It’s definitely one of the most memorable starts for players our team traded for. Clowe scored his first two goals of the year and set up another. Brassard recorded a four-point game with a power play goal and three assists. Moore scored his first of 2013 putting the exclamation point on a very enjoyable victory that moved the Blueshirts past the Devils and Islanders into seventh. All three teams have 39 points. By virtue of two more regulation/overtime wins (15) than idle New Jersey, the Rangers are seventh while the Devs are eighth. The Islanders are ninth due to playing one more game than either Hudson rival.

On Deadline Day, our newest trio made it special by giving MSG a treat. They helped end the Pens’ domination. Even if they didn’t have Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Paul Martin, it was a nice statement against the same hated rival they’ll be facing again Friday in the Steel City. The six goals are the most our team’s scored. They also recorded three power play goals for the first time since 4/3/12 against the Flyers. Clowe, Brassard and Brian Boyle each connected on a man advantage that went 3-for-4. In his first game playing with Brassard and Carl Hagelin, Boyle recorded a career high four points (1-3-4). Previously, he had only two points.

This was easily the club’s most complete effort. Everyone contributed, including a fourth line that put together some strong shifts. Darroll Powe centered Taylor Pyatt and Arron Asham, who stood up for Henrik Lundqvist. Asham battled Tanner Glass in the third after Glass got a little too close to Hank. Speaking of our goalie, he was sharp making 26 saves and a little history. The win moved him past Eddie Giacomin into second place all-time for the franchise with 268 victories. 

Most encouraging was the improvement from Brad Richards. He responded to his new line-mate Clowe by setting up the first two goals. That included an early power play goal which gave them the lead. Brassard made a great play by stick handling and then back passing to Richards for a shot which Boyle got a piece of. It was originally credited to Richards but replays confirmed that Boyle deflected it home for his second. Clowe set the tone on his first shift by taking the body and nearly scoring. It was indicative of a player who wanted to be here. A guy who needed a change. 

Clowe was involved all night. Using his size to create havoc against a defenseless Pittsburgh club that looked even worse than their defeat to Buffalo, Clowe helped set up the next two in what amounted to a three-goal barrage in the first. He recovered the puck and handed for Richards, who made a great pass to a wide open Ryan McDonagh, who buried home his third for 2-0. Clowe was rewarded for his hustle when Derek Stepan forced a turnover behind the Pens net. Stepan fed a streaking Clowe, who faked out Marc-Andre Fleury and tucked a backhand for his first goal. It had to be such a relief. 

Everything our team did worked. They even made Evgeni Malkin pay for tripping Mats Zuccarello. The Pens were showing signs of life early in the second, forcing Lundqvist to come up large. But Malkin’s penalty led directly to our fourth goal. Brassard was the beneficiary of some great teamwork. Dan Girardi started it with a point shot that Boyle got a piece of. His big body caused the Pens fits. Eventually, Brassard dug out the loose puck and sent it upstairs for his first as a Blueshirt. 

With the crowd buzzing, Pittsburgh got one back thanks to Pascal Dupuis, who beat Steve Eminger to a floater and beat Lundqvist for his 18th. It was the only goal he allowed. Astonishingly, he still is without a shutout. He still made some key stops to keep the Pens from getting any closer. Another loss of discipline from the Pens led to the team’s third PPG. This time, Matt Cooke was the guilty party, tripping Powe. They made him pay on the scoreboard when Brassard made a sweet dish across for Clowe for a lay-in that frustrated Fleury. It was really nice to see Fleury lose it in the third following a penalty to Brooks Orpik. I was getting sick of hearing Ed Olczyk talk about his big stops. He couldn’t stop our first four.

The great aspect was the Rangers didn’t let up. They showed no mercy. Continuing to take it to the Pens, they registered 17 shots in the third and easily could’ve reached eight or nine. It didn’t matter. They still got to six thanks to a Moore shot eluding Fleury. Off a Brassard face off win, Boyle found Moore, who wound up and doubled his point total. He looked decent in his Ranger debut showing good wheels and didn’t panic when pressured.

This was a total team effort. The kind they’ll need the rest of the way. That includes the rematch at the Steel City. 

3rd Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (26 saves to pass Giacomin for 2nd all-time in Ranger history (268 wins)

2nd Star-Brian Boyle, NYR (career high 4 points: 1-3-4 in 16:12 playing on left wing)

1st Star-Brassard/Clowe, NYR (combined for 3 goals, 5 assists and 8 points in impressive debut)

Notes: The Rangers decided to retain J.T. Miller. Both Chris Kreider and Jesper Fast went down to Connecticut. … Kris Newbury sat out along with Hamrlik and Matt Gilroy.