NY Rangers (40-17-3) vs Toronto Maple Leaves (34-17-8)
02 Mar 2024 7:00 PM EST
TV MSG, SN
The NY Rangers, 1st in the Metro division, cross the international border to Canada (Canafire?) to take on the Maple Leafs in Toronto at the Scotiabank Arena. This is the third meeting between the teams; Toronto won the first, 7-3 on 12 Dec and the Rangers won the next, 5-2 on 19 Dec.
The Rangers are 9-1-0 in their last ten and Toronto 8-2-0. The game is important for both teams. The Rangers hold a five point advantage over Carolina (with a game in hand) for 1st in the Metropolitan division; Toronto is 3rd in the Atlantic, but only four points (with a game in hand) ahead of a charging Detroit. With only a few days before the trade deadline, there is also likely to be a number of scouts from other teams checking on players that may be part of trade talks.
From a statistical view, Toronto has the edge on the PP, the Rangers on the PK; Toronto on GF, the Rangers on GA. Shesterkin and Samsonov are in net. The referees tonight are Mitch Dunning and Ghislain Hebert joined by linespersons Shandor Alphonso and James Tobias.
The key tonight: the Rangers must avoid a game of pond hockey and play solid team defense.
On this date in history: In 1982, Henrik Lundqvist was born in Are, Sweden. Also on this date in 2018, Lundqvist stopped 50 shots in a win over the Flames having done the same in an OT win over the Canucks two days prior. That made him the third goal tender to make at least 50 saves in back-to-back games and the first to win both games.
Probable NYR lineup:
Kreider Zibanejad Kakko
Othmann Trocheck Lafrenière
Cuylle Brodzinski Vesey
Edström Goodrow Rempe
Miller Trouba
Lindgren Fox
Gustafsson Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Likely Průcha'd:
Jones, Belzille
286 responses to “It’s Go Time!”
must win this faceoff
Way too many dumb no chance wish shots.
Toronto made the same change 30 second before that.
There’s no way we win a breakaway contest.
Trocheck makes up for Mika’s offensive deficiency
This team (Leaves) is unforgiving, when it comes to the offense (superior than Rangers’) even if you have a minimum. They have, however, just so-so defense and goalies, So, the only way to stay in game and, probably, even win (with luck) is to use every opportunity to score. Rangers missed it unforgivingly a lot.
In9 attempts this season in the shootout, we have 2 goals. One by Panarin and one by Laffy
I think I would put Cuylle or Kakko out as one of the three. Less book on them
Half the actual all star team out there
give Rempe a shot
Zika!
Way to go Papa!
I dont think this counts
that’s good
Shesterkin got juked out of his mind
🙄
Shesty is getting faked left and right
oh igor
told ya, Olga
free point at least
Thats a wrap folks
☹️
Take the point and get out of Toronto.
Well, they stole one point. Almost stole two.
1-3 in shootouts. 3 total goals in 13 attempts this season. None in the same game.
a good road point but the Huggy Twins need to be separated
They stole point. Panthers will be tougher on them.
crap shootout. Game should’ve just ended as a tie
At least Rempe got out alive…
Panthers destroying Detroit right now.
it’s looking like a perfect night for the Islanders.
Right now, AA? That game was played earlier today.
yeah you’re right Kakko – it IS a perfect night for the Islanders. 3 points out of a playoff spot. It will be very interesting to see what Lamoriello does
to be fair, Marner cheated
no, he didn’t. That was a good goal, wwpd.
I’m thinking we don’t want to face them in a best of 7….
sharing just got juked out of his jock twice.
Craig, after tonight’s game, I don’t want to face anyone in a best of 7….
*Shesterkin
The Rangers had all 5 shots in OT 😂 had me fooled
Can’t wait to see what the final 12 forwards look like. I was delighted to see Brodz earn a contract but never saw him as a playoff piece. Now it looks like they’re stuck with him in that role even if they trade in two forwards. Cuylle may snap out of it, Vesey’s legit, maybe Edstrom finds something in his final few minutes here, Rempe’s an utter sideshow… They keep racking up points anyway, trying to remain patient.
because they were all stupid shots
Still second in points percentage and currently second in the league.
The New York Paper Tigers.
I rather would say Rangers are a colossus with feet of clay…
Vesey is a legit 4th line+pk guy role player, thats about it. Whenever he is moved up and asked to do more, he moves back down pretty quickly. Can’t knock his effort.
Right, Beez. Only plus is it keeps them home at night.
Kakko I know, just sour grapes
I didn’t get to see the game live. Out with my wife again, maintaining my reputation. I will try to watch it later today. I did catch the Vermont goal to tie it, the OT, and the shoot out. How appropriate for the game to end with Trocheck hitting the post. The Rangers need Dajenabiz to be Zibanejad or else it’s 30 years and counting. How long is a lifetime?
I think it does boil down to Zibanejad. If he doesn’t find a way to score, it won’t matter who is brought in, or how well Shesterkin or Panarin or Lafreniere or Trocheck play. They will go NOWHERE without the DJ finding his scoring game.
Rick Nash 2.0 — and the playoffs haven’t even started.
One liners belong in a comedy club not a hockey rink.
ask Toronto how long a lifetime is.
Here are my thoughts after last night’s game:
This team didn’t exactly inspire confidence last night in their ability to play the quick and heavy game required in the post-season. This is their DNA. If Kreider and Zibanejad aren’t willing to aggressively forecheck…if Miller and Fox can’t take the body….if Schneider doesn’t revert back to the guy we drafted for his physical/sound play…. If Kakko doesn’t begin to put it all together…. we’re not going anywhere in the post-season. Bringing in 2 players at the deadline can’t change their DNA as a team.
The team is not built to win when it matters most. This is on the GM. Too many passengers unwilling to do what it takes to win.
CraigWeather
You’ll get no argument from me.
yes Meeka needs to “figure it out” but he has never been a ‘forechecker’ and they knew that when signing him to his deal. Highly doubt he morphs into one now. In this structure, there is more Dzone responsibility and less opp for break outs where he does most of his damage.
Kreider (+22) is also not the forechecker of his youth at this point in his career, but is a very responsible player in all 3 zones playing in all situations, his production relative to cap hit is the highest on the team of the vets. No more stupid offsides, ozone penalties, or Dzone blunders.
last night they had a 3rd line and bottom pair that got taken to the cleaners all game. Johnny B is not a starting 3C on a real playoff team. Gusto has lost the glass slipper and the rats are waiting at the pumpkin outside msg. more importantly, this D is not a playoff caliber 4 series win Cup contender. As long as Fox/Lindy, Miller and Gusto are on the back line, they are not going anywhere.
According to the stats Miller and Fox had 7 and 5 hits last night. Physicality wasn’t the issue. The major problem last night was dumb plays in their own end leading to sieges for the Leafs which led directly to goals. Goodrow, Johnny B and Gustafson were the main culprits. Three more years of Goodrow is going to be an albatross going forward. His tank may be on E. He seems like a buyout candidate this Summer. He can be replaced for about $1MM so there is a cap benefit to buying him out. He was part of Drury’s first wave of toughness moves when he took over all of which failed. Hopefully he is smarter now.
Dave Maloney said it best:
“This is a game between two talented teams where defending is not part of the DNA of their top players…”
A stay at home D for the third pair would allow Schneider more freedom to join the rush occasionally. Gustafson is TDA with a better attitude. Schneider has to try to cover for him. The positive last night is the forwards were more responsible and there were very few odd man rushes. On the flip side, their D zone coverage was awful and they couldn’t clear the zone. The Panthers forecheck more aggressively. Tomorrow night could be a horror show. And Mika has to shoot the puck. You can’t score if you don’t shoot.
three players will be coming in …RW, C and LD …let’s see what Drury pulls out his bag of tricks
One thing I noticed last night that got me angry was the lackadaisical play of too many of our guys in their d-zone. Fox,Lingren, Trouba, and Kreider each made mistake you would not tolerate from rookies. I agree with you guys that this team is not built for a long run in the playoff’s. We will be lucky to win 1 or 2 series.
Unless Frank Vatrano turns our top to forwards around 180 degrees we will be done rather fast.
One thing that puzzles me is how our defensive play has taken a number of steps backwards. It seems to me in every game there are a numbers of either lazy or just dumb play’s from guys who used to many pretty smart plays. A couple of weeks ago I implore them to KISS; but no. As soon as they have any pressure all of them are making mistake children in pee wee would make. All in all it is rather disheartening. But I guess that is the definition of being a Ranger’s fan.
Let’s see. I was rooting for a good game and no Rempe fight last night and look what that got me. So for Monday let me just say. LGR
Totally agree with ORF. When the leafs tied it up at 2 I turned the game off. Why? Because of there stupid giveaway’s in there own zone. The rangers were really aggrevating me with stupid passes giving it away in there own zone on both goals.
*NEW POST*
Optimist would say Rempe fight late inspired the team to some puck control in the final 6 minutes and rallied them to tie the game. Or, coach used fight for a break in lieu of using his Timeout. It was clearly sanctioned from the bench anyway. I wonder by whom!