The Rangers defensive issues came to the fore again Monday against the Canucks. After getting off to an 18-4-1 start, New York is just 8-7-1 in their last 16 contests, stretching back to a 6-3 loss to Ottawa on December 5. We knew regression to the mean would happen at some point, but the team’s struggles have become pervasive and hearken back to prior problems.
Larry Brooks did a nice job of summarizing the team’s issues. “There were too many turnovers in key areas — again. There were too many poor decisions with and without the puck — again. There were too many mistakes positionally — again. There were too many Grade A opportunities with which Igor Shesterkin was forced to contend — again.”
Each one individually would represent a concern. All four together, and well, concern may be too light of a word. The first three in the list are somewhat physical errors, but more so, a lack of focus and mental errors. Shesterkin didn’t see many shots yesterday, and the total number of quality chances paled to what Thatcher Demko faced and stopped. So, while the D was not good, sometimes you need your goalie to make a key stop. That did not happen last night or the first 25 minutes Saturday.
In practice today, coach Peter Laviolette made a few changes. Will Cuylle, who has been good recently, was moved up to the top line. He replaces Blake Wheeler, who, after a brief spike in output and fine play, has leveled off and was moved to the fourth line. Cuylle should bring an increased level of physicality and energy to the top line.
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Kaapo Kakko, out since November 27, practiced in a red, non-contact jersey Monday. On Tuesday, he wore a yellow jersey. which still restricted him from being hit, but he participated in every drill and was engaged more than players who typically receive a non-contact designation. Kakko won’t play Thursday but could play the back end of the home-and-home with Washington this weekend or Tuesday against Seattle.
Brennan Othmann, promoted last week, was sent down to the minors Tuesday. He was impactful in his first game but saw his minutes drop each of the last two contests as the Rangers tried to rally from large deficits. Othmann will see first-line minutes at Hartford and could get another look-see this season, as he showed in his brief stint he belongs. To replace him, Jake Leschyshyn was promoted. New York could have opted for Alex Belzile, who has been productive at Hartford but went for the known – which is not necessarily a good thing – in Leschyshyn. Adam Edström (upper-body injury) and Riley Nash (lower-body injury) may have been options if they were healthy, but both forwards are currently out of the Wolf Pack lineup.