Deprecated: Automatic conversion of false to array is deprecated in /var/www/hockeybuzz.com/classes/clsBlog.php on line 243 HockeyBuzz.com - Jan Levine - Rangers rally twice to defeat Panthers 4-3 in a shootout
The Rangers willed themselves to a 4-3 overtime win last night against the Panthers. Down 2-0, Artemi Panarin and Adam Fox scored 2:01 apart in the second period to even the score. After dominating the third, New York went down 3-2 following a failed clearing attempt when Alex Wennberg's stick broke. No issue. Panarin creates space, throws the puck towards the net, has it bounce off two bodies and past Sergei Bobrovsky. The Blueshirts got goals from Mika Zibanejad and Panarin to win the shootout and the game. New York had Sunday off and practice Monday.
Game recap:
Rangers lineup vs. Panthers:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Roslovic
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafrenière
Vesey-Wennberg-Kakko
Rempe-Goodrow-Brodzinski
A few thoughts:
1) Bottom-six - coach Peter Laviolette made Will Cuylle a healthy scratch. Cuylle didn't do anything wrong. Laviolette looks like he will rotate which bottom-six forward sits. Matt Rempe sat four games due to his suspension plus one game as a healthy scratch. Jonny Brodzinski sat the other day when Rempe got back in the lineup. It will be interesting to see if either Jimmy Vesey or Barclay Goodrow sit a game or two.
2) Panarin - his two goals give him 43 on the year to go with 56 assists. With 11 games remaining, Bread Man now sits just seven markers shy of 50 for the year and one point south of 100 for the first time in his career. The effort expended nightly is evident and Panarin has become dominant on almost every shift.
3) Resilience - the third period tying goal was the most impressive. New York carried play the entire period and fell behind on what almost was Florida's first shot of the period. Rather than getting down and throwing caution to the wind, the Rangers tied it just 43 seconds later with a hard-working goal. Granted, a little lucky due to the double deflection in front, but they created the chance thanks to a fine play by Zac Jones to get the puck to Panarin. Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere created a screen leading to the double bank.
4) Once concern is the health of Erik Gustfasson, who was hit by a Sam Reinhart to the chin. Part of the contact was created with Gustafsson crouching down but the hit looked nasty. We will have a better sense of his status in practice tomorrow, but I would be shocked if he plays Tuesday. Jacob Trouba has been skating but not practicing, so we may see Brandon Scanlin in the lineup.
5) Adam Fox continues to excel. His play has gone to another level recently even without Ryan Lindgren. Add in the pairing of K'Andre Miller and Braden Schneider that are playing at a high level and Jones taking a major step forward and it's no shock that the D has been better of late. Once Jacob Trouba and eventually Lindgren are ready to return, New York may opt to rest a veteran d-man to keep them fresh down the stretch.
6) Matt Rempe - not a lot of minutes but he changes momentum. After New York cut the lead to 2-1, Laviolette put Rempe on the ice. His shift kept the crowd engaged, then Panarin scored to tie the game. If he can continue to be that kind of difference maker without taking a bad penalty, Laviolette will have no choice but to play him.
7) Carolina defeated Toronto 2-1 on Sunday and sit one point shy of the Rangers, who have a game in hand. In comparison to the Rangers, the Canes have a cake walk schedule as they play Pittsburgh, Montreal, Columbus twice and Chicago amongst their last 10 games. The other five are versus Detroit, Boston twice, St. Louis and Washington.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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