BOSTON — This wasn’t fairly a repeat of Jaromir Jagr’s notorious debut as a Ranger in Ottawa on Jan. 24, 2004, during which the Blueshirts had been hammered 9-1, prompting Bobby Holik to declare, “I consider, essentially, we’re the worst group within the NHL.”
This wasn’t that dangerous, it was not a bottom-of-the-barrel efficiency, however there have been tinges of remembrance when J.T. Miller’s return to the Blueshirts was dirty by a 6-3 defeat to the Bruins on Saturday afternoon that additionally had tinges of remembrance of the dangerous previous days of December.
Miller scored twice, offering tenacity and vitality in 18:48 of ice time whereas transferring between middle and proper wing on a unit that included Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad in his first recreation carrying the white, crimson and blue since Feb. 25, 2018 — the day earlier than he was despatched away on the 2018 deadline.
This has been a whirlwind for Miller, who arrived right here round 3 a.m. on Saturday morning on a flight from Dallas after he had checked into the Canucks room earlier than studying he’d been traded in alternate for a package deal that includes Filip Chytil.
“It’s been sort of a numb feeling however very excited and really completely satisfied,” mentioned the now No. 8. “This was an enormous recreation for the group. I spotted that after I acquired right here.”
Miller allowed that he was relieved his saga in Vancouver had ended after months of being embroiled in a public feud with (former) teammate Elias Pettersson.
“I might say it took a group effort to discover a totally different place however clearly New York is a particular place and couldn’t be happier to be right here now,” he mentioned. “Only for my household, even exterior of hockey, there, there have been 1,000 causes to wish to come right here with the hockey group that has been top-of-the-line groups within the league for 3 or 4 years in a row.
“I’m excited to be part of it, making an attempt to get again into the playoff image.”
Miller had six photographs on seven makes an attempt whereas delivering three hits. He blended it up in entrance. The road with Zibanejad and Panarin generated 11 scoring possibilities, 5 of the high-danger selection in response to NaturalStatTrick.
There was urgency in his recreation on this contest during which it was pressing for the Rangers to finish their pointless streak at two video games. Greatest laid plans and all that.
The 31-year-old, initially the Blueshirts’ No. 15 total choice within the 2011 draft, has been dropped into an emergency scenario. There actually was no time for him to adapt or ease into the fray.
“I feel after I’m on my recreation, I’ve numerous urgency,” Miller mentioned. “I feel that’s a superb match for me.”
The playoff image to which Miller referred is as problematic because it has been for the reason that finish of December. Possibly even worse as a result of the video games remaining on the schedule — 31, now — have been whittled down significantly.
The Blueshirts, who face Vegas on the Backyard on Sunday, left this match a minimum of 5 factors out of a playoff berth with 5 groups to go pending Saturday night time’s outcomes. Their 7-0-3 run again to respectability is a factor of the previous.
The membership, which was overwhelmed in method too many battles all around the ice, didn’t defend adequately and obtained a 3rd straight iffy efficiency from Igor Shesterkin. The Rangers are on the sting of slipping again into the Darkish Days.
Vincent Trocheck, who practically teared up speaking about having “My finest good friend on the earth since childhood,” as a teammate, was defiant although when requested whether or not this newest slide was regarding.
“I don’t assume it’s regarding. I feel it’s disappointing,” Trocheck informed The Publish. “I’m not going to let the negativity seep again into this room prefer it did earlier within the yr.
“We all know what we’ve acquired. We’ve clearly seen it, we’ve completed it this yr and by including a chunk like J.T., issues are solely trying up. It’s a tricky begin, however our trajectory is simply going to go up from right here.”
The Rangers competed effectively within the first, which ended 2-1 on the opposite aspect after Miller had tied the sport 1-1 with a dart from the slot. However the Blueshirts had been dreadful within the second interval, mustering solely two photographs whereas constantly outdone within the powerful areas by a group that had entered the match after shedding consecutive video games by scores 7-2 and 6-2.
Combining Miller and Zibanejad produced optimistic outcomes, but it surely meant that Jonny Brodzinski would middle a 3rd line between Chris Kreider and Will Cuylle that was caved. The Rangers chased the sport and by no means got here notably near catching up.
Each recreation turns into very important. If the Rangers can’t cease this, the season will bleed out, no matter Miller’s presence.
“It’s been one recreation [for me] and we play once more [Sunday],” mentioned Miller, whose objectives had been his tenth and eleventh of the yr. “We’ve acquired to have the ability to flip the web page.”
Rather less colourful than Holik.