Takeaways From the New York Rangers Playoff Loss to Carolina

New York Rangers, Artemi Panarin
Feb 14, 2020; Columbus, Ohio, USA; New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (10) takes a shot on goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the third period at Nationwide Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Nobody really likes the phrase “a good loss” or something related to that and most in the New York Ranger organization probably subscribes to that. But there are lessons to be learned that can be used moving forward, for a team that is very young and talented.

Another thing that the Blueshirts and their fans will also realize is that despite beating the Hurricanes all four times in the regular season, Carolina is a really good hockey team. The team that made the conference finals last season is mostly intact. The Canes did a great job of being good with the lead, and who made it really difficult for the Blueshirts to get any kind of offense going.

Head coach David Quinn even said “The better team won the series. Let’s call a spade a spade. You played three games and the best team won.”

The top players on the New York Rangers needed to play better

The Rangers only scored four goals in three playoff games. One each by Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, and Marc Staal. Team leaders need to step in the playoffs, especially with a roster that has so much youth and inexperience on it.

Kreider knows this and at least stepped up and admitted as much. In his post-game comments, he said: “We thought the playoffs were a blood sport and we were out there running around looking to hit instead of playing the puck possession style that we play. A big part of that is on me obviously. We needed to snap out of that sooner. We needed to acknowledge that. I should have done whatever I could to get us on the right track there.”

Even as tough as the Hurricanes played, the Rangers only scored one goal on the power-play, and that was on a two man-down situation for Carolina. They were completely shut out on the 5-on-4 power plays, not to mention being completely smothered in 5-on-5 situations.

This lack of production from top players led a Rangers team that did not play smart or efficiently, and did not play the way they played before the season was paused.

The New York Rangers should be happy with the improved play of Kaapo Kakko

The 19-year-old made a nice impression as soon as he stepped on the ice when summer camp began.

“I feel like he feels much more comfortable coming back,’’ said teammate Jesper Fast. “You see he’s smiling, he’s happy — I mean, like it’s a new energy for him. The way he’s been looking so far this camp . . . he’s looking real sharp. He looks strong on the puck, and [he] had a good scrimmage, so after that giving him more confidence going forward.’’

That confidence carried forward into the three playoff games. Kakko played the most five-on-five minutes of any Rangers forward in Saturday’s 3-2, Game 1 defeat to the Hurricanes, his 12:51 clocking in at 65 seconds more than  Panarin. He appeared to have more “hop in his step” then he had during the regular season.

The expectations were high for Kakko, and somewhat unrealistic, after he was chosen second overall in the NHL Draft last summer. The 6-3, 199-pounder led Finland to the gold medal in the World Junior Championships in 2019, scored 22 goals in 45 games as a 17-year-old in Finland’s professional league, and helped Finland win the World Championship tournament.

The pause seemed to refresh Kakko, who just turned 19 in February. While much of the world was on lockdown in April and May, he was able to work out and skate back home in Finland. The benefits have been obvious and hopefully continues into next season.

But for now, the Rangers will step back and evaluate their team in preparation for next season, whenever that takes place.