Recap: Rangers Fall Flat in Chicago, Shut Out 3–0 by Blackhawks

The New York Rangers hit the road again for an original six matchup as they played the Chicago Blackhawks for the first time this season. Looking to bounce back after back-to-back overtime losses, the Rangers struggled to maintain the puck consistently and didn't have an answer for a structured Chicago team who lost their last two games by a combined score of 13-1. Despite sporadic flashes of offense, the Rangers couldn't find a rhythm and lacked tenacity against a younger team hungrier for a win.

First Period

It only took a couple of minutes for Igor Shesterkin to rob the Blackhawks of the game's first goal. A quick shot set up a grade-A rebound chance for Andre Burakovsky but a sprawling effort from Shesterkin was enough for him to get over and make the save. 

It seemed that Igor was just warming up as not long after, he made another insane save on Connor Bedard who was wide open at the door step but was shut down by the left pad of Shesterkin. 

With the Rangers’ netminder dialed in, the chances started to come for the Rangers as J.T. Miller redirected a Scott Morrow shot from the point that went off the post. About midway through the opening period, Will Borgen sent Mika Zibanejad on a quick breakaway but Spencer Knight was equal to the task as he turned the puck away. 

Aside from the pair of chances from either side, it was a pretty low event first period, however a great reminder of why Igor Shesterkin is the highest paid goalie in the NHL. Without him, the Rangers are down at least 2-0. Other than Igor, Zibanejad was far and away the Rangers most notable forward as he had a third of the Rangers shots on goal. Shots at the end of twenty were 10-6 in Chicago’s favor. Both teams were credited with four high danger chances with the Blackhawks having the edge in scoring chances. 

Second Period

The Rangers got off to a strong start as Miller did a good job of driving the puck to the net on the opening shift. However, just two and a half minutes into the second, the Rangers took the first penalty of the game as Matthew Robrertson was sent off for holding. The Blackhawks power play has been hot lately but the Rangers were able to hold them off to keep things locked at zero. 

Shortly after the team’s returned to even strength, an effective shift from the Zibanejad line drew Chicago’s first penalty of the game as Wyatt Kaiser was called for slashing Artemi Panarin. Unfortunately for the Rangers, Chicago’s penalty kill is just as strong as their power play and that would result in a shorthanded goal nearing the end of the man advantage. 6-8 defender Louis Crevier ended up with a breakaway and beat Shesterkin with a quick forehand-backhand move to make it a 1-0 game. 

About two and a half minutes later, a bit of a defensive breakdown for the Rangers allowed for Ryan Donato to be open all alone in the slot. As the puck came out to him, a quick snap shot sent the puck to the back of the net; however there was an immediate dispute from Shesterkin and the Rangers. They would challenge the play as there was a missed call on the play. As Colton Dach recovered the puck down low, a hand pass went uncalled and upon a coaches challenge, it was ruled no goal. 

This gave the Rangers a much needed break and a chance to change the momentum of the game but that went to waste with about five and a half to go in the period. Burakovsky was heading down low with the puck and found Bedard crashing towards the net where he fired a quick snap shot home to make it a 2-0 game. 

After forty minutes of hockey, the Rangers were trailing by two and being out-shot by the Blackhawks 18-17. With eleven turnovers on the night, the Rangers were struggling to maintain control of the puck and just couldn’t get anything going in the offensive zone. Spencer Knight wasn’t being tested all that much and special teams weren’t going in the Rangers favor at all. In need of a big change heading into the final stanza, the Blueshirt’s were running out of time to make a game out of this one. 

Third Period

The Rangers needed to come out strong in the third but instead, they gave up another goal just four minutes in. Bedard did a good job of bringing the puck to the net and a strong effort from Ryan Greene kept the puck in the danger zone. It was Tyle Bertuzzi getting the final shot off that beat Shesterkin to make it a 3-0 game early in the third. 

Not even thirty seconds later, the Rangers gave Chicago another big chance as Conor Sheary was called for hooking. After killing the penalty off, Alexis Lafrenière had a golden opportunity pulling off a nice move to try and get a shot off but was tripped up which gave the Rangers their second power play chance of the game.

The Rangers finally decided to scrap the five-forward power play unit as Scott Morrow got a chance with the top unit regulars. Alas, they spent over a minute recollecting the puck in their own end. The second power play unit got a longer than usual chance but another strong kill from the Blackhawks helped keep the Rangers off the board approaching the midway mark of the third.

Lafrenière was on a mission to hit 100 career goals in this one as he pulled off a beautiful move to cut to his backhand off the rush and ended up ripping a backhander off the post. Another flash of insane talent that for whatever reason, just can't result in a goal. He would draw another penalty with eight minutes to go as Jason Dickinson took him down away from the puck to earn an interference call.

It was another brutal showing from the Rangers power play as they spent another two minutes getting nothing but cardio in and nearly gifted Chicago a fourth goal on another egregious turnover. Panarin had a grade-A chance afterwards but Knight was equal to the task and the Rangers were still coming up empty handed.

Down by three with time running out, the Rangers opted not to pull Shesterkin for the extra attacker which was probably for the best considering they couldn't even maintain the zone for more than a couple seconds at a time. Shesterkin's stellar goaltending wouldn't be enough as the Rangers couldn't find the back of the net and left what should have been an easy pair of points on the table.

Frustrations boiled over in the final twenty seconds as Sam Carrick got tangled up with Frank Nazar along the boards. This drew a crowd and gave Chicago another power play but at that point, the game was over. Final shots on goal tally would come in at 25-21 in Chicago's favor. The Rangers are back at it on the road Saturday Night as they'll visit the Montreal Canadiens.