NEW YORK (NY) – The Rangers went 0-4 on the power play and it cost them. Ottawa Senators goalie Craig Anderson stopped all 33 shots he saw for the shutout and Antti Raanta stopped 18 of 20 shots.
Craig Anderson got the shutout over NY Sunday – file photo by Brent Clark
The Rangers didn’t seem to get much going offensively all night. After starting the season leading the league in goals scored, New York couldn’t manage to get too many threatening chances.
“We are a team that likes to create on the rush and they didn’t give us many opportunities to do that,” Ryan McDonagh said. “They didn’t turn pucks over; they made sure they got pucks in deep. They made us go the full length of the ice for the majority of the game and they had numbers back. But in the end we have to find a way – some in-zone plays, running our cycles, getting pucks up top, and getting shots down at the net. There are other ways to create offense and that was a test for us tonight that we didn’t accomplish.”
Raanta, who was undefeated this season going into Sunday night, understands the unfortunates of hockey luck.
“That’s hockey, sometimes it can bounce from the glass or like that,”
Both teams started the game not allowing many opportunities. The Rangers however seemed to create chances early in the first period but were stopped by the concentrated net minder Craig Anderson.
Forward Rick Nash drove hard to the net on the fist power play and dished the puck off to Brandin Pirri who got denied by Anderson.
“It’s New York, man,” Anderson said. “It’s one of those buildings (where) there’s a lot of history. A great team over there. It’s one of those things you just get up for. Historic buildings … who knows how long they’ll be around for and you’re fortunate enough to be a part of it, and that’s kind of the way I address that mentally.”
The second period would provide a more favorable side for the Sens as they would notch two from the sticks of Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Mark Stone. The second being a power-play goal.
After the second intermission the Blushirts came out with more fire, but it wound’t help their cause.
Head coach Alain Vigneault knows how well Ottawa attacked. “They played a strong game and made it very hard on us tonight to get anything as far as grade-A opportunities.
Rangers forward Derick Brassard embraced his fist game at Madison Square Garden after being traded in the offseason for Mika Zibanejad.
“It’s a great feeling. It was a nice ovation. I’m really thankful for the fans there that they appreciated my work the last four years. For us as a team, we played really strong. … I know this building pretty well. After one or two periods, the crowd was a little frustrated and after that, their players were frustrated as well.”
The Rangers next game will be on Tuesday at 7pm in NYC against the Carolina Hurricanes
The Senators will head home to host the Buffalo Sabres also on Tuesday at 7pm
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