Urgency from Rangers stars setting in for Game 5

PUBLICATION

Ryan Hall
May 30, 2024 (7:38)

SHARE THIS STORY

The Eastern Conference final has been a battle of wits between the Rangers and the Panthers, and one thing is becoming clear, the Rangers need their stars to take their game to the next level if they intend to win this series.

Over the past two games, there has been a trend that has been setting in as the Panthers have begun to tilt the ice in their favor. The Rangers are beginning to be outshot consistently with their star players like Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin who have not been dominant since game one .

«Generally, there's a lot we can be better at with our game, and we're going to need to,» coach Peter Laviolette said Wednesday. «I thought we played better at home than we did on the road, and we were able to get an overtime win in Game 3, and set it up now for a best-of-three going back to our building.»

https://x.com/Zibanejesus/status/1795807583627870443

«I like our chances going back home, I like the way we play there,» Braden
Schneider added. «Next one's a big one.»

Zibanejad has no points thus far in the series, Kreider also has no points and Panarin has three assists and no goals. The Rangers cannot expect success if these three players cannot get going.

With the stars not performing to their level, the Rangers have relied on secondary scoring to help win games and depending heavily on Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin can to bail them out at times.

It remains to be seen on how Laviolette will handle the next few games as the Rangers have restored their home ice advantage and will be looking for any advantage, they can to get around the Panthers physicality which continues to dominate this series.