By show of hands, who had the Rangers sweeping two games from the bitter rival Islanders less than a week apart? Better yet, who had Igor Shesterkin allowing only a single goal with the Blueshirts outscoring the Islanders by a combined 9-1 in the pair of wins?
Most probably wouldn’t have predicted it. Usually, getting games at this time of year off the Islanders is like pulling teeth. Fighting tooth and nail in a tight playoff race, the Rangers put together their most complete effort of the season. Playing superb defensively, they made life easier on Shesterkin, who finished with 21 saves for his 19th career shutout (fourth of season).
As a team, they blocked 22 shots with 10 different skaters sacrificing for the cause. That included 14 from the defense led by Zac Jones and Braden Schneider, who each had a team high four blocks. K’Andre Miller blocked three while defensive partner Will Borgen had two. Urho Vaakanainen chipped in with one, with only former Islander Calvin de Haan opting to play strong defense without turning over the puck. In his second game, he finished with two takeaways and a plus-2 rating. So far, so good for the revamped Rangers blue line without Adam Fox.
Since returning to the lineup, Jones has added much needed speed, skating and provided offense. On a fluky play in the first period, after a successful coach’s challenge for offside negated an Anders Lee goal, Jones had the good fortune of his shot taking a funny bounce off the helmet of Will Cuylle and in past Ilya Sorokin to give the Rangers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. It was that kind of night at Madison Square Garden for the home team.
They all were dialed in. As usual, J.T. Miller was the catalyst who led the way. Since being acquired from the Canucks, Miller has been the best Blueshirt by far. In his 11th game since returning to the original team that drafted him in the first round, the 31-year-old center set up and scored a goal to record his sixth two-point game in just over a month. Miller is up to seven goals and seven assists for 14 points since agreeing to waive his no-movement clause to play on Broadway. The impact he’s had has been critical for a team that looked done for most of the season.
Ever since Rangers coach Peter Laviolette decided to play Mika Zibanejad with Miller, the move has helped unlock Zibanejad. Although he didn’t hit the score sheet in Monday night’s victory, Zibanejad’s playing with more freedom and with more confidence. In Sunday’s win over the Predators, he assisted on a pair of goals, giving him 15 points (4-11-15) since Miller joined the team in Boston on Feb. 1. By shifting mostly to the right side, Zibanejad no longer has as much responsibility. He still can take faceoffs, going 3-for-5 tonight. But Miller takes most of the draws on the new number one line that features the emerging Cuylle.
It was Cuylle who scored his 17th goal to place him in a tie with Vincent Trocheck for second on the team. Late in the first period, with the Rangers killing yet another bench minor – their second of the game – there was Cuylle absorbing a big hit from Noah Dobson to force a turnover that led directly to Sam Carrick finding the trailing Will Borgen for the first shorthanded goal of his career, which really sucked the life out of the Islanders. The Rangers rank second in the league with 11 shorthanded goals, with only the Panthers having more (12) this season.
Cuylle has become a valuable asset on the league’s fourth rated penalty kill. They entered play trailing the top ranked Stars, Hurricanes, and Devils. By going a perfect 3-for-3 against the woeful Islanders’ power play, the Rangers continue to climb while shorthanded. For the season, Cuylle has two shorthanded goals and four shorthanded points, with his secondary assist leading to Borgen making it 2-0 with 45 seconds remaining in the first period.
It took him a while to recover from losing former linemates Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil. They formed an effective third line that dominated opponents at five-on-five. When Cuylle played with Zibanejad, who was then at center prior to Miller arriving, it didn’t work. Cuylle fell victim to the same issues that plagued other players. Zibanejad is a skilled forward but lacks the ‘it’ factor. He doesn’t bring the same energy that Miller does. Since his arrival, Miller’s injected a lot of life into Zibanejad, who’s no longer hesitating to shoot the puck. He’s much more involved than at any other point of the season. Cuylle provides a lot of grit and size, which helps open up space for Zibanejad. So does Miller, who isn’t shy about going into the corners and finishing checks. Both Miller and Cuylle play fast, which is why that line is leading the way.
If there’s been a noticeable difference, it’s the increase in speed the Rangers are playing with since Adam Fox went down. By adding the better skating de Haan in place of Ryan Lindgren, and reinserting Jones, the defense is playing at a quicker pace. Without Fox, Miller is now asked to be the team’s number one defenseman while teamed with the grittier Borgen, who plays a similar style to former captain Jacob Trouba. He doesn’t hit as big but plays with the same intensity. He also is a better skater than Trouba, which has allowed Miller to play his game.
With Laviolette more willing to play his bottom six forwards, it’s created more balance. For the second straight game, Reilly Smith sat out for trade-related reasons. It’s a good bet that he’s played his final game for the Blueshirts, with Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard continuing to supply more speed and energy to the third and fourth lines. That isn’t a knock on Smith, who’s put up a respectable 29 points. He became expendable due to what Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury is doing by making the roster younger and better with an eye towards the future. It isn’t about just squeaking into a wild card this spring. But rather about seriously competing moving forward.
The Islanders hardly mounted any shots or scoring chances in a defensive minded second period that saw each side have six shots. The Rangers seemed to always be in the right spot defensively. They kept getting in the path of Islanders’ attempts. They had 34 attempts never reach the net. Similarly, the Rangers had 35 never reach Sorokin. It was a hard-fought game by the crosstown rivals.
With the Rangers still protecting a two-goal lead, Kyle Palmieri came close to making it interesting. After faking out Shesterkin, he had his shot hit the outside of the net. Frankly put, he ran out of real estate. Earlier in the game, Shesterkin let in a bad goal to Islanders captain Anders Lee that would have put the Long Island visitors in front. Instead, Laviolette successfully challenged for offside, with the video replay clearly showing Casey Cizikas ahead of the play. It was a good break that allowed Shesterkin to reset. Nothing got past him the rest of the way.
In the third period, Miller intercepted a Tony DeAngelo pass in the neutral zone and started a two-on-one. He looked pass and then fired a wrist shot top shelf to make it 3-0. The goal mirrored one Rangers legend Mark Messier made famous. The captain did it with a bit more flair off one foot. There’s no question who’s become the team’s unquestioned leader over a short span. This is Miller’s team. If they get in, it’ll be because of him. He’s the driving force.
In a recurring theme, the fourth line continued to pin the Islanders in thanks to the diligent work of Matt Rempe. No longer a sideshow, he created a couple of scoring chances due to improved skating. On a two-on-one, he nearly had Carrick for a goal. The energy they play with is becoming a trend. In a lot of ways, Othmann and Berard bring a lot of what Laviolette’s asked for. Berard is the smaller player who hustles every shift. Othmann is bigger and brings some skill. You can intertwine Carrick and Jonny Brodzinski, who always seems to challenge goalies with his shot.
Artemi Panarin added the dagger into a vacated net with over five minutes left in regulation.
There’s a lot more youthful enthusiasm in the Rangers lineup. That has helped them tie the idle Red Wings in points (66). There are 21 games remaining, with a step up in weight class with the Capitals up next on Wednesday night. Ever since Nov. 14-19 when they won three in a row, they haven’t been able to put together a winning streak. When Alex Ovechkin comes to town along with the first place Caps, now is as good a time as any for that to change.
Figure Miller to play a key role. He’s made a big difference already.
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