The New York Rangers updated on-ice product guts out a 2-1 victory against the Arizona Coyotes in the team's 2023-2024 home opener.
New York City, N.Y- The New York Rangers defeated the Arizona Coyotes 2-1 in the club's 2023-2024 home opener.
The Rangers cleaned house and hired a new coaching staff to extract the most it could out of its current roster. That didn't necessarily mean more offense. The organization has elite NHL talent at nearly every position. It needed a structure, a catalyst, to turn defense into offense with speed at a sustained rate, five-on-five.
The Rangers succeeded at three crucial operations on Monday night:
1. The Rangers held 5 on 5 pressure for shifts at a time in the offensive zone.
2. The Rangers sat back and waited on the heels of their skates for the Coyotes to jumpstart offensive rushes through the neutral zone utilizing a 1-3-1 trap.
3. New York won the game by shutting down and capitalizing with a man up and a man down.
All three were the architectural defects the organization sought to change with a new coaching regime. The proof is in the pudding and the team engaged in a new style of play effectively.
Laviolette was content with the teams performance at even strength, but see's the victory as a stepping stone, "I thought it was a lot better from the five-on-five standpoint." he continued, "It's a long road and we don't have to be perfect tonight...I think there is a lot of things that have gone on through camp and exhibition games and it's getting better and better... I do think there is more contunuity and fluidness to our game."
Mika Zibanejad echoed a similair sentiment, "That's the way we are playing right now, we haven't played that way before. We played against it. I think it's pretty hard sometimes. It's the way we are playing now and hopefully that's something we can get better at and have success in the future."
Late in the second period, Artemi Panarin was blocked by an official on a breakaway attempt, Ryan Lindgren and Alexis Lafreniere taking penalties soon after. On the 5 on 3 kill, the team buy-in was on full display to Madison Square Garden's pleasure, not allowing a goal.
Special teams answered the bell, which proved to be the difference in the game. The desert dogs couldn't capitalize on that 5 on 3 powerplay, and the home team notched the tie-breaking goal on the powerplay, Panarin opting to shoot the puck rather than pass. It still bounced off of Trocheck and in.
Head coach Peter Laviolette acknowledged the games vital moment, "I think there is no question the powerplay and penalty kill can infuse life into a player, the team, and the building."
A new scaffolding allows opposing pressure to spread more evenly, rather than on the shoulders of the 2022 Vezina winner. He still arrived to the moment, stopping 26/27 including a Jason Zucker penalty shot late in the third period. His efforts kept the game at one score.
On Thursday, October 19th, the Rangers will face the Nashville Predators at 7:00 PM before heading on the road on Saturday. Follow The Hockey News for extensive coverage of the club's upcoming practices and games.