Rangers 2, Flyers 4

The New York Rangers dropped their final preseason game to the Philadelphia Flyers by a score of 4-2. For a box score, click here.

Over the course of the preseason, I’ve stated on here that we didn’t want to make season long conclusions or assumptions from just a handful of games. However, there isn’t a ton from the defensive side of the puck that gives you any kind of assurance that this group is any better than the group that finished the season against the Penguins.

As far as tonight went, the only defenseman that had anything close to a decent night was Girardi. Skjei was a turnover machine and probably played his way off the opening night lineup. Holden had a nondescript night. Staal and Klein as a pair struggled in front of the net. Clendening has a nice bit of upside and should be in the lineup next Thursday. I’m not sure if AV is going to shake up the pairings a bit from last season, but they badly need their best defenseman, and captain, to dominate on the ice like he is capable. 

I’m a bit disappointed with Skjei so far this preseason considering how he was the one shining star in the tsunami of crap that was the five game series against the aforementioned Penguins in the playoffs. It’s at the point now where if the Rangers do keep seven defensemen, Skjei should be the odd man out. There’s no doubt in my mind that Skjei is too good of a player for the AHL, but a 10-ish game stint in Hartford might be what’s best for the time being. 

You can probably etch in stone Kreider-Zibanejad-Buchnevich as your second line next week. They’ve been really good when they’ve been together generating chances and keeping possession tilted towards the opposing net nearly everytime on the ice. Should be a power play unit too.

How AV chooses to build the bottom of the lineup is completely up in the air and no one really did themselves any favors tonight. Thought JT Miller responded to his coach’s criticisms from earlier in the preseason with a decent game. Pirri cooled off tonight after a blazing start. Vesey and Hayes had a night to completely forget with virtually no offensive zone time. I honestly don’t know if Sam Rosen even said Jesper Fast’s name once. How Grabner, Gerbe and Jooris round out the fourth line is still anyone’s guess and this is assuming that Glass isn’t in the everyday lineup, which there are no guarantees.

Now that you’re all hyped up for the regular season to finally get underway, you’ll have to wait six more long, excruciating days before the Rangers return and the games begin counting. The home opener is next Thursday, against the Islanders at MSG. 

(Photo credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)