The Rangers lost 3-2 in Game 4 as the Panthers continue to dominate offensive zone time, something that is beginning to hurt New York.
The New York Rangers kept playing with fire and this time it came to bite them in the back as they lost 3-2 in overtime to the Florida Panthers, which tied this Eastern Conference Final series 2-2.
In Game 3, the Rangers were badly outshot and dominated for pretty much the entirety of the contest, but goaltender Igor Shesterkin managed to help New York claw their way into overtime when Alex Wennberg scored the game-winner to propel the Rangers to a 2-1 series lead.
The Rangers started Game 4 on a high note.
In the first period, New York went on two power plays, scoring once while recording their first power play goal of the series. They were moving the puck well and their man advantage looked unstoppable.
Meanwhile, the Rangers had arguably their best 20 minute stretch of the series. The ferocity and hunger they played with is something we didn’t see out of this team last game.
However, in the second period, the tides shifted.
The Rangers committed two penalties and that completely derailed the rhythm that they had to start the game.
Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe scored a few minutes apart from each other and all of the sudden the Panthers held a 2-1 lead.
Alexis Lafrenière continued his reign of terror, scoring his seventh goal of the playoffs in the third period.
With the score tied 2-2, Florida began dominating possession time and throwing an onslaught of shots at Shesterkin.
The 28-year-old goaltender stood tall and for the second straight game willed his team into overtime.
The overtime did not last long though as an early Rangers penalty led to a quick Sam Reinhart goal, crushing the hopes of yet another thrilling victory for the Blueshirts.
A common theme of this series has been Florida's dominance possessing the puck. It’s safe to say that this continued barrage of shots is beginning to exhaust the Rangers.
“We're spending a little bit too much time playing defense, especially in the second period,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “That happened last game as well, so we are not able to move and generate the way we want to out there.”
There was a clear shift in the Rangers’ play from the first two periods and Laviolette can’t wrap his head around the reasoning for it.
“We gotta be better,” Laviolette said. “We can't afford lapses like that. I don't have an explanation… I definitely think we need to be better.”
The Rangers and Panthers are set to play Game 5 at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night with the series tied 2-2.
