It couldn’t have been a better start for Rick Nash. His pair of goals including the game decider with 1:50 remaining lifted the Rangers to a season opening 3-2 win on the road over the Blues. After only scoring twice during last year’s run to the Stanley Cup Final, the much ballyhooed scorer made an early statement registering two goals and an assist. He and linemate Chris Kreider combined for five points. Martin St. Louis set up Nash’s winner giving the top line seven points. He also assisted on Kreider’s first.

”I didn’t know I had success against them,” Nash said after finding out he upped his career totals to 23 goals and 43 points in 51 contests against St. Louis. ”It seems like it is one of the toughest places to play. Being in Columbus so long, it was such a tough building to come into and have success. Too bad we don’t play them more.”

It was a better beginning than last year when the Rangers were beaten at Phoenix 4-1. They also were humiliated by San Jose and Anaheim and lost to the Blues 5-3. Without top center Derek Stepan, the newly comprised line of Kreider, St. Louis and Nash had a big night. They were splendid. Especially after Paul Stastny was credited with his first as a Blue helping St. Louis tie the game once more with 9:18 remaining. It appeared to be headed to overtime. Instead, the top trio put together a dominant shift resulting in St. Louis making a behind the back pass for a sweet Nash finish that easily beat Brian Elliott.

The Rangers took advantage of an Alex Pietrangelo clear attempt that took a weird carom off the glass bouncing right to St. Louis, who quickly fed Nash for his second. The Blues didn’t see the puck which allowed New York to capitalize.

”I saw it right away, saw it hit the glass seam and fire back,” Nash said. ”I was yelling at Marty that it stayed in the zone. It was unbelievable. It was a great play by him.”

”I knew exactly where it was,” Elliott said after finishing with 22 saves in defeat. ”You’re in between trying to tell your guys and not tell their guys, so you’re just hoping your guys see it and come back and just be ready for it. (St. Louis) made a pretty slick play to settle it down and get it across crease there for their goal.”

Despite taking too many penalties, the Rangers will take it. They weren’t perfect but found a way to win similar to last Spring. Henrik Lundqvist was sharp making 23 saves including a tough one with the game on the line. He didn’t have to be great but was there when his team needed him.

”It’s not easy to come in here and beat this team,” Lundqvist pointed out. ”They are always good at home. Physical team. Smart team. They made a couple of mistakes in their own end which we took advantage of. They kept coming hard in the third but we responded pretty well.”

The Rangers got off quickly thanks to a yeoman effort from Kreider. Not giving up on the play, he forced a St. Louis turnover inside the blueline and then pushed the puck to Nash, who buried his first from the slot for an early lead 4:01 in. Rookie Anthony Duclair debuted taking 17 shifts (11:12 TOI) while playing with J.T. Miller and former Blue Lee Stempniak, who played a strong game. Only 19, Duclair didn’t look overwhelmed playing aggressively like he had in preseason. But he didn’t register a shot.

For the most part, the Rangers were solid defensively. After outshooting the Blues 16-8 in the first, they were penalized five times in a sloppy second. That included an ill advised Dan Boyle delay of game which handed St. Louis a two-man advantage. However, the three penalty killers did an outstanding job. New captain Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi combined with Dominic Moore to limit the Blues chances. Moore dominated in the faceoff circle winning 12 of 16 draws. Derick Brassard also saw some penalty kill duty with Stepan out and excelled.

Due to the penalty fest, the Blueshirts didn’t have much puck possession. They hardly generated anything. But still led 1-0 after two thanks to Lundqvist and strong team defense. As usual, they sacrificed blocking 18 shots with forwards coming back fast.

The third period was more wide open. Off some strong work in front from captain David Backes, Jaden Schwartz put home a rebound to tie the game at 1:32. With St. Louis pushing for more, St. Louis made a good defensive play getting the puck to Nash, who sent Kreider in on a breakaway. Almost identical to the one he had versus Jonathan Quick in Game 5, this time he finished going short side. I knew he wasn’t missing. The goal put the Rangers back ahead with 13:30 left. Ironically, it followed a bizarre scrap between Mats Zuccarello and T.J. Oshie. Incensed at Zuccarello post whistle, Oshie got the better of him. Even though he barely landed, it just goes to show that Zuccarello won’t back down from anyone. Gotta love it.

The Rangers blew a chance on a power play which kept the Blues alive. The man-advantage didn’t get going taking the collar in three opportunities. Unable to cash in, it nearly bit them when Vladimir Tarashenko had his wrist shot deflect off Stastny for the equalizer with 9:18 left. The fourth line got victimized with Dom Moore unable to get back. Tarashenko made a nice move around Dan Girardi to get the shot and Stastny had good fortune with Dad Peter watching in the stands.

A Zuccarello tripping minor forced them to kill a crucial penalty. In Game 1 without former PK ace Brian Boyle and defensive defenseman Anton Stralman, who debuted with Boyle in the Lightning’s win Thursday night, they didn’t miss a beat going 5-for-5. Marc Staal did some solid work using his reach to break up a play.

Even though St. Louis struggled on draws going 4-for-11, he made the big play finding Nash for the winner. His first game in the middle was a success finishing with two assists. While I don’t think it’s a good idea long-term, you can’t argue with the end result. The Rangers needed their top line to come through because Brassard and Zuccarello were invisible. Carl Hagelin at least showed defensively. It’ll be interesting to see how long Alain Vigneault keeps him on that line. Might he try Duclair with Brassard and Zuccarello? It seems like a natural fit. We’ll have to wait and see.

J.T. Miller was okay offensively but stunk it up losing all eight faceoffs. He can’t do that nightly or Vigneault will change it up. Tanner Glass’ debut was decent. He led the team with six hits and saw a shade under two minutes shorthanded. As long as he provides energy and doesn’t take any silly penalties, we’re good. I would like to see Ryan Malone Saturday at Columbus. With Jesper Fast banged up, he might debut.

NY PUCK 3 STARS:

3rd Star-Jaden Schwartz, Blues (1st of season, assist-future star)

2nd Star-Chris Kreider, NYR (1st of season, assist-Beast Mode)

1st Star-Rick Nash, NYR (2-1-3-Nashty start)