A sense of failure will accompany the 2022-23 edition of the New York Rangers over the next few days, after their elimination Monday in seven games by the New Jersey Devils.
After all, we are talking here about a formation that has bet big on their ability to do even better than their presence in the final of the Eastern association in the spring of 2022.
The acquisitions of Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane, two talented and experienced forwards in the playoffs, ultimately did not bring the expected results.
Lucid in his approach to the ultimate game, head coach Gerard Gallant agreed that his club did not deserve a better fate.
“Talent doesn’t mean anything,” he insisted during his post-match press briefing. You have to play together, work together. I love being able to bet on talent, but I like to bet on a work ethic even better, a terrible forecheck, that sort of thing. ”
Beyond New York’s 31-24 advantage in the shots on goal column, Gallant acknowledged that the Devils have multiplied “real” scoring opportunities.
“It could have ended with a score of 7 to 2. shesty (Igor Shesterkin) was very good, ”he analyzed.
One of the team’s biggest leaders, winger Chris Kreider, willingly accepted some of the blame for Rangers’ underperformance at Newark.
“Personally, I feel responsible for some of the goals they scored. As a veteran of the team, I’m supposed to be responsible defensively. I can’t be on the ice for each of their four goals and hurt us like that,” he said.
For his part, star defenseman Adam Fox, who like Kreider looked bad on the goal that opened the scoring for the Devils halfway through the second, said he was sorry for Shesterkin.
“I feel bad for Igor,” he said. He battled in goal for us throughout the series. I feel bad that we couldn’t give him goals. Credit also goes to their keeper; after all, he played well. But I have a thought for our goalkeeper because I have the feeling that we let him down. ”
