Zucc and Mac Truck: Mats Zuccarello congrats Ryan McDonagh on his goal during a Rangers 5-2 win over the Panthers on New Year’s Eve.
AP Photo by Terry Renna/Getty Images

For all intent and purposes, the Rangers were victorious in their New Year’s Eve ‘road game’ defeating the Panthers 5-2 for their ninth win in the last 10. To be perfectly blunt, it felt more like a home win over a franchise that shouldn’t be in the NHL. Sadly, Florida can’t even support their own team when it’s competitive. The Panthers entered the game with 41 points trailing the Rangers by a point for the wildcard. That didn’t matter. Half the crowd cheered for our team. The conclusion on the radio was astonishing.

The Rangers took advantage of a team playing its second game in consecutive nights. The Panthers were 2-1 shootout losers to the Canadiens. I can only imagine how loud the Montreal fans were. Playing former failed first round pick Al Montoya, the Panthers were miserable. They constantly turned over the puck and were a horror show defensively. Astonishingly, the statistician only credited them for six giveaways. Either they were drunk early or asleep. Between the “Let’s Go Rangers” and “Hen-rik” chants, it was sickening. I say that because it was a Florida home game. It’s embarrassing.

I don’t see how that franchise can survive. They basically have to give tickets away. No disrespect to any Panthers fans. I’ve seen some of their games and some are passionate about their team. It’s just sad that whenever a popular opposition visits, it’s basically 50/50. How is that beneficial moving forward? I am never in favor of relocation but it has to be considered. Aside from that, the Panthers have made the playoffs only once since 2000 getting ousted by the Devils in 2012. Eventually, they need to break through.

The Panthers have some good talent. 2014 first overall pick Aaron Ekblad is a Calder candidate. The young defenseman is really good already with five goals and 15 assists for 20 points. He definitely is a player to build around. Jonathan Huberdeau has come on after a bad start. He had an assist on one of the Panthers’ two goals. They also boast leading goalscorer Nick Bjugstad- a former first round pick. Aleksander Barkov, Vincent Trocheck, Erik Gudbranson and Dmitri Kulikov are also integral parts of a roster that hinges on Roberto Luongo. Luongo is very quietly having a Vezina type season with 14 wins, a 2.30 GAA and .923 save percentage. When he doesn’t start, they’ve won just twice with Montoya. The future is bright with Ian McCoshen starring on the USA blueline at the 2015 WJC.

At some point, that pool of talent should make a dent in the Atlantic Division. They already are showing improvement. It wasn’t on display tonight. Though they did manage a comeback cutting a three-goal Ranger lead to one when former Hawk Jimmy Hayes tallied his 11th on the power play from Barkov and Dave Bolland with 12:21 left in period 3. But Martin St. Louis restored order when his goal was upheld on video review from Derek Stepan and Chris Kreider less than two minutes later. I was out picking up stuff with my brother for a little New Year’s Eve get together. I heard the call on the radio with Dave Maloney emphasizing how big the goal was. Especially against a team right behind them.

That put the wind out of their sails. Dominic Moore added his second from St. Louis and Stepan for the final margin of victory. Most importantly, they bounced back from a 3-2 disappointment at Dallas. A game they had plenty of chances in but weren’t sound fundamentally. Frequent target Tanner Glass was a healthy scratch with Jesper Fast reinserted in the lineup. Lee Stempniak remained in.

It was a big night for Kreider, who’s been playing better lately. He came very close against Dallas. He’s been using his speed to generate high quality chances. Finally, that effort was rewarded when he steered home a Stepan rebound top shelf on Montoya for just his second goal over 20. Kreider also helped set up St. Louis key insurance marker giving him two points. Without a point in four, he needed a break. If he continues to play consistently, the goals will come.

Ryan McDonagh also had one of his best games so far. The captain was very active during shifts jumping in on the rush whenever possible. That resulted in him setting up and scoring the next two goals in the second. Taking a Carl Hagelin feed, he flew in and dished across for an easy Derick Brassard tap-in. Brassard’s goal was his first in 10 since a two-goal effort in a win over the Flyers on 11/29. McDonagh would score a beautiful power play goal unassisted increasing to 3-0. On the play, he knocked a clearing attempt out of mid-air and fired a bullet through a J.T. Miller screen past Montoya for his third. He’s really begun to assert himself and is once again playing like one of the best defensemen.

A St. Louis rush nearly made it 4-0 but Montoya made a nice top leading to a quick Panther counterattack with Tomas Fleischmann taking a Huberdeau lead and beating Henrik Lundqvist cutting it to 3-1 with 3:22 left in the period.

The Panthers drew within one on Hayes’ PPG. With Marc Staal off for slashing, it only took them 31 seconds to cut a once comfortable three-goal lead to a precarious one. Thankfully, the Rangers finally put it away to improve to 20-11-4 moving them a point up on idle Washington for third in the Metropolitan Division. They now get the first two days of 2015 off before hosting the Sabres Saturday. The way Buffalo has struggled lately, that should be an automatic two. It will be the first meeting. We’ll see what happens.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Derek Stepan, NYR (3 assists, 6-19-25 in 23 GP)

2nd Star-Ryan McDonagh, NYR (3rd of season, assist, 2 blocks, +1 in 22:52)

1st Star-Chris Kreider, NYR (6th of season, assist, 4 hits, +1 in 14:25