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The New York Rangers completed their three-game Western Canada sweep with a 5-2 win over the Flames on Tuesday. The victories over Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary marked the first time in their 20 times facing all three squads on a road trip that the team won all three contests. The win extended the Rangers' win streak to a season-high four while the loss pushed Calgary's streak to six straight on the wrong side of the ledger.
There were a few key aspects to the win:
Rick Nash. We are running out of superlatives. An 11-game point streak. The ability to get to full speed in a few strides. The confidence he has with the puck, which was grossly lacking last season. The whole package, seen on the goal, as he gathered the puck in center ice, created even more room and then just beat Karri Ramo. I admit I questioned when Mike Babcock said he would use him on the PK last year in the Olympics, but it sure looks that helps reinvigorate Nash's game and expand his remit on the ice.
Chris Kreider. He entered the game with a 13-game goalless streak. That streak as we know ended Tuesday. The goal came about due to hard work and not just settling. What I mean is that Kreider easily could have given up on the play, as there seas less than 10 seconds left and the defenseman was shoveling the puck back to Ramo. By staying with him and going hard to the net, Kreider got rewarded. When he scored, you could see the monkey, gorilla, piano and weight of the world come off his shoulder. The last two period, Kreider just played. He didn't think about scoring or where he should be on the ice. He just played and let the game coming to him. That likely was due to the goal ending all the negative thoughts in his head.
Derek Stepan. We all talk about how slow he looks on the ice and how he isn't a true No. 1 center, but all he has done is score 16 points since returning to action. I would love to see him shoot more, which would make him harder to face, but the goal he scored yesterday was a goal-scorer's goal. When Derick Brassard comes back, with Brass, Stepan, Kevin Hayes and Dominic Moore, the Rangers are in pretty good shape down the middle.
J.T. Miller. He is doing his best as the "top-line" center but the more he plays there, the more I think he is better suited to play wing. Miller is filling a need with Brassard out, but what needs to be figured is where he fits best when Brass is back. Do you keep Miller on a line with Stepan and Martin St. Louis? Do you slide him down to play with Hayes and Carl Hagelin? Is he a fourth-liner with Moore and Lee Stempniak or Tanner Glass? Wherever he is put, the one constant should be that he remains in the lineup.
Henrik Lundqvist. You can see Hank rounding into form. Yesterday, the Rangers didn't do a great job with puck possession, so Hank was challenged and looked strong. His save on T.J. Brodie, when he came out aggressively above the crease, cutting down the angle and foxing Brodie to pick where he will shoot showed me that Lundqvist is back on his game. When he is going well, he is confident in challenging shooters and that's what he did Tuesday.
You can argue that the Rangers faced a trio of teams with issues. Vancouver was still wiped coming off a seven-game, 15-day road trip where they lost their last three. Edmonton is falling apart while Calgary had lost five in a row. All that is true. But what is New York supposed to do? They play who is on their schedule at the time. If they hadn't won, we would be ripping them for losing to inferior teams.
They dominated the first 40 minutes Saturday against the Canucks. Sunday agains the Oilers, they allowed Edmonton to dictate the pace and style of play. Yesterday, was a mixture where they had moments that they controlled action, while much of the second, the Rangers were on their heels and Calgary seemingly had the puck all period. I take form this there is still areas to work on, but the Rangers are slowly rounding into form. With back-to-back games upcoming this weekend with Carolina, there is no reason why the win streak should not continue.
Sorry for the delay in the blog, real life interceded. As a heads up, will be on vacation with family next week. I will be local but blogs may be up a bit late at night. Also, if anyone has three or four seats for January 3 they are not using, please let me know. My nephew is in from college for winter break and looking to go to the game. Thanks.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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