In the midst of the Tony DeAngelo saga, the Rangers returned to work on Sunday trying to put an end to their problems in the third period.
Saturday’s 5-4 loss in overtime against Penguins marked the fourth time in the last five games that the Rangers have entered the third period with a one-goal advantage, but have only one victory to show at that stage.
“We can sit here and feel bad for ourselves and feel bad for the situation, depending on the results and everything,” said center Mika Zibanejad as the Rangers prepared to host the penguins Monday night back in the garden. . “But at the end of the day, we have to keep going.”
Defender Jacob Trouba said Saturday night that the Rangers were aware of their third-round fights and did not want this to creep into their heads on the ice. But it might already be happening.
“It simply came to our notice then [if] we win some of them, you will have a little more confidence in the third period “, said Zibanejad.
Chris Krieder presented the Rangers’ problems in sight after the loss, highlighting their inability to stay in a north-south game and continue to receive punches behind the opposing defense in the third period. Zibanejad wasn’t sure why the Rangers got rid of this style late in the game.
“I don’t know if we’re trying to protect the advantage defensively or I don’t know how to put it,” he said. “But we have to keep playing. The thing this team does so well is press skating. Part of it obviously plays northern hockey. I feel like we’re moving a little bit away from that. We have to trust in that, to believe in what we do so well. ”
Colin Blackwell, who left the taxi team in the second straight with three points in three games, will be out 7-10 days after suffering an upper body injury on Saturday night.
In his absence on Sunday, Kaapo Kakko skated with Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome on the second line, while Julien Gauthier took Kakko’s place on the third line with Chris Kreider and Brett Howden.
Defender Jack Johnson, who missed two consecutive games with an inguinal strain, did not train and remains day by day.