Battle Of Hudson covers the Rangers and Devils, who's intense rivalry heated up in the 90's. With fresh faces added, they battle for supremacy in NYC and NJ..
At the beginning of the season, there were some concerns about Jonathan Quick. Signed by Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury last summer to become the backup goalie, the former Los Angeles Kings all-time franchise leader in wins and shutouts has silenced the doubters.
The former Conn Smythe winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion has been a consistent player for the Rangers all season. In 21 games (20 starts), Quick has a 13-5-2 record with a 2.45 goals-against-average (GAA), and .916 save percentage along with two shutouts.
At one point, it was the 38-year-old netminder who played like the Rangers’ starter over Igor Shesterkin. Quick’s steadiness in the net earned him a well-deserved reward.
On Sunday, the Rangers announced that they’d signed him to a one-year contract extension worth $1.275 million. The deal includes a $500,000 signing bonus in addition to a $775,000 salary, along with a $25,000 performance bonus if he can post a .915 save percentage in 20 starts next season.
“It’s a good feeling knowing I’ll be back,” an excited Quick told reporters following yesterday’s practice. “We’re in the middle of a season, so the focus is here and now. We got Florida coming in [on Monday], they’re a great team.”
Quick has been a great addition to the Rangers. He’s supplied a dependable goalie who can come in and play like a starter, which he’s been for most of a brilliant career that includes 388 wins. He needs one more to tie Dominik Hasek for 15th on the all-time NHL list.
Quick is also chasing Ryan Miller for the most victories by an American-born netminder. Miller won 391 games. It looks like he’ll reach that lofty status soon. It’s been a good year so far. It just got better.
A couple of days removed from the entertaining heavyweight bout between Matt Rempe and Ryan Reaves up in Toronto, the former Blueshirt heaped praise on the neophyte.
When speaking to reporters about Rempe, Reaves called him “a really nice kid.”
“It shows that fighting’s not dead in this sport. People still get amped up for it.”
Of course, he was referring to the great crowd the Maple Leafs had on Saturday night. Every time Rempe and Reaves came near each other, you could hear the excitement from fans who wanted to see the two square off.
It didn’t happen right away. Rempe chose to avoid Reaves early on with the Rangers ahead on an Alexis Lafreniere goal. It was a smart move. Whenever your team is up against an opponent, it’s better not to accept a fight in that situation. That could swing the momentum.
Later in the contest, Rempe came all the way across the ice to flatten Maple Leafs defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin against the boards. His feet raised up on the jaw-dropping hit that drew quite a reaction from the Leafs crowd. It was understandable.
Once he crushed Lyubushkin, who was forced to leave the game due to an injury, Rempe had to know that he would have to answer the bell.
Even in a very competitive back and forth game that saw each side battle back from one-goal deficits, you knew it was only a matter of time. With the Leafs leading the Rangers 4-3 on a John Tavares goal, Reaves had finally had enough. He wasn’t taking no for an answer.
Finally, the much anticipated bout happened with under six minutes left in the third period. Before he engaged, Rempe looked toward the Rangers bench. It was almost as if he was seeking their approval. It made for a comical moment.
Then, Rempe and Reaves squared off at center ice to the delight of pumped up fans at a capacity Scotiabank Arena that included 19,312 in attendance. The refs wisely got out of the way and let the two combatants handle their business.
The bigger Rempe launched some heavy rights that the smaller Reaves avoided. He used his reach to make it tough on Reaves. The younger Rempe did well early. But the more experienced Reaves came on in the second half of the fight. After re-watching it, it was a hard fought draw.
“That guy [Reaves] is a legend. That guy has been one of the most feared men in the league for 15 years,” Rempe told Mollie Walker of the NY Post after the morning skate on Monday.
“He’s going to be a menace in this league,” Reaves said about Rempe.
Unless the Rangers and Maple Leafs meet again in the playoffs, there won’t be a rematch until possibly the following season. Considering how exciting the game was, which the Leafs took 4-3 in a shootout, there’s probably a lot of fans who would sign up for a seven-game series between the Original 6 rivals.
If that happens, it probably won’t come until the Eastern Conference Final. One can only hope.
This one lived up to expectations. In a highly entertaining game that had plenty of excitement for fans, the Rangers fell in a shootout 4-3 to the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
The third and final regular season meeting was one to savor. It took place on Hockey Night In Canada. The biggest stage on a Saturday night up north.
A battle between two good teams that are playoff bound provided a unique combination of goal scoring, goaltending, hitting, and a heavyweight bout. It also included a wild three-on-three in overtime. Perhaps that’s the part when the Rangers should’ve won the game.
Instead, Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov made five saves, including a theft on Adam Fox, when it looked like he had the winning goal. Samsonov made 32 saves and stopped three of four Rangers shooters to pick up the victory.
It was some retribution for a goalie who at one point was sent down to the American Hockey League (AHL) due to his struggles. Somehow, he wasn’t worthy of a star from the media who watched (allegedly).
Neither was Alexis Lafreniere, who was clearly the best player for the Rangers on Saturday night. He only scored his 18th goal and set up two others, including Vincent Trocheck’s tying goal that came with 67 seconds (1967?) left in regulation.
His second three-point game of the season allowed Lafreniere to match his career high in points (39) set last year. He continues to play with a lot of confidence. The former 2020 top pick is playing the best hockey of his career.
In the early going, the Leafs looked to get the jump on the Rangers in front of their home crowd. A near miss from the league’s leading goalscorer, Auston Matthews, came close to giving them the lead.
Igor Shesterkin would also make a key save on Tyler Bertuzzi. He had another good game, finishing with 31 saves on 34 shots. Unfortunately, Shesterkin couldn’t stop Mitch Marner in the third round of the shootout. He was then beaten by Max Domi in the fourth round. Samsonov then watched as Trocheck’s shot hit the far goalpost and stayed out.
After successfully killing off a Jacob Trouba high-sticking minor, the Rangers grabbed the lead with less than nine minutes left in the first period. On a good drop pass from Fox to Lafreniere, he ripped a shot that made a distinct sound.
The puck came back out into play. Initially, it wasn’t ruled a goal. However, the officials quickly got together and realized the puck hit off the post and crossed the goal line. Lafreniere’s 18th of the season put the Rangers ahead.
Following that came some penalties. Mika Zibanejad drew a tripping call on Timothy Liljegren. But fourteen seconds later, Trocheck clearly knocked down Calle Jarnkrok to go off for interference, negating the power play. With the Leafs on a man-advantage, Simon Benoit interfered with Barclay Goodrow at center ice to get whistled.
Despite the Leafs coming close, they didn’t beat Shesterkin in the first period. He stopped a dozen shots. The Rangers took the one-goal lead to the locker room.
The second period was played more to the Leafs’ style. A bit more wide open, it favored the freewheeling Leafs, who love to use their speed and skill to drive play.
Interestingly enough, they drew even on a fluky play. In a battle near the boards, Marner was able to get free from Ryan Lindgren. He then moved in and got ready to shoot. But he fanned on his initial attempt. With Erik Gustafsson, Will Cuylle, and Shesterkin anticipating a shot, Marner retrieved the puck and then cut in and scored his 24th goal at 3:54.
Over a minute later, Gustafsson broke up a Leafs’ rush and cleared the zone. The puck came right to Artemi Panarin at center ice. He quickly turned it into a three-on-two rush. Panarin moved the puck to Lafreniere, who then passed across for a quick Trocheck one-timer that beat Samsonov to give the Rangers their second lead.
The Leafs answered back over three minutes later. On a sustained forecheck, Jake McCabe and Domi worked the puck back up to William Nylander. He then fired a wrist shot that changed direction off Gustafsson past Shesterkin with Domi in front. Nylander’s 33rd tied the game with 11:06, remaining in the second.
Less than a minute later, out came Matt Rempe for a shift. He made an immediate impact by delivering a thunderous check on Leafs defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin. He struggled back to the bench, where it was obvious that he needed to go to the locker room.
The reaction to Rempe’s big hit was both shock and exasperation from the pro Leafs contingent. Replays showed that he left his feet. The refs missed an obvious charge on Rempe. He would be made accountable for his actions later by Ryan Reaves.
A couple of shifts later, Matthews missed on a great opportunity to give the Leafs the lead. He got another chance, but Shesterkin stopped him on a backhand. Matthews is always dangerous when he’s on the ice. The Rangers dodged one.
Late in the period, with the Rangers shorthanded, Fox got a great opportunity. On a back pass, he seemed to have Samsonov down and out. Instead, he shot the puck into him and then looked on in astonishment. It was that kind of night for Fox. He played a good game, tallying two assists. But he easily could’ve had a couple of goals.
With the game still tied in the third period, Samsonov made a couple of key stops on Panarin. On the other side, Shesterkin reached out to deny Tavares twice.
Jonny Brodzinski then absorbed a big Reaves hit that almost led to the Rangers coming down and going back up. But Jacob Trouba’s shot was saved by Samsonov, who covered up. Samsonov would also make a tough stop on a Chris Kreider deflection of a Fox shot pass. He also later denied Jimmy Vesey on a breakaway.
With the game still tied, the Leafs went ahead. It wasn’t without controversy. Prior to Morgan Rielly and Jarnkrok combining to set up a rebound for Tavares to put in, Kaapo Kakko was taken down. It was an obvious trip that was missed. Instead, play continued. The Rangers’ inability to clear the puck cost them. They trailed by one with 12:43 left in the third period.
On the next shift, a dangerous Lafreniere fired a shot just wide. He was very noticeable throughout the game. As good as his chemistry is with Panarin and Trocheck, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette might want to consider moving Lafreniere up to play with the struggling Zibanejad and Kreider. They couldn’t muster anything playing with the miscast Kakko, who’s a much better fit with Brodzinski and Will Cuylle on the third line.
After a close call for the Leafs with Tavares hitting the post, it was time for Rempe to accept Reaves’ challenge. That came with 5:59 remaining. The two paired off and exchanged rights in a good scrap. Reaves did his trademark raising of the arms while Rempe gave a salute. It was entertaining.
As good as that was, the Rangers were running out of time. Following a Zibanejad blank that missed its intended target (the advertisement?), Marner flipped a soft backhand clear towards the empty net. It came oh so close to going in but instead grazed the left goalpost for an icing.
That set the stage for Trocheck. After winning an offensive draw, he would be the recipient of a Lafreniere rebound that allowed him to pounce for his 22nd goal with 1:07 left in regulation to tie the score. With a secondary assist, Panarin picked up his 85th point of the season.
In overtime, it was mostly Rangers. Samsonov made a save on Panarin. He also stopped Lafreniere and Trocheck. Zibanejad thought he had Kreider for the game-winner in front. But Kreider’s tip-in went wide. He’d have another chance stopped late in extra time.
With time growing short, a Kreider forced pass for Zibanejad was intercepted by the Leafs. With Miller caught due to the turnover, Lafreniere stepped on the ice too soon and touched the puck for a bench minor. If he hadn’t taken the penalty, the Leafs might’ve had a breakaway and scored. It left them with only seven seconds for a four-on-three. A Trocheck faceoff win sent the game to a shootout.
In the shootout, Nylander went wide in Round 1. Panarin shot into Samsonov’s glove. Following a Shesterkin save on Matthews, Zibanejad beat Samsonov with a snapshot. That meant Marner had to score in the third round. On a deke, he was able to tie it after a long pause. It looked like it wouldn’t count. But the replay showed that the puck was still moving. That made it a good goal.
Lafreniere went for the win. However, Samsonov was able to stop his backhand deke. In the fourth round, Domi came in and beat Shesterkin with a wrist shot upstairs. That left it up to Trocheck. He made a strong move and had Samsonov beaten. But the shot went off the goalpost to give the Leafs the extra point.
There was a lot of hype surrounding Saturday night’s game between the Rangers and Maple Leafs. It had little to do with both teams having good records.
Instead, most of the hoopla centered around Rangers forward Matt Rempe. The 21-year-old rookie has quickly made a name for himself. Since debuting against the Islanders with a memorable fight against Matt Martin at the Stadium Series on Feb. 18, Rempe has handled himself extremely well.
A former 2020 sixth round pick, he entered Saturday night with a goal, assist, 32 penalty minutes, and three fights. The fact that Rempe’s contributed offensively during limited shifts while adding some much needed physicality to the roster demonstrates what kind of a high character player he is.
It isn’t all about bruising hits and dropping the gloves against opponents. There’s more to Rempe than that. He has some real personality. It was on display when he earned the game’s first star in a win over the Flyers on Feb. 24. There, he was getting the postgame interview on ABC showing that enthusiasm that’s made him a very popular player.
With the Rangers facing the Leafs in Toronto on a Hockey Night In Canada, everyone wanted to see Rempe take on well-respected veteran Maple Leafs enforcer Ryan Reaves.
During their first few shifts, Reaves engaged Rempe to gauge his interest. With the Rangers ahead on an early goal from Alexis Lafreniere, Rempe decided to pass on fighting Reaves. Instead, he opted to stick to playing hockey. That meant getting in on the forecheck and playing defensively responsible. It was a wise decision. There was no reason to fight with the Rangers leading on the scoreboard.
— chris kreider respecter (@jonmoxIeys) March 3, 2024
During the second period, with Reaves off on a line change, Rempe skated across the ice and launched a heavy hit on Leafs defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin. He didn’t stand a chance. Rempe’s skates came off the ice on the big hit. It likely should’ve been a charging minor penalty.
The end result was a woozy Lyubushkin trying to shake off the cobwebs bent over at the Toronto bench. Eventually, he exited the game. Hopefully, it isn’t a serious injury. Nobody wants to see a player get hurt.
In the third period, with the Rangers trailing the Leafs 3-2 on a John Tavares goal, Reaves didn’t take no for an answer. Seeking retribution for his injured teammate, the 37-year-old warrior finally got Rempe to oblige with 5:59 remaining.
The amusing part was Rempe’s reaction. Before he dropped the gloves at center ice, he gave a look to the Rangers bench and said something to his teammates. It was obvious that he was enjoying the moment.
Then, Rempe took part in his fourth fight in only the seventh game of his NHL career. He took some shots from Reaves, who used his experience well. But Rempe also landed a few blows in what amounted to an entertaining hockey fight.
Fittingly, that was his final shift of the night. In nine shifts, Rempe totaled three hits and five penalty minutes in 5:56 of ice time. He again gave another packed house something exciting. Afterward, Rempe raised his hands and saluted Reaves, who did the same. It was another cool moment.
There was still a game to be decided. Thanks to a good faceoff win by Vincent Trocheck, the Rangers tied the game with 1:07 left in regulation. Adam Fox had a shot deflected by Lafreniere on Leafs goalie Ilya Samsonov. The rebound came right to Trocheck for his second goal of the game.
Ultimately, the Rangers lost to 4-3 to the Leafs in a shootout. It was a great game. One that Rempe will remember.
Eastern Conference Champions: An excited group of Rangers pose with the Prince of Wales Trophy after defeating the Canadiens to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.
AP Photo/Kathy Willens
Once upon a time, there was a close-knit group of New York Rangers who overcame the odds to reach the Stanley Cup Finals.
It wasn’t supposed to happen. But the 2013-14 Rangers made it a reality by digging deeper when they faced adversity. That included having to win a closely played deciding Game 7 to advance past the Flyers in the first round. Daniel Carcillo and Benoit Pouliot were the unlikely heroes. Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves.
In the second round series with the old division rival Penguins, the Rangers faced a formidable opponent that featured superstar tandem Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. Along with Kris Letang, Chris Kunitz, James Neal, and Marc-Andre Fleury, the former champs were expected to advance.
After Derick Brassard scored in overtime to win Game 1, nothing went right for the Rangers. They were shut out in the next two games. A lackluster showing in Game 4 put them in a three games to one series hole. Never before had they come back from such a deficit in franchise history.
Following the 4-2 loss at home, the Rangers had a players only meeting in the locker room. That situation was exactly why Martin St. Louis was acquired for. The former Lightning star had come over in a trade for Ryan Callahan. A Stanley Cup champion with Brad Richards in 2003-04, they spoke up about the series not being over. Along with Lundqvist, the message was sent.
Walking out of the Garden, I told our Dad that I couldn’t believe how badly they played. Along with my brother Justin, we all thought they were capable of winning the series. Maybe that belief helped explain what happened.
The Rangers had the pieces to make a comeback against the Penguins. While they didn’t boast a Crosby or Malkin, they had enough key stars and depth to get back in it. That included St. Louis and Richards. Both who won together in Tampa. There was also Lundqvist, who was in the prime of his career. He was certainly capable of getting hot and stealing a game.
When they visited Pittsburgh for Game 5, I felt that all they had to do was steal that one to change the momentum. Win once in enemy territory, and the pressure would be squarely on the Penguins. The thought process was that if they took that do or die fifth game, they’d go home and win Game 6 to force a deciding seventh game. If they got there, anything could happen.
The most surprising thing was how easily the Rangers won Game 5. First period goals from Chris Kreider and Brassard set the tone. Following a Malkin tally in the second, Brassard and Ryan McDonagh scored less than a minute apart to break it open. Lundqvist made 31 saves. The Blueshirts won 5-1 to force Game 6.
Before they played on Mother’s Day, the Rangers flew up to Montreal that Saturday to pay their respects to St. Louis’ Mom France. The sad news that she passed away came prior to Game 5. It brought them closer together. They were inspired to rally around their teammate.
A day later, an emotional St. Louis played in the sixth game before a raucous environment at home. I was fortunate enough to be in the building. When St. Louis had a loose puck bounce off him for the game’s first goal, MSG shook. It was never louder. The energy and electricity in the building were palpable.
At that very moment, I knew the Rangers were winning that night. There were so many emotions. Goals by Carl Hagelin and Brassard made it 3-1. The Pens certainly tested Lundqvist. But he was in a zone, stopping 36 of 37 shots to send the second round series back to Pittsburgh. All the pressure was on the Pens. Would they really lose two games on home ice to blow a 3-1 series lead?
When Brian Boyle beat Fleury on a breakaway, there was a good feeling. For the third straight game, the Rangers scored the first goal to grab the lead. During the comeback, they’d never trailed. That was important. With Lundqvist stifling the Pens on one end, it allowed the Rangers to play their game. They forechecked well due to the line of Brassard, Pouliot, and Mats Zuccarello. But in the seventh game, different players starred.
Having gotten a goal from the fourth line, the Rangers needed a power-play goal. Following Jussi Jokinen tying the game, they were on a man-advantage. On a play in transition, Derek Stepan got the puck down low for St. Louis. He then found Richards open in front for the go-ahead goal on the power play.
That was all they needed. In what amounted to a nerve-racking third period that saw the Pens carry the play for long stretches, they kept firing shots on goal. However, a laser focused Lundqvist wouldn’t allow anything to beat him. He was even swallowing up dangerous chances that you swore the Pens had scored on. This was his game.
When the final buzzer sounded, the Rangers won 2-1 to complete the comeback to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. They finally beat the Pens in the playoffs. It was so exciting.
That they rallied around St. Louis was something special. He still had a magic moment left. It came at a key moment against the Canadiens in the next round.
After the Blueshirts dominated the first two games in Montreal, they lost Game 3 on an overtime goal by Alex Galchenyuk. Despite facing unknown goalie Dustin Tokarski, following Kreider colliding into Carey Price that ended his season, the Rangers found themselves tied in Game 4 with it headed to overtime.
Faced with the prospect of losing two home games, they needed a hero. That’s when St. Louis delivered in the clutch. After they kept the puck in, Richards got it to Hagelin at the top of the left point. He then sent a pass across for an open St. Louis in the right circle. One on one with Tokarski, he blew a wrist shot into the top part of the net to score the memorable overtime winner.
After losing Game 5 to the Canadiens, the pressure was on to close out the series back at home. This was the scene prior to the opening faceoff. The legendary John Amirante performed both the Canadian and American national anthems.
Some fans were a bit over enthusiastic about winning the Cup. We had to calm them down.
The environment was awesome. I loved catching excited fans waving the traditional “Let’s Go Rangers” playoff towels near the conclusion. That’s when the Garden comes alive.
Game 6 was closely played. For nearly two periods, the Rangers couldn’t beat Tokarski. Despite having the edge in play, they were still searching for that one shot that would give them the lead.
Moments earlier, Lundqvist made the save of the game when he made an acrobatic stop to deny Thomas Vanek. It remains one of his most memorable saves of a brilliant Hall of Fame career.
In a memorable run during that spring, it was always about which player was going to step up. This time, the spotlight shined on the fourth line. On a good pinch from McDonagh, he moved the puck behind the net to Boyle. In a battle, he was able to come out and center a pass for Dominic Moore, who buried a one-timer past Tokarski with 1:53 left in the second period.
It was the only goal they’d need. Playing a near flawless game that included a strong third period that made life easier on Lundqvist (18 saves), the Rangers shut down the Canadiens to win 1-0.
When the final buzzer sounded, it touched off a huge celebration. Both on the ice and in the stands. It was bedlam. People were hugging each other in our section.
It definitely was awesome to be there for that. I felt lucky. I never thought they’d ever reach the Stanley Cup Finals with our family and friends in the building. It was special.
The Stanley Cup Finals didn’t go the Rangers’ way. They came up against the battle tested Kings, who were on a mission to win a second Cup in three years. They’d overcome a 0-3 deficit to stun the Sharks in the first round. They also beat the Blackhawks. They were tough.
Although the Rangers lost to the Kings in five games, it was a very close series. They had leads in the first two games. However, the Kings rallied back to take both games in overtime.
That included a controversial goal from Dwight King in Game 2. Former Ranger Marian Gaborik forced sudden death. Dustin Brown took advantage of a Dan Girardi turnover to beat Lundqvist over 10 minutes into the second overtime. It was a cruel ending.
We went to Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals. It was electric before the puck was dropped. Unfortunately, the Kings had other ideas. They silenced the crowd by taking the game 3-0 behind Jonathan Quick (32 saves).
A Jeff Carter goal with one second left in the first period really hurt. The Rangers never recovered. The Kings tacked on a couple of more goals in the second to pull away.
It was a disappointing night in June. But one that would be remembered. The Rangers played a Stanley Cup game in the big city. That rarely happens. I bought a Stanley Cup program. It’s stored away along with some more cool Rangers stuff.
One thing about being a fan. If you go to games, sometimes you collect nice things. Even better, you meet former players, and those moments stay with you forever. They’re just normal people off the ice. I always treated them as such. My interactions were good.
Fortunately, the Rangers didn’t go down easily. They got goals from Pouliot and St. Louis to hold off the Kings 2-1 in Game 4. It wouldn’t have been possible without Lundqvist. He faced a barrage of shots in the third period. King Henrik delivered by finishing with 40 saves to help the Rangers stay alive.
The Rangers needed to find a way to steal Game 5 in Hollywood. It was another hard fought game in enemy territory. Trailing by a goal late in the second period, they got goals from Kreider and Boyle (shorthanded) to suddenly take a 2-1 lead to the locker room.
But similar to the first two games, the Kings played a good third period to draw even. Gaborik burned his former team to tie it at three. Late in regulation, Hagelin had a great opportunity to win it. But he was unable to beat Quick on a breakaway. The game went to overtime again.
That night, I was out at a bar with some coworkers. The overtimes were frustrating. Nash got a great chance to win it. But of course, he didn’t come through. That whole postseason was a struggle for him. What if he’d scored like the star he was? We’ll never know.
The Kings took two penalties in sudden death. The Rangers couldn’t capitalize on either one. Early in the second overtime, I sarcastically joked about how, of course, the power play sucked with a chance to win it. A few of my friends laughed. It was a fun time.
Kreider had the best chance. He was in on a breakaway. I thought for sure that he’d score. Instead, Quick made the critical save. Maybe in that moment, I knew how it would end. The Rangers had so many opportunities. The Kings basically tried to hand them the game. Had they won, I really think they would’ve taken Game 6 at MSG. Then, it goes to a winner, take all Game 7. In that scenario, anything could happen.
Instead, the Kings made a good play on a rush. Tyler Toffoli found a trailing Alec Martinez for the Stanley Cup clinching goal past Lundqvist. It came at 94:43. That’s over 34 minutes into overtime.
When it ended, the bar shut off the game. We missed the handshakes and Cup presentation. Honestly, that was the one time I was glad I didn’t see it. Who wanted to see Lundqvist cry with his mask on? Nobody wanted to see the Kings celebrate.
I look back on that season with great pride and joy. The Rangers finished the regular season with 96 points. That didn’t stop them from making a memorable run.
Beating the Crosby/Malkin Pens was special. Especially given the circumstances. They came together to win for St. Louis. Crosby even checked on him prior to Game 6. That’s how classy he is.
Even though they eliminated the Canadiens without Price, the Rangers proved that they were a determined group. They earned it. I only wish I’d been able to upload the fan celebration. It doesn’t matter. Being there for that moment was enough. You can’t always get everything on camera. Savor those moments.
When I reflect back on the 2013-14 New York Rangers, I am appreciative of how hard they battled. They made it due to key contributions from every player.
For a long time, some misguided fans took the grit and sacrifice of Girardi and Marc Staal for granted. Those guys did whatever it took to win games. The current roster that’s in first place could use some of that warrior like mentality.
If the 2023-24 New York Rangers are to make a similar run, they’ll need to improve defensively. They’ll have to get more contributions from everyone. There’s a week until the trade deadline. Happy March!
The month started and ended well. Three days removed from their only defeat, the Rangers took the rematch over the Blue Jackets 4-1 to finish a near perfect February.
After a disappointing January that saw them go 5-7-2, the Rangers flipped the script by going 10-1-0 this month. By posting such a good record in February, they lengthened their Metropolitan Division lead to seven points over the Hurricanes. The Canes will visit the Blue Jackets tomorrow on Leap Day.
Panarin Leads the Way
As has been a constant throughout the season, Artemi Panarin led the way by scoring his team-leading 34th and 35th goals. He also added an assist for a three-point game, hiking his point total to 82. That ranks fifth for the league lead in scoring.
Although it’s unlikely that he’ll become a candidate for the Hart Trophy, Panarin has taken his game to another level. It’s hard to imagine where the Rangers would be without him. He’s carried the offense at even strength while continuing to be a weapon on the power play. He even has shown a willingness to take the body.
It’s safe to say that Rangers coach Peter Laviolette has gotten the best out of the Bread Man. He’s played with more determination and been a leader.
Shesterkin Has Perfect February
Entering the month, Igor Shesterkin was searching for his confidence. Out of the break, some extra time off turned out to be a wise move by the Blueshirts. They rode Jonathan Quick to two early victories before Shesterkin returned to the net.
The rejuvenated starting goalie continued to play well. After getting Feb. 25 off, he was back making 30 saves against the Blue Jackets to finish with a perfect record in February. He went 7-0-0 with a 1.72 goals-against-average (GAA), and .953 save percentage for the month.
On Wednesday night, he was dialed in. When the Blue Jackets made it interesting in the third period, Shesterkin held it together by stopping 11 of 12 shots to get the win. That included some timely saves with Columbus pressing for the equalizer. He was at his best when the Rangers needed him to be.
Merzlikins Strong in First Period
In the early going, it was the stellar play of Elvis Merzlikins that was the story. Facing a barrage of dangerous scoring chances created by a more aggressive Rangers’ attack, the Blue Jackets’ starting netminder had a strong first period. He stopped all 17 shots sent his way to keep the game scoreless.
Similar to the third period he played this past Sunday, Merzlikins had it all working. He made a few sparkling glove saves to give his team a chance. He was very good against the Rangers, making 26 saves for the game, including 24 through two periods.
The only shots that beat him came from former teammate Panarin and Adam Fox. Merzlikins also channeled Dominik Hasek by venturing way out of his net to make a diving poke check on a Vincent Trocheck rush. It was a chaotic sequence. But Merzlikins wasn’t victimized on the exciting play.
For some reason, he seems to play his best against the Rangers. He certainly helped his cause in the two-game home and home series.
Blueshirts Score Twice in Second Period
Even though they generated more quality chances in a well played first, the Blueshirts were able to solve Merzlikins by scoring twice in the second period.
On what was a simple faceoff play, following a Trocheck win in the Blue Jackets’ zone, the puck took a favorable hop right to Panarin. He wisely fired a quick shot that fooled Merzlikins. The puck went between his pads to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead with 12:43 remaining.
It remained that way until a wild collision between Trocheck and Johnny Gaudreau led to some chaos. With Gaudreau’s head down, he was nailed by an off balance Trocheck to the ice. The Blue Jackets’ leading scorer stayed down for a while.
Displeased with what transpired, Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier gave Trocheck a vicious cross-check from behind to send him down. With Matt Rempe away from the action, Fox got involved in the scrum.
Initially, the refs ruled that Trocheck had a five-minute major. However, they were able to review the original call on video replay. Once they saw that it was an incidental collision, they overturned their call. Trocheck wasn’t given a penalty. But Olivier was for cross-checking. That gave the Rangers a power play.
While on it, they took advantage. On what was a bad break for Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson, he had the puck go over his stick right to Chris Kreider. That allowed Kreider to feed a wide open Fox in the slot for his 10th goal of the season with 5:41 left in the second. His power-play goal proved pivotal.
The Rangers took a two-goal lead to the locker room.
Sillinger Gets One for Blue Jackets
The third period was about survival. Predictably, the Rangers went into prevent mode. They backed up. Fortunately, it didn’t cost them the game.
However, that allowed the Blue Jackets to come with a lot of speed and create opportunities. It was a mistake by Shesterkin that got Columbus back in it.
On a play behind his net, an aggressive Shesterkin played the puck around the boards. However, Damon Severson intercepted it and fired a tough shot on Shesterkin that rebounded out for Cole Sillinger to score on at 3:24. That made it a one-goal game with plenty of time remaining.
Shesterkin would also take a tripping penalty for taking down Kirill Marchenko less than a couple of minutes later. But the Rangers did a good job to bail out their goalie.
Cuylle Answers Voronkov’s Challenge
With the Rangers still ahead by one, Will Cuylle hit Blue Jackets defenseman Ivan Provorov from behind into the boards. He was lucky a penalty wasn’t called. Cuylle was forced to answer Dmitri Voronkov’s challenge for the borderline hit.
Dmitri Voronkov steps in and fights Will Cuylle after he hits Ivan Provorov.
It wasn’t a long fight. Voronkov got off a few early punches to get the decision. Both players were given five minutes for fighting with 4:28 left. They headed to the dressing room.
Cuylle hits hard. Most of his checks are clean. In this instance, it wasn’t. He probably deserved two minutes for boarding.
Kreider makes it 30 goals
With Merzlikins lifted for an extra attacker, the Blue Jackets got set up in the Rangers’ zone. However, an overpass led to a turnover. Trocheck intercepted the puck and got it to Jimmy Vesey. He then passed for Panarin, who got it in front for Kreider, who made it 30 goals with the empty netter.
It’s the third straight season that Kreider’s scored 30 goals or more. In 2021-22, he had a career best 52 to tie Adam Graves for the second most goals scored by a New York Ranger in a single season. Jaromir Jagr holds the record with 54 scored in 2005-06. In 2022-23, Kreider scored 36. He has 30 with 22 games remaining this season.
It had to end some time. After holding off the Flyers on Saturday to tie the franchise record winning streak at 10, the Rangers saw it halted by the Blue Jackets on Sunday night at Columbus.
Nobody wins them all. That’s why you still have to play who’s on the schedule. For the second time this season, the Rangers lost to the Blue Jackets on the road – falling to Columbus 4-2.
It was their first defeat since Jan. 26. Ironically enough, they won the following night at Ottawa to start the 10-game win streak. In another cruel twist, the Rangers had their perfect 9-0 record in the second game of back to backs end.
Defensive mistakes prove costly
The biggest story of the game was the defensive mistakes the Rangers made in the loss. They committed too many, which proved costly.
Although they’re not a playoff contender, the Blue Jackets compete hard and have a lot of speed and skill. That much was obvious throughout the game. They used their quick transition well to score three goals in a momentum shifting second period.
Astonishingly, the Rangers were credited without a single turnover. Even if that were true (which it’s not), they were caught out of position on all three Columbus goals during a disappointing second that decided the contest.
They were outscored 3-1 and outshot 14-8. In particular, the defensive pair of K’Andre Miller and Jacob Trouba got victimized. Both defensemen struggled mightily. On all three Blue Jackets’ goals, they were caught on. It wasn’t pretty.
By the third period, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette made a change to his defense. Ryan Lindgren worked with Trouba while Braden Schneider got to play with Miller. Erik Gustafsson saw some time with Adam Fox.
That wasn’t the only change Laviolette made. Unsatisfied with how the top line played, he mixed things up. At one point, Chris Kreider was down to the third line with Jonny Brodzinski and Kaapo Kakko. Kakko saw some time on the left wing with Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere. Mika Zibanejad played with Artemi Panarin and, at times, Lafreniere.
Rempe Fights Again
As if a broken record, Matt Rempe got into another fight again. Just over two minutes in, Blue Jackets forward Mathieu Olivier challenged him to a scrap.
This time, the bigger Rempe was pummeled by the more accurate Olivier, who gave up six inches in the hockey fight. The 27-year-old used his experience to land the decisive shots, even knocking down Rempe by the conclusion.
Despite going to the locker room to get checked out, Rempe would return before the first period ended. The cult hero again made an impact later on.
Jackets Grab an Early Lead
Only two and a half minutes into the game, Trouba was sent off for holding Justin Danforth. With the penalty set to expire, the Jackets grabbed an early lead.
On a play started by Damon Severson along the right wall, he moved the puck to Kirill Marchenko. He then wheeled it in front for an easy finish from Dmitri Voronkov, who scored his 16th goal of the season at 4:34.
Initially, they ruled it an even strength goal. However, it was later changed to a power-play goal. That kept Trouba from being a minus-four. He was returning from the penalty box when the goal was scored.
Panarin Ties it With New Career High
In a period that was wide open, both teams got their scoring chances. For the most part, it was Jonathan Quick and Elvis Merzlikins who got it done in their respective nets.
Quick made his first start since Feb. 15. He didn’t show any rust. Despite his defense leaving him out to dry, Quick had a good game by finishing with 37 saves on 41 shots. That included stopping 15 of 16 in a busy opening period.
On the flip side, Merzlikins played well for the Blue Jackets. Although he didn’t face as many uncontested chances, Merzlikins played a strong game. He was at his best making 18 of his 38 saves in the third period.
With Columbus still leading in the first, Panarin victimized his former team to set a new career high in goals. On the play, he took a Fox pass down low and then surprised Merzlikins by shooting high to the short side inside the near goalpost for a new personal best 33rd goal of the season.
That allowed the Rangers to be tied after a period. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t last long.
Marchenko Puts Jackets back Ahead
At the start of the second period, it only took one shift for the Blue Jackets to retake the lead. Marchenko put them back ahead just 18 seconds into the period.
On some good passing from Yegor Chinakhov and Voronkov, they combined to get the puck to a wide open Marchenko, who beat a helpless Quick to give the Jackets a 2-1 lead.
Neither Miller nor Trouba were where they were supposed to be on the goal. Things only got worse for both.
For most of the period, it was the Blue Jackets using their team speed to pin the Rangers in their zone. They were more aggressive on the forecheck and looked dangerous.
There were too many instances when the Rangers ceded the blue line, which allowed the Jackets to enter their zone easily and set things up. Even during the latter stages of their win streak, this was the case in recent wins over the Stars and Flyers. Despite getting outplayed, they won thanks to the superb play of Igor Shesterkin.
Edstrom Ties It Up
Still trailing by one, the Rangers got a spark from their new fourth line. On a sustained forecheck in the Blue Jackets’ end, Rempe got the puck to Adam Edstrom at the left circle.
With Rempe directly in front of Merzlikins, Edstrom had his shot go off the skate of Columbus defenseman Jake Bean and in to tie it up.
On the first replay, it actually looked like Rempe had another goal. However, another replay showed that Edstrom’s shot went off Bean’s skate. It was another example of how Rempe put himself in a good position to make life difficult for an opposing goalie. That hard work is why the goal was scored.
Miller Gets Burned on Roslovic Go-ahead Tally
Just when it looked like they finally had some momentum, the Blue Jackets came right back to retake the lead. It took only 46 seconds for Jack Roslovic to score the go-ahead tally.
On it, Miller got burned. After getting caught pinching in the Blue Jackets’ zone, he began to skate back into the play. However, he stopped skating. That allowed Johnny Gaudreau an easy passing lane to find the trailing Roslovic, who buried an open wrist shot to make it 3-2.
It was inexplicable why Miller stopped skating. It almost looked like he gave up. That’s a harsh assessment. It’s hard to explain what happened on the Roslovic goal, which wound up being the game-winner. Only Trouba was back to defend a two-on-one by himself.
That goal was a crusher. It halted the Rangers’ momentum.
Provorov Tacks on Another late
A couple of minutes after they successfully killed off a Trouba penalty, the Blue Jackets took advantage of another defensive breakdown to double up their lead.
Ivan Provorov tacked on another goal late in the second period. After getting caught deep in the Rangers’ zone, he recovered nicely to become the trailer on another odd man rush.
With both Miller and Trouba scrambling back while all three forwards were trapped, Gaudreau and Roslovic combined to find Provorov wide open in the slot for a wrist shot past Quick that made it 4-2 with 1:25 left.
As it turned out, that was the nail in the coffin. Perhaps playing their first back-to-back in a month was too much to ask. During their franchise record-tying 10-game win streak, the Rangers only played consecutive games once when they beat the Senators on Jan. 27. The schedule in February had been spaced out.
Blueshirts Unable to beat Merzlikins in Third
Despite picking up their play, the Blueshirts were unable to beat Merzlikins in the third period. As usual, they never gave up. But even a mixed bag of lines couldn’t get the one goal they needed to make things interesting.
When he finally was called upon to make the big saves, Merzlikins delivered for the Blue Jackets. For a goalie who reportedly wants to be moved, he played well. There were some key stops in crunch time on Panarin and Zibanejad when Quick was pulled for a six-on-four late in regulation.
It wasn’t their night. Afterward, Laviolette didn’t make any excuses. Neither did Kreider, who, along with Zibanejad, was shut down for a second straight game. If they are to make it a special season, so much will depend on both Zibanejad and Kreider. Neither have been good enough at even strength.
Whatever Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury decides before the Mar. 8 trade deadline, it’s up to Zibanejad and Kreider to improve their overall play. Even if they add a scoring right wing, who can aid them, they need to be better this spring.
Pretty soon, the weather will be warming up. We’re going to have some better days this week. Take advantage. The rematch against the Blue Jackets isn’t until Wednesday, Feb. 28.
On Saturday afternoon, the Rangers held off the Flyers literally to tie the franchise record winning streak at 10 games. In what amounted to a hard-nosed game that included a popcorn fight between Matt Rempe and Nicolas Deslauriers, they were able to skate past the Flyers 2-1 in Philadelphia.
After going toe to toe with one of the league’s best enforcers, Rempe had an eventful day. The 21-year-old rookie made the most of his nine shifts. In 5:19 of ice time, he had three shots-on-goal, six attempts, and two hits while even winning a faceoff. A rarity for the Blueshirts, who were dominated by the Flyers on draws, losing 38 of 60.
With the Rangers clinging to a 1-0 lead that Alexis Lafreniere supplied them midway through the second period, they were on their heels in the third period. It was the more aggressive Flyers who carried the play. They kept coming until Scott Laughton set up Tyson Foerster for the tying goal with 17:24 remaining.
Despite being largely outplayed, the Rangers were able to go back ahead less than four minutes later. On a strong forechecking shift from the fourth line that includes Rempe and Adam Edstrom, Braden Schneider took a shot that Barclay Goodrow got a piece of. As it went towards the net, the puck took a bounce off the skate of Rempe to sneak past Flyers goalie Samuel Ersson.
When he got back to the Rangers bench, Rempe was greeted with high fives and grins from happy teammates. In only a short time, he’s become a fan favorite by using his six-foot seven, 241-pound frame to deliver big hits and take on all comers.
Originally, the goal was credited to Goodrow. However, conclusive replays clearly indicated that it was Rempe who scored what proved to be the game-winner. It was a well-deserved reward for a young player who’s added some much needed physicality to the roster. Along with Edstrom, the fourth lime has a totally different look. It’s one that’s provided energy during their shifts.
In a game where there wasn’t much operating room for the Rangers’ best players, it was the grit of the checking line that made the difference. Along with Igor Shesterkin, who stopped 39 of 40 shots to earn the game’s third star, that’s why the Rangers came out victorious.
Shesterkin stayed sharp by turning aside all 18 Flyers’ shots in a busy first period. The Rangers had trouble with Philadelphia’s tenacious style. They won more puck battles and generated quality scoring chances. However, Shesterkin continued to stay locked in. He’s stopped 119 of 122 shots over the last three games. He’s now won six straight decisions. A marked difference from his struggles in January.
The turnaround has allowed him to improve his goals-against-average (GAA) to 2.70 and save percentage to .909. When he’s dialed in, the 28-year-old is one of the league’s best goalies. He’s flipped the switch during the Rangers’ undefeated February.
They improved to a perfect 9-0. The remaining games are a home-and-home series against the Blue Jackets. The first one is tomorrow night in Columbus at 6 EST. The return match is next Wednesday, Feb. 28 at Madison Square Garden.
One area that the Rangers struggled with was the power play. Facing one of the league’s best penalty killing units, they found it tough to get anything done. The Flyers took away the blue line and attacked the Rangers’ top unit at every turn. The puck pressure caused havoc. They forced some turnovers to create shorthanded opportunities.
None were bigger than a two on none with the game hanging in the balance. Flyers defenseman Travis Sanheim led a rush following an Adam Fox turnover. He opted to go in alone and take the shot. But Shesterkin foiled his backhand deke to keep the Rangers ahead 2-1 in the final period. It was his biggest save of the game.
After a lackluster first that saw them outshot 18-9, the Rangers picked it up in a more inspired second. Although it lacked much excitement, it was more defensive minded. Probably something Rangers coach Peter Laviolette emphasized between periods. He couldn’t have been pleased with giving up 18 shots.
For a while, nothing happened. Ersson made a few saves to keep the game scoreless. The Rangers were unable to take advantage of a pair of power plays. They accomplished little on a Joel Farabee high-sticking minor on Fox. Instead, the Flyers were aggressive and took everything away.
Nearly nine minutes into the period, K’Andre Miller got caught by Garnet Hathaway up high. The Rangers defenseman fell to the ice in pain. The refs called Hathaway for a high-sticking double minor. On the play, he swung his stick at a puck in midair but missed. Instead, he caught Miller. After reviewing it to see if it was a follow-through, they got it right. They upheld the four-minute penalty on Hathaway.
Unfortunately, the Rangers continued to force the action. It didn’t work. A poorly timed back pass put Artemi Panarin in a tough position. With the Flyers looking for a shorthanded chance, Panarin grabbed hold of Cam Atkinson to prevent anything. It was the second game in a row he was forced to take a penalty due to a mistake by a teammate.
That led to a four-on-four. Similar to Thursday night’s win over the Devils, it was a good omen. In another irony, it was Lafreniere who scored during it. This time, on a play in transition started by Miller, Lafreniere took a Vincent Trocheck pass and fooled Ersson by shooting between a defenseman. That seemed to throw him off. The shot went through Ersson, giving Lafreniere his 17th goal of the season. That’s three goals over the last two games.
When the Flyers were on the remainder of the power play, they found it tough. Playing without leading scorer Travis Konecny, it was obvious how much they missed him. They don’t have a lot of offense.
The only player who was a factor was Owen Tippett. He was dangerous throughout. A power forward with 21 goals, Tippett had a game high 10 shots-on-goal. He also missed a few wide. Along with 2023 first round pick, Matvei Michkov, Tippett has a bright future. He continues to show improvement.
Early in the third, the Flyers drew even thanks to some hustle from Laughton. A player who’s been rumored to be on the block, he retrieved a Sanheim wide shot behind the Rangers’ net and made a diving centering feed that Foester deposited to make it 1-1.
But all it took was one determined shift by the Rangers’ fourth line to go back ahead. When Schneider fired a wrist shot, Goodrow redirected it before the puck banked off Rempe, who was parked in front of Ersson. From his reaction, he knew it was his goal.
So did ESPN. Their replays showed that the puck went off Rempe’s skate for his first career goal. It was quite a moment. Even if it took a while for them to change the scoring, it’s a game Rempe won’t soon forget. Fittingly, he was selected as the game’s first star.
From that point, Shesterkin did the rest. He made 17 saves in the third to allow the Rangers to tie the franchise record for most consecutive wins (10) during a season. Before they could celebrate the victory, Flyers captain Sean Couturier had a wide open net with three seconds to go. But his backhand went off the goalpost and wide. It was a close call.
The 2023-24 Rangers join the 1939-40 and 1972-73 Rangers in the history books. Can this year’s team break the record on Sunday night? Stay tuned.
Matt Rempe continues to make a name for himself. Since entering the league, the newest New York Ranger has not been shy about mixing it up with opponents.
It was during last Sunday’s Stadium Series that the 21-year-old rookie forward made his NHL debut. On his first shift, he accepted the challenge of Islanders veteran Matt Martin after a faceoff at center ice. The two exchanged fisticuffs before nearly 80,000 screaming fans at Met Life Stadium.
After registering seven hits in a 3-1 home win over the Stars on Tuesday, he was ejected from Thursday’s 5-1 win over the Devils for decking Nathan Bastian in the head. He finished the game with 17 penalty minutes.
In his fourth game earlier this afternoon, Rempe took on Flyers tough guy Nicolas Deslauriers three minutes into the first period. The two squared off in a high intensity heavyweight slugfest that electrified the crowd at Wells Fargo Center. Here’s how it looked and sounded.
In four games, Rempe already has three fights and 27 penalty minutes. So far, the former Rangers 2020 sixth round pick has made an impact.
The Rangers and Flyers are currently tied 1-1 with over 15 minutes left in the third period.
UPDATE: Rempe appears to have scored the first goal of his career. A Braden Schneider shot was deflected past Flyers’ goalie Samuel Ersson. Although they credited Barclay Goodrow with the goal that made it 2-1 Rangers, the puck went off Rempe in front before going in.
UPDATE: Rempe also got the postgame interview with ESPN’s Emily Kaplan. The Rangers held on for a 3-1 win over the Flyers to tie the franchise record winning streak with their 10th straight win. Rempe sure sounded excited.
If this were a prize fight, the referee would’ve stopped it early. In what amounted to a walk in the park, the Rangers skated to an easy 5-1 win over the struggling Devils before 16,650 at The Prudential Center in Newark.
The Rangers rolled to their ninth consecutive win – matching their longest winning streak since 2015-16. On Saturday afternoon, when they visit the Flyers, they’ll look to tie the franchise record (10) for a season. That was last done in 1972-73. The 1939-40 Rangers originally set the franchise mark on their way to winning the Stanley Cup.
The Rangers win their ninth straight game, tying a stretch during the 2015-16 season for the third longest win streak in team history (Record: 10 GP – 1972-73, 1939-40).
New York has points in 11 of its last 12 games (10-1-1) and points in six-straight road games (5-0-1).
Alexis Lafreniere led the way with two goals. It was his second multi-goal of the season. His pair of tallies were the 15th and 16th goals of the season. He’s three away from tying his career high established in 2021-22.
Lafreniere’s quietly had a good year. He has four points (2-2-4) over his last three games. In 57 contests, he has 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points this season. With 25 games remaining, he needs five points to set a new career high. He posted 39 points (16-23-39) in 2022-23.
“We’ve played well against two really good teams. I think we’re staying focused and try to win every game and play as a team. That’s what we did tonight,” Lafreniere said about their recent stretch.
Blueshirts kill off Rempe major
Just over two minutes into the game, Matt Rempe was given a match penalty for a dirty hit that caught Nathan Bastian right in the head, sending him down. Rempe’s size didn’t help on the hit. Bastian was lower and was a dead duck. He left for repairs.
Rangers rookie Matt Rempe receives a match penalty for this hit on Nathan Bastian pic.twitter.com/l25T7Hc3lh
Following Jonas Siegenthaler exchanging blows with Rempe for additional roughing minors, the Devils had a golden opportunity on a five-minute power play. However, the Blueshirts successfully killed off the Rempe major.
Igor Shesterkin made a few key stops while shorthanded. He denied Jack Hughes twice and made saves on Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt. The Devils had been in a funk on the man-advantage. They’ve really struggled for a while on special teams. It was an area the Rangers exploited.
Zibanejad gets an unassisted tally
Curtis Lazar was sent off for slashing Shesterkin with under 11 minutes left in the first period. It didn’t take the Rangers long to get the game’s first goal. Mika Zibanejad got an unassisted tally to give them a 1-0 lead.
On an offensive draw, a loose puck took a favorable bounce right to Zibanejad. He then had his slap shot bank in off the skate of Devils defenseman John Marino past Nico Daws for a gift on the power play.
That gave Zibanejad power-play goals in two of the last three games. Since posting a goal and two assists in a win over Montreal on Feb. 15, he has a four-game point streak (3-3-6).
Lafreniere gets a gift to increase the lead
Following some timely saves from Shesterkin to keep the Devils off the scoreboard, Lafreniere got a gift to increase the lead. Leading up to it, Artemi Panarin was forced to hook Tyler Toffoli from behind to put the Devils on a power play. However, Erik Haula evened it up by slashing Adam Fox 57 seconds later.
During a four-on-four, Hischier won a faceoff back to Luke Hughes. But he lost control of the puck right in front of his net. That allowed Lafreniere to pick it up and beat Daws for another unassisted goal to put the Rangers up 2-0 after one period.
Trouba Blows Up Bastian
Jacob Trouba blew up a leaning Bastian with a clean open ice hit that sent him flying to the ice. He immediately put Trouba in a headlock, followed by the gloves coming off. The dust-up didn’t last long. Bastian received an extra two minutes for roughing. It was pretty tame.
On the five-on-four, the Rangers were unable to get anything going. The top unit overstayed their shift and fired blanks. It was a wasted opportunity. At this stage, they shouldn’t be doing that. The second unit is capable of contributing. They should’ve been out for at least the remainder.
Kreider increases the lead
Still leading by two, the Rangers used some smart play in transition to put the Devils down by three. Shesterkin made a good outlet pass up for Panarin. With the Devils caught, Panarin found a cutting Chris Kreider, who was wide open for an easy put away that increased the lead to 3-0 with 10:07 remaining in the second period.
That allowed Kreider to stay hot. He has five goals and an assist in his last four games. The goal was his 29th of the season, putting him within one of reaching the 30-goal mark for the third time in his career. He’s done it in each of the last two seasons.
Lafreniere gets his second of the game
Following a successful penalty kill of an Erik Gustafsson tripping minor, the Rangers made the Devils look bad in the final minute of the period. They looked like they were standing still on Lafreniere’s second of the game.
It started with Panarin moving the puck across for Vincent Trocheck. With the Devils scrambling, he passed to Lafreniere in the middle. He then skated through untouched before burying his 16th past Daws to make it 4-0 with 40 seconds left.
As nice as it is to see Lafreniere scoring goals, that was all about the lousy defensive coverage of the Devils. They didn’t make an attempt to check him. It’s remarkable that a day later, Lindy Ruff still has a job. How? They look like they’ve given up.
Artistry leads to Trocheck goal
In the third period, there was really only one thing left to determine. Would Shesterkin get the shutout? He came very close.
Even with the Rangers sitting on a four-goal lead against the inept Devils, it was only a matter of time before they put the exclamation mark on their ninth straight win. Some artistry led to Trocheck scoring his 20th goal of the season.
With the Devils pressing for offense, Gustafsson banked a pass off the boards to send Panarin and Trocheck in on a two-on-one. Panarin patiently waited before sending a perfect pass across for a Trocheck finish on the doorstep. That made it 5-0 with 5:31 left in regulation.
Over three minutes later, Shesterkin’s shutout was no more. Hughes got his 18th from Toffoli with 2:07 remaining. That was it for the Devils. They dropped their second straight game. They’re five out of the wildcard and seven behind the Flyers for third place in the Metropolitan Division.
For the Rangers, they continued their torrid play. They’re up to 8-0 in February. They’ll look to tie the franchise record tomorrow afternoon at Philadelphia.
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