 thrashing the other night for the New York Rangers. After the loss, Mika Zibanejad used the term “stubborn” repeatedly and head coach David Quinn noted how it bit them in the ass. On a night where the Flyers picked up a point and the Bruins a win, the Blueshirts now go to Long Island to face a first place team with just one loss at home all season.
Rangers pay the price for stubbornness
The Rangers were being kept in it early by Igor Shesterkin as he was bombarded in the first period. Pittsburgh just kept clogging up the neutral zone and making life difficult for the Blueshirts. When they did gain the zone the Rangers overpassed, which is second nature at this point and missed two gaping open nets which led to their eventual 5-2 defeat.
“We were maybe a little bit too stubborn with the puck in our decisions – forcing it too much,” Zibanejad said afterwards. When he was asked to expand on it Mika noted how the Penguins did a great job in the middle of the ice. “We were trying to force plays a little bit too much, and we didn’t really get the puck to the net. I feel that’s stubborn when we don’t play a little bit simpler.”
Head coach David Quinn was visibly upset and voiced his frustration with his team’s instinct to pass up shots. “Not shooting the puck has been a problem for us all year long – it’s been a problem since I’ve been here,” he explained. “You do that at this level and you’re gonna get what you deserve. It’s the balancing act you’re always battling and it bit us in the ass tonight.”
David Quinn announced his post game presser that Alexandar Georgiev will get the start in goal tonight against the Islanders.
Adam Fox extends his point streak
After picking up an assist on Kevin Rooney’s goal last night, Adam Fox has 32 helpers for his leads the league in that category for blue-liners. By extending his point streak to 12 games, Fox continues to stay tied with Victor Hedman as the top scoring defenseman with 37 points.
Per NYR PR, Fox is the first Rangers defenseman who has registered a 12-game point streak or longer since Brian Leetch posted a 14-game point streak from Oct. 30, 1996 – Dec. 1, 1996. As I wrote yesterday, he deserves serious consideration to win the Norris Trophy.
Rangers Post Game Notes
- Nine of the 20 Rangers players who dressed in the game are 23 years old or younger. The Blueshirts currently have the youngest team in the NHL (average age is 25.2 years old).
- The Rangers were 1-for-4 on the power play in tonight’s contest. The Blueshirts have tallied at least one power play goal in each of the last three games (5-for-10; 50.0%), in seven of the last nine games (12-for-32; 37.5%), and in nine of the last 12 games (14-for-42; 33.3%). In addition, the Rangers have recorded 22 power play goals in the last 25 games (22-for-89; 24.7%).
- Colin Blackwell tallied a power play goal. He has recorded six points (five goals, one assist) in the last six games, including a goal/point in each of the last two games (two goals, one assist).
Next Game: Tonight at NY Islanders (7:00 p.m. ET – TV: MSG 2)
Notes courtesy NYR
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