New York Rangers

Game 73: NJ 3 NYR 2, OT, Rangers dominate third period but fall in OT
March 22, 2017, 7:25 AM ET [141 Comments]
Jan Levine
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In a game that mattered some for one and little for the other team, the Rangers and Devils played a physical, entertaining affair at the Rock in Tuesday. New York all but has a playoff spot locked up as they entered the game with an magic number of eight. New Jersey is playing out the string, set to miss the playoffs for a fifth straight year and evaluating several of their younger players. But you wouldn't have known that from watching the game, as each team played with a edge as if were Rangers-Devils Circa mid-90s.

The first half of the game was an uneven contest with lots of neutral zone turnovers and uneven play. But the tide switched quickly, as offense took over for several minutes late in the second which was punctuated by a brawl after Nick Holden rode Miles Wood into the boards. From the middle of the second period until the end of overtime, the game had a snarl and edge to it, like a playoff contest. Despite losing 3-2, New York carried play much of the game, only to be thwarted by Cory Schneider in net, a pair of posts and a cross bar.

A few quick thoughts:

- While the team overall played well, several played had eh games at best. Derek Stepan continues to fight it offensively, missing several golden set up by Chris Kreider. Mats Zuccarello was average at best. Ryan McDonagh did not have a particularly great game, even before his miss of the net in overtime that led to the Devils' game-winner.

- The penalty kill is still a major work in progress.
Solid for the first two shorthanded chances, with 4:44 left and the Devils on their third power play of the night, rookie John Quenneville snuck in front the left point to deposit a pass from Joseph Blandisi behind Antti Raanta at 15:16. That pass from behind the net to the slot has been a killer. McDonagh and Marc Staal both went behind the net, which forced J.T. Miller to try and cover Adam Henrique at the near slot, leaving Quenneville wide open at the far post.

- The Kids Are Alright. Pavel Buchnevich’s backhand pass from behind the net found Oscar Lindberg, whose shot bounced under Schneider to make it 1-1 at 16:53 after a nice keep at the line by McDonagh. That duo along with Jimmy Vesey is making things happen. But I could see AV moving Jesper Fast down to the fourth line, Michael Grabner back to play with Hayes and Miller, enabling Vesey or Buch to move up a line.

- Nash-ty. The power play has all of a sudden found it's way with his sixth goal in I believe the last five games. Great patience by Hayes, nice pass by Brady Skjei, notching his 30th assist, back to Hayes, who dished it low to Nash for the goal. Nash used his size to create space and skill to beat Schneider five-hole.

- Really bad turnover by Nick Holder, which led to Taylor Hall ripping one off the left post to restore the Devils lead at 18:22. Holden was pressured by Pavel Zacha but you can't just put it lightly up the boards. Kyle Palmieri picked it off and found Hall, who scored from in front while falling down.

- The Rangers are 5-5-2 in their last 12, scoring 29 goals while surrendering 32. The latter number is okay, the first number is what's concerning. It even denies an offense that has been struggling for a while. Vigneault used the first two line combinations he has been deploying for several games: Kreider-Stepan-Zuccarello and Nash-Mika Zibanejad-Miller. You have to think he might experiment tonight and on the West Coast trip to try and generate more offense.

- Expect a war tonight. The Islanders are playing for their playoff lives. A loss to the Rangers moves the Blueshirts magic number to three and makes the Isles' task that much harder. The Rangers don't necessary need the win but it would make the next eight games that much easier for New York, enabling them to experiment even more. Due to the back to back and where the Rangers sit on the standings, does AV rest people tonight? Do we see Puempel or Pirri or Glass or Kampfer or Clendening? If so, who sits? Is it one of the big boys? Is it Holden or Staal? Antti Raanta likely will play again as Henrik Lundqvist isn't ready and you don't use Magnus Hellberg in a game like this after getting no previous work.

Nine games left, the magic number is seven and the Islanders are at MSG. No better time than today to get the home mojo back.