Igor Shesterkin is showcasing Conn Smythe-level goaltending in these playoffs, especially in these Eastern Conference Finals with Panthers buzzing and snarling around his goalmouth. Vincent Trocheck might have a thing or two to say about the same award if the Rangers can persevere through their series with Florida and beyond.
And Alexis Lafrenière has become a linchpin of the Ranger offense, showing how foolhardy those who were losing patience with him – at the hardly-craggy age of 22 – really were. He continues to bloom on hockey’s biggest stage and is clearly a star going forward.
Now the Rangers need some of their other big names to assert themselves if they are going to advance out of this intense, best-of-seven battle with the rugged Panthers, which is even at two games apiece with Game 5 looming at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.
Too many Rangers stars are too quiet.
Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad do not have a single goal among them in this series and they are three of the most important cogs in the Rangers’ offense. Panarin had 49 goals during the regular season, Kreider had 39 and Zibanejad potted 26. They were first, second and fourth, respectively, in goals for the Blueshirts this year.
Panarin, who assisted on both goals in Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime loss in Game 4, has three assists and eight shots on goal in the series. Zibanejad had six shots on goal in Game 4, including one that drew iron on the crossbar, and 13 shots in the series. But he has zero points. Kreider, who did not have a shot on goal in Game 4, has five shots and zero points in the series.
Obviously, none of that is enough. If you’re an optimist, maybe you could feel like the Rangers are in a good spot – dead even, owning home ice and their best snipers have yet to really contribute. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? And the Blueshirts have gotten offensive contributions from other parts of the roster, including big goals from Barclay Goodrow and Alex Wennberg.
But it sure would be easier if Panarin, Kreider and Zibanejad started scoring, too. Even Shesterkin can’t save everything, so some goals would be nice.
Florida’s swarming forecheck has done a terrific job of pinning the Rangers in their own zone throughout…