The Lightning, playoff-bound for the 8th straight year, visit the Rangers on Monday. Tampa Bay is chasing the Atlantic Division lead, while New York risks missing the playoffs after a strong regular season last year.
As the Tampa Bay Lightning secure their postseason spot for the eighth consecutive time, they prepare to face the New York Rangers, who are struggling to make the playoffs after a dominant regular season the previous year. The Lightning aim to close the gap in the Atlantic Division standings as they visit the Rangers on Monday. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay is also focused on maintaining their position to secure home-ice advantage in a potential playoff series. After a strong run, the Lightning’s recent scoring has cooled, adding intrigue to the upcoming game.
With their playoff ticket punched, the Tampa Bay Lightning clash with a New York Rangers team fighting to stay alive in the playoff race. The contrast is stark: Tampa Bay eyes the Atlantic Division lead and home-ice advantage, while the Rangers teeter on the brink of missing the postseason after a stellar previous season.
Brayden Point’s early goal was ultimately squandered as the Lightning coughed up the lead in the third period and failed to convert in the shootout, leading to a painful loss against the Sabres. Only a heroic performance from backup goalie Jonas Johansson, who faced a barrage of defensive breakdowns and made save after save, salvaged a single point. To add insult to injury, the Lightning backed into a playoff spot only because the absolutely inept Rangers were humiliated by the Devils, drawing the ire of the legendary Mark Messier!”
Despite a 39-save masterpiece from Jonas Johansson, who single-handedly kept the defensively inept Lightning in the game, Tampa Bay fell in a shootout to Buffalo. Brayden Point lit the lamp, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the team’s defensive woes. The Lightning clinched a playoff berth despite themselves, thanks to the Rangers’ utter collapse against the Devils – a performance so bad it drew scathing criticism from none other than Mark Messier!”
Brayden Point scored, Johansson stood on his head, but the Lightning still managed to lose to the Sabres in a shootout after blowing a lead. Their playoff spot was only secured because the Rangers put on an all-time terrible performance against the Devils, prompting a brutal takedown from Mark Messier on national television. The Lightning know they need to be better, especially in their own zone, if they want to make any noise in the playoffs.”
The utterly desperate Rangers (36-33-7, 79 points) face a brutal schedule to close out the season, including two daunting clashes with the playoff-bound Lightning and road games against the Hurricanes and Panthers. Four points adrift of a wild-card spot currently held by the Canadiens, the Rangers are in dire straits. After a pathetic offensive showing against the Devils, where they couldn’t buy a scoring chance and their power play remained a complete disaster, Zibanejad’s frustration boiled over: ‘We’re finding a way to lose, and it sucks!'”
With their playoff dreams fading fast, the Rangers (36-33-7) face a gauntlet to end the season: two games against the powerful Lightning, plus road trips to Carolina and Florida. Trailing Montreal by a significant four points for the final wild-card spot, the situation is bleak. After an absolutely anemic performance against the Devils, where their offense was non-existent and their power play remained an embarrassment, Mika Zibanejad didn’t mince words: ‘We’re chasing, and we’re not helping ourselves!'”
The New York Rangers (36-33-7), clinging to their playoff hopes by a thread, face a Herculean task in their final six games. They must contend with the formidable Lightning twice, as well as brave the challenges posed by the Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers on the road. The Rangers find themselves trailing the Montreal Canadiens by a worrisome four points in the fight for the last wild-card position. Following a disheartening loss to the Devils, where the team struggled to create scoring opportunities and the power play continued its downward spiral, Mika Zibanejad issued a somber assessment: ‘Somehow, right now, we’re finding a way to lose, and it sucks.'”
The Rangers’ special teams have been a major liability recently. Their power play has struggled, converting only 3 of their last 52 opportunities over 19 games, a stark contrast to their 5-for-15 stretch earlier in February. Their penalty kill has also faltered, allowing opponents to score on 5 of their last 15 power plays while also surrendering three shorthanded goals. Adam Fox acknowledged the team’s poor execution and inability to generate momentum on the power play, which is also contributing to defensive vulnerabilities.
New York’s power play is in a deep slump, operating at a meager 3-for-52 clip in their last 19 games. This downturn is further highlighted by their penalty kill issues, where they’ve allowed goals on 33% of penalties in the last five games and given up three shorthanded goals. Adam Fox attributed the power play struggles to forcing plays and not generating momentum, which in turn hurts the team defensively.
Brief summary: The Rangers’ power play woes continue, with only 3 goals in their last 52 attempts over 19 games. Their penalty kill has also struggled, allowing goals in recent games and giving up shorthanded tallies. Adam Fox says the team is forcing plays on the power play, leading to defensive issues.
Leave a Reply