"That might have been the worst home opener in recent memory. It felt like an extension of preseason despite being the first game with a full NHL lineup. Players were fumbling passes, misreading plays, and just exhibited an overall sloppiness that we haven't seen since Alain Vigneault's first few months in New York in 2013. I know these pains are temporary, but the team is extremely thin as it is."
"It goes without saying that playing preseason games is key to being ready to go when the puck drops for real. This is especially true for two players in particular, Artemi Panarin and JT Miller. Both had uncharacteristically bad nights. Minuscule shot attempts, a certain hesitation to engaging in puck battles, and turnovers at inopportune times. In Panarin's case, it makes sense seeing as this is the first game action he has seen since April."
"The one player you can't deny had a great game was the man in net. Igor Shesterkin did his best Henrik Lundqvist impression, stopping 27 of 28 shots while his offense struggled to simply get the puck out of the zone. Igor did his job, allowing just one goal. The pair of empty netters luckily won't hurt his stat line, since he was the only one deserving of any praise last night."
The Rangers opened with a preseason-like performance marked by fumbling passes, misreads, and overall sloppiness reminiscent of early 2013. The roster appears extremely thin, and lack of scoring from the top six plus limited offensive output from Adam Fox would severely hinder the team. Artemi Panarin and JT Miller were unusually quiet, with few shot attempts, hesitancy in puck battles, and untimely turnovers; Panarin's rust is understandable after extended layoff. Igor Shesterkin was outstanding, stopping 27 of 28 shots and keeping the team within reach. Coach Mike Sullivan faces pressure to rebalance the lineup and avoid leaving the goalie exposed.
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