Clearly the Capitals took the sweep against the Rangers in the playoffs last year very personally, handing the Rangers a pretty ugly loss. It looked like the whole team took the night off. Igor Shesterkin did all he could facing over 7 xGA per Moneypuck, but the real story of the game was the Rangers inability to sustain offense in the Caps defensive zone, with the Rangers getting outshot 46-19.
All the lines except for the Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko line were ghosts in the grand scheme of the game. It looks like they all just forgot to prepare for the game, something we don’t expect the Rangers to do often, especially as the season drags on. Given the game was on ESPN, it was the first meeting with Washington since the playoffs, and it’s a long time division rival, it was an odd game for most of the team to mail it in and take the night off.
Shesterkin did everything he could to keep the Rangers in it, making a combined 25 saves in the 2nd and 3rd periods alone. Without him, this could have easily been an 8 or 9 goal loss on the scoresheet. There are many narratives out there about the importance of paying the right kind of money so that the rest of the lineup can get properly allocated under the cap, but this game squarely proves just how valuable Shesterkin is to this team. There just aren’t many goalies that can face this kind of onslaught and only given up 4 goals.
The Rangers, despite the hot start, are still getting their footing in place, but there is wonder about how the Rangers are going to play against these playoff caliber teams. Thus far, it’s either coincidence that they’re not up to snuff, or it’s just one of those scheduled loss type deals. With another test on Friday against a pretty pesky Senators team that should be a playoff team this season, it’ll just be another crack at beating a team the Rangers very likely could play in April.
This is an unpopular opinion, but Ryan Lindgren on defense and Matt Rempe on the 4th line simply don’t gel with the current system. Lindgren was a beacon of light when he first came onto the scene because the Rangers were rebuilding and he provided some defensive stability. Injuries have piled up, and he is nowhere near where he used to be as a defenseman. I think if history is a recipe for future endeavors, the Rangers should try to see what value he has, much like when the 2013-14 Rangers traded Michael Del Zotto for Kevin Klein.
The Rangers are so close to figuring out the defense group, and either obtaining a defenseman, or just letting Zac Jones provide additional puck moving abilities would take this backend to a different level. The Rangers can’t just defend, defend, defend for 60 minutes. They can’t have only just one puck mover in Adam Fox. They need to be more well rounded on the blue line.
As for Rempe, the Rangers best iteration of the 4th line this season is when Jonny Brodzinski is on the right wing. Keep doing what works. Rempe needs to play 15-17 minutes a night in Hartford while he rounds out his complete game.
But how about that Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko line, eh? Will Cuylle and Filip Chytil scored, and this line just continues to be a revelation and an absolute gift to watch night in and night out. Chytil is absolutely dancing out there and is the true catalyst for this team. On a night where the rest of the team took the game off, this line again proved they are the second line.
It’s only Game 9, so there’s no need to overreact. This game was just a sloppy loss that are hopefully few and far between.
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