4 Takeaways From Rangers’ 6-3 Loss to the Jets – The Hockey Writers –

The New York Rangers suffered a 6-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday evening, bringing their report to 9-4-1, whereas the Jets improved to 15-1-0. Though the ultimate rating doesn’t totally seize the Rangers’ effort, they had been aggressive at 5-on-5, matching the Jets in tempo and depth. Nevertheless, pricey errors, together with sloppy zone exits and turnovers, finally proved to be their undoing in a sport nearer than the rating suggests.

Rangers vs. Jets Sport Recap

Simply 57 seconds into the sport, a misplay by Mika Zibanejad on a clearance try led to Josh Morrissey discovering Mark Scheifele in entrance of the online, the place he slipped one previous Igor Shesterkin to present the Jets an early 1-0 lead. The Rangers had an opportunity to reply on the ability play however couldn’t convert. Nevertheless, with just below seven minutes left within the first, Will Cuylle evened the rating, capitalizing on a possibility in entrance to make it 1-1. The Rangers then efficiently killed off a penalty, heading into the intermission with the sport tied at 1-1 and main 12-10 in pictures.

Halfway by the second interval, Cuylle was despatched to the penalty field for holding Kyle Connor, and the Jets wasted no time capitalizing. Gabriel Vilardi and Nikolaj Ehlers executed a fast passing sequence in entrance of Shesterkin, permitting Vilardi to faucet in a objective and reclaim the lead for Winnipeg at 2-1. The Rangers quickly had an opportunity to reply when Connor tripped Artemi Panarin, and Alexis Lafrenière made it depend, threading a shot previous Connor Hellebuyck with Vincent Trocheck and Chris Kreider offering a double display screen to tie the sport 2-2.

Nevertheless, one other pricey turnover by Mika Zibanejad quickly after led to a breakaway for Connor, who fired one previous Shesterkin to place the Jets up 3-2. The Rangers had been handed an opportunity to equalize when Winnipeg was referred to as for too many males, however they couldn’t capitalize, leaving the rating at 3-2 in favor of the Jets heading into the second intermission.

Associated: How Will Cuylle’s Progress Impacts the Rangers’ Future

A minute into the third interval, Scheifele prolonged the Jets’ result in 4-2 by tipping in a go from Dylan DeMelo. The Rangers responded 32 seconds later when Kaapo Kakko outmuscled Colin Miller in entrance of the online, pushing the puck previous Hellebuyck to make it 4-3 and preserve the sport inside attain. With seven minutes remaining, Vladislav Namestnikov took benefit of a failed two-on-one that Ok’Andre Miller couldn’t clear, discovering the free puck and stuffing it in to present the Jets a 5-3 lead. Within the last moments, with 20 seconds left, one other turnover from Zibanejad led to an empty-net objective by Connor, sealing a 6-3 victory for Winnipeg.

Rangers Takeaways

1. The Rangers’ third line of Filip Chytil, Cuylle, and Kakko mixed for each the staff’s even-strength targets, solidifying their standing as one of many staff’s simplest traces. Cuylle notched a objective and an help, bringing his season complete to 11 factors; Kakko scored a objective, elevating his tally to eight factors; and Chytil added an help, giving him 9 factors to date. Dominating play once they had been on the ice, the trio managed a formidable 84.62% of the anticipated targets, but they solely noticed round 12 minutes of ice time every. Chytil led with 12:40, Kakko logged 11:47, and Cuylle had 11:31, in stark distinction to Zibanejad, who performed 20:20 with a minus-4 score and solely managed 35% of anticipated targets along with his line. Time and time once more, Chytil, Kakko, and Cuylle have confirmed they deserve extra ice time. It’s time for head coach Peter Laviolette to acknowledge and reward their efficiency accordingly.
2. Laviolette has not too long ago shuffled the New York Rangers’ traces to deal with even-strength scoring challenges. Nevertheless, the issue appears to be targeting particular gamers moderately than your complete staff. Lafrenière, Cuylle, and Panarin every have 10 five-on-five factors, whereas Kakko and Chytil have seven and 6, respectively. In distinction, Zibanejad and Kreider have underperformed at even power – Zibanejad has three factors and Kreider only one. Reconfiguring the traces to optimize efficiency could possibly be helpful. Reuniting Trocheck with Lafrenière and Panarin may restore their earlier chemistry. Inserting Zibanejad alongside Smith and Kreider however assigning them third-line minutes may additionally alleviate strain. Elevating the road of Kakko, Chytil, and Cuylle to second-line minutes would reward their constant contributions and supply them with extra alternatives to impression the sport. Lastly, pairing Chytil with Lafrenière and Panarin and aligning Trocheck with Kakko and Cuylle may provide new dynamics and stability throughout all traces.
3. Three pricey turnovers by Zibanejad had been the distinction on this sport. A lazy go out of the zone to nobody was intercepted by Morrisey within the opening minute, giving the Jets their first objective. It’s virtually not possible to inform what Zibanejad was pondering at that second. Maybe he was attempting to go the puck to Panarin, but it surely ended up within the internet. If his errors had ended there, they is perhaps forgivable, however with 4 minutes left within the second interval, Zibanejad whiffed on an tried go and watched because the puck was carried again down the ice, the place Connor rifled a shot previous Shesterkin. Zibanejad didn’t even try and get again on the play; he had not even crossed the crimson line when Connor scored. Lastly, whereas the Rangers had Shesterkin pulled and had been attempting to claw again from a two-goal deficit, Zibanejad by a listless go into two Jets after Panarin stored the puck within the offensive zone. There wasn’t a Ranger in sight, and Zibanejad accomplished his hat trick of turnovers as Connor fired it into the empty internet.
4. The Rangers’ energy play, one among their strongest property, has hit a tough patch currently. Whereas they run two models, almost all of the ice time is devoted to the primary group that includes Panarin, Trocheck, Kreider, Fox, and Zibanejad. Although they’re nonetheless discovering the online, they haven’t been as dominant as in previous seasons. Given current performances, it’s time to contemplate a shift: Lafrenière has earned a spot on the ability play, and Zibanejad seems to be the odd man out. His current errors, together with missed one-timers—such because the one he whiffed on within the third interval final evening—have impacted his reliability on the ability play. Frequently rewarding him with ice time regardless of these errors could now not be justified. Subbing in Lafrenière would inject new power whereas rewarding his constant effort. After final evening’s sport, it would even be helpful for Zibanejad to sit down out at the least one as a wholesome scratch.
5. Subsequent Sport: Thursday, Nov. 14, 7 p.m. EST vs. San Jose Sharks at Madison Sq. Backyard