It took six games for the Rangers to put together their best effort of this new season. Taking full advantage of a tired opponent, they overwhelmed the Sharks winning by a score of 4-0 at MSG to get back to .500 (3-3-0). A couple of days off didn’t hurt the cause as they won a second consecutive game.

The highlight of this one were back-to-back goals by Marty St. Louis and Rick Nash only four seconds apart tying a franchise record. The difference being that both came at even strength. As Rick Carpinello noted in a tweet, the previous fastest two goals in team history were from Kris King and James Patrick, who scored an empty netter in four seconds. Essentially, that makes the new mark more impressive.

Carl Hagelin got off the snide finally scoring his first goal at 13:01 of the second period to break a scoreless game. Playing on a newly comprised third line with Dominic Moore and Lee Stempniak, it was exactly what the doctor ordered. Hagelin had been pressing. It seems that whoever Stempniak plays with benefits. Prior to the Rangers seizing control midway through, Stempniak was their best forward. He had another strong game. Hagelin’s goal came off hustle and second effort. The combination of John Moore and Dom Moore sent him in. His routine shot was fumbled by San Jose backup Alex Stalock, whose blunder allowed Hagelin to steer home the rebound.

At the time, the Rangers were playing very well. Finally skating with purpose and controlling puck possession in the offensive zone for long stretches, they had come close previously with Stalock stifling Kevin Hayes and St. Louis hitting the crossbar. Nash also had a dominant shift where he basically pinned the Sharks in and had them at his mercy. It didn’t get the end result. Once Hagelin recorded his first point of the season, that changed.

With Henrik Lundqvist able to see every shot, he picked up his first shutout. He was busy in the second making 15 of 33 saves during the middle stanza. Most came during the first half when the Sharks still had enough of their skating legs to generate quality chances. For the most part, an improved defense did a solid job in front. Ryan McDonagh had his best defensive game and partner Dan Girardi was instrumental. The tandem of Marc Staal and Kevin Klein got better throughout after a couple of shaky moments from Klein. Matt Hunwick also shined saving a goal in the first period by just clearing the puck before it crossed the goal line. John Moore also picked up a key assist on Hagelin’s marker.

It was more reminiscent of last year. Better puck management. They even dominated faceoffs winning 41 of 62. Derick Brassard and Dominic Moore combined to go 29-and-6. Hartford call-up Chris Mueller went 8-for-9. Hayes was 5-for-14. No coincidence that their dominance in the faceoff circle contributed to strong puck possession. Exactly what coach Alain Vigneault had in mind when he sat out Anthony Duclair.

Aside from that, Hagelin and Hayes scored their first goals. Hayes was a great reward as he’d been getting chances. True enough, I tweeted to another fan at the game that I thought maybe he’d get it in the third. Not to toot my own horn but when Hayes got to his own rebound and roofed one past Stalock, that was pretty cool. It was created off some strong defensive work. He stole the puck and had a wraparound stopped before rebounding home his first to put the exclamation point on the victory.

As for the record St. Louis and Nash matched, it came out of nowhere. Still nursing a one-goal lead in the final minute, an aggressive Girardi pinch kept a cycle alive. A loose puck eventually came to an isolated St. Louis in front, who jammed away before stuffing it in on his third attempt. San Jose coach Todd McClellan questioned the referees because he felt they should’ve blown the whistle similar to an earlier goal the Rangers had correctly waved off. A new rule is that they can use replay to help avoid controversy. On St. Louis’, they clearly got it right.

What followed was stunning. Off a Moore faceoff win, Nash carried the puck in and took a routine shot which Stalock butchered allowing him to pounce for his NHL-leading seventh at 19:20. The odd sequence was identical to Hagelin’s tally. Stalock struggled handling the puck and the Blueshirts capitalized on two crucial miscues. It was a rough night for the San Jose backup, who allowed four goals on 29 shots. He started in place of number one Antti Niemi, who was in Saturday at New Jersey.

Encouraging is that it was by far the Rangers’ best performance. Even if it came at the expense of a road weary opponent who had already faced the Islanders and Devils on a New York/New Jersey invasion, it was imperative for them to cash in. As St. Louis said afterwards to Al Trautwig, those are the ones they have to get. It now sets up the first Battle Of Hudson Tuesday in Newark. To borrow a quote from Major League, “Win that and that’s three in a row. It’s called a winning streak. It has happened before.”

NY Puck 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Henrik Lundqvist, NYR (33 saves-1st shutout of season)

2nd Star-Dominic Moore, NYR (2 assists, +2 in 16:20-a beast on draws)

1st Star-Kevin Hayes, NYR (1st NHL goal/point, 4 SOG, 3 takeaways, 5 hits in a lucky 13:13 for #13)