Rangers vs. Lightning: Lightning Strikes (Seven Times)
A 7–3 win that almost didn’t feel like one: Panarin stays hot, Trocheck shines, and Sullivan’s process-first mindset stands out.
- The Jekyll and Hyde New York Rangers returned—although I guess that's not so much of a fair comment since they were on the road—in a 7-3 thumping of the Tampa Bay Lightning Thursday night.
- And yet, that might have been one of the worst games the Rangers have played this year, aside from Opening Night. And again, I am heartened and pleased with Mike Sullivan and his evaluation of this team. The below is a quote from him after the win:
"The irony of it is I feel like the games where we didn't score, the effort and execution on both sides of the puck was really high,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said. “I thought, tonight, I don't think we were at our best. We were opportunistic. We had some pretty good looks and we scored on them. You could say the same about the last game (6-3 win against the Nashville Predators on Monday)."
- That assessment is dead on, and one of the reasons why I have been so pleased with the way Sullivan has handled himself through this somewhat insane start to the year. For decades I have begged for a coach to understand the process more than random results, and Sullivan seems to be doing that. It's so good to see.
- Hairless Artemi Panarin had four assists. The man is a different human when he's bald (although Eric and I discussed on the podcast this week the removal of his demons might require him to grow his hair out to cut it off). Whatever he is doing, it's working. In the past four games (since he went bald) Panarin has three goals and six assists for eight points.
