The Rangers used a rope-a-dope and their bend but don't break strategy to defeat the Kings 3-2 Monday. Of course, that strategy was aided by a stellar performance between the pipes by Henrik Lundqvist, who stopped 36 shots; a half-dozen of which were spectacular. The win gave New York three straight victories with a Wednesday contest against the Flyers what remains prior to the All-Star break.
A quick recap:
Rangers' first goal. Two saves by Lundqvist including one in front to stone Carter, who would get further frustrated later in the period. The puck goes to other end of ice where Brandon McNabb attempts to break out of the zone. His pass deflected off Nick Shore skate to Brandon Pirri, who read the play well and anticipated to be in the right spot at the right time. Pirri put the puck past Jeff Zatkoff on the wide side.
Pirri's Goal:
Save on Carter after first shot hit body in front and was stopped by Lundqvist:
Later in the period,
Lundqvist stoned Carter again. This time, it was a left pad save on a breakaway with 92 seconds remaining in the period to keep it 1-0.
In the second, Michael Grabner hit post and then on other end, Jordan Nolan did the same. Shortly thereafter, Rangers scored their second goal, set up by a great initial pass.
Beautiful outlet from Dan Girardi - who had another strong game from the blue line - to find Derek Stepan. He dished it to Matt Puempel, who had half a net to beat Zatkoff. Stepan helped set up the play by going wide, creating additional open space for Puempel. Also, nice little reward for AV, who mixed lines and put CK20-Stepan-Puempel on together just before the goal.
That lead lasted a while and of course, all of us had thoughts of the Cup Finals and several blown two-goal leads. Those thoughts grew in intensity as Nick Shore scored top shelf wide side with a really good shot, which might have ticked off of Kevin Klein. Hard to really blame Klein, who was physical and engaged all night, seen in his defense of Zuccarello after McNabb worked him over behind the net, but you would love Lundqvist to have a clear chance at the puck. Los Angeles continued to pressure and Andy Andreoff just missed tying it hitting the post late on frame.
Then to start the third, AV dropped Kreider and Buchnevich down to the fourth line to play with Oscar Lindberg and moved Puempel and Pirri up, rewarding for their play in the first two periods. Puempel joined Stepan and Zuccarello, while Pirri joined Mika Zibanejad and Rick Nash. Neither move paid great dividends but if AV was intending to send some kind of message, the change likely did just that.
Just under five minutes into the third, a bad call on Ryan McDonagh gave LA a power play. Henrik again robs Carter, who then takes penalty on Zuccarello. Adam Clendening, who for the most part was solid in reading and breaking up saves, save for a couple of bobbles, brought the puck up ice slowly, showed patience to gain the zone and lightly put behind net. Great play by J.T. Miller to read play and get puck from Zatkoff. A quick look to scan the ice before making the pass, then a backhand dish to Zucc for the snipe top shelf. The tally was Zuccarello's first goal in 16 games and first non-empty net tally in 31 games since Nov. 15.
After that, it was collapse around Hank and hope. In fact, i one sequence on the game, all 10 players were around the crease. Rick Nash made a great play to break up a pass to Anze Kopitar, which likely would have led to a goal. LA continued to push, and after pulling Zatkoff, got a goal with 1.6 seconds on a shot by Kyle Clifford. Lundqvist had no stick and the puck bounced between his legs.
Lundqvist described what has mace the difference the past three, during which he has allowed just four goals on 84 shots:
“I simplified my focus. It helps me be on my toes a little bit,” Lundqvist said. “The way I can describe it is that I just try to simplify everything and have a little higher readiness than before. This game, especially for me, is so much the way I think and the way I read the game and stay in the moment."
With better focus, results have ensued. You could argue, as we have, better results have helped the focus and enabled him to slow down the game and be more pateint or vice versa. Whichever it is, Lundqvist to be back to his usual self.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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