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Game 56: NYR 3 CLM 2, Vesey does it aided by strong game by Raanta |
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The Rangers extended their win streak to six games by defeating the Blue Jackets 3-2 in the road. That victory moved New York into a three-way tie with Columbus and Pittsburgh, though the Blue Jackets have a game in hand while the Penguins have two. With the win, New York moved within nine points of the Metro division leading Capitals, so it may be aim for first or try for fourth, though the former is unlikely and with their play, so might be the latter.
Antti Raanta got the start between the pipes and was more than up to the task. Raanta made 30 saves, including several big ones late in the game to preserve the win. In making his first start since January 14 and playing his first full game since December 29, Raanta stopped 23 of 24 shots in the last two periods to earn the well-deserved win.
New York fell behind 1-0 after one due to a Brandon Dubinsky goal just after a man-advantage expired. The Blue Jackets carried a power play into the second period, which is when Dan Girardi - yes, you read that correctly - struck. Kevin Hayes won the second period draw and carried the puck into the offensive zone. The puck rebounded to Girardi and his shot ticked off the defensemen beating Sergei Bobrovsky.
Hayes scored the second goal of the game to give New York a 2-1 lead. He read the play perfectly, picking off a pass to David Savard to come in on a breakaway. Hayes' showed his hands and patience, beating Bobrovsky five-hole.
After the Blue Jackets tied the game, Jimmy Vesey got the game-winner. Vesey had a strong game from the start, forcing coach Alain Vigneault to move him back up from the fourth line. AV had dropped Vesey down to the fourth line, replacing him by Pavel Buchnevich. But Buch didn't have a great game, while Vesey did, resulting in AV moving Vesey back with Derek Stepan and Rick Nash. Vesey steamed down the right side and beat Bobrovsky short-side for the game-winner.
Some notes:
The Rangers’ 37 wins in 2016-17 are tied for the second-most the team has earned through the first 56 games of one season in franchise history. For all the complaints we have at times over players and coach, it's been a pretty darn good year so far. They just have the misfortune of playing in the toughest division in hockey, which is why they are tied for third.
New York leads the NHL in road wins this season (19) and also leads the NHL in road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season (91). The Rangers have earned 19 wins within their first 26 road games of one season for the first time in franchise history. In addition, the Rangers’ 91 road wins since the start of the 2013-14 season are the most road wins the team has earned in any four-season span in franchise history. The Rangers have won eight of their last nine road games (8-1-0).
New York was 4-for-4 (6:45) on the penalty kill and tallied a shorthanded goal in the contest. The penalty kill has struggled slightly lately, so good to see them have a strong game.
Kreider didn't have a particularly strong game, neither did the Staal-Holden duo, though Staal preserved the win moving the puck out of the crease on the final seconds of the game. New York wasn't great defensively, as Columbus controlled play throughout the contest.
Two days off and then a contest in Brooklyn against the Islanders.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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