Zibanejad rues OT turnover in Rangers’ G4 loss
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Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporter
SUNRISE, Fla. — Mika Zibanejad knew right away it was a bad pass.
The New York Rangers forward was trying to get a puck to teammate Blake Wheeler early in overtime of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night. But Zibanejad’s careless toss at the offensive blue line didn’t land, and while Wheeler tried to corral the puck, it was poked away by Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola, who skated towards Aleksander Barkov.
That, in turn, forced Wheeler into committing a penalty against Barkov to prevent Florida’s captain from a clean scoring chance on goaltender Igor Shesterkin.
The Panthers earned a power play and Sam Reinhart capitalized seconds later with a one-timer, giving Florida a 3-2 victory and tying the series 2-2 as it turns back to New York.
“It’s making decisions,” said Zibanejad of the play. “I (saw Wheeler) kind of coming towards me. I think he’s open because (forward Will Cuylle) is going to the net, trying to make the play and they poke it and go the other way. I should have probably just made a different play, or decision, but I made the decision there then. I can’t change it now. That’s sports. I can just come back and try to make another decision next time and hope it goes my way.”
There isn’t much that’s gone right for Zibanejad in the series. He was terrific for New York through their first and second round Stanley Cup playoff series, recording three goals and 14 points through 10 games. He recorded zero points in the Conference Final though — same as linemate Chris Kreider — and that’s been a troubling issue for New York that they’ve been fortunate to overcome. Until now.
“They’re working,” coach Peter Laviolette of Zibanejad’s line said. “We’re spending a little too much time playing defense, especially in the second period. That happened in the last game too. You’re not spending time in the right zone. Those players want to get out of the defensive zone and get in the offensive zone where they can make an impact in the game. There was a spot in Game 3 and a spot here in Game 4 where we didn’t get the push we needed out of the period, and it’s keeps guys from playing in the zone they want to play in. They’re not there.”
New York was dominated by Florida in Game 3, getting out-chanced 108-43 in shot attempts but finding a way to win 5-4 in overtime. The Rangers would not be so fortunate in Game 4. Despite New York jumping out to an early 1-0 lead off Vincent Trocheck‘s marker, Florida roared back in the second period with a pair of goals from Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe, the second on the power play.
Alexis Lafreniere evened the score for New York in the third to get the game to overtime but the Rangers were still outshot 40-23 overall, and the Panthers made New York pay for their most egregious mistake in the extra frame.
“We have the utmost belief that someone in the locker room is going to get it done,” Sam Bennett said of the Panthers’ game winner. “Tonight, it was Sam Reinhart.”
The fact Wheeler took Barkov down on what looked to be a breakaway attempt might have earned Barkov a penalty shot instead of giving Florida a power play. Coach Paul Maurice said he wasn’t sure which decision he preferred — only that the Panthers’ ultimately made the most of their outcome.
“I don’t know (what I would have picked); I really don’t know,” he said. “But if we hadn’t scored, I would have said penalty shot all day long.”
Florida’s best players came through for them, though. New York needs more of their top talents to start doing the same. Shesterkin was sensational again in Game 4 holding the Rangers in with a 37-save performance, but he can’t finish the job alone.
Laviolette altered the Rangers’ lineup going into Game 4 to try and preserve key players. Filip Chytil was a healthy scratch as he continues coming back from a six-month upper-body injury absence. That opened the door for Wheeler to step in for the first time since he suffered a gruesome leg injury on February 15.
It was hardly a triumphant return for Wheeler to be at the center of New York’s overtime penalty trouble. But Laviolette didn’t put any blame on the veteran forward for how he reacted to Zibanejad’s turnover.
“They got behind us,” said Laviolette. “It was a turnover at the offensive blue line and it was a tough spot for him to be in. There was a lot of heat on him, a lot of pressure. It was more what they did than him doing something. He was surrounded by a couple players. It bounces back the other way, the guys were chasing it down the best they could and ended up having to get a stick on him.”
New York will try and regroup now as the Conference Final becomes a best-of-three. And Kreider knows what his line has to do in order to help the Rangers get back on top.
“We’ve got to do a better job of advancing pucks up the ice and establishing an o-zone presence,” he said. “A lot of that falls on me. I’ve got to be able to get in there and win pucks. I’ve got to get my body on pucks, move my feet and allow us to get up the ice and start rolling.”
Game 5 is Friday at Madison Square Garden.
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Eric Karabell
Boston Red Sox SS prospect Marcelo Mayer is getting the call to the major leagues, as starting 3B Alex Bregman (calf) is headed to the injured list. Fantasy managers should not expect Mayer, 22, to replace Bregman’s excellent numbers (.938 OPS), but he should see opportunity for playing time over the likes of Nick Sogard and Abraham Toro. Mayer is an excellent defensive shortstop, but he has played second base and third base at Triple-A Worcester as well this season.
Ranked No. 6 in Kiley McDaniels’ recently updated top 50 prospect rankings, Mayer hit .265/.342/.465 over 43 games and 193 plate appearances at Triple-A, with 9 home runs, 43 RBI and 2 stolen bases. The No. 4 pick in the 2021 amateur draft, Mayer hits left-handed, makes solid contact and drew a 10.4% walk rate this season. There is power upside, but as with most prospects, fantasy managers should keep initial expectations well in check.
Everyone loves the prospects until they reach the majors and alter their narrative (as most do). Chicago Cubs rookie IF Matt Shaw struggled earlier this season and was sent back to Triple-A, though he has returned to the majors. Arizona Diamondbacks SS Jordan Lawlar remains hitless in the majors this season. New Red Sox teammate Kristian Campbell is hitting .225 with a 27% strikeout rate. Hitting big league pitching can be problematic even for long-time veterans. In ESPN’s shallow standard leagues, with no middle infield spot and only nine active hitting spots, it is tough to make an argument to rush out and add Mayer. At the time of the promotion announcement, he was available in 94% of ESPN standard leagues.
Those needing to replace Bregman at third base should look at the Texas Rangers‘ Josh Jung and Jake Burger, and the Philadelphia Phillies‘ Alec Bohm, proven players with job security. For those looking at adding Mayer as their shortstop, Angels star Zach Neto somehow remains available in 71% of leagues, and he certainly comes recommended over Mayer, as does Colorado Rockies starter Ezequiel Tovar. Mayer will likely hit near the bottom of the Boston lineup. If he hits well, he might move up, and he might keep his roster spot even when Bregman returns to health.
It is exciting when one of the top prospects in the sport earns a promotion, but hitting a baseball against top pitching can be challenging for all. Those in deeper formats can make a better case to add Mayer and hope for the best.
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