Miller Time: J.T. Miller finishes off a goal in the Rangers 5-1 win over the Canucks.
AP Photo by Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press

After four long days off, the Rangers finally played a game. The rest did them well as they rolled past the Canucks 5-1. It was exactly the kind of start they needed to a four-game road trip with the first three in four nights in Northwestern Canada. With everyone around them winning including the third place Caps, they took care of business.

For all intent and purposes, the game was over early. Among the highlights were the first goals for defensemen Ryan McDonagh and Marc Staal. Both got off the snide in a light contact affair devoid of hitting. Alain Vigneault’s former team obliged by humiliating itself. They hung Ryan Miller out to dry. It was like they never played organized hockey. A three-goal barrage in the first saw the Rangers capitalize on odd-man rushes. Four of their five goals came off terrible Canucks misreads.

McDonagh got the party started when he finished off a Jesper Fast feed for a slam dunk. In his return, Chris Kreider played on the fourth line. He made a good defensive play along the boards that led to a three-on-one. Dominic Moore came out with the puck and fed Fast, who dished across for McDonagh’s first. Since taking over as captain, he’s struggled with consistency. Tonight, Mac Truck notched his first goal and went plus-four. That’s what his team needs.

Less than a minute later, another Canucks bad pinch allowed Derek Stepan to break in and feed J.T. Miller, who did the rest by deking Miller and tucking a backhand in for his third. Since being reinserted into the lineup, he’s looked like a different player. One Alain Vigneault trusts enough to keep him on the second line while sliding Kreider back in for Tanner Glass, who finally was a healthy scratch. It came against a former team. At his expense, the Rangers had four lines that can skate and forecheck. Not coincidentally, no player got less than 20 shifts. Every skater played over 12 minutes.

Leading by two, they increased the margin to three on yet another odd-man rush. Like a broken record gone bad, the Canucks pinched again and got burned. Derick Brassard started a three-on-one that ended with Rick Nash perfectly setting up trailer Mats Zuccarello for his fifth. It was the first of two for the pint sized Norwegian. If this game gets him going, that could be huge.

Despite leading by three, the Rangers didn’t have a lot of shots. They scored on half their first period total (6). That’s how egregious the Canucks were. The fans gave it to Miller but were wrong. His defense let him down. He really had no chance on any including Staal’s first through a Carl Hagelin screen. Rookie Kevin Hayes continued his improvement staying with the puck behind the net before coming out and passing across to Staal, who shot through a maze. Lee Stempniak picked up the secondary assist.

The Vancouver follies weren’t over. Not long after, they gave up a clean breakaway to Martin St. Louis. Defenseman Kevin Bieksa hooked him enough from behind leading to a penalty shot even though St. Louis got a shot off which Miller stopped. On the do over, St. Louis went in too deep and couldn’t get the puck up allowing Miller to deny him again. That kept the score 4-0.

Henrik Lundqvist was tested by the Canucks as the game went on. Especially in the third when Vigneault called the dogs off. I am not a fan of his conservative strategy. But also get that they have another game later tonight at Edmonton. It is a crucial second of a back-to-back which the Rangers must prevail in. Having lost to the Oilers once, there are no excuses. Lundqvist had his shutout spoiled by Nick Bonino. The former Duck who was part of a deal that sent Ryan Kesler to Anaheim took a Jannik Hansen feed and picked high glove on Lundqvist. Alex Burrows notched the secondary helper.

The Canucks fired 15 shots on Lundqvist but that was the only one he gave up. Characterizing how soft the play was, there was only one power play. Vancouver had it with 10 minutes left on a McDonagh trip. This was a walk in the park. The Rangers didn’t sweat. They should be fresh for Edmonton. If they aren’t sharp, they know they can lose. It happened once. It better not happen again.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Jesper Fast, NYR (assist, 2 SOG, 2 blocks, +1 in 22 shifts-14:12)

2nd Star-Mats Zuccarello, NYR (2 goals-5, 6, 2 hits, +2 in 24 shifts-16:44)

1st Star-Ryan McDonagh, NYR (1st of season, 4 SOG on 7 attempts, 3 blocks, +4 in 21:10)