After dominating in Newark the first two games, returning home should’ve been joyful. It wasn’t. The New York Rangers first-round series is tied at 2-2. They had no answers for the Road Warriors in the New Jersey Devils. With the series now a best-of-three to advance to the second round, things must change for the Rangers and fast. Here are keys for the New York Rangers to winning the series.
How New York Can Win This Series
Play Better At 5v5
When a series is tied, it is hard to say which team is the better team. However, there are aspects of the game which can determine who is better. It is no secret that the Devils are a much team at 5v5 than the Rangers. And for a better part of this series that has truly been the case.
When it comes to all qualified playoff teams, the Rangers are dead last in Corsi For. They have scored more goals at 5v5 than New Jersey, but they do not have the puck. New York is capitalizing when they are given the chance. Credit to the Devils defence because they are not giving up much either. In addition to poor possession, the Rangers have the lowest xGoals for as a team (6.81). As seen with this series, both have controlled the high-danger area of the ice. While the Devils are outshooting the Rangers 30-19, the Rangers have a goal differential of 4-1. When all is said and done, the Rangers will need to elevate their play at 5v5 against a superior Devils team in this area.
Where’s Mika?
If there is one player that needs to get going, it is the top centre. After what was a magical season, the magic has run out. During the regular season, Mika Zibanejad was the star on Broadway. He went on to lead the team in goals (39) and second in points (92). The superstar centre has been everything you could want in a top-line centre. However, that success has not translated to the playoffs. Zibanejad has been uncharacteristically quiet.
For a player that lit the lamp in bunches, has yet to find the scoresheet. In fact, Zibanejad only has two assists and eight shots on goal. Two of those shots are at 5v5. The Devils defence has been at their best and limiting his opportunities. From an individual standpoint, it has looked ugly for Zibanejad. At 5v5, he has the third lowest individual expected goals. In addition, his scoring chances are also at a low as well as getting to the high danger area. Nobody knows where he disappeared to in New York, but him finding his way back goes a long ways in this series.
Get The Power Play Going
What a wild sequence of events this has been this series. Adam Fox was burning the Devils with his playmaking ability and Chris Kreider set up shop in the Devils crease. There was so much to love and enjoy. A lethal Rangers power play that was red hot to start, has been neutralized fast. The fire the Devils caused has been put out.
From the start of the series, New Jersey has been in penalty trouble. The calls were warranted, and some were dumb costly penalties to take. However, they have not been able to make the Devils pay for their costly mistakes. It is not for a lack of trying. The Rangers have thrown 10 shots on net and gave an xGF of 1.97 with the PP in Games 3 and 4. In addition, they have generated eight high-danger shots on net, but no results. Kreider has been maintained and the success they had the first two games is out the window.
The extra days rest will help, but unless New Jersey stays out of the box the Rangers will need to get the PP going.
X-Factors The Rest Of The Series
Artemi Panarin/Mika Zibanejad
Two of the biggest superstars on Broadway need to come alive. Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad we’re their two highest producers all season long. However, the Devils have been able to neutralize the pair and silenced them for most of the series.
It has been ugly. Between the two combined, they have played eight games, have four assists, and four points. To make matters worse, they have just two points at 5v5. This is not ideal. As mentioned above individually Zibanejad has not generated much of anything. However, Panarin has faired out better but not by much. Panarin has 0.41 individual expected goals. His shot totals are there, but has not been able to find the back of the net.
Vladimir Tarasenko has cooled off and so has Patrick Kane, but they have more to show for their efforts. If the Rangers plan on advancing in this series, their two best offensive threats will have to get things going.
Capitalizing On Their Chances
A win is a win no matter how you get things done. And for the Rangers, this is an x-factor the rest of the way. They have managed to get silenced by rookie goaltender Akira Schmid. He has allowed just two goals the last two games. In addition, the Rangers are getting smothered at 5v5. As mentioned above, they simply need to elevate their play. If they still manage to get outplayed and out-chanced, they need to capitalize on their chances. Despite getting stoned by Schmid, the Rangers have been able to do that.
At 5v5, they have 44 scoring chances for as opposed to the Devils 53. However, they have managed to score on seven of those opposed to the Devils’ three. Shots on goal between these two clubs has been even as well as the goaltending the last two games. Igor Shesterkin can only stand on his head so much, and capitalizing on their chances will be key the rest of the way.
Main Photo: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
