Hertl’s Night: Sharks rookie Tomas Hertl celebrates a hat trick. His four goals were part of a Sharks 9-2 rout over the Rangers.
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

If the Rangers were looking to ride momentum, they were hit by a Shark attack. In particular, Tomas Hertl. The 19-year old Czech had a night to remember scoring four goals in San Jose’s 9-2 blowout of the listless Blueshirts. It was a memorable performance by the former 2012 first round pick who lit it up at the Shark Tank. His four goals were the most by a teenager since Jimmy Carson did it as a King in 1988.

Playing in only his third career game, Hertl matched a Sharks franchise record tying Owen Nolan with his four goal outburst. That gives him six so far. Not a bad way to start for the rookie.

From a Ranger perspective, it was a night to forget. They didn’t have it following a solid 3-1 win over the Kings. It started out promising thanks to Brad Richards’ power play goal. After Brad Stuart was in the sin bin for an elbow on Rick Nash that injured him, San Jose was called for a bench minor handing the Rangers a two-man advantage. Richards finished off his third in two nights. A welcome sign. It also came on a 5 on 3. If only they could’ve frozen the game right there. 😛

Unfortunately, the Ranger power play returned to who they are giving up a shorthanded goal to Marc-Edouard Vlasic. Dan Boyle followed suit when his point shot beat Henrik Lundqvist thru a screen. They could’ve been down more but the Rangers snuck out of the first period trailing by one.

With the Sharks coming at them in swarms, they self destructed allowing three goals in 1:23. Consecutive tallies from Matt Nieto and Hertl chased Lundqvist. It got no better for Marty Biron with Logan Couture taking full advantage of a weird carom to make it 5-1. Before the second was done, Hertl notched his second from Joe Thornton. The Sharks outscored the Rangers 4-0 and outshot them 23-8.

Of all people, Derek Dorsett beat Antti Niemi on a mini break finishing it off with a nice backhand deke. It was his first as a Ranger. However, the celebration was short lived. Upset with Stuart for his cheap shot on Nash, Brian Boyle went after him and got an extra for unsportsmanlike conduct. It didn’t take long for Hertl to complete the hat trick getting to a loose puck in front slamming it past Biron. He was left all alone by Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi. They were brutal as was the entire D.

Hertl wasn’t done. He took a Jason Demers feed at center and blew past Mike Del Zotto for a highlight reel goal that’ll make the highlight reel. In a word, remarkable. Hertl shot between his legs beating Biron for his fourth. Awe inspiring stuff from a really skilled young player. I’m still shaking my head. How he was allowed to pull that off is stupefying. Chalk it up to a brutal game from our team. Justin Braun concluded the scoring with another power play goal. He too was left unguarded by our top penalty killers. What were they doing out so late? It was 8-2. Never mind.

”The Sharks were on top of their game,” Alain Vigneault said. ”It’s tough to understand, at this point, how we can play so well last night and play this way tonight. My favorite response from Vigneault was when some foolish reporter asked what he thought of Hertl’s game. In his best Tort impression, he coldly said, “He had a good game,” and stared into space.

A defiant Ryan Callahan told John Giannone there were no excuses. “We got embarrassed tonight. We have to realize that and respond. The effort has to be there and get better.”

There’s really nothing else to say. That’s why he’s the captain. The entire team stunk. It’s nice to see Richards scoring. Nash didn’t sound too optimistic.

”It just didn’t feel right,” Nash said also indicating that he had a headache. ”I could feel it. Any time you get a head shot you’re concerned. It’s not a good feeling.”

Assuming he doesn’t suit up Thursday at Anaheim, does Jesper Fast get back in? The Rangers will heed on the side of caution with Nash. It doesn’t sound good.