The Rangers have prioritized neutral zone play following Tuesday's loss to the Vancouver Canucks. where they surrendered a plethora of opportunities generated from the center ice.
Tarrytown, NY- The New York Rangers focused on cleaning up their neutral zone play following Tuesday night's 6-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
The Rangers allowed five even-strength goals in the contest, a major reason for that being porous neutral zone defense, weak line changes, and missed assignments on the neutral zone forecheck.
"I think it was cleaning up our east-to-west passing," K'Andre Miller told The Hockey News. "We were having a little bit of difficulty last game cutting through the neutral zone trying to make too many plays in the middle of the ice that were picked off or turning back and going the other way.
"Today we just worked on keeping the puck going north and eliminating our passes percivibility."
From the forward perspective, it's still all about getting going on the forecheck.
The Ranger's bread and butter this season has been getting pucks behind the opposing team's defense and hunting relentlessly.
"I think it's just making sure we get in on the forecheck and have a hard F1 and making sure that we are getting open for our defensemen," Will Cuylle told THN.
"I think we need to focus on our game and not feed into their game. That's what they want us to do."
The Rangers worked hard the last two practices on detail, keeping in mind that they play three games the next four nights.
"[On] the breakdowns that are happening, it's not the offensive zone forecheck. It's the neutral zone forecheck," head coach Peter Laviolette said. "Although the new offensive zone forecheck out here today, was just to make sure we are being aggressive... it's just the neutral zone, trying to clamp down."
Decision-making at the blue line has been an issue with the Rangers this season, whether that is on zone entrances five-on-five or on the power play.
Those details all encompass neutral zone play.
"The times we get [the puck] behind them and go get it, I don't see a problem with it," Laviolette. said. "It's more the times that we don't get pucks behind them. Those are the decision-making at that blue line."