I was only able to Scoreboard watch and follow the game through hfboards last night. Can anyone explain a few things to me please...
1. The Rangers badly outshot us... did they hold the tempo of play and we got lucky with score or were they getting a lot of perimeter shots?
2. I really felt like everyone was crapping on Gusev last night until he scored and then the narrative changed to that he had a good game. What is the truth here? How was his overall game with Hischier?
3. Can anyone give a rundown on the guys and how they did?
Warning
You really cannot report on a pre-season game for so many reasons
line ups, changing goalies, although normally games are more low tempo for the A team players (if playing) some step back, some dont care and think its the playoffs. As for the rookies, those guys are playing for their livelyhoods , (see maltsev)
for those who dont know.....
1st period
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Nico came out bang(nice apple from butcher and vats, but FYI boqvist tied down the ranger D in front so that shot could get through fyi . Then played great defense minded two way game.
Rangers got allot of power plays, kakko hit the post which came out(in an odd direction still want to see close up) directly out front to zibanejad and cory robbed him. In the same play cory robbed krieder in front with a redirect. All with the stacking the pads on first, second save Cory somehow had it under his legs (half way in trapped) and kicked it out which was then , Trouba taking another shot and rang the post. So very high scoring chance power plays. 1 Goal missed by inches 3 times on all rags players mentioned.
Then at end of period, Maltsev used his arm to protect, but actually hit smith in the face and stopped playing defense trying to get a call? dude has a shield? Also smith's skate hit Maltsevs skate causing him to fall(not sure it was a trip)
Anyway didnt seem like smith complained, but i think it hurt him. leaving him all alone for a spectacular knee deke
2nd period . (backup of rangers came in after goose scored a goal on him, but it was just due to the 10 minute mark)
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Rangers get another power play, but the bread man would not be denied on a partial screen one timer (ovi style) top corner (nobody is going to stop that) and only true goal that Cory let up. Kakko got an secondary apple that was basically worthless, yet he celebrated it. whatever. ok for you.
The goose scored on a perfect pass, due to a sliding rags defensman (that was paired with trouba) Baddock outwaited the slide, and curled the pass around him. Goose , not only put it on on the far side he got it 50% up so great snapper as well.
Rangers score on a freak play. With a rookie Ty Smith that should make the team. This cannot be blamed on Cory, it was a dump in with two fore checkers with only ty smith to handle this. He should have slapped it, not try to play the puck. He will learn. I must say nobody was waiting on the boards for a pass from Ty on looking at a replay just now.
Third period . (all backup goalies now cory is out)
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Devils score, due to Hayden power move backhand to the net low (which i hate personally as a goalie) Seney cleans up the garbage and scores
Overall i can say the rangers had more quality shots, shots, possession time, (wish power play time was even so i could compare) but Rangers of course have a sexy power play since they had enough for a full PP 1, and full defensive A team played.
The devils cashed in when it counted. Ty Smith had a bad game with 3 turnovers, wood as well. Devils did not possess the puck enough, and allowed way too many shots, But this is only 1 game. See warning off summarizing a pre-season game.
For the rags, the 3rd string goalie looked outstanding. They might have something there. As well as Kratsov, I cant speak for any other rookie rags that stuck out to me. Fox looked bad.