Right now, the thing this team has gotten much better at is overall team D. Things have really improved since the Toronto game. Georgiev had a few difficult saves to make, but otherwise the team clamped down in front of him. That was impressive.
The goals against. First one isn't necessarily Georgiev's fault, but I feel like it's the kind of shot Shesty finds a way to stop. But also I hate the body language. I hate seeing a puck go in top corner and the goalie is standing there still frozen with his glove up like he's in shock. It's a bad look. And I was impressed the Rangers didn't collapse after it. And also impressed they didn't start cheating all over the ice when they were down. They kept their structure the entire game, even after being down 2. The second goal IS Georgiev's fault. Was he screened? Sure. But that shouldn't have beaten him. That's a right pad save and maybe a tough rebound. But it should not have gone in. Georgiev's battles in net seem to be mental more than anything. Both goals were at the start of a period. He needs to be just as focused then as he does 10 minutes in. Again, it was impressive to see the team not fall apart after going down 2-0. They still didn't cheat. They stayed on the right side of the puck for the most part all game. And that's how you stay in most games. But it does make offense harder in this league when you don't cheat.
The team needs to figure out it's PP. They have to find some other ways of operating other than the standard right handed one timers. We need to have a few set plays to the other side of the ice. Or to the middle. Or perhaps a set play that starts below the goal line. It's becoming too obvious to defend and far too predictable for the goalies. And the way we're playing so clamped down, we neeeeeeed the PP to get us a goal a game.
That said, in general the offense needs to find ways to get inside the paint. Especially when they're struggling. All of the goals were from like 5 ft out or less. That's the way you win when you're missing your 2nd line. And it's the way you score in the playoffs. The fancy goals are far and few between come playoff time. Deflections, screens, tips, etc. That's what we need to perfect.
Panarin may be hurt. He may not. He's also the only forward going east/west. He doesn't totally love playing in traffic and along the walls the whole game. there aren't many players on the team that play a style conducive to Panarin's game. He works better with Zibby than with Chytil, but it's not a work of art either. Zibby and Kreids would do well to have Laf or Kakko back with them.
Nemeth isn't a wizard with the puck and keeps it very very simple. But he's big, clears the crease and is strong along the boards. He's really useful beyond being a 3rd pairing D. He plays PK, he can be used late in games when holding a lead. He's solid and unspectacular.
Finally we are better in the 3rd period because of our size. We eventually wear teams out. The hitting works in aggregate.
