Special teams has gone from the Rangers’ superpower to their kryptonite in the matter of three games in this first-round playoff series against the Devils.
The Rangers are now on an 0-for-13 skid on the power play after whiffing on two man-advantage opportunities in their series-swinging 4-0 loss to the Devils in Game 5 on Thursday night at Prudential Center.
“It’s something that we had in our favor early in the series and it didn’t go our way tonight,” said Chris Kreider, who had four power-play goals through the first two games. “That’s got to be better. I think we did some of the things we talked about, more shots, pucks and bodies. Got to play a no-doubter next game, regardless of what happens with the penalty calls, regardless of the bounces. Put ourselves in a position to win one hockey game.”
Not only did they fail to convert on the power play, but the Rangers gave up a shorthanded goal, as well as power-play tally in the loss.
The Rangers, who are now trailing 3-2 in the series and will face elimination Saturday night at the Garden, could only muster four shots on the power play.
It cycled and held the zone a lot better than it did in Game 3, but the disconnect is still evident.
“Obviously, the shorthanded goal late there was tough to give up,” head coach Gerard Gallant said. “But some of it breaks sometimes, we don’t give up many of those during the season. First one of the playoffs. We got to be better, but I don’t feel anything close to the last game.”
The AHL Wolf Pack signed Maxim Barbashev, who the Rangers drafted at No. 161 in 2022, to an amateur tryout agreement for the remainder of the 2023 Calder Cup playoffs.
In a subsequent move, the club reassigned Ryder Korczak, the Rangers’ No. 75 pick in 2021, to the Wolf Pack from the Western Hockey League’s Moose Jaw Warriors.
Barbashev, 19, skated in 67 regular-season games with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League’s Moncton Wildcats.
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Setting new career-highs in goals (32), assists (33) and points (65), Barbarshev finished second on the club in scoring and fourth in points.
He also chipped in eight points (four goals, four assists) in 12 playoff games.
The 20-year-old Korczak posted 69 points in 48 games in the WHL this season, in addition to eleven points in 10 playoff contests.
He skated in five games with the Wolf Pack earlier this season, making his AHL debut on Oct. 23.
Hartford is set to begin the second round of the Calder Cup playoffs against the Providence Bruins on Friday.
It will be a best-of-five series.
Want to catch a game? Tickets for all upcoming Rangers games can be found here.
Power Plays
Three stars
1. Akira Schmid
After replacing Vitek Vanecek in goal for Game 3, Akira Schmid has backstopped the Devils to three straight victories to give his team the leg up in the series. He finished with 23 saves Thursday night and gave the Rangers fits all game long.
2. Erik Haula
Posting his first multi-point performance of the series, Erik Haula scored twice, once on the power play in the second period and again in the final frame to cap the scoring.
3. Dawson Mercer
With the Rangers on the power play and on the verge of breaking through, Dawson Mercer buried a shorthanded two-on-one rush opportunity to put the Rangers away.
Key moment
The Devils’ shorthanded goal in the second period seemed to suck the life out of the Rangers, who went on to get outshot 20-2 in the final frame.
Quote of the Day
“Two goals in three games it’s not going to cut it probably in any playoff series in this league. Their goalie has been solid, but I still don’t think he’s been tested enough.”
— Jimmy Vesey
