What a truly embarrassing loss to the Anaheim Ducks. So many storylines entering the day, but then to add to it, Mika Zibanejad was scratched for missing a team meeting because, from what it sounded like, he was stuck in traffic coming up to the practice facility. With all the drama heading into the game and without their best center so far this season, the Rangers played the part of shorthanded, mediocre team that can’t score. They seem to play that part quite well.
The return of Chris Kreider had most Rangers fans with a pulse locked in and hoping to see the team engaged and ready to play. Instead the crowd on hand got a snoozer, with the Rangers disastrous 5 forward power play unit coughing up a short handed goal which let the air out of the whole building and the team. Maybe the frustrations of what the day brought were too much for some of the players, but this was a very winnable game that the Rangers again just couldn’t muster more than a goal on home ice.
The power play is an absolute disaster. This five forward power play unit still being deployed is coaching malpractice at this point. They do not score as a unit, and it feels like they’ve given up more chances than they’ve created. The opening goal last tonight was because Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck were gassed and couldn’t back check, so Igor Shesterkin was left all alone before Jackson LaCombe whacked the rebound through.
I know with the absence of Mika Zibanejad, some of these players want to play hero ball and stay out there until they can’t skate anymore, but I truly have no idea what Mike Sullivan and the coaching staff are doing with this power play. The Rangers have Scott Morrow sitting in the press box after acquiring him in the K’Andre Miller trade, and with Adam Fox out, there are no puck moving defenders on the Rangers roster. If you can’t move the puck from your backend, you are dead in the water in this league.
The lone goal tonight was scored by Matthew Robertson and I be happier for him. This is a kid that is the definition of a late bloomer, working on his game and waiting for his chance. It was natural to think he was going to get the Libor Hajek and Zac Jones treatment, simply sitting in the press box so the Rangers didn’t lose him on waivers, but his game has come along and the scoring is hopefully coming soon too. He has been a pleasant surprise and another example of a kid making his case to stick this season.
The story of the game was scratching Zibanejad. It might be a hot take, but NHL teams holding players accountable via healthy scratching in games for missing team meetings, but turning blind eyes to far worse off-ice incidents is quite disingenuous. A certain other star didn’t miss a single shift for another off ice incident, though there may be some legality questions with the NDAs all parties likely signed.
So Mika hit traffic on the way to the practice facility, haven’t we all been in that situation before? I know I’d hit traffic on the way to work from time to time. My boss wasn’t thrilled, but he wouldn’t send me home, he’d just say don’t make it a habit. Traffic is just one of those things. Zibanejad was on his way to the facility and still got his morning skate in too.
There’s nuances that I think should be taken into account for these types of incidents. Scratching their best forward at this time of the year with how the year has been going may not have been the best idea. This also speaks to the culture of the sport that what players are held accountable for, which looks like a joke. Hopefully the two points left on the table don’t come back to bite them later.
To end this on a more positive note, what a beautiful tribute to Chris Kreider. He deserved every second of praise coming his way, and although it really was unfortunate that the Rangers lost, it is good to see that Kreider is healthy again and last season was truly just a mirage. He’s still got some pep in his step and I’ll probably never get over him not being a Ranger for as long as he’s an active NHL player.