Entering the season, there was a lot riding on the line for Alexis Lafreniere. After signing a bridge deal worth $2.325 million per year, the pressure was on the former Rangers’ 2020 top pick to perform up to expectations.

After a quiet preseason, the 22-year-old forward has come in and started the season well. He scored the Rangers’ first goal of the season in a win over the Sabres on Oct. 12. It proved to be a harbinger of things to come.

Lafreniere scored in three straight games during a perfect five-game road trip out West. Since going without a point in three games, he’s playing the best hockey of his career. After putting in the grunt work to set up linemate Artemi Panarin in a win over the Red Wings on Nov. 7, Lafreniere had a big night that highlighted a 4-1 win over the Wild on Thursday night.

Lafreniere Records First Career Three-Point Game

For the first time in his career, he recorded a three-point game. Lafreniere was front and center during last night’s rematch with the Wild at Madison Square Garden. Before four minutes had elapsed, he took an Erik Gustafsson feed and found Vincent Trocheck alone in the slot for the game’s first goal.

Since Filip Chytil went down with an upper-body injury, Lafreniere has found good chemistry with Panarin and Trocheck, who’s been a key factor to the Rangers’ early success. They play well off each other during offensive shifts. With Trocheck picking up three more points following a two-goal game against the Wings, there’s a strong case to be made for keeping the second line intact when Chytil returns. With only one game coming up on Sunday against the Blue Jackets before a five-day break, that decision can wait.

Following a dismal second period that saw the Rangers get out-shot 15-3 by the relentless Wild, the game was tied headed to the third period. Brandon Duhaime tipped in a Brock Faber shot with less than eight minutes left in the second to tie the game. If not for some superb goaltending from emergency starter Louis Domingue, it could’ve been worse. More on him later.

Panarin and Lafreniere Team Up

With a chance to play a better third period to win the game, the Rangers got exactly what they needed from Panarin, Trocheck, and Lafreniere. They were largely responsible for a three-goal period that led to the victory on home ice.

Early in the third, Trocheck started a play in transition by passing up for Panarin. Flying into the Wild zone, he created a two-on-one that allowed him to pass across for a Lafreniere finish that gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead. On the play, Lafreniere cut to the net and was the recipient of a perfect feed from Panarin. They teamed up for the go-ahead goal.

It was Lafreniere’s fifth goal of the season. His first in six games since Oct. 26 versus Edmonton. The assist allowed Panarin to extend his point streak to start the season to 13. He would later add an empty netter to put the exclamation mark on the win. He’s one shy of Rangers’ legend Rod Gilbert’s franchise record 14-game point streak to start a season.

Wheeler Scores His First

It’s been a tough start to the season for Blake Wheeler. He entered the game with only one assist in the Rangers’ first 12 games. However, he was playing better hockey. More noticeable on the forecheck and responsible defensively, the former Jet finally scored his first goal as a Ranger.

With the Wild pressing for the equalizer, a diving Wheeler made a key block of a Faber shot. That led to Joel Eriksson Ek taking down Jacob Trouba to put the Rangers on a power play with 7:20 left in regulation.

After the top unit struggled with an aggressive Wild penalty kill that forced Domingue to make a shorthanded save, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette sent out the second unit. They made him look smart by getting a crucial insurance marker.

Lafreniere started the play with a shot off a K’Andre Miller pass that was blocked in front. Will Cuylle got to the rebound and fired a shot off Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury that came right to Wheeler for an easy put away in front for his first goal as a Ranger. That put them ahead by two with 5:21 left in the third period.

It was a nice reward for Wheeler. He blocked two Wild shots by being in the right position. He deserved the goal. Hopefully, that’ll provide a confidence boost for the veteran.

The assist for Lafreniere gave him his first career three-point game. He was named the game’s first star.

Domingue Hears It From The Crowd

Making his first regular season appearance since Apr. 24, 2022, Domingue fared well in a big start versus the Wild. Called up by the Rangers due to injuries to Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick, the 31-year-old veteran goalie made 25 saves to get his 60th career NHL win.

After hardly having to do anything in a first period controlled by the Rangers, Domingue was called upon in a busy second period. He bailed out his teammates with 14 saves on 15 shots. The only one that beat him was a Duhaime redirection for the Wild’s only goal.

Domingue heard it from the crowd. After every crucial stop, the fans serenaded him with “Lou, Lou!”, chants. He made nine more saves in the third to earn his first win of the season.

“It’s amazing. It was fun to have them on my side for once. It was hard enough when I played in the playoffs here. They were booing me, not Louing me,” an appreciative Domingue told reporters after the game

For his efforts, Domingue was selected as the game’s second star. A well-deserved reward for a likable player who was excited to play on the Rangers’ side at The Garden. Hopefully, he was given a spicy pork dinner by the team.

Gustafsson Continues to Contribute

In the Rangers’ victory, Gustafsson continued to contribute. Brought in as a late addition for the defense. He’s done a good job since Adam Fox went down with a lower-body injury.

A player who knows Laviolette well from having success in Washington last season, Gustafsson has fit in nicely on the Rangers’ blue line. He’s proven that he’s more than just an offensive defenseman. Able to move up and play with Ryan Lindgren, he’s been a defensively responsible player for the Rangers.

In Thursday night’s game, Gustafsson picked up a secondary assist on Trocheck’s goal that opened the scoring. He made a nice pass for Lafreniere that led to the tally. For the game, Gustafsson finished with a plus/minus rating of +1 in 20:25. He has three goals and six assists for nine points on the season.

Bonino Steps Up

Without Chytil, Nick Bonino has filled in nicely on the Rangers’ third line. A gritty player who wins faceoffs and blocks shots, he’s been a good addition to the team.

Bonino won 8-of-14 faceoffs and had two shots-on-goal in 16:33 of ice time. That included a point-blank chance in front of a Kaapo Kakko pass. He came close to scoring his first goal as a Ranger. Only a quick reacting Fleury prevented it, leaving Bonino to shake his head in disbelief.

For the season, Bonino has an impressive 57.9 percent success rate on faceoffs (81 and 59). His 37 blocks rank second on the Rangers behind Jacob Trouba (48).

What’s Ahead

With the Rangers sitting in first place with a 10-2-1 record in the Metropolitan Division, they have only one game coming up. On Sunday night, they’ll host the Blue Jackets at 7 EST.

Although they won’t indicate anything, they’ll be looking to avenge an ugly 5-3 loss at Columbus on Oct. 14. That was the second game of the season. Since then, they’ve only lost once in regulation. The Rangers are 8-0-1 over their last nine games. They’ll look to continue that trend in two days.