After a challenging Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, in which they were blanked by the Panthers, the Rangers are determined to find the offensive spark they need to bounce back.
The potential solution to the Rangers’ offensive struggles could lie in the hands of a promising 21-year-old rookie center.
Matt Rempe was a healthy scratch during Game 1, but he could possibly return to the lineup on Friday.
“You always look at your lineup, and you evaluate it,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “I was pretty honest, I think we are capable of playing better. I think we did good things.
“I think the scoring chances have been generated. There weren’t an enormous amount of them because that’s not what happens when you play Florida. I do think we got six or seven really good looks. Inside of that, we need to make some of those looks pay off.
“I thought the execution could have been better. I think there are things if you look at the lineup itself and not necessarily if there’s a move or not a move and look at the lineup itself and get better with that game and with that plan and that group. If you make a move, you make a move. But I think we have to look at the bigger picture and getting better on the ice.”
Getting better on the ice is correct because the Rangers were lethargic and sloppy with the puck early in the first period against the Panthers. The Blueshirts tallied just five shots during the first 20 minutes. In addition, the Rangers had 12 giveaways compared to just two for the Panthers.
Unlike their first two series against the Capitals and the Hurricanes, the Panthers are a physical team with one of the best goaltenders, Sergei Bobrovsky. In 12 games this postseason, Bobrovsky has a 2.17 goals against average, which is sixth among netminders.
Because the Panthers exhibit such physicality on the ice, Rempe could significantly help the Rangers. Although he only played 17 games and scored two points during the regular season, Rempe loves to throw his 6-7, 241-pound frame into defenders and commit penalties for the Rangers.
Rempe, 21, last played in Game 5 of the second-round series against the Hurricanes. He has a goal in seven playoff games and averages 6:19 minutes of ice time.
Rempe registered 71 penalty minutes during the 17 regular season games he played. After the Rangers Game 1 loss, ESPN and TNT analysts said Rempe could positively impact this series.
“Maybe they should think about having [Matt] Rempe in the lineup,” ESPN analyst and Rangers legend Mark Messier said. “I’m not questioning the coach, but I am saying he does get in on the forecheck.
“He does ground and pound. He does get the crowd involved and the players seem to follow that kind of mindset.”
During Friday morning’s skate, Laviolette was mum on Rempe’s availability for Game 2.
“Any decision I make is based on the conversations as a group internally here,” Laviolette said. “You can pick any player, and you ask 10 people, and you might get 7-3 or 5-5. I can’t make my decisions based on that.
“Players that we do put in the lineup, we hope they have a positive impact.”
