Battle Of Hudson

Since Henrik Lundqvist entered the league in 2005-06, he’s been a model of consistency. He’s the only goalie in NHL history to win 30 or more in his first seven seasons. Following the shortened year in which he won 24 of 43 starts, Lundqvist has come back to win 30 for the eighth time during a nine-year career spent on Broadway.

In reeling off five consecutive wins during the Rangers’ best stretch, he’s once again demonstrated what makes him so valuable. With his team needing to win as much as possible in a tight playoff race, Lundqvist has once again delivered. He’s posted a 1.79 goals-against-average and .935 save percentage with a shutout during the five-game win streak.

That’s included passing Mike Richter for the most wins in franchise history in a 8-4 victory over Ottawa in which he made 35 saves. Then of course, stopping all 21 shots in a 2-0 win over New Jersey to pass Ed Giacomin for the most shutouts in club history with 50. He nearly had his second in three games against the Flyers if not for Jakub Voracek’s late tally with under two minutes left.

It seems that every year the Rangers find themselves under playoff pressure, Lundqvist elevates his level. That’s what makes him great. While it hasn’t yet resulted in a Stanley Cup, he always gives them that chance. Given how well they’re playing, they could be a tough out this Spring. The team has finally gelled under Alain Vigneault.

It all starts with number 30 donning the Blueshirt in net. As he goes, so do the Rangers.

Ryan McDonagh blocks a shot as Henrik Lundqvist and Wayne Simmonds watch.
AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

Right now, things couldn’t be much better. In a statement game against an old nemesis under the NBC spotlight, the Rangers soared past the Flyers 3-1 to win their season high fifth straight. Ryan McDonagh scored again and Henrik Lundqvist was strong in net making 30 saves to push them three points up on Philadelphia for second place with eight games left.

”It was huge. I thought we played a really strong game,” Lundqvist said after being at his best early stopping all 15 Flyer shots in a busy first period. ”We just have to keep going, not think too much, just keep on our details.”

The latest test came against a potential first round opponent. It’s no secret that the Rangers are battling the Flyers for second in the Metropolitan Division and potential home ice. Most notably, by defeating them in regulation it gave them a needed cushion as they embark on a pivotal four-game Northwestern trip which begins Friday in Calgary. The Flyers still have two extra games remaining. The Rangers hold the first tiebreaker with two more regulation/overtime wins (37) than their old Patrick rival (35).

”It’s going to pay off to not make it too complicated for ourselves or think about the standings,” Lundqvist added of a tight playoff picture that includes a four-way tie in points (80) between Columbus, Detroit, Washington and Toronto. The Blue Jackets and Red Wings are the final two wild card leaders due to more ROW and extra games remaining.

That doesn’t concern the Rangers, who are playing their best hockey despite the mysterious lack of production from Martin St. Louis. He went a fourth consecutive game without a point and doesn’t have a goal in his first 12 games as a Blueshirt. At some point, that has to change.  Unless he’s saving it for the playoffs. They still have to get there first.

While St. Louis continues to struggle, others have stepped up. Not surprisingly, McDonagh boosted his Norris case by scoring his 14th goal. As usual, it was another game-winner during a torrid stretch that’s seen him tally 13 points over his last 12 games.

”For any team to win, you need your top players playing at a high level,” Alain Vigneault said. ”[Lundqvist] has found his game, and Ryan McDonagh has just been a force out there. He’s got to be getting some consideration for the Norris (Trophy) the way he is playing offensively and defensively.”

It hasn’t just been their top players. The fourth line continues to make key contributions. Derek Dorsett and Dominic Moore each scored. Playing a second straight game in place of Daniel Carcillo, Dorsett opened the scoring with his fourth in front. Brian Boyle set it up. It was the extent of their offense in a period largely controlled by the Flyers. They spent a good chunk in the Rangers zone but came away empty due to the brilliant play of Lundqvist. With Hartford recall J.T. Miller in the box, he was at his best denying a dangerous opponent that threw the kitchen sink at him.

”Philly dominated us as far as shots, and they got some chances on that power play at the end,” Vigneault noted. “But that is when your goaltender has to come up big.

”When we had some breakdowns, he was the difference.”

Having robbed former Islander Mark Streit of a goal with a big glove save through traffic, Lundqvist stoned Ranger killer Wayne Simmonds in front early in the second. Soon after, McDonagh made a great defensive play intercepting a clear and then skated in and fired a laser top shelf past Steve Mason. The unassisted tally put the Rangers up 2-0. They played a better period outshooting the Flyers and 17-10.

”We were able to catch them throwing pucks, and our D and everybody did a good job keeping pucks alive,” McDonagh said. ”We really wore them down in the offensive zone.”

Moore gave the Rangers some breathing room when he got a piece of a Kevin Klein shot from the right point and had the puck trickle through Mason over the goal line. He’s been playing well. When Glen Sather signed him last summer, it was a no brainer. His second stint on Broadway has again demonstrated why the former anchor of the HMO Line is easy to root for. He brings a tireless work ethic and fills his role nicely.

The Flyers tried to mix it up late. Despite the common tactics, they only were able to break Lundqvist’s shutout. Off a Claude Giroux faceoff win, Jakub Voracek one-timed a Streit feed past Lundqvist cutting it to 3-1 with 1:53 left. It was as close as they would get despite Simmonds and Scott Hartnell’s antics.

Moore Goals: Defenseman John Moore celebrates his second period goal with Ryan McDonagh.
AP Photo/Alex Brandon

At the beginning of his fourth season, Ryan McDonagh entered having signed a six-year contract extension worth $28.2 million. Only 24, the defenseman the Rangers stole from the Canadiens has developed into one of the game’s premier blueliners.

A strong skating defenseman who has partnered with Dan Girardi to form the club’s top pair, McDonagh has assumed a leadership role helping fill a void left by former captain Ryan Callahan. Having represented Team USA in Sochi, he has not missed a beat under Alain Vigneault. Not only has he continued to log the most minutes (24:48 TOI) on the blueline drawing tough assignments against opponents top lines. His offense has been instrumental down the stretch.

In Monday’s come from behind 4-3 overtime win over the Coyotes, he set up Girardi’s game-tying goal and scored the winner finishing with a goal and two assists. During the Rangers’ four-game win streak, McDonagh has tallied at least a point in each game. He has two goals and four helpers with both markers game deciders. Over his last 11 games, McDonagh has 12 points (5-7-12).

Such clutch play is hard to ignore. You can make a pretty good case for him being included in the Norris discussion. In 73 games, McDonagh has posted 13 goals with 29 assists totaling 42 points. All career bests. That puts him tied for 12th among defensemen. His 13 goals tie him with Oliver Ekman-Larsson for sixth. McDonagh has also established new personal bests in power play goals (2), power play points (12) and his three shorthanded goals lead the team.

In order for Mac Truck to be considered, it will come down to how voters view the race. Will they reward offensive dynamos such as past two recipients P.K. Subban (10-40-50) and Erik Karlsson (D leading 20 goals, 69 points)? Another former winner Duncan Keith is the frontrunner with six goals, 51 assists, 57 points and a plus-24 rating. His closest competition could come from Alex Pietrangelo, who is the back bone of the league-leading Blues. He’s currently sixth among defensemen in scoring with 49 points (8-41-49), 22 penalty minutes and plus-22. Another strong candidate is the Pens’ Matt Niskanen, who has 10 goals, 41 points and ranks second among blueliners in plus/minus (31). Other potential candidates include Shea Weber (18-28-46), Victor Hedman (12-35-47), personal favorite Brent Seabrook (39 points, +30) and Zdeno Chara (16 goals, +24).

If McDonagh can continue to finish strong, he builds a stronger case. It might just be that it’s not his time yet. But for those who watch him, we know how special he is. Especially on a low scoring team that emphasizes the team concept. McDonagh ranks fifth on the Rangers with 42 points. The next closest defenseman is Girardi with 22. Such a discrepancy is eye popping. At 24, he’s already the team’s best blueliner and should get consideration for captain next Fall.

Mac Truck OT Hero: Ryan McDonagh celebrates his overtime winner highlighting the Rangers’ 4-3 win over the Coyotes.
AP Photo/Seth Wenig

The Rangers top defensive pair wouldn’t allow them to lose. Dan Girardi’s goal with 3:28 left in regulation and Ryan McDonagh’s goal at 1:56 of overtime highlighted an emotional 4-3 comeback win over the Coyotes at MSG.

On a night where they honored new franchise leader in wins and shutouts, the Rangers came out flat. Prior to the start, they held a five-minute ceremony and video tribute for record breaker Henrik Lundqvist. As usual, a first rate job by MSG having both Ed Giacomin and Mike Richter out at center ice along with Lundqvist’s wife and daughter. Alternates Girardi, Brad Richards and Marc Staal also presented him with a brand new electric guitar.

An undisciplined Rick Nash hooking minor in the offensive zone led directly to Oliver Ekman-Larsson scoring a power play goal for the game’s opening tally.  The Rangers penalty kill had been very good lately but allowed Ekman-Larsson to score on the rush. His shot deflected off Ryan McDonagh over the glove of Lundqvist. Keith Yandle and Mike Smith picked up assists.

Continuing to apply pressure, the Coyotes set up Ekman-Larsson for another opportunity but Lundqvist got a piece of it with his glove steering it out of trouble. Despite being outworked a majority of the first period, the Rangers’ fourth line provided a lift. In particular, Dominic Moore did some fantastic work sneaking in on Smith who denied him. The line with Brian Boyle and Derek Dorsett were relentless helping spark a comeback.

Despite the shots almost being even, Phoenix took advantage of a Derick Brassard turnover to go ahead 2-0. Of all people, it was one-time Ranger Jeff Halpern who deposited a Kyle Chipchura backhand feed from behind the net past Lundqvist. Off a strong cycle from the Yotes’ fourth line, defenseman Michael Stone pushed the puck deep to Chipchura who centered for a wide open Halpern for his fifth.

After getting booed off the ice, the Rangers responded with a much better second. They rallied back from a two-goal deficit thanks to a much harder forecheck. It was the polar opposite of the opening stanza when the Coyotes controlled most of the play and won most battles. Off some strong work from Benoit Pouliot and Carl Hagelin, Richards broke through scoring his first goal in 11 games to cut it to 2-1. Pouliot started it with a strong defensive play getting the puck to Hagelin, who held the puck skating around the Phoenix net before firing a shot through traffic Richards deflected home for his 17th.

On a night Derek Stepan and Martin St. Louis saw limited action due to the flu, Alain Vigneault got creative throwing different combinations together. It paid dividends. In particular, Hagelin was flying with Pouliot and Richards. Stepan only got 7:04 of ice-time but Vigneault threw him on for an offensive zone draw. He won it and nearly tied it off a Chris Kreider set up if not for a lightning like Smith reflex glove save.

Following a crucial kill of a McDonagh minor, they drew even thanks to Brassard. Off some good Ranger pressure, Derek Morris gave away the puck allowing Mats Zuccarello and McDonagh to create a three on two down low. Eventually, McDonagh got the puck over to an isolated Brassard who atoned for his earlier gaffe finishing off his 17th. Despite largely outplaying the Yotes, they fell back behind when Kreider had a forgettable shift. After missing the net which led to a Phoenix rush, he accidentally poked in Chipchura’s centering pass by Lundqvist allowing Phoenix to retake the lead.

What happened in the third was unpredictable. With the Yotes recently having problems protecting leads, they went into a defensive shell. This was expected. For most of the third, it worked. The Rangers were unable to mount a consistent attack. Some strong pressure from Dorsett allowed Anton Stralman to step into a shot that Smith harmlessly gloved. Unfortunately for him, he would not finish the game after getting bowled over by Brassard who fell on the Coyotes’ number one goalie. It was ugly with a hobbled Smith helped off the ice. From my vantage point, it should’ve been a goalie interference on Brassard. The ref was right on top of it and made no call. Thomas Greiss replaced him.

After Hagelin and David Moss were off for coincidental minors, Staal was sent off for holding Ekman-Larsson in the offensive zone. While many felt it was overkill, it was a make up call and would’ve led to a chance. So, good call. Lundqvist was called on to make some key saves. On a memorable night, his biggest came when the team was down two and he robbed the Coyotes on a two on one with a sliding pad stop.

Finally off an all out attack, they tied it. Oddly enough, Girardi was in front when McDonagh took a Pouliot feed and teed one up. The defensive defenseman got a piece of it tying it once more 3-3 at 16:32. Girardi doesn’t score many but his first in 15 games was clutch. A nice reward for a guy I’d like to see become the next captain. Even though the fans choice is McDonagh, who played the ultimate hero less than two minutes into OT.

Off some strong work from Hagelin, he worked the puck to Girardi at the right point. This time, it was Girardi who took the shot with McDonagh in front. His low shot caromed off Greiss right to McDonagh, who steered in his 13th sending an excited Lundqvist across the ice with teammates off the bench. A great character win from a team that is finding a way when it’s needed most. The two points combined with the Flyers 3-2 regulation loss to the Kings put the Rangers back in second a point up with Philly visiting Wednesday.

BONY 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Oliver Ekman-Larrson, PHX (power play goal-13th, 4 SOG, strong throughout)

2nd Star-Hagelin/Pouliot, NYR (2 assists each, 4 total points, 7 combined shots, plus-5-tremendous energy)

1st Star-McDonagh/Girardi, NYR (2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points, tying and winning goals, plus-six-one of NHL’s best defensive pairs showed why)