The New York Rangers came into the 2022 NHL season with an impressive 5-0-1 record, including victories against top teams like Montreal, Detroit, and Pittsburgh. However, their momentum came to a screeching halt when they faced off against the reigning champions, the Florida Panthers, in a highly anticipated game. The Rangers seemed unprepared and lacking in emotion, playing a lackluster game against a formidable opponent, ultimately losing the match.
Critics pointed to the absence of physicality and noted the scratching of player Matt Rempe for the fifth time in seven games as signs of the team’s struggles. Following the loss, Rempe was assigned to the Wolf Pack, leaving fans and analysts questioning the organization’s decision-making. Head coach Peter Laviolette acknowledged that the team lacked the necessary energy to compete with Florida, admitting that they were outplayed in all aspects of the game.
The Rangers had been dominant in previous games, with a strong record in five-on-five play and a successful power play. However, against Florida, they were outscored at even strength and failed to convert on any power play opportunities. Key players like Mika Zibanejad were kept to the outside and struggled to generate quality scoring chances, leading to a disappointing performance on the offensive end.
The defensive lapses were evident early in the game, with breakdowns leading to quick goals by the Panthers. Even though star goaltender Igor Shesterkin continued to shine, the team’s inability to limit goals against highlighted systemic issues with team defense. The top lines, including Lafreniere-Trocheck-Panarin and Kreider-Zibanejad-Smith, failed to produce at both ends of the ice, resulting in a lack of balance in the team’s performance.
The bottom six forwards, highlighted by the Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko and Edstrom-Carrick-Brodzinski lines, were the only bright spots in an otherwise underwhelming performance. While depth scoring is crucial for long-term success, the Rangers cannot rely on their bottom lines to carry the team while the top lines struggle. Laviolette emphasized the need for improvement across all areas of the game and stressed that the team’s performance against Florida was simply not good enough.
After the loss to Florida, the Rangers were forced to reassess their early-season success and address the issues that were exposed in the defeat. While they had been riding a wave of victories prior to the game, the loss served as a wake-up call for the team. Moving forward, the Rangers will need to make adjustments to their game and find ways to regain their winning form if they hope to compete with the league’s elite teams.
