Mika Zibanejad's harsh reality check collides with J.T. Miller: Bigger issues surface for the New York Rangers
Photo credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller sounded miles apart as the New York Rangers crumbled against the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night following a 8-4 loss.
Miller came in hot, owned the «bad first period,» then leaned on the idea they responded and «played with some pride» once the game settled. It was a captain trying to grab onto something usable after another ugly night.
J.T. Miller on the 8-4 loss: «Bad first period. We responded. Played pretty well after that.»
Did getting behind the eight ball early set the tone in a negative way? «No shit. We'd like to not be down 4-0 after the first but after that we responded well. Played with some pride.»
Did getting behind the eight ball early set the tone in a negative way? «No shit. We'd like to not be down 4-0 after the first but after that we responded well. Played with some pride.»
Zibanejad didn't really buy the comfort version. He pointed out that early losses still had a game worth respecting, and that right now the Rangers are not earning that «deserved better» feeling.
Mika Zibanejad saw it a bit differently:
"Early on this season, we lost games, but I thought the effort was there. I'm not saying the effort (isn't there now), but our game isn't. I thought we played better (and) we deserved better early on, but right now, we don't. And that's a tough pill to swallow."
"Early on this season, we lost games, but I thought the effort was there. I'm not saying the effort (isn't there now), but our game isn't. I thought we played better (and) we deserved better early on, but right now, we don't. And that's a tough pill to swallow."
However, the scoreboard backed up both arguments, but it also made them clash. Ottawa detonated for four goals in the first period, then stretched it to 6-0 before New York had anything to celebrate.
That kind of start isn't just «energy,» it's structure falling apart. The Senators got clean looks off rush chances and second touches, and the Rangers were defending space instead of bodies near the slot.
Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller's frustration collide in post-game comments
Regardless of hearing both speeches, neither one feels satisfying after another four-goal first period.
New York did show life after the crater. Rookie Gabe Perreault scored twice, and the Rangers got goals from Alexis Lafreniere, Noah Laba, J.T. Miller, and Zibanejad, but it still ended 8-4.
Even the goaltending numbers screamed how rough it got early, Jonathan Quick allowed six goals on 17 shots and was pulled. Ottawa still kept pushing, with Brady Tkachuk posting four points in the win.
Miller is trying to protect the room's heartbeat, and Zibanejad is basically saying the heartbeat is meaningless if the details are dead. The next milestone says it all, give them a first period that doesn't require a postgame therapy session.
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