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NY Post
New York Post
25 Apr 2023


NextImg:Gerard Gallant calls out Rangers’ struggling top six: ‘Got to be a lot better’

Given a night to sleep on his team’s effort in Tuesday’s dispiriting loss, Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant still couldn’t find much to praise.

“The only thing I liked [Tuesday] night, I thought the Kid Line played really hard,’’ Gallant said Wednesday. “And our goaltending was solid. We need a lot more from everybody else.”

That includes their top two lines, which have been almost invisible in the last two games against the Devils, both home losses, which has resulted in the series being tied, 2-2, with Game 5 in Newark on Thursday night.

“For me it’s the top-six forwards,” Gallant said. “They’ve got to be a lot better. They’ve got to be more productive.”

The lack of scoring from their best offensive players left the Rangers with just two goals over those two losses, compared to the 10 goals the team netted in its first two wins in New Jersey.

“Some guys got production, but [Tuesday] night, in this business, we all know it’s not what you did yesterday,” Gallant said. “It’s what you’re gonna do the next game. That’s how you’ve got to be. You can’t worry that you got two goals the last three games. It’s ‘What are you gonna do tonight?’ And [Tuesday] night we didn’t have any of that.’’

In Game 4, Vincent Trocheck scored their only goal, with nothing from Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin or Vladimir Tarasenko.

Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin and Mike Zibanejad talk during Game 4.
Getty Images

“Our top guys have got to be a lot better,’’ Gallant said. “They know that. I know that. And I hope they play a lot better the next game.”

Because the Kid Line of Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kaako won’t be able to provide enough offense to push the Rangers far into the playoffs.

“I think they’re obviously quick and they’re good at getting pressure on you, I think we can do a better job of playing maybe a little bit faster,” Zibanejad said Tuesday of how the Devils have disrupted the Rangers’ offense. “To get open, to move the puck and to help each other out. We let them get set. It’s hard for us to get into their zone, it’s easier for them to regroup, get the puck and go the other way.”

    Gallant was asked Wednesday if the lack of success on the power play had affected Zibanejad and Panarin’s all-around game.

    “I sure hope it doesn’t,’’ Gallant said. “Special teams are important, but it’s about playing the five-on-five game, too. … That’s what we need from our players. If you’re gonna worry about the power play, you better play a more complete game than that or we’re not going [anywhere].’’

    Gallant said there were no signs of Tuesday’s lackluster game coming, as he praised their Game 3 performance in an overtime loss.

    Rangers
    Gerard Gallant isn’t pleased with the level of production from his top-six forwards over the past two playoff games.
    for the NY POST

    “I truly believed going into [Monday] night’s game, we played nine-and-a-half [good] periods,’’ Gallant said of the two routs in Newark and the overtime loss at the Garden. “[Monday] night’s game came out of nowhere. I was disappointed with the effort.”

    Despite being outspoken about his frustration with how his team played, Gallant didn’t think it was as badly outplayed by the Devils as he did right after the loss.

    “You go over the scoring chances and they’re pretty even,” Gallant said. “It was a low-chance game. We had it 10-10, so it wasn’t as bad as you actually think it was. But I didn’t like the effort and the compete and battle-level of our players. It’s got to be better.”

    So they’ll look to recreate what they were able to do in Games 1 and 2.

    “We didn’t take advantage of a situation where we thought we could have played a lot better and tried to win a game at home,’’ Gallant said. “But that’s what the playoffs are all about: You have a bad game, you bounce back.’’

    Rangers
    It was a struggle at home for Chris Kreider and the Rangers
    Getty Images

    And if they play like they did in the first two games, Gallant is confident they’ll turn the series back in their favor.

    “It’s a two-out-of-three series and they’ve got the home ice back,’’ Gallant said. “It’s not the end of the world. I’m disappointed with the effort that we had in the games at home we lost, but we’ll go back [to Newark] and start over again.’’