Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Game 44: NYR 3 OTT 2, OT, Not A Picasso

January 21, 2015, 6:06 PM ET [263 Comments]
Jan Levine
New York Rangers Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Coach Alain Vigneault chose to compare the New York Rangers' 3-2 overtime over Ottawa on Tuesday to a classic painter. Granted, at times it looked like a child's finger painting but all that really mattered was that New York found a way to grind out a win. A loss with a week off and the New York Islanders the first game out of the chute following the All-Star break would have left a very bitter taste in the mouths of both the team and fanbase.

About five weeks ago, before the current 16-of-19 win streak commenced, most of us would have felt that this contest would have ended in a loss. Comparisons to the Edmonton game at Madison Square Garden were floating around Twitter, especially after the team blew a 1-0 lead on a bad turnover at center ice and power-play goal allowed shortly thereafter.

But the character and make up of this squad is eons beyond where it was just five weeks ago.



One of the key takeaways from the win is that Chris Kreider, who scored the tying goal and a beautiful sequence of passes from Martin St. Louis to Marc Staal to Kreider, is really back.

Judging by the columns in today's newspaper, that feeling is the general consensus. When Kreider is going like he has lately, the second line with he, St. Louis, and Derek Stepan is like a 1A or 1B with the Rick Nash-Derick Brassard-Mats Zuccarello trio.

At times, we forget athletes have feeling, too. We view them and make them out as larger than life, disregarding any human emotions they may have. When Kreider struggled in late-November through December, we briefly considered the impact of his grandfather's passing on Nov. 27, but them moved on from it to whether or not the growth he growth in the past was fools' good. As seen by Kreider's comments below to Larry Brooks that loss was bigger than we ever considered.

“That stretch was a real tough time for me and my family,” Kreider, whose grandfather passed away on Nov. 27, told The Post following Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime victory over the Senators at the Garden. “I’d never want to use that as a crutch, but it was very difficult for me to focus on hockey.

“My heart wasn’t really into it, and that wasn’t fair to my teammates or myself,” he said. “It was hard for me. But the support system here in this room and from this organization and from my family at home was so strong and meant the world to me.

“Now, all that is behind me. Now, my focus is here.”


Kreider's mind is now right, which has been reflected in his recent play. Five goals his last 10 games after five his first 32. Amazing what happens when your mind is right.

The other takeaway is how Vigenault shortened the rotations, going with just three lines. Sitting was Jesper Fast, Lee Stempniak and Kevin Hayes. Fast came as little surprise, as even though he contributed to the first goal scored by the Rangers, his turnover helped result in the second. Stempniak was not noticeable at all, save for his holding penalty that ended up in the PPG against. Hayes was a bit more surprising, as he had the first goal, but he also was an odd man out. Because of these changes, the third line was Carl Hagelin- Dominic Moore- J.T. Miller. Hagelin was on the ice with Stepan in overtime and got the game-winner. In case you were wondering, my view is that Stepan knew exactly where Hags was when he made the spin-o-rama pass.

Two other points I saw came from Andrew Gross' blog. 1) That slow start by Henrik Lundqvist; sayonara sweetheart. "Lundqvist goes into the break with a 23-9-3 record, a 2.25 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. Tuesday marked his third straight game with at least 30 saves (33) and he is 8-1-1 with a 1.48 goals-against average, a .956 save percentage and two shutouts when making at least 30 saves." Those stats are otherwise known as Lundqvist-esque numbers. 2) "The Rangers won 37 of 64 faceoffs (57.8 percent), marking their third straight game winning at least 50 percent of the draws. Overall, the Rangers are 95 for 177 (53.7 percent) over their last three games." Small sample size, but progress none the less. That said, still think a third line center who can win draws needs to be brought in.

Rangers get a well-deserved break, which they will need as they play 38 games in the last 75 days of the season. Despite that, you almost hate to have the break come now given how hot the team has been. Rest up and come back ready to roll, starting with the Isles' on January 27.
Join the Discussion: » 263 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Jan Levine
» Rangers face Avalanche as Ryan Lindgren returns to the lineup
» Rangers clinch playoff berth with barn burner 6-5 OT win over the Flyers
» Rangers face Flyers with chance to clinch playoff berth
» Rangers rally twice to defeat Panthers 4-3 in a shootout
» Rangers ride hat trick from Panarin and play of Quick to 5-2 win over B’s