Rangers 2, Panthers 3

Last night the Rangers had the opportunity to go up a game in this series and show that their prior two wins were not flukes. Unfortunately, they failed.

Though there was no score by either team in the first period, the Rangers looked significantly better than the previous two games. They actually had a fair amount of time in the offensive zone and had reduced, but not eliminated, the mindless turnovers.

The second period gave the hometown fans hope when the NY inverse power play unit scored again just 02:04 in. Kreider, defending just below the blue line, picked off a Zibanej…Tkachuck pass, pushed it over to his BFF, the pair skating up ice past all Florida defenders. Kreider (8) took the pass from Zibanejad (12) high in the slot and drove the net, putting a backhander past Bobrovsky who was sprawled out on his ass. 1-0 NYR.

Good times would only last six minutes before Bennet would carry the puck over the blue line and hit an untouched Forsling who had followed him into the Rangers end. In normal circumstances some blame would fall on Lafreniere who had the chance to bump Forsling on his way in. However, he was playing the new Ranger man defense and staying with Bennet. Which leaves the finger pointing very clearly at Fox, who not only watched Forsling skate around Lafreniere, but gave him even more room wide open in the slot by skating backwards into the circle. Bennet made the easy pass to Forsling who flipped the puck past Shesterkin with his backhand. A goal that should not have happened, tied 1-1 at 08:21 and that is how the second period would end. The Rangers would log only six shots on goal in the second as Florida stepped up their game.

Florida continued to press the accelerator but the Rangers managed to avoid a collission until the 10:22 mark when Lundell scored his third of the playoffs. A long rebound off Shesterkin was picked up by Florida, who entered the zone 3 on 2. Lundell, the puck carrier, skated to the circle where Schneider went to one kneed with a missed block. Shesterkin, however, was not fully on Lundell as Miller had allowed Tarasanko to skate unopposed to the front of the net on the same side as Lundell. Had Shesterkin not need to respect the pass and potential tip by Tarasanko there is a good chance he makes the save. Again, a goal that did not need to happen as a result of a NYR defender playing far away, frankly unaware, of what was about to happen. 2-1 FLA.

And then Laviollete panicked, pulling Shesterkin at the 17:24 mark down just one goal. It took 44 seconds before Bennet, unassisted, would put one in to the empty net, FLA 3-1 at 18:08 of the third.

Apparently that is what it took to wake the Rangers up and a minute later, at 19:10, Lafreniere (8) tipped one past Bobrovsky, Zibanejad (13) and Kreider (4) with the assists. FLA 3-2 with the Rangers trying to mount a desperate charge to tie the game and go to overtime.

Unfortunately, the coach turned back into a pumpkin as the Rangers were unable to do much of anything with the puck the last 50 seconds, failing to reach overtime and dance the night away. Game over, 3-2 FLA.

Observations:

1/ Though the Rangers played better than they had the prior few games, they were not able to match the Panthers compete level, including abrasiveness.

2/ That the Panthers did not score more is a testament to Shesterkin and not the Rangers defense, who continue to leave people uncovered for easy shots.

3/ Laviolette was out-coached:

He gave up on the fourth line pretty much immediately. Rempe got 2:43 with two shifts in the first and two in the second. The physical element was gone.

Laviolette put Chytil back into the line up next to Zibanejad, though he had many alternatives. From the 7:51 mark of the second, Chytil played one 21 second shift. He played with Cuylle and Goodrow in the third period. Would Othmann or Edstrom have been better choices?

Made no defensive adjustments during the game (though did revert back to the Miller/Schneider pairing).

Went for the sixth skater very early given the proven inability of the Rangers to not make turnovers and to maintain offensive zone possession