In 2018, the New York Rangers’ brass came out and flat out laid it on the table, ‘we are rebuilding’ for the long term future.
They also said it would take and asked for patience. Before this season started John Davidson was hired president of the club and tempered expectations on playoffs this season.
For much of the season the Rangers have been so-so as the club has tried to find itself.
Since the All-Star break, they have been a solid team.
Chris Kreider had a goal and three points for the Rangers – file photo by Lewis Bleiman
On Wednesday night, they visited Chicago for a game with the Blackhawks; the match mirrored the season with the opening 40 minutes being a mish-mash of effort.
The final 20 minutes is what the brass is looking for over the final weeks of the season.
Rangers scored five times in the third period and dispatched the Blackhawks, 6-3.
Igor Shesterkin returned to the lineup and made 37 saves for the win.
“One of the things we talked about between the second and the third was we [need to] put ourselves in position to win a hockey game by playing 20 good minutes of hockey, because we certainly didn’t play 40 good minutes of hockey when the game started,” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “Rarely do you get that opportunity in this league, and our guys responded.”
Chris Kreider struck for a goal and added two assists for New York.
“It’s very concerning. I think that game was there to be had,” Chicago’s Jonathan Toews said. “A lot of opportunities, a lot of open ice. Again, there’s moments where we’re playing our game where we have four lines rolling, guys are making good changes, getting pucks deep, making other teams play where they don’t want to play, and other times we just get away from that. Our turnovers are in the wrong areas and [defensemen], forwards can do a better job of supporting each other, so just little details like that.”
Chicago’s Dominik Kubalik struck for two goals and Drake Caggiula added a single marker.
“Our third period, just nowhere near good enough, especially away from the puck,” Blackhawks coach Jeremy Colliton said. “We just didn’t have enough guys going. We’re a team that we need everyone going to compete. When we have everyone going, we have a good chance to win every night, and that’s just not what we had tonight. Very disappointed.”
With the game tied, 1-1, entering the third, Pavel Buchnevich put the Rangers up 2-1 with an early goal and Ryan Strome pushed it to 3-1 with a followup goal.
“[I] thought we did a better job skating in small areas there at the beginning of the third, forced some turnovers, finishing checks,” Kreider said. “We were physical enough through the first 40. I think we were lucky it was 1-1 going into the third. Igor kept us in it.”
Artemi Panarin 30th of the season made the score 5-3 and Mike Zibanejad deflected a Buchnevich shot for the final score.
“We’ve really become a team over the last two months,” Quinn said. “Listen, you’ve got to win games when you’re not playing great, and we certainly had a sluggish first two periods. Both teams really were sloppy, not a lot of hitting, and didn’t have a great feel to it. I thought we actually did a good job kind of changing gears and playing a much better, purposeful third period.”
[WATCH: All Rangers vs. Blackhawks highlights]
Robin Lehner made 35 saves in the loss.
“Yeah, I would say collapse,” Lehner said. “Look at their goals. A lot of alone chances right in front. We got outbattled. I need to make an extra save, but honestly, that period was not very good.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.