The New York Rangers laid a goose egg at the Garden tonight to the Ottawa Senators by a score of 2-0. For a box score, click here.
I think we all sympathize with what Craig Anderson is going through off the ice with his wife. But he didn’t have to do much tonight. In fact, despite the 33 saves this game may have been one of the easiest shutouts he’ll ever have to make.
Anyone familiar with Senators coach Guy Boucher should know how aggravating it is to play against his 1-3-1 defensive zone system. The Sens have no problems giving up the first 75-100 feet of ice. After that, if you can’t get the puck deep, it’s on an Ottawa stick going the other way.
Tonight’s lone highlight was the return of Derick Brassard who got a long video tribute at MSG. Luckily, he didn’t burn the Rangers too badly.
The Rangers offensive chances were basically the one and done versions we saw in abundance at this time last year. A lot of shots from the outside, nothing too challenging for Anderson to block down.
A lot of tonight’s loss falls squarely into AV’s lap. Ottawa was on their third game in four nights. Instead it was the Rangers playing a tired game, letting the Senators dictate their brand of hockey on the Rangers all night. No chemistry from any of the lines tonight. Frustrating to watch a team that looks so horribly unprepared.
Just a lot of bad from the Rangers tonight. The defense has to be addressed. It’s been trending bad for the last 7-8 games. While Holden has been barely holding his head above water, Klein has been downright dreadful. The power play tonight was a joke. I’ve about had it with McDonagh on the top unit. Clendening needs to draw into the lineup if anything for this reason.
The same reasons with McIlrath not drawing into the lineup apply to Clendening. Are the Rangers really THAT much worse off with one of Klein, Holden or even Girardi in the press box? What happened to giving Girardi some games off? AV and the coaches have moved so many pieces around with the forwards, they’ve totally forgotten about the defensemen. And worse, they still fail to see that they are the weak link in the lineup. It’s almost as though they’ve waved the white flag in that area.
For our ‘The Walking Dead’ fans on the blog…
too bad #NYR are playing like they are on the business end of 'lucielle' tonight. https://t.co/VZ9A3zCSjk
— N (@fiveonfir3) November 28, 2016
The Rangers next game is on Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes at MSG.
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