For the first time in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, the New York Rangers trail in a series. The Florida Panthers skated out of Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night with a convincing, at times dominating, 3-0 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.
But Rangers coach Peter Laviolette’s confidence in his Presidents’ Trophy-winning team hasn’t wavered.
“Can we win [Game 2]? I definitely believe we can win,” he said Thursday.
Laviolette said Game 1 was “an even game” between the teams: close on the scoreboard and in the analytics. Breaking down what went wrong for the Rangers against Florida to open the conference final — and how to fix those problems — shows his confidence isn’t outlandish.
Here are five things the Rangers could seek to change for Game 2 on Friday night (8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+):
“Take responsibility” with execution
From 16:26 of the first period until 16:12 of the third period, the Panthers led Game 1 by a single goal. It was a tenuous lead that was threatened in multiple ways by the Rangers.
“We had a lot of chances to score. We hit the post three times. A lot of point-blank chances. Two breakaways,” Laviolette said. “There’s opportunities where we could have scored that one goal and it didn’t go.”
One Rangers goal in that time span obviously changes everything. It energizes the crowd. It allows New York to relax a bit. It might even mean a trip to overtime, where the Rangers won twice last round. Comeback wins are what this team does: The Rangers have 33 come-from-behind wins between the regular season and the playoffs, tied with the 2006 Hurricanes and 1984 Oilers for the most in NHL history.
But they didn’t get that bounce. They did get some chances, and Laviolette said his team has to “take responsibility with our execution” in Game 2.
When Laviolette discusses Game 1, he does so without a hint of panic, despite his team trailing in a series for the first time this postseason. Even as the numbers show the Panthers got the better of play at 5-on-5, the Rangers coach didn’t see his team getting dominated at even strength.
“I don’t feel like we were under siege. I don’t feel like we were real vulnerable at times defensively,” he said.
Laviolette isn’t averse to making changes to his team’s approach if necessary. He just doesn’t see that necessity yet.
“There were adjustments that we made in the Carolina series, systematically, because I didn’t like what I was seeing. I didn’t like how it was coming at us. So we changed big parts of our game to try and make up for that,” he said. “But I didn’t feel like it was that [in Game 1].”
Pressure on the D corps
If there’s one group on the Rangers that needs to step up, it’s the defensemen — on both ends of the ice.
New York doesn’t have a player in the top 20 for playoff scoring or shots on goal by a defenseman. Its blue line has generated just two goals. Adam Fox and Jacob Trouba are tied for the team lead for D-men with four points. The Panthers’ leaders — Gustav Forsling and Brandon Montour — have double that output. No one’s even in the same conversation as Evan Bouchard and Miro Heiskanen in the Western Conference finals as far as offensive output.
The Rangers struggled to generate shots on goal in Game 1, going 14:25 between shots in the second period. Getting more from the D corps would certainly help.
Laviolette said there are opportunities for the Rangers’ defensemen to get more involved offensively after being “a big part of our success in the regular season.”
Fox agreed with his coach.
“We want to produce. Getting up in the rush, joining late … we want to jump in when the opportunity presents itself,” he said.
But New York needs its defensemen to be sharper in their own zone, too. Specifically, finding more success in breaking out the puck so the big, physical Panthers can’t get their forecheck cranked up like they did in Game 1.
“They have a lot of speed on their team,” K’Andre Miller said. “I think limiting their speed throughout the neutral zone, trying to get hold-ups and trying to give us a little bit more time breaking the puck out of the D zone [are key].”
“Obviously, when teams are coming that hard and pressuring you with that type of energy, I think [it’s about] breaking down their forecheck with talking, puck moving and just trying to be a little bit firmer,” he added. “Our execution can be a little bit better coming out of the D zone.”
The Panarin line must produce
The trio of Vincent Trocheck, Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere were on the ice for a goal in Game 1. Unfortunately it was one for the Panthers, as a turnover by Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin led to a puck going off Lafrenière’s stick into New York’s net in the third period.
(Panarin and Lafrenière were also on the ice for Matthew Tkachuk‘s game-opening goal.)
Their line didn’t score, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Yet again, the Panarin line was New York’s best at 5-on-5 with a plus-6 in shot attempts and a plus-4 in scoring chances. It was the only Rangers line with its head above water in shot attempts; the Chris Kreider–Mika Zibanejad–Jack Roslovic trio was the only other line in the positive on scoring chances, and it was only a plus-1.
The Rangers’ challenges at 5-on-5 have been well documented. The Panarin line has been the exception all season and all postseason: Plus-38 in shot attempts, plus-19 in scoring chances and plus-6 in high-danger chances in the playoffs. Yet that’s added up to sveen goals for and seven goals against in 11 games.
In Game 1, it was Zibanejad who saw Selke Trophy-winning center Aleksander Barkov the most. Trocheck played the majority of his minutes against Anton Lundell. While that’s not an easy matchup, it’s an easier matchup than the Barkov line. The Rangers need their best trio to take advantage of that in Game 2.
Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky pitched a 24-save shutout in Game 1, the second playoff blanking of his career. He was good when Florida needed him to be, including three high-danger saves and seven stops on rebound attempts. But the Rangers didn’t get nearly enough traffic in front of him, and they know it.
“Making it harder on Bobrovsky [is critical],” forward Barclay Goodrow said. “Obviously, he’s a good goalie. If he sees pucks, life is easy. He’s going to make most of those saves, so just making life more difficult on him.”
“Playoff Bob” has faced more high-danger shots against (66) and has the highest high-danger save percentage (.879) in the playoffs. It’s the midrange stuff that’s tripped him up — seven goals on 43 shots at even strength. For goalies with at least eight appearances in the 2024 playoffs, Bobrovsky is seventh of eight netminders in save percentage on shots through traffic (.902). The Rangers need to create more of it.
As the Rangers were struggling to generate excitement in front of a quiet crowd in Game 1, ESPN analyst Mark Messier wondered if “maybe they should think about putting Rempe in the lineup” to spark the team.
The sentiment has been echoed by fans and pundits since Game 1: Should it be Rempe Time in Game 2?
The 6-foot-8 rookie is an automatic crowd pop when he steps in the ice, and those cheers grow louder when he pops an opponent with a big check. The Panthers were the more physical team in Game 1. Perhaps Rempe could respond to that.
Of course, responding is the issue. The Panthers have shown a remarkable discipline in this postseason on not getting goaded into after-the-whistle shenanigans. And Rempe is clearly on the referees’ radar, having gotten his share of reputation penalties this season.
Getting Rempe in the lineup at home would seem essential. But is it worth dedicating a forward spot to a player who averages 6:19 of ice time per game in the playoffs just for an energy boost?
If not Rempe, the Rangers could play another card that could energize the crowd and the team. Blake Wheeler, 37, hasn’t played since Feb. 15 after a gruesome leg injury. He has worked hard to get back in the lineup, and told ESPN that he’s “an option and available” for the Eastern Conference finals if Laviolette needs him.
Whether it’s the lineup or the execution, something has to change for the Rangers in Game 2 if they want to change their results against the Panthers.
The New York Islanders have the man to make the first pick in the draft. The team hired Tampa Bay Lightning assistant general manager Mathieu Darche as its new GM.
Darche, 48, has worked in Tampa Bay’s front office since 2019, helping the Lightning win two Stanley Cups. He was viewed by many in the league as GM Julien BriseBois’ right-hand man. This will be Darche’s first general manager job after being a candidate for a handful of openings over the last several years.
“With the Islanders owning the first overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft and preparing to welcome the Olympic sendoff at UBS Arena next season, there is much to which our franchise, our players, and our passionate fans can look forward,” Islanders managing partner John Collins said. “Mathieu’s arrival adds to that momentum.”
Darche played parts of nine seasons in the league with five different teams. With a commerce degree in marketing and international business from McGill University, Darche also has experience working for the NHL Players’ Association in labor negotiations.
“I am truly honored by the opportunity to be the New York Islanders General Manager and Executive Vice President,” Darche said. “I’d like to thank Scott Malkin, Jon Ledecky, John Collins, and the entire ownership group for entrusting me with the hockey operations of this great franchise.”
The Islanders’ other finalist, according to sources, was Marc Bergevin, the former Montreal Canadiens GM who spent last season in the Los Angeles Kings front office.
Sources also said the Islanders received permission from the Maple Leafs to speak to Brendan Shanahan before it was decided by Toronto’s board that the Hockey Hall of Famer’s contract would not be renewed. According to sources, the Islanders were viewing Shanahan for a president role, similar to one he had with Toronto; however, Darche is the only hire expected at this time.
Darche takes over for Lou Lamoriello, who was fired after seven seasons on the job. New York didn’t make the playoffs this season and hasn’t made it past the first round since 2020-21 — when the Islanders lost in the East semifinals to the Lightning. Even after the decision to move on from Lamoriello, the team has still been consulting with the Hockey Hall of Famer, whose contract expires on June 30.
This is the second high-profile departure for the Lightning this offseason after assistant coach Jeff Blashill was hired by the Blackhawks on Thursday to be their head coach.
The Isles have the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL draft after receiving some lottery luck — jumping from 10th to the first selection earlier this month. This will be the first time the Islanders have the top pick since taking John Tavares in 2009.
Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa are widely believed to be the best two prospects in the draft. However, the Islanders may be tempted by a hometown talent, James Hagen, who grew up in Hauppauge, New York, as a fan of the Islanders.
Mired in a nine-game losing streak, the Athletics shook up their roster Friday and called up five players, including highly touted prospect Denzel Clarke.
Veteran Seth Brown was designated for assignment amid moves that general manager David Forst hopes will give the club more flexibility.
“Ultimately, obviously we’re in a stretch right now we’re not finding ways to win,” Forst said in a video news conference. “I think we’re better than we’ve shown the last 10 days.”
Clarke, a 25-year-old center fielder known for his standout defense, speed and power, was the team’s fourth-round selection in the 2021 amateur draft. He was set to start and make his major league debut Friday night for the A’s (22-29) in the opener of a three-game home series against the Philadelphia Phillies at home in West Sacramento.
Clarke was batting .286 with no home runs, 21 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 31 games with Las Vegas. His .436 on-base percentage ranked fourth in the Pacific Coast League.
During the skid, the club has been outscored 72-26, is batting .209 and has a team ERA of 8.23 while allowing 23 home runs.
Outfielder JJ Bleday was optioned to Triple-A along with right-hander Carlos Duran and catcher Jhonny Pereda. The A’s also transferred second baseman Zack Gelof to the 60-day injured list.
Forst said Bleday needed a “reset” to find a rhythm at the plate and on defense — something he couldn’t find playing every day at the big league level right now. Manager Mark Kotsay spoke to Bleday on Friday about the move.
“Hopefully he’ll be back here very soon,” Forst said.
Third baseman Gio Urshela was placed on the 10-day injured list after straining his left hamstring in a loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday. He underwent an MRI on Friday.
Urshela left the game in the sixth inning with the injury of the 10-5 defeat.
Urshela went 1 for 2 with a bases-loaded walk in the game. He is batting .224 with no homers and 13 RBIs in 32 games this season.
The 32-year-old Brown had been the longest-tenured player on the team but struggled to get regular opportunities. He spent time in the minor leagues last year for a stretch, and Forst remained hopeful he would clear waivers and play for Las Vegas before returning at some point to the A’s.
He was hitting .192 with a home run and three RBIs in 33 games.
BOSTON — Rafael Devers had a career-high eight RBIs, hitting a three-run homer in the sixth inning and a grand slam in a 13-run eighth, to lead the Boston Red Sox over the Baltimore Orioles 19-5 on Friday in the opener of what was supposed to be a day-night doubleheader.
Devers had four hits and leads the major leagues with 47 RBIs. He hit his seventh career slam and his second in a six-day span, his 12th homer this season. The drive came off rookie infielder Emmanuel Rivera, who gave up eight runs and got three outs, leaving him with a 72.00 ERA. Devers hit an RBI single earlier in the inning against Cionel Pérez.
“Everybody is surprised about what he’s doing, but that’s who he is,” said Red Sox starter Brayan Bello, according to MLB.com. “Everybody was also surprised he got off to a slow start in the first five or six games, but we know the type of hitter that he is, the type of player that he is and the numbers he can put up.”
Boston scored its most runs since a 20-8 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 11, 2021, and finished with 20 hits.
Its 13 runs in the eighth inning are the franchise’s second most in an inning over the past 50 seasons (14 on June 27, 2003, against the Marlins). They were also the most runs by any team in the eighth inning or later since the New York Yankees on June 21, 2005, against the Tampa Bay Rays (also 13).
Baltimore has lost nine of 10 and and 15 of 18, dropping to 16-33. The Orioles are 1-5 since manager Brandon Hyde was fired and replaced on an interim basis by third-base coach Tony Mansolino.
Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman left because of right quadriceps tightness after singling in the fifth inning.
Rob Refsnyder had four RBIs, including a three-run homer in the eighth off Pérez. Duran had three RBIs.
The Red Sox had eight players score multiple runs, one shy of tying the franchise record.
Garrett Whitlock (3-0) allowed one hit in two scoreless innings.
Game 2 of the scheduled doubleheader was postponed later Friday because of rain. The teams will play a split doubleheader Saturday (1:05 p.m., 6:35 p.m.).
Information from ESPN Research and The Associated Press was used in this report.