Rangers struggle on faceoffs in loss to Sabres
Rangers forward Pavel Buchnevich carries the puck past Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin during the first period of an NHL game on Tuesday in Buffalo, N.Y. Credit: AP/Jeffrey T. Barnes
One of the things the Rangers did not do well at all was take faceoffs.
The Rangers were 17-for-56 (30%) on faceoffs, and coach David Quinn was not happy about it.
"We were abysmal on faceoffs tonight,’’ Quinn said. "It was incredible, how bad we were on draws tonight… It was a huge issue tonight. I think we were 30%, and it felt like we were 10%. So, as far as, you know, to me it was just a microcosm of what had crept into our game tonight. A face off is a battle, not only with the centermen, but the flanks and the wingers. And too often we weren't ready to compete in these battles.’’
Mika Zibanejad was 6-for-21 (29%) on faceoffs.
"I don't know, to be honest with you,’’ he said when asked what the problem was. "Centermen, we have to do a better job, not losing it clean. And we need help from our wingers and the D men as well… If you're struggling as a centerman, you just got to make sure that you tie up. At least you give yourself a chance to kind of come in and get it. But just all around, we’ve got to be better.’’
Georgiev plays well in net
Alexandar Georgiev got the start and played well, making 21 saves on 24 shots. Two of the goals he allowed were power play goals (Buffalo was 2-for-4 on the power play) and one came on a breakaway at the end of the Rangers’ first power play.
Blue notes
Brendan Lemieux, who had been scratched for Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh, re-entered the lineup, and Colin Blackwell, who scored a goal in his Rangers debut Sunday as he came off the practice squad to step in for Lemieux, stayed in.
D Jack Johnson, who’d been scratched Sunday, came back in, replacing Brendan Smith… Forward Julien Gauthier sat out his third straight game, but Quinn promised, "We'll see Julien again real soon.’’
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
