Anthony Duclair records 1st career hat trick (Video)

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Derek

It was last March 1 that former Rangers Team President and GM Glen Sather pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade that sent top prospect Anthony Duclair to the Coyotes in exchange for Keith Yandle. For the Blueshirts, they added a quality skating defenseman who could anchor the power play and balance out their back end. So, Slats parted with Duclair, John Moore (signed with Devils), a 2016 first round pick and 2015 second round pick (Oliver Kylington) for Yandle, Chris Summers and a 2016 fourth round pick.

When they parted with Duclair, many fans were sad but understood the rationale. Fast forward to October 14 and the 20-year old Duclair has his first career NHL hat trick for the Coyotes, who continue to surprise. They lead preseason Cup favorite Anaheim 4-0 on the road. The video for Duke’s three goals is above. It’s nice to see some early success for him with Canadian World Junior line mate Max Domi.

The deal was an easy one for Sather due to the window for the Rangers to win with Henrik Lundqvist. At the time, it was viewed by many as the move that could put them over the top. Yandle performed well last postseason. He’s signed one more year and then turns unrestricted in July 2016. For the Blueshirts to win the trade, they must win a Stanley Cup. There’s no guarantee Yandle will re-sign.

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Changes expected for Rangers in Canadiens home opener

Posted on October 15, 2015 by Derek

When the Rangers visit Bell Centre Thursday night for the Canadiens home opener, there will be more changes on the horizon. After dropping a 4-1 decision to Winnipeg for their first loss, New York coach Alain Vigneault plans to reinsert Dan Boyle into the lineup. He’ll be paired with Marc Staal on the second defense tandem.

Vigneault also hinted that Jesper Fast could return to the lineup. He sat the last two games in favor of Tanner Glass. He hasn’t made up his mind as to whether Emerson Etem will make his season debut. If he does, then either Dominic Moore or Jarret Stoll will sit. Since they’re basically the same type of player, they don’t have to play every night.

With two extra forwards, Vigneault has the luxury of rotating guys in and out as he sees fit. The Habs are more of a skating and fore checking team. Without Boyle, Kevin Klein saw over three minutes on the power play. Special teams were abysmal against Winnipeg going 0-for-5 allowing a shorthanded goal to Bryan Little and also giving up a power play goal in five chances to Winnipeg with Little getting his second. That’s an area the Blueshirts must clean up.

Regarding the top line, Vigneault was optimistic about their game at 5-on-5 with Rick Nash and Derick Brassard combining to set up Mats Zuccarello’s third. They had some looks at even strength. However, the third-year coach also noted a couple of mistakes from Brassard and Nash that led to Jets goals.

The second line was held in check. Kevin Hayes continues to skate around with the puck in circles. He’s been reluctant to shoot. In some aspects, he’s played similar to Alexei Kovalev. Chris Kreider has yet to score a goal. He has two assists but has not followed up a strong preseason with the kind of start expected. Derek Stepan has been the most consistent with two goals and a helper. The alternate captain always gives an honest effort and is strong defensively when he isn’t scoring.

The third line of rookie Oscar Lindberg, Viktor Stalberg and J.T. Miller were held off the score sheet. They’ve been by far the most consistent line. But shouldn’t be expected to score daily. It’s up to the top two lines to pick it up.

As expected, Henrik Lundqvist will make his fifth consecutive start. He’ll oppose Carey Price in a match-up of arguably the best two goalies. Coming off a dual Hart and Vezina season, Price is off to a fast start winning all three starts while allowing five goals on 91 shots. Lundqvist finally cooled off after permitting three goals on 28 shots Tuesday. He’s 3-1-0 with a 2.26 goals-against-average and .933 save percentage.

Whenever these two Original Six rivals get together, the games are fun and competitive. Montreal’s home opener should be electric. The Rangers will attempt to ruin a third home opener. They spoiled the Blackhawks and Blue Jackets who are reeling after giving up seven goals to Ottawa in a fourth consecutive loss to start the season.

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Video Of Day: Jack Eichel scores highlight reel goal

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Derek

On Columbus Day, Sabres rookie Jack Eichel scored a highlight reel goal in a 4-2 home win over the Blue Jackets. The 2015 second overall pick put on a great hockey display stealing the puck from Jackets forward Boone Jenner to keep it in. Then he spun around and beat Sergei Bobrovsky from an impossible angle with a sick snipe.

Here’s how it was called by legendary Buffalo Sabres announcer Rick Jeanneret:

Ryan O’Reilly also got his first as a Sabre and set up Matt Moulson’s power play goal for the final margin of victory.

After dropping their first two games, Buffalo is 1-2-0 and aims to get back to .500 Thursday night at Florida. They’ll also make a stop at Tampa Saturday before returning home for a three-game home stand against the Leafs, Canadiens and Devils.

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Devils’ offense and net empty too often in 0-3 start

Posted on October 14, 2015 by hasan4978

Predictably, things haven’t gotten much better for the Devils since they opened the season with a deslutory loss against Winnipeg last Friday in the two games since then.  Due to impending heartbreak baseball fever I’ve only watched two periods of the Devils’ last two games, the first two at Washington on Saturday night before the Met game came on.  Somewhat fortunately, I had already turned the game off by the time Alex Ovechkin did Alex Ovechkin things (see above), posterizing John Moore and giving the Capitals a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.  Clearly I didn’t miss much last night in a 3-1 loss to the Predators where the difference in the game turned out to be two empty-net goals…yes, you read that right, but more on that below.

Given baseball and other things this month I’ve pretty much unloaded all the Tuesday home games in October at what I could get for them – i.e. for not much, but I will be at the arena Friday night to watch the pathetic 0-3 Devils take on Pete DeBoer’s Sharks, who only look like the best team in the league through the first week of the season.  Funny how most fired coaches don’t get another chance or have to take over a bad team, but DeBoer keeps getting better teams with each job.  Wouldn’t it just be fitting if yet another coach Lou Lamoriello fired went on to win a Stanley Cup elsewhere?  At least Lou’s Leafs are right with us in winless-ville, but I don’t expect that to continue for long either with the way things are going.

It’s no doubt too early to get on the coach for lineup decisions, even if some of the Internet wackadoodles who assumed every young guy would get 20+ minutes a night are shocked by the scratchings of Eric Gelinas and Damon Severson in the first two games on defense in favor of nameless vet David Schlemko, while younger forwards Stefan Matteau and Reid Boucher have been healthy scratches as well.  I get it, we’re still early in the season and new coach John Hynes wants to win some games.  No matter how bad some fans (who most likely aren’t season ticket holders) want the team to tank, lose all 82 games and play the youth it’s just not going to happen in October.  Did Severson’s scratch come as a bit of a surprise?  Sure, but it seems like Severson and Hynes have been at loggerheads since camp when Hynes felt Severson’s compete level was lacking even then.  In this I agree 100% with the coach, there’s no excuse for a kid to act entitled and think he should be ceded a roster spot based on talent or the fact he played every game when healthy last year.  On some level it compares to Noah Syndergaard with the Mets, and how he needed a bit of an atitude adjustment last year and in spring this year before maturing and fully blossoming.  Either way, Severson and the other kids will have to earn their spots and that’s fine with me.

What I do have an issue with so far is the coach’s odd timing at when to pull the goalie in empty-net situations – even though I didn’t see either live I cringed when I heard about both.  On Saturday in Washington, the Devils were down two goals and shorthanded when Hynes pulled the goalie with three minutes left to get a 5-on-5 with the net empty.   Predictably that backfired.  It’s not so much that Hynes pulled the goalie shorthanded, it’s that he did it with less than thirty seconds remaining on a Caps PP and Washington got a layup goal with fifteen seconds remaining on a penalty to Lee Stempniak.  To add insult to bad decision, the Devils did wind up scoring later anyway, but instead of being down 4-3 with a minute and a half to go it was just a meaningless tally by Mike Cammalleri in a 5-3 final.  Citing analytics and studies that show it’s better to pull the goalie sooner as a reason he made that decision, Hynes acted like NFL coaches who just blindly use the ‘chart’ to determine whether to go for two points or not.   You could have pulled the goalie with two and a half minutes to go and go to 6-on-5, that’s plenty of time!  To be fair Hynes also said he felt he could catch the Caps with weaker defensive personnel on the ice since they were on the PP but again this is a lack of game management.  It’s Barry Trotz on the other bench, he’s not going to be reckless on a power play up two goals with that little time remaining.

Perhaps the situation last night was even worse though, with the Devils trailing 1-0 and starting a full two-minute power play with three minutes left Hynes immediately pulled the goalie to get the 6-on-4, never mind Nashville had two free minutes to aim at an empty net without the fear of icing.  Also predictably, this one backfired as Nashville’s Roman Josi scored an empty-net shorthander less than twenty seconds into the power play and still with 2:40 left.  Also showing the folly of that decision, the Devils still scored on their power play with Keith Kinkaid back in net anyway.  So now instead of being tied on a late power play goal, the Devils were down 2-1 in a situation where they now really had to pull the goalie again to get a 6-on-5 and again Nashville scored to ice the game.  This time Hynes cited the fact he felt the Devils hadn’t gotten a lot going throughout the game and needed a jolt.  Great, so Hynes is wrong when he used analytics AND when he used his gut.  Sure, pulling the goalie with two and a half to three minutes left has become the du jour among NHL coaches thanks to Patrick Roy but that doesn’t take into account special teams situations, which burned us both ways over the last week.  Hopefully this is just a young coach finding his sea legs though, and not just another likeable bald guy overmatched by the spotlight a la John MacLean.

What’s less certain is how the team will respond even with good coaching, playing the Sharks and Rangers next could lead to an 0-5 start headed into next Tuesday’s game against surprisingly unbeaten Arizona, who was expected to be one of the bottom five teams along with the Devils this season.  Of course before we worry about 0-5 it would be nice to get one to prevent it from getting to that point.

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Game Recap: Little’s 2 goals deal Rangers first loss

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Derek
Little Scores: Jets forward Bryan Little scores one of his two goals in Winnipeg's 4-1 win over the Rangers. AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek/Getty Images

Little Scores: Jets forward Bryan Little scores one of his two goals in Winnipeg’s 4-1 win over the Rangers.
AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek/Getty Images

For those who were clinging to hopes of a perfect season, the Rangers won’t be going 82-0-0. Bryan Little and the Winnipeg Jets made certain of that dealing the Rangers a 4-1 loss at MSG. The Jets completed a tour of the metro area going 2-1-0 and finished 3-1-0 on a four-game road trip to start the year.

Little scored twice and Michael Hutchinson made 40 saves to end the Rangers’ three-game win streak. They lost their first game despite out-shooting the Jets 41-29. The difference was special teams with the Jets scoring three times including 2-for-5 on the power play and a back breaking Little shorthanded goal at 18:49 of the second period that proved to be the winner.

”Our guys know we weren’t where we wanted to be, where we needed to be,” a disappointed Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh said of an empty night with his team going 0-for-5 on the power play while allowing a shorthanded goal and two PPG’s. ”Mentally we weren’t sharp with the puck with our decision making. A lot of turnovers in the neutral zone, not making the right reads on when to go to the net, when to put the puck towards the net and you know we proved how important it is to be mentally sharp all the way through the game.”

It didn’t start out that way. Rick Nash forced a turnover leading directly to Derick Brassard setting up Mats Zuccarello for his third 6:45 into the contest. But the lead was short lived following a Kevin Hayes hooking minor. Nikolaj Ehlers replied back on the power play 46 seconds later.

The Jets took some ill advised penalties handing the Rangers opportunities. But they failed to take advantage. At one point in the second, Winnipeg gave the Blueshirts three consecutive man-advantages. But they were all too predictable over skating and over passing resulting in sloppy turnovers for easy Jets clears. Alain Vigneault even went with a different look on the fifth power play trying J.T. Miller on the top unit. But it didn’t accomplish anything.

Entering play, Little had yet to record a point in Winnipeg’s first three games. You had to figure he’d break out. Off a clean face-off win, his wrist shot from the circle went past a screened Henrik Lundqvist to put the Jets ahead with 1:11 left in the second. Jacob Trouba got the lone assist. Still with time left on the power play, the Rangers were too stationary leading to the first boos at the end of the period.

”We had 41 shots so it’s not that we didn’t have some looks,” Rangers alternate captain Derek Stepan said after his team fired blanks in the second despite a 20-8 shots edge. ”We’ll have to make adjustments, we’ll have to get some guys in front of the goaltender and find ways to score goals. I think our main focus now is obviously to get better as a team and that’s something you always strive for.”

The issue was they didn’t get to any rebounds. They got looks including a close call with Nash but were unable to get the puck past Hutchinson who improved to 2-0-0 on the season. Along with bad special teams, it was a predictable end result.

They lost their composure in the third taking some uncharacteristic penalties. The Rangers took three straight minors including a Brassard slash that allowed Little to get his second of the game from Dustin Byfuglien and Blake Wheeler.

”It’s always big when you have a good special teams night,” Little said. “Special teams is a big part of the game now. We really focus on that in practice and it’s nice when it comes together.”

With less than three minutes left, Vigneault sent Lundqvist off for an extra attacker. But as had been the case throughout, the Jets out-worked and out-hustled the Rangers by negating an icing. Eventually, Adam Lowry handed for Mark Stuart who scored into an open net with 2:04 left.

Battle Of NY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Jacob Trouba, Winnipeg (assist, +2 in 22:16 with 2 hits and 2 blocks)

2nd Star-Bryan Little, Winnipeg (scored 1st 2 goals of year incl. GW SHG and PPG)

1st Star-Michael Hutchinson, Winnipeg (40 saves incl. 20/20 in busy 2nd)

Game Notes: In his season debut, Rangers D Dylan McIlrath didn’t see a ton of ice-time due to all the penalties. However, he got 21 shifts logging 12:20 of ice-time with 2 shots, a hit and blocked shot while hitting the post. Does he stay in for Montreal or will Vigneault go back to the more experienced Dan Boyle for the Canadiens home opener? … One positive was face-offs with the Rangers winning decidedly 34-22 led by Dominic Moore (7-and-2), Jarret Stoll (3-for-3), Miller (2-for-2) and Brassard (9-7). The Jets best was Little (9-and-9). …

With Boyle sitting, Kevin Klein saw power play time getting 3:19 due to his good shot. … Key Stat: Giveaways Winnipeg-7 Rangers-15 (Kreider 3) … In his fourth start, Lundqvist turned aside 25 of 28. With a day off before visiting Montreal, does he get a fifth straight start against Carey Price? I would assume so with the Blueshirts having two days in a row off before a back-to-back against the Devils and Sharks Oct. 18-19.

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McIlrath to make season debut against hometown team

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Derek

When the Rangers host the Jets tonight at MSG, rookie defenseman Dylan McIlrath will make his season debut. Selected 10th overall in the first round of the 2010 Draft, it’s taken a while for the 23-year old to get here. He’s played only three NHL games making two appearances in ’13-14 and one in ’14-15.

For McIlrath, it’s a chance to face his hometown team. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native replaces 39-year old veteran Dan Boyle in the lineup. A strong training camp and preseason vaulted McIlrath over vet Raphael Diaz as the team’s seventh defenseman. In the Rangers’ fourth game, he’ll get the opportunity to play on the third pair with Keith Yandle.

It should be a good test. Winnipeg is a skilled and tough team that takes the body. It’ll be interesting to see how many shifts McIlrath gets from third-year coach Alain Vigneault. A demanding coach who wants to see his young players excel, McIlrath will have to earn Vigneault’s trust. As we’ve seen with his handling of J.T. Miller and now Emerson Etem who finds himself the odd man out, he can be every bit as tough as former coach John Tortorella.

Facing the Jets who wrap up their visit to the metropolitan area fresh off a loss to the Islanders, the Rangers should be rested. They handled the Blue Jackets over the weekend and had two days to recover. Winnipeg will start Michael Hutchinson. Ondrej Pavelec faced a heavy workload in their 4-2 loss at Brooklyn with the Islanders getting 43 shots on the Jets starter. Hutchinson won his only start making 20 saves in Friday’s 3-1 win at the Devils.

Blake Wheeler is tied with Mathieu Perreault for the team lead with four points. Third-year forward Mark Scheifele is off to a good start leading the Jets with three goals. Winnipeg captain Andrew Ladd has a goal and two helpers.

Dustin Byfuglien is their big bomber from the point with a goal and helper while throwing his weight around. He record 10 hits against the Islanders on Columbus Day. His physicality could be a reason McIlrath is in. Ditto for Tanner Glass who looks like he’ll stay in on the fourth line over Jesper Fast. Glass played an effective game in his season debut Saturday recording seven hits in 12 minutes.

Winnipeg has also gotten good contributions from returning Russian Alex Burmistrov. He has a goal and assist so far and took a elbowing minor against Boston’s Patrice Bergeron that infuriated him. Burmistrov apologized. Drew Stafford, Adam Lowry and Chris Thorburn play supporting roles. Bryan Little is without a point in three games.

The Jets boast some young forwards including Nicolas Petan, Nikolaj Ehlers and Andrew Copp. The defense is big with Byfuglien, Tyler Myers and Jacob Trouba all imposing right-handed shots who mix it up. Toby Enstrom and Mark Stuart round it out with Ben Chiarot.

For the Blueshirts, Henrik Lundqvist makes his fourth straight start. He’s come out hot winning his first three decisions allowing only six goals on 106 shots (2.01 GAA .943 Save Pct). With a visit to the Canadiens Thursday, it’s a good bet Hank will be in again for Montreal’s home opener.

Oscar Lindberg looks to continue his red hot start. He’s scored in all three games potting two in the MSG home opener. The play of Lindberg, Viktor Stalberg and J.T. Miller has offset a bad start for the top line. Rick Nash is without a point so far and Derick Brassard scored a power play goal. Mats Zuccarello has two goals with both coming at Columbus Friday.

Despite coming out flying, Chris Kreider hasn’t finished. He has two helpers. It would be a welcome sight to see him get his first goal tonight. Ditto Nash. Derek Stepan has looked sharp scoring twice and setting up another. Kevin Hayes has been a good fit so far as a right wing on the second line with a goal and two assists. He survived a scare Saturday when Columbus defenseman Jack Johnson caught him with a late hit to the back of his helmet. He was able to return.

The play of the checking line has been fine. Jarret Stoll has fit in so far in a penalty killing and defensive role. Dominic Moore scored on Saturday.

If there’s an area that can be shored up, it’s the defense. They’ve shown some leaks so far in the three wins giving up dangerous chances. Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi aren’t off to a good start. Both should pick it up. Marc Staal has looked a step slow. Vigneault wisely switched Kevin Klein to pair up with Staal. Klein has been better after a sluggish preseason. He’s made good defensive plays and scored once on a delayed penalty. Yandle has looked good so far. He paces Rangers defensemen with three points which are all assists. With Boyle struggling, McIlrath gets the start.

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Video Of Day: Lundqvist with incredible save on Johansen

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Derek

During the Rangers 5-2 win over the Blue Jackets in their home opener, star goalie Henrik Lundqvist was at his best. Twice, he robbed Ryan Johansen. The first one was a sprawling save where he couldn’t find the puck which eventually was discovered in his equipment.

The second was jaw dropping. On a Columbus forecheck behind the Rangers net, Lundqvist was caught in no man’s land. All Johansen had to do was tap the puck into an open net or so he thought.

Not much else needs to be said. As we have echoed in this blog and on Twitter, Hank is in a zone. To start the season, he’s 3-0 having stopped 100 of 106 shots. You can’t start much better.

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Rangers Improve to 3-0: Lindberg and Lundqvist put on show

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Derek

Award Winning Oscar: Rangers rookie Oscar Lindberg scored twice more in a successful home opening 5-2 win over the Blue Jackets. AP Photo by Kathy Kmonicek/Getty Images

Following a rousing introduction complete with laser lights and robot graphics (or so it seemed), the Rangers went out and took it to the Blue Jackets. In the rematch, it was a Garden party for Oscar Lindberg and Henrik Lundqvist. The Swedes were front and center in a Blueshirts 5-2 win at MSG for a successful home opener. They’re now 3-0 in ’15-16.

It was the brilliant play of 23-year old freshman Lindberg that wowed the crowd. After receiving a nice ovation during player intros that included healthy scratches Emerson Etem, Jesper Fast and Dylan McIlrath along with backup Antti Raanta, Lindberg continued his amazing start scoring the game’s first goal 80 seconds in when he rebounded home a Kevin Hayes shot. Hayes forced Jackets starter Sergei Bobrovsky into a tough save on a backhand deke which allowed Lindberg to bury the loose change.

He wasn’t done. Less than four minutes later, Lindberg buried his second of the game from J.T. Miller and Viktor Stalberg. The early chemistry the new third line trio have is undeniable. So in sync are they that it’s made Rangers coach Alain Vigneault look like a genius. He decided to move Miller down to play with Lindberg and Stalberg while promoting Kevin Hayes to the second line. So far, so good.

Already up 2-0 with the crowd still buzzing following Lindberg’s team-leading fourth in three games, Dominic Moore used some good hand eye coordination batting a Jarret Stoll rebound out of mid-air past Bobrovsky for another goal only 36 seconds later. Dating back to their three goals in 1:17 explosion Friday night, it gave them six goals on Bobrovsky in the last 8:18 spanning the 17:24 mark of the third to the 5:49 mark of the first.

It was Lundqvist’s turn to put on a show. It started with a sprawling save to deny Ryan Johansen of a open net on a Jackets power play. The Blue Jackets top sniper had what looked like a gimme with Lundqvist out of position. But he dove across somehow managing to get Johansen’s shot which went back into him. However, nobody knew where the puck was. Not even the brilliant goalie who was spectacular making 37 saves to earn the game’s number one star. Following video review, eventually he pulled the puck out of his equipment to loud cheers.

With their best player handling the Jackets shooters at one end, the Rangers continued to press the attack against a shaky defense. On a breakaway, Rick Nash was hooked from behind leading to a penalty shot. However, Bobrovsky stoned him in close keeping his team down three.

There was a scare in the first too with Jackets defenseman Jack Johnson catching Hayes with a late hit from behind. Similar to the hit that Chris Kreider delivered on Alex Wennberg, Johnson came late but from the side on Hayes who went to the locker room with Rangers trainer Jim Ramsay. Fortunately, he returned a couple of shifts later and finished the game without a problem. Hayes finished with a assist in 17 shifts (11:54 TOI),

The second period was a better one from the Jackets. Similar to Friday, they used the momentum of a power play on a dubious tripping call on Tanner Glass to control the tempo. They out-shot the Rangers 12-7 and had numerous chances to get back in it.

Lundqvist wouldn’t cooperate. Despite his defense showing a few leaks, he was on top of his game denying the Jackets at every turn. The goaltending from the 33-year old was fitting for a King. He made at least half a dozen highlight reel stops. Thus far, Lundqvist looks very focused and has turned aside 100 of 106 shots in three wins. Statement much? He referenced a Vigneault quote to The Record’s Andrew Gross afterwards.

So, what did the coach who got a nice pop from the crowd during intros think of his star pupil’s performance? Here’s what he told Seth Rothman.

With their goalie stopping the Jackets in their tracks, the Blueshirts put it away with two goals in a 2:14 span between the end of the second and start of the third. On a power play, Derick Brassard finally made an appearance scoring with 48 seconds left in period two off a nice set up from Dan Boyle and Keith Yandle. With Brandon Saad off for holding, the two defensemen worked the puck around before Boyle found a wide open Brassard in the slot. He flubbed the shot but it still went in making it 4-0. After the period, that was all for Bobrovsky who allowed four goals on 22 shots despite making some good saves. It could’ve been much worse.

At the start of the third, Stalberg and Kreider combined to set up Derek Stepan at 1:26 making it 5-0. Off a odd-man rush, Kreider fed a cutting Stepan who fired a wrist shot by Columbus backup Curtis McElhinney.

Afterwards, the Rangers took their foot off the gas petal. The Jackets were thwarted three times by Lundqvist all point blank causing familiar chants of “Hen-rik, Hen-rik!!” from the crowd. His performance was that special.

There would be no shutout due to poor coverage from Hayes and top D pair Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi failing to take Johansen in front at 4:35 cutting it to 5-1. Fedor Tyutin and Nick Foligno drew assists. If there has been a sore spot, it’s been the play of McDonagh and Girardi. Neither of which are playing well. They’re leaving too many gaps and have been turnover prone. They can be better.

Boone Jenner concluded the scoring with a power play goal with 5:52 left. He got his stick on a David Savard pass and just pushed it past Lundqvist. Despite holding a 13-7 shots edge in the third, Columbus could get no closer.

Welcome Home: The 2015-16 Rangers salute MSG during a rousing introduction. AP Photo by Kathy Kmonicek/Getty Images

Battle Of NY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-J.T. Miller, Rangers (assisted on Lindberg’s 2nd tally-4 assists in 3 games)

2nd Star-Oscar Lindberg, Rangers (2 more goals giving the rookie a team best 4)

1st Star-Henrik Lundqvist, Rangers (37 saves-has stopped 100 of 106 in 3 wins)

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Battle Of NY New Post: Lundqvist robs Johansen (Video)

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Derek

The first period at The Garden just concluded. The Rangers lead the Blue Jackets 3-0 on goals from Oscar Lindberg (2) and Dominic Moore. Lindberg now has 4 goals in 3 games.

After the three-goal lead, Henrik Lundqvist robbed Ryan Johansen on a Columbus power play. Here is the video courtesy Stephanie Vail on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/myregularface/status/652996540349444096

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Rangers make one change: Glass in for Fast

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Derek

When they introduce the players at what should be a loud MSG for the home opener, the Rangers will do so with one change to the lineup. Third-year coach Alain Vigneault has decided to insert forward Tanner Glass for second-year forward Jesper Fast.

The prevailing thought is this is a reaction to the Blue Jackets taking runs at some Blueshirts last night. Particularly Ryan McDonagh, who Rene Bourque came up high on and later caught the Rangers captain with a undetected hi-stick. There’s no question Columbus likes to ramp it up and will take the body with reckless abandon.

So, I can see why Glass is in. He’ll play on the fourth line with Jarrett Stoll and Dominic Moore. The Blueshirts lose some speed by subbing the plodding Glass in for Fast or as AV prefers to call him “Quickie.” Fast was fine in the first two games and made his usual defensive plays off hustle. He is a penalty killer. Something Vigneault is not shy about with Glass, who will see time there. Perhaps with Stoll as an extra, it’ll aid the Rangers on the kill.

The second reason Glass is in is to be a deterrent if anything happens with Chris Kreider. As we know, Kreider’s late hit injured Jackets forward Alex Wennberg concussing him. Columbus wasn’t pleased. They’ll be even less with Kreider not getting any NHL discipline. So, it might not be so much of a question of if but when. Of course, the best way for the Jackets to exact revenge is on the scoreboard. We’ll see what happens.

As for the Jackets, William Karlsson replaces Wennberg. So, each team with one change to the forwards. That’s it. It’s time for Rangers intros and faceoff.

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