The New York Rangers faced a crushing defeat in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final, falling 3-2 in overtime to the Florida Panthers. The pivotal moment came early in the extra period when Mika Zibanejad’s ill-fated pass intended for Blake Wheeler was intercepted at the offensive blue line. Panthers’ defenseman Niko Mikkola seized the opportunity, leading to a sequence that forced Wheeler into a penalty to prevent a breakaway by Aleksander Barkov. Just seconds into the ensuing power play, Sam Reinhart scored the game-winning goal, tying the series 2-2 as it heads back to New York.
Reflecting on the turnover, Zibanejad said, "It's making decisions. I saw Wheeler coming towards me and thought he was open. I should have probably just made a different play, but I can't change it now. That's sports. I can just come back and try to make another decision next time and hope it goes my way."
Zibanejad, who had been a key player for the Rangers in their earlier playoff rounds, has struggled in the Conference Final, failing to record any points so far. This slump has been a significant issue for New York, as his linemate Chris Kreider has also been unable to find the scoresheet.
Coach Peter Laviolette acknowledged the challenges faced by Zibanejad’s line, noting, "We're spending a little too much time playing defense, especially in the second period. You're not spending time in the right zone. Those players want to get out of the defensive zone and get in the offensive zone where they can make an impact."
Despite an early 1-0 lead thanks to Vincent Trocheck, the Rangers were outplayed by the Panthers, who dominated with 108-43 shot attempts in Game 3 and carried that momentum into Game 4. Florida responded with goals from Sam Bennett and Carter Verhaeghe, before Alexis Lafreniere equalized for New York, sending the game into overtime.
Florida’s resilience was highlighted by Bennett, who praised his team’s determination: "We have the utmost belief that someone in the locker room is going to get it done. Tonight, it was Sam Reinhart."
In a controversial moment, Wheeler’s penalty on Barkov could have resulted in a penalty shot rather than a power play. Florida coach Paul Maurice expressed mixed feelings, saying, "I don't know (what I would have picked); I really don't know. But if we hadn't scored, I would have said penalty shot all day long."
The loss overshadowed a stellar performance by Rangers’ goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who made 37 saves to keep his team in the game. However, Shesterkin can't carry the load alone, and New York’s top players need to step up.
Laviolette had adjusted the lineup, giving Filip Chytil a rest and allowing Wheeler to return from a long injury absence. Despite Wheeler's unfortunate involvement in the overtime penalty, Laviolette defended him, stating, "It was a tough spot for him to be in. There was a lot of heat on him, a lot of pressure. It was more what they did than him doing something wrong."
As the series shifts back to Madison Square Garden for Game 5, Chris Kreider emphasized the need for his line to improve: "We've got to do a better job of advancing pucks up the ice and establishing an o-zone presence. A lot of that falls on me. I've got to be able to get in there and win pucks, move my feet, and allow us to get up the ice and start rolling."
With the series now a best-of-three, the Rangers will need to regroup and rely on their star players to regain the upper hand. Game 5 promises to be a critical showdown in what has been an intensely competitive series.
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