Just finished watching the full game.
Florida won 3 - 0 despite being outshot 40 - 20.
The shot differential is very misleading. Florida had more zone entries with speed and more productive cycling ending with shots from good areas off of clean passes.
The Rangers' cycling usually ended with low-danger shots with Florida gaining control of the rebound.
The Rangers speed was negated. Florida has some speedy players, especially that Vincent Trocheck C kid.
The Rangers are a one line team right now. Mats Zuccarello RW controls the puck well and keeps his line relevant. But even then, no major chances were created.
Rick Nash LW when not playing with Zuccarello doesn't see the puck much. He still got off a couple of potentially dangerous shots - both going low into Roberto Luongo's leg pads - so overall not dangerous.
The Rangers are not defending the middle of their zone well. Many times the Panthers were able to get space on the boards and make clean plays to the middle.
Once Florida had that three goal lead, there was a clear shift in their push up the ice. Yet they still created a few high-quality chances on outlet passes for two-on-ones and counter-rushes.
Florida has a very solid top two lines and the third line is not easy to play against.
Aleksander Barkov C is a very good player and works well with Jaromir Jagr RW. He's big and has great hands and vision. He knows where to go without the puck. And importantly, he is very tough defensively. And he's 20 years old.
The Rangers did have some chances off of deflections. But as those go, it is hit or miss. One of them Luongo did adjust correctly for, the others either went wide or deflected low and into the pads. Most were in tight and low on the goalie, which is not a high quality deflection.
Brandon Pirri C alone could have scored four goals. He had the puck off clean passes multiple times and shot wide. The lone one on net might also have gone high and wide had he connected with it cleanly. He healed the puck and it went five-hole on Henrik Lundqvist G. Lundqvist reacted to the stick and may have saved it had it been a true strike.
Willie Mitchell D is a solid defenseman.
I love Jaromir Jagr RW. That guy has been through it all. Highs and lows and he just keep playing good hockey. He still has those great hands and the vision. He loves playing this sport and that is just cool for a 43 year old.
Florida is playing well right now. But I think a team like Chicago or the Kings will give them trouble in their zone. Good fore-checking and good hands will make a difference. The Panthers' late play did give the Rangers more space. The boys in blue just couldn't make them pay. Players with hands like Patrick Kane RW will take advantage.
The Rangers are playing without confidence, I guess. They are leaving a lot of holes in transition. They can't move the puck through center ice well. And it seems they are doing a lot of chasing in their own zone. Get back to simple own zone coverage. Keep the play to the outsides and get to the rebounds. Lundqvist is having to guess a lot these days.
The shot count for the Rangers is a little frustrating to me. I'd rather see passes not get through than easy/light shots that are just hoping for a bounce. Create higher scoring chances. Free guys like Derek Stepan C and Chris Kreider LW and Rick Nash LW and Derick Brassard C up for one-timers - just get them space to make plays instead of relying on getting the puck to the net.
The bottom two lines aren't putting in those shifts that make the other team tired.
So, for New York, as solid as they played at the beginning of the season they are playing that loose now. It isn't pretty.
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