In the midst of the Tony DeAngelo saga, the Rangers went back to work on Sunday to end their woes from the third period.
Saturday’s 5-4 overtime loss against the Penguins was the fourth time in the last five games that the Rangers had entered the third period with a one-goal lead, but they have only one victory in that stretch.
“We can sit here and feel sorry for ourselves and feel bad about the situation, in terms of results and everything,” said center Mika Zibanejad as the Rangers prepared to receive the penguins back in the yard on Monday night. “But at the end of the day, we just have to keep going.”
Defender Jacob Trouba said Saturday night that the Rangers were aware of their struggle in the third period and did not want it to creep into their heads on the ice. But it can already happen.
‘I want to say no, but of course [if] if we win a few, you get a little more confident as you enter those third periods, ”said Zibanejad.
Chris Krieder clearly explained the Rangers’ problems after the loss, noting their inability to hold on to a north-south game and get pucks behind the opponent’s defense in the third period. Zibanejad wasn’t sure why the Rangers got away from that style late in the games.
“I don’t know if we’re trying to protect the leadership in a defensive way or I don’t know how I would put it,” he said. ‘But we just have to keep playing. What this team is doing so well is putting pressure on the puck skates. Part of it, of course, is playing north hockey. I feel like we stray a bit from that. We have to have faith in that, to believe in what we do so well. “
Colin Blackwell, who had moved from the taxi team to the right wing in second line with three points in three games, will be out for seven to 10 days after an upper body injury Saturday night.
In his absence on Sunday, Kaapo Kakko skated with Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome on the second line while Julien Gauthier took Kakko’s spot on the third line with Chris Kreider and Brett Howden.
Defender Jack Johnson, who has missed two games in a row with a groin load, did not train and stays from day to day.