Hockey Desperate Kings Double Up Rangers The Rangers began the game ranked eighth in the NHL in the Penalty Kill at 83.5% killing off 172 out of 206 chances. by Staff Post March 25, 2015 (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) The Rangers were bound to have one of those games. The team had been on such a prolonged hot streak, that it was inevitable. Since December 8th, 2014; the Broadway Blueshirts have a record of 35-8-3. So a 4-2 loss to the defending Stanley Cup winners, the LA Kings, was not shocking. The Kings are on a five game road trip as they are still fighting to get into a playoff position. The Rangers meanwhile are still atop the Metropolitan Division. This game can be looked at many ways. Was it the game that the more desperate team won? Was it the game that Cam Talbot just did not have it after playing more games than he has played in years? Was it the game that the team just did not have it? Or is it a combination of all three. With Henrik Lundqvist finally returning to practice after his long layoff and the being beside his wife for the birth of their second child, Cam may find himself with a little more rest. Henrik is slated to play either at Boston on Saturday or at home versus the Caps on Sunday. The Rangers jumped out to an early lead just over a minute into the game, as Mats Zuccarello beat Jonathan Quick. But the Kings came back as a deflected shot off the skate of Keith Yandle trickled between the pads of Cam Talbot. In the second period, Cam mishandled a clearing attempt, which was stopped by Justin Williams, who fed Anze Kopitar, who made a nifty pass to Marion Gaborik who deposited the puck into the almost empty net. This made the score 2-1 and Cam was once again guilty of overplaying the puck. In the third, Jeff Carter and Jake Muzzin scored to make it 4-1, before Kevin Hayes tallied his 14th of the season to make the score 4-2. The Rangers pulled Cam for the extra skater, but could not even come close to scoring. The Rangers failed to gain a point and must hope that Nashville defeats Montreal, or they will fall into second place in the East and in the overall race for the President’s Trophy. The schedule does not get any easier, as the next three opponents are also desperate hockey teams fighting to keep or gain a playoff spot. The Blueshirts face the Ottawa Senators on Thursday in Ottawa, the Bruins in Boston on Saturday and the Caps at the Garden on Sunday. All three are very winnable games and the Rangers MUST win all three to reestablish themselves as not only the best team in the Eastern Conference, but in the league as well. Scoring: NYR: Mats Zuccarello (13), Assisted by J. T. Miller LAK: Robyn Regehr (2), Assisted by Kyle Clifford LAK: Marian Gaborik (23), Assisted by Anze Kopitar & Justin Williams LAK: Jeff Carter (26), Assisted by Dwight King LAK: Jake Muzzin (8), Assisted by Anze Kopitar & Trevor Lewis NYR: Kevin Hayes (14), Assisted by Dan Boyle Team Stats LAK NYR Shots on Goal 35 36 Power Play 0 for 2 0 for 1 Hits 27 40 Face Off Wins 34 30 Giveaways 4 12 Takeaways 6 10 Blocked Shots 11 15 Goalie Stats: Jonathan Quick: 34 Saves on 36 Shots for a SV% of .944 Cam Talbot: 31 Saves on 35 Shots for a SV% of .886 3 Stars of the Game: 3rd Star: Jonathan Quick: 34 Saves on 36 Shots for a SV% of .944 2nd Star: Marion Gaborik: 1 Goal 1st Star: Anze Kopitar: 2 Assists Broadway Bits: The Rangers began the game ranked eighth in the NHL in the Penalty Kill at 83.5% killing off 172 out of 206 chances. Against the Kings they killed off two more, so they are now 172 out of 208. Mats Zuccarello scored a goal and had two shots on goal in 16:10 of Ice Time Kevin Hayes scored a goal, had three shots on goal, two hits and won four out of seven face offs in 15:47 of ice time T. Miller had an assist and three hits in 15:36 of ice time Dan Boyle had an assist, three shots on goal, one hit and blocked a shot in 20:48 of ice time The Rangers will travel to Ottawa and take on the red hot Ottawa Senators and their equally red hot goalie Andrew Hammond, the Hamburglar. Let us see if the Blueshirts can rebound and beat this kid and the Sens. Post Views: 1,172 The following two tabs change content below.BioLatest Posts Staff Post Latest posts by Staff Post (see all) In The Zone Announces Initial Podcast Lineup - November 13, 2020 The Essential Resources You Need to Start Your Own Gym in 2020 - February 6, 2020 Wilder vs Fury II – How the second fight will be different to the first? - February 5, 2020 Early turnovers, defensive struggles plague the Scarlet Knights - January 26, 2020 Related Topics Click to comment You must be logged in to post a comment Login Leave a Reply Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a comment. Newsletter Subscription Can't Miss Posts! Women in Sports: NHL Network Host, Jackie Redmond by Nicholas Durst | posted on March 4, 2019 Lochte, Dressel and Ledecky all Chasing Gold at 2021 Tokyo Olympics by Anthony Paradiso | posted on April 18, 2021 You Know I’m Right, Episode 109: The Athletic’s Marc Carig (Audio/Video) by Nicholas Durst | posted on April 19, 2021 Whoop Rewards Employees With $100 Each Month To Sleep by Inesh Chari | posted on March 22, 2021 You Know I’m Right, Episode 112: New York Jets’ Insider Brian Costello (Audio/Video) by Nicholas Durst | posted on April 27, 2021 More in Hockey Tim Peel is Discharged After Caught on Hot Mic Tim Peel was Discharged from the NHL After He was Caught on the Hot... NHL, Amazon Web Services Partner to Develop New Stats, Data, and Insights The National Hockey League (NHL) is partnering with Amazon Web Services (AWS) in an... You Know I’m Right, Episode 81: ESPN’s Arda Ocal (Audio/Video) On the 81st episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... You Know I’m Right, Episode 80: MSG Network’s Bill Pidto (Audio/Video) On the 80th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... Devils Drop Stanley Cup Rematch, Playoffs Nearly Out of Reach Broadway Bits for March 26th