Bantering Points: 5/23/24

Here are today's news and links:

Rangers News:

Highlights: FLA 3, NYR 0 (5:03 video via NHL.com)

Game Recap: The Blueshirts fell behind early and struggled to generate offensive pressure for the majority of the night as the Panthers won the Eastern Conference Final opener (CBS Sports)

Larry Brooks notes that with the Rangers as healthy as they've been all season, Peter Laviolette will every possible option at his disposal as he crafts lineups for each game (NY Post)

Mark Cannizzaro points to the top goal scorers on both New York and Florida's power play units, Chris Kreider and Sam Reinhart respectively, as two players who should have a major say in how the series plays out (NY Post)

Ethan Sears details the challenge the Blueshirts will have in handling Sasha Barkov throughout the series (NY Post)

Christian Arnold relays word that Sam Rosen will not be on the call for the radio broadcast of Games 2, 3, and 4 following a health scare on Tuesday (NY Post)

Colin Stephenson remarks that after dropping Game 1 against Florida, New York now faces its first series deficit of the postseason (Newsday)

Vincent Mercogliano offers his takeaways from the Rangers' series opening defeat (LoHud)

Tom Castro makes the case for the Blueshirts' best lineup combination being one that has Filip Chytil back to his usual position of center (The Hockey Writers)

Arthur $taple give$ five of hi$ own takeaway$ from Game 1 of the Ea$tern Conference Final (The Athletic)

Around the NHL:

Ryan Novosinsky reports that the New Jersey Devils have hired former Toronto Maple Leafs' head coach Sheldon Keefe as their new bench boss (NJ.com)

The Los Angeles Kings removed the interim tag from Jim Hiller and named him as the franchise's full-time head coach (TSN)

Vancouver Canucks' head coach Rick Tocchet has been named the winner of the Jack Adams Award as the league's top coach (Sportsnet)