Despite winning the Presidents' Trophy with the NHL's best regular season record, the 2023-24 New York Rangers season ended with disappointment on Saturday…
Jacob Trouba's Questionable Hits Distract From Truth: He's Hurting Rangers On Ice
May 28, 2024
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 22: Jacob Trouba #8 of the New York Rangers during the anthem prior to the game against the Florida Panthers in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 22, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
If there's any player on the New York Rangers roster who most NHL fans have gotten to know more than they wanted to, it's defenseman Jacob Trouba.
Trouba has earned a reputation for delivering controversial hits with various levels of severity to opposing players.
We saw it from him again in Game 3 when he delivered a chicken-wing elbow to the head of Florida Panthers forward Evan Rodrigues.
That hit earned him a $5,000 fine from NHL Department of Player Safety and more exasperation from fans and others around the league that he evaded a suspension yet again.
The 30-year-old also didn't really have much of an explanation for it afterward.
Jacob Trouba on the elbow that resulted in today's fine:
"He kind of went to the middle. It all happens pretty fast. It’s not something you’re thinking about 1,000 times over and over again. It just happens fast. It’s hockey. I don’t have a great explanation for it."#NYR
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) May 27, 2024
Trouba toes, and often crosses, the line regarding his physical play. For all the positive things he brings as Rangers captain and playing the way he does, taking penalties and royally ticking off opponents can galvanize their efforts to try to beat them. Putting your foes on the power play and motivating them to beat you even more aren't helpful.
But as dangerous as his hits have been in the past and the power plays allowed could hurt the Rangers, the thing that's been hurting them even more is the way Trouba has played the rest of the time he's on the ice.
Among the six defensemen the Rangers have iced in the postseason at 5-on-5, Trouba is third in minutes played behind K'Andre Miller and Adam Fox but has been on the ice for the most shot attempts against (via Natural Stat Trick), second-most scoring chances against and on the ice for the second-most high danger scoring chances against and high danger goals against.
The playoffs are a small sample size, but the scope and meaning of the games enhance anything that's done extremely well or very poorly. One theory some might throw out to why Trouba is struggling is because his teammates are not helping out as well. Fortunately, there are stats for that, too.
Trouba's two most common defense partners (via Natural Stat Trick) are Miller and Erik Gustafsson.
When it comes to having the better percentage of shot attempts at 5-on-5, both are far better off without Trouba than with him. When it comes to shot quality for (also known as expected goals), Gustafsson and Trouba have done well (nearly 53 percent) while with Miller it wasn't as good (45.6 percent). Gustafsson and Trouba have each been worse off without each other (Trouba's xGF% is 40.6, Gustafsson's is nearly 44 percent), but Miller's numbers have improved to 48.8 percent.
Trouba and Gustafsson have been complementary to each other. Trouba is physical and nasty while Gustafsson is a puck possessor, passer and shot generator. But this is about as much as head coach Peter Laviolette can do to try managing the defense while not playing Miller and Fox into the ground.
As good as Trouba has been about blocking shots (team-leading 47 at 5-on-5) and throwing the body (team-leading 44 hits at 5-on-5), and for as much as his teammates can feed off of both of those abilities, the classic thing about hits is that if you're leading in that category, it means you don't have the puck.
What's more, the way the Panthers play makes it easier for them to expose Trouba's weaknesses. Sure, they're willing to engage with him physically and play the questionable physical game themselves, but they're also a team that forechecks opponents all over the ice and doing that to Trouba when he's out there can lead to trouble for the Rangers.
Although the Rangers have a 2-1 lead in the series, Trouba has put the spotlight back on himself again. New York has been able to get by and win games despite the distraction provided by the hits, but while he's taking penalties and giving the Panthers chances on the power play, Florida might want to keep him on the ice more often because with the way the game has unfolded around him.
The Rangers haven't played as well as they could with Trouba out there, but they're not going to do anything drastic like bench their captain.
But they could stand to see him playing better hockey if they're going to win their first Stanley Cup since 1994.
Rangers Take 2-1 Series Lead vs. Panthers as NHL Fans Praise Wennberg's G3 OT Goal
May 26, 2024
SUNRISE, FLORIDA - MAY 26: Alex Wennberg #91 of the New York Rangers scores the game winning goal against Sergei Bobrovsky #72 of the Florida Panthers during overtime in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amerant Bank Arena on May 26, 2024 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Alex Wennberg's overtime goal propelled the New York Rangers to a 5-4 win over the Florida Panthers on Sunday, giving the Blueshirts a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Finals.
Rangers defenseman Ryan Lindberg wristed a shot from the blue line, and Wennberg was right out front for a deflection to close a massive victory.
It was a tremendous win for New York, which led 4-2 in the third period before the Panthers scored twice in under two minutes to tie the game with 13:02 left.
It was a devastating loss for Florida, which took 108 shot attempts to the Rangers' 44. More specifically, Florida put 37 shots on net to New York's 23.
A frenetic first period ended in a two-all tie. Sam Reinhart's two power play goals buffered Rangers goals from Alexis Lafrenière and Barclay Goodrow.
REINO 🦏
The Cats are on the board early in Game 3! #StanleyCup
Goodrow has now scored six times in his last six postseason games after netting four goals in 80 regular-season contests. He also notably scored the game-winner in the Rangers' 2-1 overtime win over the Panthers in Game 2.
Undeterred, the Panthers fought back with even-strength goals from Aleksander Barkov and Gustav Forsling.
Florida had many chances to take the lead down the stretch, including seven shot attempts on a power play following a Jacob Trouba holding call. However, Igor Shesterkin stood tall in net and kept the score at four.
Fast-paced action marked the start of overtime, and a quick goal almost seemed inevitable. That score happened after Wennberg, a trade deadline acquisition from the Seattle Kraken, netted his first playoff goal with New York for the big win.
The 29-year-old center picked a great time for his first playoff goal, and it was also sweet revenge for him as well after he was crushed at mid-ice following a Dmitry Kulikov hit in Game 2 that was nearly called a major.
After review, Kulikov received a two minute minor for interference on this hit pic.twitter.com/FCsUTe0Lfb
Rangers steal Game 3. Wennberg deflects home a point shot from Gustafsson as the New York Rangers beat the Florida Panthers 5-4 in overtime to take a 2-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Final https://t.co/MLp3uWSK8H
Florida will now host New York for Game 4 on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET.
Rangers Exhilarate NHL Fans as Barclay Goodrow's OT Goal in G2 Evens ECF vs. Panthers
May 25, 2024
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 24: Barclay Goodrow #21 and Alexis Lafreniere #13 of the New York Rangers celebrate a goal to win during overtime against the Florida Panthers in Game Two of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 24, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The New York Rangers defeated the Florida Panthers in overtime by the final score of 2-1 on Friday night, tying the Eastern Conference Final at one game apiece.
New York opened up the scoring in the first period with a goal from Vincent Trochek off a slick feed from Adam Fox. Artemi Panarin was also credited with an assist.
The Rangers' celebration was short-lived, as a scuffle between the two teams commenced shortly after the goal and resulted in multiple roughing penalties.
The Panthers answered just before the end of the first period, as Carter Verhaeghe notched his eighth goal of the playoffs during a power play after an interference penalty was called on Barclay Goodrow.
Following a frenetic first period, the action cooled down for the rest of regulation. Both teams went scoreless in the second and third periods, with just one penalty occurring in the third frame.
Both teams had chances to score at the start of overtime. Rangers center Filip Chytil had a shot on an open net after a rebound came to him off the pad of Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, but Oliver Ekman-Larsson was able to block the shot with his body and keep Florida alive.
The Panthers weren't able to keep the Rangers at bay for much longer, as Goodrow made up for his earlier penalty by recording the game-winner. After racking up a mere four goals in 80 games during the regular season, the 31-year-old now has four goals in 12 playoff games.
After the Blueshirts were initially in danger of falling into a 2-0 series deficit, they'll head on the road and attempt to take a 2-1 lead during Game 3 on Sunday.
Rangers Ripped by NHL Fans After Getting Shut Out in Game 1 Loss to Panthers in ECF
May 23, 2024
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 22: Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers reacts to a goal scored against Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers during the third period in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 22, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The New York Rangers displayed a mostly lifeless offense Wednesday en route to a 3-0 home loss to the Florida Panthers to begin the Eastern Conference Final.
The Blueshirts were shut out just once in 92 games (regular season plus playoffs) entering the Panthers series. That was way back on Dec. 9, when New York fell 4-0 to the Washington Capitals.
But New York had a brutal showing Wednesday, notably managing just 12 shots on goal through two periods. That included a stretch of one shot on goal over a 16-minute stretch.
The Rangers have just 10 shots through almost two full periods 😳
The Rangers did have their chances, including breakaways from Braden Schneider and Will Cuylle, a Mika Zibanejad one-timer that went wide, a four-shot flurry in 12 seconds during the third period and a late power play right after that.
However, the Rangers' goose egg never changed shape over 60 minutes. Well-deserved credit goes to Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, who finished with a 23-save shutout and made clutch stops along the way.
— x - Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 23, 2024
The score remained 1-0 until the Rangers scored an unofficial own goal after Alexis Lafrenière deflected one in with 3:48 remaining. Carter Verhaeghe got the credit.
— x - Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) May 23, 2024
Of course, this is only one game in a best-of-seven series, but the Rangers came out flat. There's plenty of time for New York to turn this around, but in the meantime, fans questioned the tough performance.
Not only did the Rangers make me pay [redacted] American dollars to watch THAT, now I have to wait 25 minutes for the subway home, too??? Cursed vibes.
Rangers look suffocated against this panthers team whos forwards are stronger Thing is florida doesnt have to do anything fancy, just toss the puck into the corners, gonna outwork along the boards, wear the rangers down low Way their goalie is playing this looks like a quick one
idgaf that the rangers lost game 1 in the ECF during their 1994 run.. such a lame low iq response. I want them to show no mercy every game man. horrible performance ... i want laviii to smack them in the locker room.#NYR
Rangers shouldn’t lull themselves into thinking that this game was there for the taking in the 3rd. Florida won almost every battle tonight. It was only 1-0 because Igor made some tough saves and the Panthers misfired on some chances. Gotta do better Friday night.
Rangers need to figure out a way to generate more offensive chances. They wont win games when they have 15 shots goal 50-55 minutes into the game. Yes they hit a few posts but really besides the two PP's and the one 5v5 flurry where Wennberg somehow didnt score they did nothing
Kreider: F Mika: F Roslovic: did he play? Panarin: F Laf: F Tro: F Chytil: F Wennberg: F Kakko: did he play? Cuylle: F Goodrow: F Vesey: did he play? Fox: F Lindgren: F Trouba: F Miller: F Schneider: F Gus: F Igor: C
Game 2 will take place in New York on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.
Rangers' Blake Wheeler Available to Play vs. Panthers After Serious Leg Injury
May 19, 2024
CHICAGO, IL - FEBRUARY 09: Blake Wheeler #17 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck during overtime against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on February 9, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
New York Rangers veteran forward Blake Wheeler, who has been sidelined since February with a serious leg injury, says he will be "available" for the Eastern Conference Finals, ESPN's Greg Wyshynski reported.
"It's going to be in the coach's hands from there, but I'm ready in any capacity I can to help out," Wheeler said after an optional skate Sunday, per Wyshynski.
Wheeler's right leg bent back at an extreme angle during Feb. 15 game against the Montreal Canadiens. The injury led Rangers captain Jacob Trouba to say Wheeler had "maybe played his last hockey game."
The 37-year-old rejoined Rangers practice in full capacity Monday and was activated from long-term injured reserve Thursday.
The Florida Panthers will take on the Rangers at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday during Game 1 at Madison Square Garden.
Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette said that Wheeler "is going to do everything he can to make himself a possibility" for Game 1, per Wyshynski.
Wheeler was skating on the Rangers' top line alongside Mika Zibanejad prior to the injury. The veteran right wing had recorded nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in 54 games.
It is not yet clear where Wheeler would slot in if he returns to the lineup.
Alexis Lafrenière and Kappo Kakko are clicking on the second and third lines, respectively, and the Rangers could be reluctant to expect Wheeler to lay heavy hits by assigning him a fourth-line role in his return from injury.
Speedy Jack Roslovic has established himself as the Rangers' top right-winger in Wheeler's absence, however, and has two goals and five assists for seven points so far this postseason.
Forward Filip Chytil, who has missed most of the postseason due to a concussion and illness, is also hoping to return for Game 1 of the ECF, according to Vincent Z. Mercogliano of the Rockland/Westchester Journal News.
Mercogliano classified Chytil, previously a third-line left winger, as "more likely to slot in than Wheeler."
The additional depth is still good news for the Rangers, who have largely been leaning on 11 forwards with Matt Rempe and Jonny Brodzinski playing limited minutes in the 12th spot.
Wheeler was originally drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes as the No. 5 pick of the 2004 draft. He joined the Rangers on a one-year contract as a free agent last July after 12 seasons with the Winnipeg Jets.
His return to Rangers practice comes as good news to a team that Wyshynski originally reported was shaken by the gruesome injury that sidelined the veteran in February.
The Rangers will now hope to ride the momentum of Wheeler's return into a trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
Chris Kreider Immortalizes His Rangers Legacy With Series-Ending Hat Trick vs. Canes
Adam Herman
May 17, 2024
It is now impossible to tell the story of New York Rangers' playoff excellence without putting Chris Kreider into focus.
Following three straight wins against the Hurricanes in the second round of the playoffs, the Blueshirts lost a close one in Game 4 and then laid an egg at home in Game 5. For two periods in Game 6, the Rangers looked completely out of it.
Then Chris Kreider happened. A natural hat-trick in the third period lifted the Rangers out of a lifeless daze. All three goals around the front of the net. No surprise for one of the league's best power forwards.
One can't tell the story of the Rangers' comeback or series without highlighting goaltender Igor Shesterkin.
The team was lackluster to begin with, but a two-goal deficit against a team that specializes in attrition meant head coach Peter Laviolette's squad needed to take more risks. And the Russian's brilliance in goal prevented the Hurricanes from putting the score out of reach at many moments in the second and third periods.
For posterity, though, this is Kreider's moment. It's a big swing from 48 hours ago when New York was near crisis. In the immediate aftermath of its worst game of the season, Kreider did not match the panic many Blueshirts fans felt.
A lot of people are stomping their feet over a pretty generic quote that is objectively true. Also, Kreider has like 50000 playoff games to his name across three eras. I think he should probably earn some benefit of the doubt with regards to managing the group's mentality. https://t.co/GMKuxQEAeJ
Hockey loves to romanticize the playoffs. The games are built differently. Teams that win know what it takes. Teams that don't win don't want it enough.
Stories are built out of the players who know how to win, and the difference is often chalked up to something abstract. A moment of leadership. A blocked shot. A fight that changed the momentum. They are lionized for having done something to lift the spirits of the entire group.
There is some truth in that, but at the end of the day, hockey is still hockey. You need to score more than the other team, and you need the players who directly make that happen. The Rangers were down and out, unable to generate any offense against, arguably, the best defensive team in the NHL.
Then, one of the league's best goal scorers used his speed, size and hand-eye coordination to pot three and end the series.
It's no surprise for anyone who has followed Kreider's career.
The Rangers' first-round pick in 2009, he left Boston College and started his NHL career in the middle of the 2012 playoffs. Unbothered by the moment, he finished third on the team in goals during a run to the Eastern Conference Final.
He was the points-per-game leader (13 in 15 games) for the Stanley Cup runners-up in 2014.
He potted 10 goals in 20 games during the surprise run to the Eastern Conference Final in 2022 and last season, when the team looked lifeless against the Devils, he still produced 10 points in 19 games.
The 33-year-old does not have the aura of other playoff leaders. For one, he hasn't won a Stanley Cup. He also isn't captain of the Rangers. Though an incredibly interesting person off the ice, he's not known for big bursts of personality on it or TV-worthy one-liners from the locker room.
Great hockey players make great plays. And when they're around long enough, some of those moments will stick out. Mark Messier scored a hat-trick in Game 6 against the Devils in 1994 because he was a great player.
For all the accolades of leadership—his ability to inspire a group of players, manage emotions and set a tone—what ultimately mattered was that he stepped on the ice and made the plays that won the game.
Kreider repeated that performance. It does not come with the same window-dressing of the captaincy or raunchy headlines. He inserted himself into the game when the team needed him to and executed. It wasn't about saying the right combination of words to change the mood or a play to spark the rest of the team.
The Rangers needed three goals to win. He did it again in a clutch situation. It's not the first time he's stepped up and produced when the team needed someone to do it. He scored an overtime winner to keep the second-round series alive in 2013, and he saved the team from the brink of elimination in 2015.
We think a player will come up big in the playoffs if he is a leader. Maybe that order of operations is wrong. Kreider did what he has done since he first put on a New York Rangers sweater during the playoffs 12 years ago.
Winning hockey games requires making more plays than the other team. Kreider didn't win this series for the Rangers because he is a leader. He is a leader because he won this series.
It's the signature moment for a player who has done nothing but provide excellence in the playoffs for the Rangers throughout 13 seasons in New York.
The Rangers' all-time goal leader in the playoffs has his signature game, the Chris Kreider Game, that builds a legacy.
Stanley Cup or not, it's indicative of the impact made on this franchise and the tipping point that should clinch a jersey-retirement ceremony for the No. 20 at Madison Square Garden sometime in the future.
Rangers Eliminate Hurricanes as Chris Kreider's 3rd-Period Hat Trick Stuns NHL Fans
May 17, 2024
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MAY 16: Chris Kreider #20 of the New York Rangers celebrates a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the third period in Game Six of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on May 16, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Chris Kreider sent the New York Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final with a third-period natural hat trick Thursday night.
Kreider scored three times in nine minutes to erase the Carolina Hurricanes' third-period Game 6 lead and push the Rangers to a 5-3 elimination victory.
Talk about a big game for Chris Kreider. - 3 goals to fuel a comeback win - 13 shot attempts in all situations, 7 on goal - 24-12 shot attempt edge at 5v5 in his minutes - 74% expected goals rate - best game score of playoffs of 4.86 (@NatStatTrick / @hockeystatcards)
— 3 goals — 7 shots — 13 shot attempts (7 of them high-danger) — 2 hits — moved from 1st in Rangers history in playoff goals to... even more in 1st — moved from 1st in Rangers history in playoff game-winners to... even more in 1st
The Hurricanes threatened to send the series to Game 7 as Carolina headed into the third period with a two-goal lead.
Kreider launched the Rangers' comeback by beating Canes goaltender Frederik Andersen on a backhander to slice the home team's lead in half with 13 minutes remaining.
He tied the game on a power-play goal five minutes later.
The Rangers advance to face the winner of the ongoing conference semifinals series between the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins.
The Panthers lead the series 3-2 and could win a ticket to the conference final with a Game 6 win Thursday at TD Garden. Fans across New York will be watching when the puck drops in Boston at 7 p.m.
Rangers' 'Meltdown' Stuns NHL Fans as Hurricanes Extend Series with Game 5 Win
May 14, 2024
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 13: Jordan Staal #11 of the Carolina Hurricanes and teammates celebrate his third period goal against the New York Rangers in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 13, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
The New York Rangers looked to be on their way to a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals through two periods in Monday's Game 5 against the Carolina Hurricanes. Unfortunately, a massive collapse in the third period extended the second-round series.
The Rangers allowed four goals in the third period on their way to a 4-1 loss in front of a disappointed home crowd at Madison Square Garden. New York held a 1-0 lead through two periods on a goal by Jacob Trouba and appeared to be in control until things fell apart in the final frame, allowing Carolina to cut the series lead to 3-2 and force a Game 6.
Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin had 18 saves through the first two periods before the Hurricanes started wreaking havoc on him. Jordan Staal tied the game less than four minutes into the third period with a nifty move to beat the two-time All-Star. Evgeny Kuznetsov followed three minutes later by putting the puck in the back of the net off a rebound to give Carolina the lead.
Jordan Martinook extended the lead by converting in front of the net. Shesterkin was put on the bench with 3:44 left in the period, and Martin Necas scored an empty-netter to send fans to the exits.
Fans on social media weren't happy either, as the Rangers were called out for their disappointing collapse on Monday:
After narrowly losing Game 4 on Saturday, everything was set up for the Rangers to close things out on Monday. The home crowd was juiced up, and Shesterkin played brilliantly through two periods. However, New York's offense failed to show up, whereas Carolina's exploded in the third period.
The Rangers will try to regroup and close out the series when they face the Hurricanes in Game 6 in Raleigh on Thursday.
Rangers Take 3-0 Series Lead vs. Hurricanes as Panarin Thrills NHL Fans with OT Goal
May 10, 2024
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 07: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers blocks a shot by Seth Jarvis #24 of the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period in Game Two of the Second Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 7, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin scored one minute and 43 seconds into Game 3 overtime Thursday night to put the Carolina Hurricanes on the brink of elimination.
The goal sealed a 3-2 road victory and earned the Rangers a 3-0 Eastern Conference semifinals series lead.
The Hurricanes, who finished the regular season with the third-best record in the NHL, struggled to beat Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin Thursday night.
Shesterkin made 45 saves Thursday night to backstop the Rangers to victory, two nights after making 54 stops during the Rangers' double overtime victory in Game 2.
Igor Shesterkin is an animal.
The type of guy who can win an entire series on his own.
Hurricanes winger Jake Guentzel got the Hurricanes on the board first midway through the first period.
Carolina held onto the lead for the rest of the frame by killing off three straight Rangers power plays, while goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov turned aside breakaways from Panarin and Vincent Trocheck.
Chris Kreider stifled the Hurricanes' momentum with a shorthanded goal halfway through the second period.
Andrei Svechnikov even the score with the Hurricanes' net empty to tie the game in the final two minutes of regulation.
It then took less than two minutes of overtime for Panarin to put the Rangers ahead for good.
The Rangers could earn a ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in three seasons with a win in Game 4. The Hurricanes will meanwhile fight to extend their postseason when the puck drops at PNC Arena Saturday at 7 p.m. ET.
