The Rangers went out in the second round of last season’s Stanley Cup playoffs managing 10 goals in a five-game Bruins romp.
Those games turned out to be the last of the John Tortorella era, as the fiery coach was canned in the weeks following a season when the team took step back. Alain Vigneault, a more player-friendly and offensive-minded coach, took over, and the Rangers are hoping the latter’s traits can result in a more significant postseason run when the puck drops on the NHL playoffs Wednesday night.
“They have a scoring mentality they didn’t have last year,” MSG Network analyst Joe Micheletti said.
“I don’t think they had the confidence that they could score, and certainly with their power play there was zero confidence. When you’re trailing in these close playoff games, you have to have that belief you can make a big play. And that’s the difference with this team is that they defend hard, but when they get the puck they are thinking, let’s make some plays.”
But the power play woes that plagued the Blueshirts last season when they finished 23rd in the league have returned. Before scoring on two of three in Tuesday’s 4-1 win over the Hurricanes, the Rangers had gone 7-of-59 with the man advantage over an 18-game stretch.
“Take the shot one pass earlier,” Micheletti said. “They had their power play going, and it’s been good for most of the season. But part of the problem is you have these guys who are so unselfish that on the power play they have to get back to more of the mentality of being a little bit selfish. Not in a negative way, but as soon as you get a shot on goal you force the penalty-killing team to turn and make a decision and that’s when your talent takes over.”
Despite the power play woes, injuries to Ryan McDonagh (shoulder) and winger Chris Kreider (hand) and a significant trade the Rangers “have probably played these last three weeks about as well they’ve played all season,” according to Micheletti.
The significant trade was shipping captain Ryan Callahan, who was unlikely to sign an extension with the Rangers, to the Lightning for Martin St. Louis. The veteran winger has just one goal to go with six assists since coming over on March 5, and the Rangers might need more from the 38-year-old in the playoffs.
“He’s a really good scorer, who hasn’t scored much,” Micheletti said of St. Louis, who won the 2004 Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay under Tortorella. “You watch him play closely, he’s a smart player, he knows what he’s doing on the ice, and he makes good defensive plays, smart passes.
“The biggest [thing] that I’ve seen out of him, and I’m sure it has to do with the pressure of leaving Tampa and the expectations here in New York, that sometimes I think when you are feeling that you become hesitant. When I’ve seen him playing his best hockey he’s really decisive.”