Game 22: NYR 5 NYI 0, Georgiev w/ shutout, Chytilmania, Update: McLeod out (skjei)

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Game 22: NYR 5 NYI 0, Georgiev w/ shutout, Chytilmania, Update: McLeod out

By Jan Levine

Nov 22, 2018 • 1:25 pm

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The Rangers ended their recent futility in grand style, shutting out the Islanders 5-0 at MSG on Wednesday. The win extended the home win streak to six. In a victory that factored in several streaks, Filip Chytil lengthened his goal streak to five games with a tally 30 seconds into the victory. The Blueshirts face Philly on the road Friday and are back home Saturday for a another division battle, this one against the Blue Jackets.

Game recap:

David Quinn Post-Game:

A few thoughts: 1) Filip Chytil - as noted above, fifth straight game with a goal. His confidence level is skyhigh, and now he is getting a little puck luck. Chytil's goal was a result of an attempted tp Chris Kreider for the slam dunk tap-in, but was deflected and came back to Chytil, who beat Robin Lehner to the open side of the net. Chytilmania running wild.

2) Alexandar Georgiev - New York looks like they have another solid back up who can ably fill in for Henrik Lundqvist when needed. Cam Talbot and Antti Raanta filled similar roles. Georgiev, just 22, stopped all 29 shots to earn the victory and his first whitewash of his career, which came with his parents in attendance.

Georgiev, signed as an undrafted free agent in July of 2017, is the first Bulgarian-born player in NHL history. Wednesday, the 3-0 early lead certainly helped, but he was good throughout the contest. As Brett Cyrgalis noted, in a span of five minutes late in the third period, Georgiev made terrific saves on Mathew Barzal, Jordan Eberle and Tom Kuhnhackl to preserve the shutout. Lundqvist may play both games of the back-to-back, but Quinn knows he can turn to Georgiev with confidence that he will give the team a strong chance to win nightly.

3) Cody McLeod - we all rag on McLeod for his lack of offensive prowess and view that he is Tanner Glass 2.0. But McLeod brings an A effort nightly and has not looked out of place on the fourth line. That's not to say I wouldn't want to see others in his place on that line, especially when the Rangers are fully healthy, but if he keeps playing as he has, McLeod deserves to be one of the active 12 nightly.

One aspect to watch is as Cyrgalis noted McLeod left the game with a hand injury suffered in a fight at 9:32 of the second period when he reluctantly fought Ross Johnston. On that play, Johnston appeared to deserve an instigator penalty — or at least an extra roughing call — after he clearly initiated the fight. No call was made, Quinn was given a lengthy explanation why and McLeod didn't return to action.

Update at 12:15 PM:

Here is the fight. Can't see where is injured, but at :29 second mark, McLeod starts looking at his hand and he goes right off the ice.

4) Brady Skjei - inserted back in the lineup after two games as a healthy scratch. He played 17:28 alongside Tony DeAngelo and after a slow start, was much better in the second and third periods. Quinn reluctantly scratched Brendan Smith and stated "“really the first time this year that a guy is sitting that shouldn’t be.…

In addition, Kevin Shattenkirk was very good again yesterday and seems to be hitting his stride. Now healthy, he noted in the post-game that he now feels that if he makes a mistake, his skating will allow him to recover. Not just for the physical, but for the mental part of the game, knowing that you can do on the ice what you want and expect to do is huge, With back-to-back games upcoming, Quinn may need to juggle who sits to get Smith in. But if McLeod misses the game due to injury, the Rangers could go with an 11/7 alignment, allowing all of the seven healthy blueliners to avoid the press box.

5) Vladislav Namestnikov - Cyrgalis also noted that the winger never went to the locker room and remained in the game after his head was driven into the stanchion near the Islanders bench by Johnny Boychuk midway through the third period. Hopefully, no injury resulted and Nam doesn't have any issues pop up. But this is another situation to watch before Friday's game.

6) Chris Kreider - third straight game with a goal, all of which have resulted by him steaming down the left wing and blasting a top shelf rocket over the goalie's shoulder, usually short side. He really has figured it out the past few weeks. If CK20 can continue this level of play, even when he isn't scoring, he and the team are very dangerous.

7) Fun - winnings breeds fun. Seven straight wins at home, 9-1-1 in their 11, 12-8-2 overall and tied in points in first place in the Metro. I credit Quinn to a certain extent for not panicing during the slow start and the players buying into the program. While still early, the benefits are starting to be reaped. But look below at the two videos and you see the joy on this squad, let by Kreider, which is another great sign.

Happy Thanksgiving All. As a heads up, out of town next week for work, but will have a blog up Friday before the game, then likely sometime Sunday recapping the contests against Philly and Columbus. Hope everyone has a joyful and safe holiday.

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