The New York Rangers brought their Humiliation Tour 2023-24 home to Broadway on Friday nigh in a woeful 5-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights. Johnathan Marchessault hit for hat trick in the Vega win.
At some point, the Rangers need to acknowledge they have an Igor Shesterkin problem in their net.
The Rangers fell behind early on a soft goal by Vegas’ Sheldon Rempal at 5:02.
From there on, the4 Rangers chased the because, it seems, they have lost faith in Shesterkin.
Adin Hill made 37 saves in the Vegas win.
“I feel good,” Hill said. “My body feels good and I feel like I’m able to do everything I need to do. It’s nice for the confidence, the mental side of it. Just keep building off of it.”
The Golden Knights improved to 29-14-6.
Blake Wheeler hit for his eighth f the season at 6:33 of the first to get the Rangers even at 1-1.
“I thought we could have scored three or four goals in the first period,” New York coach Peter Laviolette said. “I thought we had good offensive-zone time, good looks and good quality chances, and we walk away with one and it’s tied 1-1.”
Well, you didn’t, and your goalie let the game get away.
New York dropped to 29-16-3.
Vegas took the lead for good when Keegan Kolesar scored at 3:18 of the middle frame for z 2-1 lead.
“I think that’s the first one he shot in the net this year,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said. “He’s usually deflecting them, tipping them.”
Marchessault scored his first of the game just 46 seconds later on for a 3-1 lad to the Knights through 40 minutes.
“We’ve got to pick up from that point and press on,” Laviolette said. “I think we lost our way a little bit after that.”
Well, your team and goalie didn’t.
Marchessault collected his double at 2:11 of the third period for a 4-1 lead to Vegas.
Again, Shesterkin gave up a soft goal in the early minutes of a period.
The Rangers Kaapo Kakko trimmed the deficit, 4-2, at 18:54 but it was too little too late.
Marchessault potted his hat trick with an empty-net strike at 19:30 for the 5-2 count on the scoreboard,.
“Right now, what we’re doing offensively is missing, is not connecting,” Laviolette said. “The opposition is connecting with the scoring chances that we’re giving up. Everything is almost two to one. We’re in that spot right now, so at the end of the day we’re losing games and it’s not good enough. You’ve got to dig in somehow and be better in all areas. Better defensively. More determined offensively. Find a way to win hockey games.”
Shesterkin made 15 saves, 15 saves, in the loss.
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