STARS NEED TO SHINE

BY MIKE RIFKIN

The Eastern Conference Final comes down to a best of three, as the Panthers have tied the series 2-2 with a 3-2 overtime win in game four. There have been a few constants throughout this series for the Rangers and one of them has to buck the trend. 

Igor Shesterkin has been fantastic throughout the four games, Alexis Lafreniere has continued his breakout season and the Rangers have gotten big contributions from Barclay Goodrow and Alex Wennberg among others. But the Rangers need their top guys to be the top guys. 

Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad combined for 267 points during the regular season. The three have combined for 14 goals and 38 points during the playoffs, but this series against the Panthers the three have combined for a grand total of three points, all of which are assists by Panarin (2 in game four.) Now if you ask Ranger fans if they’d take being tied in the series with these guys not producing if they’d take it, of course they’d say yes. But the Rangers need more from these guys. Panarin, who had disappeared at times during the Rangers’ run to the Conference Final in 22 and was limited to two assists last year in the first round against the Devils, has four goals in the playoffs, all of which are game winners, but he hasn’t scored a goal since game three against the Hurricanes. 

Mika Zibanejad has not scored a goal since he had two in game two against the Hurricanes. Zibanejad is a -3 so far in the series. I know not everyone loves the plus/minus stat but when your number one center isn’t producing it becomes an easy stat to look at. In game 4 against Florida, Zibanejad had a few looks including a shot that hit the crossbar in the first period, if he scores it might be a different game. But if we’re talking about Zibanejad, he has to take some of the blame for the game four loss. His pass in overtime handcuffed Blake Wheeler, it led to Wheeler taking a hooking penalty, which led to the overtime winner for Sam Reinhart. 

Chris Kreider’s hat trick in game 6 against the Hurricanes was a fantastic moment, but in this series against Florida is -3. Kreider, the Rangers all time leader in playoff goals, hasn’t really had that great opportunity. 

Now give Florida credit on how they’re defending these guys. Now part of the reason these guys are struggling is the Rangers power play has one goal in the series. But now this series is a best of three and the Rangers need their stars to shine on Broadway.