NY Rangers (40-17-4) vs Floridia Panthers (41-16-4)
04 Mar 2024 7:00 PM EST
TV MSG, BSFL
The Florida Panthers travel to NYC for a tilt against the NY Rangers, 1st in the Metro division, as trade talks heat up ahead of the deadline. The ice may be a little softer tonight with outside temps on the West side having hit the upper 50s today.
The Rangers are 8-1-1 in their last ten and Florida 9-1-0. The game is important for both teams – the Rangers hold a six point advantage over Carolina while the Panthers, 1st in the Atlantic, are only two points (with a game in hand) ahead of Boston.
From a statistical view, the teams are very close, though Bobrovsky (2.30 GAA, 0.918 SV%) gets the nod over Shesterkin (2.66 GAA, 0.911 SV%). Perhaps in an ominous sign, the referees tonight are Wes McCauley and Peter MacDougall, who bring along their sidekicks linespersons Derek Nansen and Mark Shewchyk.
The key tonight: the Rangers need to get an early lead; going down by more than one could mean “goodnight, Gracie” the way Bob has been playing.
On this date in history: Gump Worsley became the first goaltender in NY Rangers history to win 30 games in a season with a 3-2 over the Chicago Blackhawks.
Probable NYR lineup:
Kreider Zibanejad Kakko
Othmann Trocheck Lafrenière
Cuylle Goodrow Vesey
Edström Brodzinski Rempe
Miller Trouba
Lindgren Fox
Gustafsson Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
Likely Průcha'd:
Jones, Belzille
248 responses to “It’s Go Time!”
Retooling this roster starts with moving on from Deejaynibad. And probably Miller too, who’s next in line for a bad contract.
There isn’t a GM in the league that would take the DJ.
Only winger rumored to available that should garner a 1st is Guentzel and he isn’t coming here. No centers left available are worth a first.
Don’t think Vatrano/Henrique worth the 1st and more it would cost to get them both.
If Drury wants a center and winger, trade with SJ and won’t cost a 1st and likely shouldn’t even cost a 2nd
The sexy boys are not ready.
Perimeterjad is tough to watch.
we.will never win w him at 1C
get Tuch maybe he can wake the 2 bff’s up
Kakko’s last NYR game?
5 more years of 2Cibanejad then, why bother?
would you guys waste Kaako and/or a first rounder for this squad?
not for any names we have heard that are available that’s for sure
NYR will not win a cup w 93 figure skating for 60 minutes. He is soft. He is not capable of playing playoff hockey.
seen enough of him and if Drury can’t find a way to get rid of him we will continue to be good but never good enough
Admiral depends, am I rebuilding for 2029-30 season when Untradeablijad contract expires?
mika ufa at start of 2030-31 so 6 years remaining
kreider 3 more years
goodrow 3 more years (very likely buyout this summer)
trouba 2 more years
and don’t forget chytil 3 more years
public service announcement for those who hate one or more of these using such nicknames as huggy twins
I’d not trade kakko, who is useful now, but I’d trade the 28th pick or whatever, which may become useful in about 5 years.
The Rangers have a long way to go to match up with the Panthers. That whole team has bought into everything Maurice is laying out for them.
They play hard almost every minute of every game. The bottom six is chipping in and they’re probably the most physical team in the league.
The Rangers played progressively worse every period of this game. They have a habit of only playing one good period a game and in this one it was the first. Yes, the refs missed a blatant penalty that led to the winning goal but regardless of whether it tipped off of Trouba’s skate, Shesterkin HAS TO MAKE THAT SAVE. That’s the second goal that is entirely on him in the last few games. The other one was the stupid giveaway that only cost him a shutout. Tonight it cost the entire team the game.
Everyone on the team seems to know what they had to do in the third period……after the game was over. They absolutely didn’t do nearly enough in the third to tie this game up. You can’t put 6 shots on goal when you’re down a goal in the third.
However the game went, the first period showed that the Rangers can play with the Panthers. They hit hard and often and stuck up for each other. That play slowly disappeared as the game continued. They need to play that way for the entire game from now on.
One of these years they’ll put it all together and play consistently for every period of most games, especially in the playoffs. But, as currently constructed, this year’s team is not the one. Please don’t waste a first round pick on a rental, Drury.
Enjoy what’s left of the ride boys. We all know it ends in tee time after the 1st rd. The truth is, they know it as well. Every team knows if they shut the Krusty line our boys in blue are burnt toast.
I think we matched up pretty well against the best team in the league for a majority of that game. This squad showed some team toughness. We had a lead.
reinhart/barkov was the difference in this one. Next one Panerin could be the difference
step away from the ledge and have another donut koharski!
Nice post, Camp. Enjoyed it here and at TA.
Tale of 2 games; first 30 and second 30 mins. Refs gave them a break and they took advantage.
Thought Miller and Lindy were there best Dmen. Fox was rattled; gave a shot to 19 but for the most part he is a flower needing protection and he can’t skate so bad combo. The defense in general had a very tough time trying to clear the zone and the new 3rd line was scrambling in dzone.
The best team in the East and prolly the league so good measuring stick. They built the team the right way, with toughness up and down the lineup; not a bunch of point compiling dancers.
The last two games are what I expect the playoffs to be like. The Rangers will be competitive, but not make the plays required at crucial moments and ultimately be eliminated in a 6 or 7 game series where the games could have gone either way. A soft goal, a defensive breakdown, a bad line change or lazy backcheck will do them in. They will acknowledge their failures after each game and possibly complain about a missed call here or there. They will then repeat the performance in the next game.
The few optimistic boneheads on the blog is encouraging. Unfortunately optimism doesn’t win Stanley Cups. Warriors win Stanley Cups and the Rangers fall extremely short in that department.
*NEW POST*