NEW YORK — Reviewing the New York Rangers’ game film from Saturday’s loss to Washington, coach Peter Laviolette felt the team could have done a better job pressing for offensive chances. One line in particular did that in Sunday’s rematch with the Capitals. The Alexis Lafrenière–Vincent Trocheck–Artemi Panarin trio generated offensive looks seemingly every time they touched the ice and scored both of New York’s goals in a 2-1 victory, which broke a four-game winless drought.
With those three players on the ice at five-on-five, the Rangers generated four high-danger chances and had 81.17 percent of the expected goal share. They all showed off their creativity and ability to generate offense.
“They’re all talented and skilled and yet a little bit different,” Laviolette said. “They’re really a dangerous line, probably one of the most dangerous in the NHL with regards to creating.”
Less than a minute into the game, Trocheck cut through the neutral zone, drawing Capitals defenders and leaving Panarin open. The center found Panarin with a pass, and the star wing one-timed it into the Washington net.
“I feel like every night he’s scoring,” Lafrenière said.
At the end of the period, Lafrenière found himself open in front of the net, and defenseman Braden Schneider snuck a puck to him from the blue line. Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren made the initial save, but Lafrenière grabbed the rebound. He whipped it over Lindgren’s body as he absorbed a Tom Wilson hit. The goal stood as the game winner.
New York’s power play didn’t score in five opportunities, so the Rangers needed five-on-five production. As so often has been the case this season, the Lafrenière-Trocheck-Panarin line was there to provide it.
Teacher returns
After missing 21 games with a lower-body injury, Kaapo Kakko slotted back into the Rangers lineup Sunday, skating on a line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. He played 16:04, and New York had 54.62 of the expected goal share with him on the ice at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick. Laviolette said he brought the team “really positive minutes.”
“I think you miss everything a little bit when it comes to Kaapo,” Laviolette said pregame when reflecting on Kakko’s absence, noting the wing’s strength, size and ability to protect the puck. “You lose a player like that for a bit, you feel it. It’s good to get him back out on the ice.”
Laviolette started Kakko’s line, and the Finnish wing got a noticeable cheer when the public address announcer called his name.
“After a long time, it’s never easy (returning to play),” a smiley Kakko said. “I’ve been working out a lot — and hard. I feel it doesn’t matter how much you do that; you still feel a little tired the first game. Not the best game, but not bad also. I’m happy.”
Kakko had an early scoring opportunity as a Rangers power play expired in the first period. Lafrenière found him in the slot, but Lindgren halted Kakko’s shot. The 22-year-old Kakko created another good chance in the third period. He put a puck on net, leading to a juicy rebound. Lafrenière couldn’t whack the puck over Lindgren. Kakko flew in when another rebound escaped but couldn’t elevate it enough to beat the goalie.
“That’s what you want to see: the opportunity and the chances,” Laviolette said. “Those will eventually drop for him.”
Defensive improvement
The Rangers have been plagued by inconsistent defensive efforts throughout their rough patch, but Laviolette liked what he saw against the Capitals. It wasn’t a perfect game, he told reporters, but that was to be expected on a back-to-back.
“We pressed offensively and defended hard when we had to,” he said. “Gutsy at the end. Even though we couldn’t get that third one and fourth one, I thought we defended hard and walked away with a win.”
The Capitals controlled play in the second period, during which they collected five of their eight scoring chances, per Natural Stat Trick. But Laviolette liked the first and third periods and also noted the Rangers defense looked improved Saturday despite the loss.
In recent weeks, the number of chances surrendered hasn’t been the main issue for the Rangers. The high-danger nature of them has been more concerning, and opponents have torched New York on the rush.
“That’s tough for a goalie,” defenseman Ryan Lindgren said. “They might not see a ton of shots, and then all of a sudden they have a Grade-A coming at them. It was a lot better tonight. We’ve got to keep that going.”
The Rangers’ defensive effort Sunday made life easier on goalie Igor Shesterkin, who entered Sunday with an .828 save percentage in his four games this month. He made 24 of 25 saves against the Capitals to get back on track.
Laviolette to All-Star Game
Laviolette will coach the Metropolitan Division at the All-Star Game, the NHL announced. He will join Shesterkin at the game in Toronto.
The 59-year-old coach, who is in his first year with the Rangers, has been behind the bench at an All-Star Game three other times in his career (Nashville in 2018 and 2015, and Philadelphia in 2011).
Lindgren battle
The Lindgren brothers — New York defenseman Ryan and Washington goalie Charlie — played against each other on both Saturday and Sunday, marking the second and third times the siblings have faced off at the NHL level.
“Pretty cool that (Charlie) played both of them,” Ryan said Sunday. “It’s been a fun couple days for (the family), for sure.”
Charlie was the star of the weekend, making 21 of 23 saves Saturday and then stopping 29 of 31 the next day. In Sunday’s game, he robbed Kreider on a five-on-three Rangers power play, stopping the initial shot with his pad, then windmilling to snag on Kreider’s rebound attempt with his glove. The goalie, who is making a case to be Washington’s No. 1 in net, kept the Capitals within a goal in the third period, snatching a Jimmy Vesey breakaway attempt.
He also found a way to bother his younger brother. After the Capitals were called for a penalty midway through the third, Charlie shoved a loose stick at Ryan’s skates.
“I had to eyeball him after that,” Ryan said. “Didn’t love that.”
The brothers had dinner together Friday but weren’t in touch after Washington’s win Saturday. In Ryan’s words, “I was in no mood to talk to him.”
(Photo of Artemi Panarin celebrating with Vincent Trocheck: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
2024-01-15 16:44:18
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