The Rangers continued their upward trend, defeating the Penguins 5-1 Wednesday at MSG. Coming off a game in which I felt they played better than they were given credit for, New York got off to a slow start, but were bailed out early by Henrik Lundqvist before the offense woke up. The team received contributions from almost everyone - five different goal-scorers and 11 players with points - in winning their fourth game in five contests. Now it's on to Columbus for Reunion Thursday.

Game Highlights:



A few thoughts:

Sports has always been known as a game of inches, that was abundantly apparent the past two games. On Monday, two turnovers led to two goals, one of which hit off the post and in, Wednesday, Sidney Crosby burst past Ryan McDonagh but Henrik Lundqvist got a piece of it. Later, a puck squirted through Hank's pads but Ryan Callahan was Johnny on the spot to get it before it crossed the goal line. Last, Adams hits the post, and unlike Monday when Kyle Palmieri's shot went in, this one stayed out. So in looking at the overall game, while I felt the Rangers were very good last night, they weren't eons beyond where they were Monday, yet last night they one and Monday they lost.

We have spoken often as to how the defense had to better, more so in their own zone rather than offensively, as AV wants. Well, eight games in a row with two or fewer goals allowed is a pretty good sign the defense has been better. In looking at the game notes,what was written about Lundqvist is a pretty darn good indication that he is back. "Lundqvist made 28 saves and is now 5-6-0 overall, including a 3-2-0 mark at home this season. He has held opponents to two or fewer goals in each of his last five appearances, and six of his last seven contests. Lundqvist is now 4-3-0 with a 1.45 goals against average, .943 save percentage, and two shutouts in his last seven games."Pretty good stuff.

Mack Truck. After getting beat by Crosby, McDonagh was McDonagh the rest of the way. Strong defensively with a good pinch in getting in front of a Penguin to score. His game notes show just how good he has been. "McDonagh opened the game’s scoring at 18:08 of the first period, and registered four shots, two blocked shots, and a team-high 25:02 of ice time. He has now registered four points (two goals, two assists) in the last five games, and five points (two goals, three assists) in the last seven games." McDonagh for Yakupov? I think not.

Boyle and Pyatt get way too much of the criticism. Let's get one thing straight, they are not goal scorers. What Boyle did a few years ago with the Rangers and Pyatt with Vancouver were aberrations and not the norm. Glen Miller and I were talking last night and agreed that what both do bring is physical play that grinds and wears down opponents as a game moves along. Thrown in their PK ability, especially Boyle! and you have a pair of good fourth line! borderline third line, players, nothing more, nothing less.

Memo to AV, keep the Kreider-Stepan-Zuccarello combination together. Good forecheck by Kreider to help create the turnover. A marvelous saucer pass from Zucc that landed flat- amazing on a crappy Garden ice - put in a place where Stepan could get and do something with it for the goal. Great vision and anticipation. Glad so far I have been vindicated in my defense of the Norwegian Hobbit.

Glad that Brassard was able to get one following strong work by Pouliot - who goes from penthouse to outhouse seemingly shift by shift - and Dorsett. Brassard needed that goal to get some confidence back, especially with team in Columbus tonight.

Larry Brooks wrote today: "Rick Nash, who has been examined by Michigan-based concussion specialist, Dr. Jeffrey Scott Kutcher, remains sidelined for an indefinite period of time. The Post has learned the winger has skated on his own periodically at the club’s training facility, but there is no expectation of an imminent return from the concussion he sustained in San Jose on Oct. 8" as I have said over and over again, forget about Nash. Play with who you have without worrying about missing him. I hope he is back for the Stadium Series and if anyone expected the Rangers to say anything, they haven't been following this team the past years as seen in how the Marc Staal and Michael Sauer concussions were handled.

Reunion Thursday. As Carp wrote, first meeting since the trades of Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov and, of course, Marian Gaborik—who absolutely loves to score on Lundqvist. I think, though, that Cam Talbot gets the nod tonight in the third in four nights. On the flip side, Arniel, Brassard, Moore and Dorsett get to face their former home crowd. A big game because it is now a divisional one and you want to maintain the momentum.

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